Thanks, teacats. If I go with a more casual style door, can I get away with only replacing the door and leaving the sidelights/transom as is? (except no storm door)? If its only the door, I can probably afford a nicer, heavier weight door, perhaps even with some wrough iron "hinges" and or clavos, etc. But will it look OK with the white trim sidelights? Or, would it be worth giving up the nicer quality door (but still more relaxed style than current)and replace the sidelights/transom to have the same wood look as the door? In other words, it would look more like one "unit" rather than door with sidelight/transom trim? If we go with the 2nd option we would have to put a fair amount of $ with the insurane money b/c the insurane company only pays enough to replace in the style we currently have, plus there was a deductible. I love the idea of window box on garage (and address numbers on house near front door), however, the house is dryvit and I really don't think there is a way for it to support the weight of a window box. Wah! And the main color is going to have to stay the light tan...no $$ to repaint all the dryvit and we just had all the wood parts (window trim, bay, soffits, etc painted white last year. My concern with painting the garage doors the same tan color, is that its going to be even more bland than what it is now and since its dryvit I don't have many option for jazzing it up with window box, etc. Any thoughts on painting the garage faux wood?? Big change, but with a new richer looking door and the brown of the copper roofs on the main part of the house, might this actually help the garage tie into the rest of the house...rather than something I try not to look at?! LOL example door, except this one has matching sidelights. If I go with a door this 'fancy" not sure I can affort to also replace the sidelights. Door itself might have to be downgraded

I don't think that any brown will look right with that black roof. I would probably paint it all in a warm cream color that coordinates with the brick.

Oh wow, it's really hidden! lol Your furniture plan for the porch sounds lovely and I imaging having the door tucked away adds a nice sense of privacy and security. What about removing/relocating the bushes in front of the porch? Removing them might make the space look larger and more welcoming where as now they seem to make the space small and dark. Maybe swap them for some flowerbeds. It doesn't sound like you'd want to take on awindow-to-door conversion but it would look really great if you did. You've got a lot of space from an exterior view and having the steps lead up to the door would look very welcoming. You'd also have to consider what's on the other side of the wall and how that would affect the layout of your porch furniture, too (I'm sure you've already thought of that though). You've got a beautiful home, I'm sure whatever you decide it'll look great. Good luck! - Ariana

This is an example of the colors we are using.