Seeing the plaque by the door makes me wonder if the house is under a historic designation that limits her rights to change the facade. Has she checked that out? At a minimum she should try find whatever photos and plans she can that show what the house has looked like originally or before recently. I doubt the overhang at the door is original to the house. There might have been a full porch at one time, but I doubt it looking at the foundation. The house is sitting near flush to the ground. A peaked overhang on corbels is one possibility.

Your friend needs to be very careful about who she hires to change things. It needs to be someone who has worked with old houses before and doesn't assume you can dig around the foundation or rip out a door jamb without serious consequences.