I think the right side of the house is too heavy and suggest removing the upper shutters so windows are less prominent (can decide on lowers by testing without them). I’d paint the front door/storm door and lower shutters (if keeping). Add some nice seating, a larger lantern, welcome mat. All these things will draw the eye away from upper window placement.

Highly recommend removing the hedge and if they take a picture of the house and head to a nursery, they’ll get helpful advice. Could be really sweet!

If you do remove the shutters you should add wide trim around the windows or else the facade will be really plain. Since it was built in 1930 it probably had wide trim at one point - before the siding was installed. I don't know which room is over the front door, but if they could add even a small window on the second floor over the front door that would help balance the appearance.

I’d play around with the shutters as suggested. For easy and inexpensive, remove the storm door, get a larger porch light and put it and the letter drop box on the opposite side of where they are now. Take down the hanging plants —- just adds more visual weight to the right side. I think fresh paint on the house and railings would be an overall help as well.

…also agree with removing the hedge and softening plantings there as well as bringing plantings to the left side of the house if possible.

Remove shutters on upper windows. Could they have another window installed to balance it out
Very nice home!

Cut the hedge down to the height of the porch floor (it’s free) and put chains on hanging plants to lower them.

Honestly they look fine. Switch the focus to the wonderful front porch and no one will look up there. Cut the hedge down ( I would remove it and make a beautiful flower bed ), get colorful plants hanging ( more than 2 ) , paint the front door a brighter color, get some great looking chairs for the front porch. I would also get a power washing done - get those gutters nice and white. If the trim and post paint has dulled , then get it repainted a nice fresh white along with the ceiling of the porch. These are easy to do and won't cost alot.

If after all of that the window still bugs you , then deal with it.

Congrats on the house! Good luck!

Agree with Maureen and Debbi - get the focus on the porch and front door and no one else will notice the window imbalance. Better landscaping, porch furniture and a knockout door color brings everyone’s eyes DOWN, not UP.

Is the roof ridge bowing ... or is that an optical illusion?

As Maureen mentioned, the right side of the house looks heavy. I think a good solution would be to repaint with much less contrast between the siding and shutter color.

Pull out the hedge and start planning fall plantings and landscaping, eliminating the dead limbs overhead and the gravel path across the yard. Hang the two ferns at opposite ends of the porch, not in front, dropping them much lower. On the front railing mount planter boxes with something colorful. Get a larger lantern light that is 1/3 of the front door's height. If the storm door is not a necessity in your climate, remove it and hit the entry door with a great pop of color. It does look like there's a sag in both the porch and house roofs. Get those tended to; you might need to add another post to hep support the porch roof. Here's a clean look with options they might like to add/change down the road.

Traditional Exterior · More Info

A third window may have been located where it should be now. i would do a test core, possibly from the ins to see what is under the clapboard. Regular spacing of the third window looks possible.

IMO the windows are in the right spot for the spaces behind them and I like that they lline up with the ones below I agree no shutters and once the bad landscaping is fixed the eye will go to the porch with some colorful plants in pots and a couple of colorful chairs and the window placement will not be the first thing to see.Waht is behind the blank wall> IMO a window there would be worse.

Thank you for all these suggestions. Lighting might be first, any suggestions for large fixtures? Maybe rectangular? Lights in both sides of door ( if possible)

Very cute house with lots of potential!! Hopefully the inspection reports on the roof. I would do a peak over the door while still keeping a roof over the porch. Keep the storm door!!! It just needs to be painted the same color as the door (once you choose a color). You can leave the front door open and the incoming light will really brighten up the interior entry. Lose the shutters, refresh the front porch and landscaping. Other than changing the porch roof, these are easy fixes.

A barn star

I think you could add some sort of architectural feature on the left side upper above door. Sometimes you can find these at an antique shop or second hand store. The other suggestions are good too.

In my opinion symmetry if way over rated. It can be very boring. This house has character just the way it is,

I am wondering if the house is already renovated on the inside? Personally, I would not spend thousands of dollars to put a window there when there are many other things to do first.

I agree with getting the landscaping as well as a new front

Maybe change the porch portion over the front door to a portico(?) like in the pic decoenthusiaste posted; here’s another example:

https://decksmaryland.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/maryland_front_porch_portico_rockville.jpg

Leave it alone , the house is lovely , focus on enjoying and planting a few more flowering shrubs ....enjoy!!!

I appreciate all of the time everyone spent commenting, here’s some baby steps. Metal roofs are going on front and back porches, just waiting for delivery. Thank you again! Function before cosmetic for first time homeowners!

Good project! Keep us posted.

The windows make perfect sense they are where they belong in the interior and at least they line up with the lowers . I would do afront door in a color thta draws your eye to thta and get to work on landscaping. What is the space behind that empty wall?

The space to the left of the windows is the stairwell

I would paint the shutters white…the dark color dominates the curb appeal…what you want people to see is the house…as a whole…not just the dark shutters

Very charming! I love the soft, natural colors.

The house is looking really pretty—- good work!

Love their choices!

They appreciated all your comments! Wondered about wrapping the porch columns in cedar? Not appropriate for this style house? Is it possible to keep original cedar color and not “ gray” in time? Thank you !

The house looks adorable. Love the new roof.

You can just box the posts and paint them to match the rest of the porch. I would not add another color to the lovely improvements!!