Something I might try: paint the house and columns a darker charcoal color (similar hue as stone on lower level)— this would help the columns to recede more into the house/ landscape and give the house a more modern look. Paint the front door something memorable/ bright, and install some nice landscaping to frame the front door more as a focal point and draw the eye away from the house. Good luck!

Below is a visual of my suggestions:

- Enlarge the columns and install a railing to cut down on the height

- Install window boxes on the 2 windows on the right to make them appear longer (shade plants can work under the porch)

- Paint the siding and trim around the windows as shown

- Replace the front door to give an updated look

- Install a large black pendant and large street numbers

- Improve the landscaping and make a path from the front door towards either the street or driveway

In addition to something like the railing the pillars really need to look like thay are actually holding something up. There really should be a beam running across, visually even though it doesn't appear to be structurally necessary on your house

A white door with minimal trim to me always looks like the builder put no thought into it and it's just primed. The oval window is not in keeping with the style of the house either. Consider the advice offered by the other commenters and then think about a new door and beefed up trim around it, unless it's new, then just paint it. The color will depend on what else you decide to do. How is the entry lit? You definitely need some landscaping. It looks like you have almost no foundation plantings.

Some option to go with railing creating porch.

They do seem to hold up your roof, so here are some ideas to improve your façade:

--Remove your skimpy shutters.

--Paint the white siding cream to harmonize better with stone façade.

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--Clad the beams in reddish cedar (or replace them with beefy cedar beams) so they blend in with the stone. Note in the "after" how the landscaping enhances the house. (Could you add a close-up of stone. Hard to see color.)

--Change out your door to dark red or cedar. The door is the wrong style for the house.

--As budget allows, make changes to landscaping, which is so flat and just ends at the house. Deeper, well planted garden beds will add interest to the front.

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Not to criticize the person who posted this particular one, because they were posting examples of what the OP was asking about, but if you really look at this house, it was much more charming in the before than the after.

We have to stop looking at trendy, and what everybody is doing on Pinterest to make their houses look up to date and Instagram ready and riding the latest trend and really look at it, no matter how old it is and say "Does this house look good in it's original form?" There is nothing the matter with that red brick rancher before, except that it was not updated yesterday. Not everything needs to have something new tacked onto it every couple years. Fix the landscaping and call it done.

The OP's house could use a bit of work to make that porch look like it should have originally. That porch was a weak spot since it was built. But it doesn't need to be give the 2020s treatment either. Again, landscaping would help

The columns hold up the overhang of the roof. The Victorian door is bigger issue.Waht style of house do you like? You could with some $$$$ make this a bit grander and do fancy pillars but if you want them gone then you need magor work to be done. Take those silly shutters off and then post some pics of homes you like the look of . Then maybe you will get some real help. Please post the pics here in a commnet do not start another post .Landscping is a huge deal so maybe while you are thinking about the pillars start thinking of how to fix the yard.

I'd paint the siding and columns beige to blend in with the stone. Change the shutters to black, and the front door to either black or olive green. Or, paint the siding olive green, and use black for the shutters and trim, etc.

I would do what lisadv suggested.