add a porch to the house shape,replace the walkway,design garden...

wow nice idea .. I love how you pulled the entrance way and window together.Do you think just a perogla might work as well. My steps and walk way are brick and bluestone.. in erfect shape.
Thank you,
Susan

Agree with ppf. Something like this


Now, if you are up for a more extensive remodel, consider something a little bit more elaborate for an inspiration:

also paint downspouts to match body of house.

skwgarden, how about a combination of portico over the door with a pergola extension over the rest of the porch? Best of both worlds.

Also, your windows are rather short. How about adding a nice big window box under the 1st floor triple window? They'd be pretty on the 2nd floor, too, but not practical. Another way to add some umph (technical term lol) would be to add a panelled detail under the big window. Adding some wide trim boards to the top of the 1st story (fascia board) and at the corners would also give the house some detail. This house has both trim details I am referring to:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/30117891230012937/

Thank you so much. I like the idea regarding wide rim board. should I add shutters.?

You can add shutters for interest. However, it looks like the only two windows that they would look right on are the upper two on the left side. Not the bottom and not the upper right. You don't have to place shutters on every window.

Personally I like Kathryn Peltier's idea of adding the trim details rather than shutters for your home.

But if you want to add shutters please don't get the plastic "stick on" shutters featured in the big box stores. If you are going to get shutters get them sized right and functional or functional-looking (with hardware).
Here is a short article with photos by an architect showing you proper shutter placement and size. http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

Here are a couple more photos illustrating properly sized and placed shutters (if you go in this direction).

Thank you for your advice. I will also be siding the house and wonder what you would recommend. I have seen garrison colonials with different textures.. accent siding and even using different color, texture on the upper/lower part of house.I will be using vinyl siding. I an leaning toward grey or taupe colors.
Best,
Sue from CT.

Needs siding, porch across front, probably roof... and lots of landscaping.

also should I replace the front bottom window to something more substantial?

for sure... I acutally pulled out meatball shurbs to prepare for new landscape ideas.

Here are a couple of inspiration pics for you to consider, I especially like the one that emphasizes the Garrison Colonial trim and doorway (second photo). The third photo is the same home as the second but shows a different part of the home and more window detail. These trim details are similar to what Kathryn mentions in her post.

If you can replace the window with a larger one and more trim, I think it would work well with your style of home. Naturally landscaping brings it all together.

Some additional inspiration

i love the second house.. the accent under the over hang and entrance. window is gorgeous love the top diamond patterns.

I love those diamond patterns in the window too! Plus the corbel detail under the overhang give it presence IMO.

Definitely.. also very pretty and not welcoming... I wonder what kind of windows they are and if they would look appropiate with 3 window opening. ?

I meant welcoming...very welcoming.

I also love the 3rd house with all the windows.. How would i incorporate that look to my house? Any thoughts?

You have such a great opportunity to turn this into just what you want :) This is where you would need to get with an architect to show him the direction you want to go so s/he can design the best way to achieve it. I don't have that expertise. But if you show him/her what you have and what you want you can get there. It is worth the small expense upfront to get the plan right first then get the builder/contractor estimates. Check out design build firms too. But I would start with an architect - it saves you money in the long run.

I would add a timber framed front porch spanning the whole front and then add an awning over the garage with timber framed brackets to match your porch. Go at least 10 feet out and you will have a wonderful outdoor living space!

For a cosmetic change you could paint the exterior a med tone gray with dark grey or black shutters as seen in the reference pic

I agree with Denita: this house is kind of a blank canvas. I'm glad you like the idea of adding some trimboards, and Denita brought up the idea of corbels - this would give you a lot of detail. Also, I like the idea of using two different materials on the 1st and 2nd floors. The James Hardie shingle siding would look nice on the 2nd floor, and then go with the clapboard on the first floor. It will probably cost you more than all vinyl siding, but I think it would really add a lot to the house. I think you're safer staying away from shutters on the 2nd floor only because you would have to have really wide shutters to be sized properly, and they would take up most of the area between the double windows. What I would do is trim them out nicely and heavily to, again, give more interest.

If you can replace the 1st floor bank of windows, I think it would be more elegant to put in longer (as in taller) windows. If you are going to go to this expense, then I would also make the window area larger so that it is centered underneath the upper windows, if this is possible.

I like the heavy trimboards on the photo that symon posted; this photo shows a 2nd story shingle,too. Refer to the photo of the McIntosh Poris Associates photo that Denita posted for the corbel detail. That is probably a bit more than you need - the close spacing makes it almost come off like dentil molding - but it gives you the idea.

One last comment: since you liked the photo with the French door in it, I think you might even be able to do something like this as a replacement for the triple window, if it makes sense on the interior, and if you are going to pull a porch/portico over that window. A single door in the center with matching (as in height and width, so they all look like windows) windows on each side could work.

Hi. Thank you so much for taking time out to help me. I want to make sure that I understand your response about the house with the corbels. Do you believe that my house would be appropiate with the corbels but spaced farther apart? Also, can my house carry the diamond pattern windows as shown on that photo. Further, am I correct to believe that it is best to choose either the corbels trimboard or both. It looks as though the house with the corbels has one type of siding. What are your thoughts?
Best,
Sue

I just found a larger pic of the McIntosh corbel home. Wow .. what a treasure. In regards to my home...
I like the top heavy trim board on the roof line and the narrow trim on the over hang. I think the corbel is too much detail for my home. Also, the diamond pattern may be over kill. !

Hi Sue: Yes, I think you should use fewer corbels, spread further apart, and with a trimboard. I still like the idea of two different materials, but you wouldn't be wrong to stick with one, if that's what you would prefer. I think the diamond panes are beautiful, and since you have a fairly blank slate, you could probably use them. I think you will find them VERY expensive though. Are you still thinking about a French door + long windows in place of the triple window? If you are, I think I would stick with regular rectangular muntins and maybe add them to the top sash on the 2nd floor, as you see in the Garrison Colonial Custom Exterior photo.

I will say this: in order of priority, I think it would change the house more to put a portico over the front door with some nice, square columns, than it would to change those 1st floor windows (unless they need to be). Also, just changing the color will make a HUGE difference. What color are you thinking of?

Here's some nice detailing although I think your corbels could be simpler yet.


Something as simple as this:
http://www.invitinghome.com/brackets_exterior/bracket_phoenix.htm

Did you see this one?

I will say, the 2nd story shutters on this home, while not truly accurate, look pretty good - but I also think the fact that they are white makes them look even bigger. If you did something like this, keeping the shutters very wide on the 2nd story windows - thought not COMPLETELY accurate - you might get away with it. Also, check out the corbels - large and few. Also, nice portico - would work for you.

I completely agree with Denita; you have a garrison colonial, and whatever you do has to start from that point. I really like the Mcintosh Porish Associates house, as it appears they took a garrison and converted it into a Victorian colonial revival. Very interesting!
Such a reno would not be inexpensive; worth hiring an architect.

First the gutter leaders should be coming down the side of the house not front you can eliminate the one next to the front door.

We have something on our website called an Awning Simulator where you can upload a picture of your home and test out how an awning will look:

http://awningsim.marygrove.com/

Try it out!

Looking to side my house also. Any thoughts?

Perhaps a more natural gray/green/beige color? Helps the house to blend with the surroundings

The color is BM Nantucket Gray

Yes. Very true
Thank you