PPF & cpartist - Thank you for the changes!! Kristen and Naf Naf I appreciate all the help. Thanks to everyone for your comments and opinions! Question - On the changes you both made the stone base around the house was still there. Do you recommend keeping that? Still working on the color of the brick. I will attach pictures of 3 of the bricks I have liked thus far. Just scroll right to left below. May go for a lighter option. Any ideas for a brick color? The one that the architect originally did I was not fond of. The dormers on the garage were to allow light in the bonus room so I would opt to keep them. Would you recommend changing the front facing garage dormer from a curved to a rectangular window to keep consistent with the windows? Would shutters on the front windows work - I was not thinking about having them. Front Entrance - I know everyone says to simplify but would you recommend adding some an element to the front door. I found a picture but I would not go as detailed probably. Thoughts on the concept? I just wanted some character but not sure how to go about it. Roof - I will look into Slate. Is it generally very expensive? Sorry for taking so long to reply. I have been working long hours.

Sigh.. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong, but every time I try to reply, I lose the response. Hopefully 3rd time's the charm! Let me summarize even further now that it's my 3rd attempt - Thank you @Patricia Colwell!! I appreciate your response. I agree it is definitely a very formal set, and I'm not sure if I could fit it with the rest of the house, given I intend to have a more "casual" or "relaxed" feel in the adjoining rooms. I love the look of formal sets, but the rest of the house would be very informal. I'm not sure eclectic is the exact match, but I said that because I've been going through interior design photos the past few weeks, and all the ones I'm drawn towards have all been labeled "eclectic". I have 0 eye for design, though, so I would not go down the eclectic route, as I would definitely hit "tacky and bold" as you mention. Maybe my style is more transitional, but with a bolder color palette and a few older-style pieces, like antique-looking armchairs? I haven't pinpointed the common theme in what I like yet, but the "eclectic" (or whatever they really are) homes feel more "homey" to me, whereas modern just feels too staged for me personally. Looking through more pictures, I really like the legs in this set and the comfiness of the chairs, but I don't like the drapes, painting, or chair fabric/pattern - And I think the tables in these look really interesting, but I'm not a huge fan of anything else in the rooms -

Hold your horses!! You have a Jenn Air cook top with down draft. There are not very many options to replace one of those. This may precipitate a kitchen remodel to move your cooktop out of the island. (A quick search showed there are several in the 2K+ range, free standing ranges not many options) I would still look into what is necessary to do the kitchen upgrades as that amount of work on old cabinets may not be cost effective. I would plan all of this out now with a designer because all changes impact each other. You know the book "If you give a moose a muffin"? That's how all these things work!

Can you guys DIY? look into a cement overlay (less than $100) or a roman plaster, both of which could go over those slate tiles. I think you'd like this. simple plaster overlay. above the mantle you could do the drywall, or a board and batten type of trim if you prefer. but his is not difficult to do. Totally works w/your room too. (you could use a masonry paint and paint that slate tile, but honestly, this plaster/stucco/cement overlay is simple and would look better) or, they're easy enough to break free and you could retile w/something else. use a solid piece of stone for the hearth. you don't have a lot to do. if you do it yourselves, a few hundred would do it. https://angelarosehome.com/final-reveal-fireplace/ check out this before and after. https://angelarosehome.com/final-reveal-fireplace/ Full tutorial You could easily do this in a white color (but I'd top w/a wood mantle.) you could get this finish w/the cement or stucco overlay, or the roman plaster finish.