If it were my home, I would remove the shutters as they don't belong on the bow window at all and the double windows are too large for the shutters you have now. I would beef up all the window trim too and make sure it is in a contrasting color from the siding. See the insp pic below. Notice how thick the trim is on this home? I would also add a decorative gable detail like the one you see below on the second gable from the left.

I want to take the linen closet out of the master bath and put it in the laundry room and then see if there is enough room for a double sink with a good size shower (5 ft at least) and toilet. I would put a pocket door in that bathroom. While these bathroom changes are possible, I don't think they're wise. If you remove the linen closet and use all the vanity space for sinks, you'll have literally no storage in the master bathroom. Pocket doors are ideal for spaces that are rarely closed ... mudrooms, laundry rooms, closets ... but they're awful for doors that are opened /closed frequently. They wear out, and then the broken part is inside your wall. The other thought is to take out the double window on the back wall of the master bedroom and place one single window the the left of where the double hung is now and put a single door Here's what I'd do to the master bedroom: - Bring the master to the outside corner ... this separates the bedroom nicely from the rest of the house /gives an ample sound barrier in all directions. - Shrink the bedroom a little, allowing more space for the bathroom and the closet. - Yes to transom windows above the bed! These are not common, but they look great. Then add a sliding glass door straight ahead of the bedroom entry door, bringing in nice Southern light and making a nice sight line as you enter the bedroom. It also gives convenient access to the back yard ... and when you're outside, it's only a step into your bathroom. - Place the shower against the bathroom's far wall, allowing it to be large and luxurious. You'll have space for repetitive sinks, but I'd rather have a nice bank of drawers on each side of the sink ... good storage always trumps duplication. - The closet is now considerably larger than it was. I opened a door between the bathroom and closet, which eliminates the need for a linen closet IN the bathroom ... just plan a shelf for towels, etc. right by the door. - Note that I also changed your laundry room ... I moved the washer/dryer to the exterior wall. This allows the dryer to vent directly the outside; this is both cheaper and more fire-safe. I reduced the counter space a bit, but it will give you enough for a "waiting load" underneath, shelves above for storage, and ... just as important ... walking space. - I also doubled the space in the hall bath's linen closet. Alternate thought: You say it's just you and your husband ... do you need this linen closet? You have a small linen closet outside the two secondary bedrooms, which can manage guest towels and sheets ... you could expand this vanity to a more-than-minimal size. According to their website, "Almost any detail on our pre-designed floor plans can be changed. The size and location of windows, doors, closets, even entire rooms, can all be modified." So that's helpful. Yes, but you've said that your motivations are speed and simplicity ... if you make large modifications, you're throwing away the very things that brought you to this choice. Also I'd suggest you don't attach the garage to the house but have it offset a bit and have an enclosed walkway to the house. Make that the mudroom /pantry. Excellent plan ... I think this kitchen needs storage more than additional counterspace. It's a nice plan for a ranch house and reminds me of so many of the houses built in the 50's. I've lived in a house that was 90% this plan, and it IS a plan that works. Since you never do laundry when sleeping, put it where it is most convenient to you. I should have put my washer/dryer right next to my bedroom since the hallway there is wider, but I considered what if I did laundry when sleeping, which in all my years, I never did. Go figure. Keep in mind that when you move to a new place, your habits may change. Our homes do shape how we do things. So, obviously, the real question is, what's your ideal laundry method ... and how can you shape the house to support that? Also what about moving the stairs here creating a natural wall? Nice! I'd move one of those sliding glass doors so it makes a nice, bright sight line as you enter the foyer door.

All great points NHbabs! Thank you. We will have to see how quickly the boxwood grow, but can plan to trim them each year if needed. The Arborvitaes may have actually all died over the winter, so we will have to wait and see if they come back and if not perhaps replant new ones further apart or plan to have them topped each year. Once again, thank you!

you'd have to do some samples, but you could do a darker charcoal that leans toward brown. I do like the lime wash look, but your home is more mcm so I'd do a solid color. I would totally go with the med century vibe of your home and run with it. Unless you think a neutral charcoal color (like in the pics) would work w/your roof. look at this one! it's similar to yours. (notice the porch post size) This is more of a deep charcoal brown like some of the following shades. I'm loving the stone pathway, the light, and the 3 colors they used here. and here is one w/lighter brown tones (with that natural cedar/redwood accents). I put your home in this picture so you can imagine how these colors would look w/your home. so these are darker charcoal tones that lean on the brown side. (And don't forget, in bright sunlight darker colors will look lighter. But don't be afraid to do some testing samples too!) Black Fox is another one, but any of these other 4 on this palette could work: very dark charcoal, almost black, with bluer undertones. If it's possible to do the slat wood around your front door, on the porch area, I think it would look great love your door, your pendant and your address plaque! I'd think about bringing in a larger, more modern post where your downspout is. just look at the painted brick (Romabio) and the porch post. this look is a farmhouse Ranch, not the mcm of your home. this one has a metal roof too. notice the porch post. maybe do something like this in either a darker wood or a white. you can DIY it w/a vinyl wrap Or, look at how they did these posts. Perfect for the look of your house. Get a cool door knob like they have on their door! and notice the charcoal color vertical slats. also an idea.(I like this porch post for your home) this is also Romabio, but I wanted you to see how they did the flower bed. you could easily do this under your windows. low maintenance and an easy/cheap DIY You could also use the brown or black mulch if you can't do the pebble rock but the black mulch or pebble rock looks really cool, especially against the slat wood! this is so cool looking With your large windows in front, this would look really cool