What I'd be dying to do is flip up the front of the porch roof to let in the light. Is that possible? Not exactly like this but I assume it would mean raising the roof and some new glass

or would you hate it? Get run out of town?

Whatever you decide on doing it sounds so extensive I think you'll need an architect

https://www.contemporist.com/20-awesome-examples-of-pacific-northwest-architecture/

That is definitely a concept we haven’t thought of yet. I don’t hate it, thanks for another perspective to think about.

It seems what I'd be asking an architect about is a butterfly roof

https://www.houzz.com/magazine/butterfly-roof-stsetivw-vs~2554123

or a skillion roof

It's a great house. I like the roof line. It's all the same pitch, but different heights. I think "adding contrast" will just make it incoherent. A butterfly roof won't work.

I find the house color a bit dreary, but it's in shade. The latest trend is white board and batten with black windows. It would make your house look trendy. You might like it. I say "trendy" not "updated" because I think updating is often about trends, which will go out of fashion over time.

If it were me, I'd consider natural cedar siding in board and batten.

I don't know where you live, but if anywhere with snow, I'd put a lot of thought into changing any roof lines and where that snow/ice accumulation will collect on the roof and where it will drain. Flat roofs can be a headache, and the butterfly roof looks like it is just asking for problems.

Paint and stone can be used much less expensively and much more easily to change the look of your house than building additions and changing roof lines. I would only suggest structural changes if they made sense on the interior and were something that you wanted changed on the inside of your house.

IMO not a house to have a butterfly roof . I like your as is the new windows maybe do black , a new front door maybe even a pivot door the garage door is okay IMO unless you really want more of a MCM one which BTW I do not think is a good idea.I still like these homes in dark colors I do not think stone is a good plan or these . Some more dramatic landscping would be IMO good money spent This is bit too much MCM but the idea is a more edgy landscaping . The other option for exterior is to mix natural cedar and black could be very attractive.

Use your favorite paint company's online tools to try out the currently fashionable white paint with black windows. You can also try sage green, cinnamon and barn red. The tool probably would work better with a new photo of the house in full sun.

It you don't want to tilt the roof up you shouldn't, but don't rule out doing on the basis of misinformation you got on social media. A butterfly roof is no different from a skillion roof, which is what Patricia is showing in her pictures. They are frequently built in very snowy areas without problems. You just need to get a pro who knows how to properly do it -- but you need that for any remodel of the size you are contemplating.

https://civiljungle.com/skillion-roof-house/

I'm not trying to sell you on a butterfly skillion roof (although others are!). I would want to tilt the roof to let in more light but even I wouldn't do it if it was out of kilter with the neighborhood. And I certainly wouldn't do it based on someone else's suggestions if I had other ideas! Hope you come up with a plan you love.

Doe the house face N or S?

It’s Northeast. We get a lot of light in from the window set up currently so don’t feel like we need to add more windows or raise a roofline to allow more light in. We just want to update the front to make it more interesting and less dated.

I still think these homes are not ever dated they look best when not turned into modern farmhouse look , which to me is a lot more dated.

I love the simplicity of the house as is and would not change roof lines or window placement unless there is a reason you want to from an interior standpoint. I would change the front doors and the garage door and change the siding and window colors, including the color of the roof if it is brown as it appears in the photo . I would also replace the exterior lights and get rid of the trees on the sides of front door. I think it a very attractive house structurally.

I'd paint the siding darker and use a lighter trim color to make the windows/doors/garage door pop. I agree with others that the front door should be a modern style. Unless your windows need replacing the style works well for the style of the house.

Go to Brick and Batten on Facebook. They do virtual exterior makeovers and the results are stunning. Look at their before/afters and I'm sure you'll be inspired!

* and my initial thought on your front is removing that wall on the right of the door and replacing with a beam. Doesn't change the roof line, but opens up the front, which currently looks like your door is playing peek-a-boo :) And replace the front door with a more modern style and updating with paint. It's a beautiful home!

"We just want to update the front to make it more interesting and less dated."

I mean, it's an above-average example of a very nice type of house -- I don't think most people would say it's "dated" any more than a historic home is; it's just from a time when some houses were unfortunate. Usually the goal of these houses is to blend into the landscape a bit, which would tend to favor a shade of green or brown, maybe greige. For sure, paint out the garage to match the house, and then maybe you have the freedom to pick a contrasting front door color for some fun and to draw the eye. I think most changes to the roofline would just give a muddled effect.

You have support walls by door holding up the roof. I wouldn't. More people sit out in the back.

Here's a lighter and less saturated paint color, which I like, and then darker windows, which I don't.

I gave you a reddish door, which I'm not convinced of. You would want to change all the front lights to something dark, like oil-rubbed bronze. And try for more natural plantings.

Where are you? (Determines what will look right for both house color/detailing and landscaping.)

A gray /green tones wood look good if red door or yellow.

Nice example of what it is. When roof replacement time comes around, I would put a metal roof on it.

We need to replace all of the windows and cedar siding

Does the siding need to be completely replaced or can spot repairs suffice? IMO, the siding that is on in works nicely. I would change the color because it looks like another gray house. The world has reached the gray saturation point and gone beyond. An ungray earthtone (cedar tones or even some greens) that works with the roof color would be an improvement, IMO.

I would change the outdoor lights just because. Less structured landscaping.

As a fellow 80s contemporary homeowner, I like your house. I'd paint it monochromatic dark. Replacing our red shingles with a bronze standing seam metal roof also made a huge difference. A new front door would modernize it too. We went from a double door to one wide white oak door with a sidelight. I always share this home from Lauren Liess because it was my inspiration to go dark.

Here's our house Before and After, although it's never totally done! I realize we have stone so it's not exactly the same, but I'd still encourage you to go dark.

Your house looks great! You did something that I think will stand through the the test of time and changes of styles as well. Thanks for the before and afters!