Maybe the door would be good in red? But I always think that. Still.... Or how about a teal or soldier blue door? It's a cute, cute house. Maybe that horizontal rod going across the storm door is removable. I've had storms like that. If you could take the cross piece off, it would let the nice wood door show better. And the light that awmo3 posted would look great on your house. A variegated red-twig dogwood would be good, maybe on the left hand corner. They have nice bright red stems in the winter. (Oh-oh....there I go again with the red.) I'm in zone 4. My dogwoods are the nicest color I can have in the winter. Otherwise it's pretty blah in the middle of winter. You might also consider some Annabelle hydrangeas. They are so pretty in the summer and have a nice old-fashioned look. If you want to, you can leave the big pom-pom flowers on all winter and cut them back in the early spring. The blooms turn rusty brown color and it gives you something out there in the winter. And also one or two small evergreen shrubs would be nice out there so you have some dark green color during the winter. Then plant some daylillies and some asiatic lillies for summer color. If you expand those planting beds out a ways so they are deeper, and make them a curvy shape, that will add to the look too. If you leave the stained porch as it is, you could get some golden or medium brown cedar mulch for the garden and that will tie the porch color into the landscaping.

It looks like you have more paneling in the adjacent rooms? You're going to remove the carpet -- good. If your budget allows, a good wood floor will last a lot longer than another carpet. I see the purpose of those hanging lights for reading by the fire. If you want to update those, it makes sense for reading. If you won't be reading by the fire, then replace with cans. An inexpensive fix. I agree with others on painting the paneling. That's hundreds, versus thousands, by replacing it with drywall. You never know what you'll find behind the paneling that could create issues. Ceiling moulding to go with what's above the fireplace, would be beneficial to the walls. That said, don't paint the trim above the fireplace. Leave the fireplace alone for now. Trim around the door will also give the room more character. That said, that is the one element that makes me wonder if the paneling is added on top of drywall. Can you tell what sort of nails were used on the paneling? If you knock on the paneling does it sound hollow/does it move, or is it hard and solid wood? I also agree on removing that valance. Looks like the room has great possibilities.

I agree that a pretty linen white would look wonderful in the space. It would complement the warm wood tones of the trim and cabinets. A lighter color on the backsplash, at least until you're ready to replace it, would help as well. Perhaps the lightest color in the granite. Replacing the builder grade overhead lights in hallways is always an instant update. I would avoid ceiling fans with lights. Use uplights, floor and table lamps, and recessed lights for lighting. If you want to keep the ceiling fan, something sleek and close to the ceiling is always nice. White will blend into the ceiling and disappear a bit. I would consider a console on the wall in the living room where the air grate is for the t.v. You could wall mount the t.v. on an articulating arm to move it for easier viewing. That leaves room for a great piece of art over the fireplace. A sofa in front of the window and two comfortable chairs with their back to the kitchen area would open up the room. Since there's not a lot of room to stack drapes, you could do one panel on the outside of each window to avoid crowding the fireplace. Are you planning to replace the fridge and dishwasher with stainless to match the stove and microwave? The table size the current homeowners have seems good for the area-it allows nice size aisles to move through the space. Roman shades in the dining space in a pretty print fabric would add color to the dining space. I would definitely change out the chandelier for something more modern as well. It should hang 32-36" above the table. It sounds as though you already have your own style with a "minimalist/natural" style and there's no reason you can't use it in this house. Don't let the style of the cabinets hold you back. If that's your style, embrace it! It's not like you're looking to go full out Victorian in a 1990's house! Congratulations on your new home!

Hi, and thanks, trendtown. Replacing the countertops is not in budget - they are almost new granite, just a pretty awful color - I think they were budget or just different taste 😱 Cabinets are really nice, and while I did a remodel in another house about four years ago - repainted cabinet uppers in BM White Dove (Advance) and lowers in gray - and they still look great, Advance very forgiving, and leveled so well, you can't tell they were brushed unless you carefully examine. Walls were BM Pale Oak, but we wish we had gone White Dove on the walls, too. All trim was White Dove. Big focus will be lighting changes - very inexpensive now using the 4" clip in LEDs while daisy chaining them - attic access not even required. If we did go with White Dove eggshell walls, and White Dove semi gloss trim (BM is a bit shinier than SW), would it be too monolithc?