I’m thinking shutters, but not sure on the color. Would you change the siding or trim colors and the railings to make it look more up to date? The landscaping is being refreshed. Thank you for any tips!!!
I agree. It definitely is. The landscaping is getting a nice refresh first thing.
Good move!
Make the edges organic (curves, not straight lines). So pleasing to the eye.
I’d keep brick 100%. Can always extend the porch to be a covered porch out front to the left of the door at min (left side when looking at the house) - when you ever go to replace the roof - good time to add that big project.
On a smaller project softer landscape with more depth would be nice since seems you have a nice big front yard. Maybe a tree or some height with La dealing to left of front (looking at the house) where it jets back.
The larger porch idea sounds lovely!
ranch front porch addition before and after
Love the brick and siding color. Black shutters would look great and classic. You’re missing color along the foundation. Look at sunshine ligustrum and colorful annuals. It’s a beautiful home!
Thank you! I love the color in the landscape idea. Will definitely incorporate it.
Do not put on fake black shutters please and be wary of advice from this sub
No to fake shutters.
No shutters! And no (vinyl?) railings; maybe no railings at all, as the right side one is pointless and the left side one takes you to the top, but the door opens against it. I would say remove the storm door and get a new front door in wood in a modern, simpler design without the oval glass.
You could widen the entrance/porch so it's balanced with the door in the center; or if that is not financially possible, plant something, maybe an evergreen, to the left of the stairs. Add a larger light fixture, maybe wrought iron, to the right of the door, along with a large jardiniere with flowering plants. It's an attractive house with appropriate landscaping near the house; a maple tree in the yard would be lovely. I would keep the trim color as it is.
Agree 100%. Shutters will date the house. Unless they’re functional, it makes no sense to have them. Improve the front door. Do something about the vinyl railings. Add new colorful and interesting landscaping.
Please keep a handrail. For safety.
That’s a good call. I’d definitely like a more modern door at a minimum. We may have to introduce a different handrail for safety. It’s currently wood but in a very dated style.
I don't know where you are, but there are usually craftsmen around who make wrought iron gates, railings and fences, some artful (cattails theme, for example) and some just beautifully twisted iron. I meant to suggest something like that on the left side, while removing the right-side fence altogether. (You can order iron stair-railings online, but it might be worth checking out local artists.) Your current white railings are too dominant. A larger ironwork light fixture on the other side would then create a nice balance.
Ooh. That could be neat!
Blue is a complimentary color to the brick color. You could paint your house's two peaks and along the gutter of the house including the front door. I would get a more modern front door and remove the storm door. A more modern and larger porch light would add to the space. In order to highlight the front door area more, I would remove the small pots you have and would put a large pot under the porch light with a slow growing shrub topiary style. I would also remove the white handrails to a simple handrailing. In terms of landscaping, I would remove several of the shrubs and replace them with hydrangea bushes or rhododenrums to add color but also to introduce some taller plantings.
Thank you. These are great ideas!💡
My pleasure! When I see a house like yours surrounded by trees, I'm always curious about what the back garden looks like, probably because I grew up in a beautiful house and garden with a creek going through and bordering on a small forest. The woman who designed the house and garden in the late 40s was a landscape architect and designed a masterpiece with thousands of dollars worth of plantings - dogwood trees, a weeping willow tree, many dwarf Japanese maple trees, hydrangeas, rhododendrum bushes, a laburnum tree, a rose garden, flagstone paths, three ponds with ornamental bridges, a summerhouse where she kept all her gardening tools as well as it was a cool place to sit in the summer. The floor was filled in flagstone and it was beautifully wood panelled and screened in with built in seating all around. Unfortunately, her husband cheated on her and she was forced to sell her dream. My parents were the lucky recipients and years later transformed the little cottage into a romantic guest house for Expo 86 when the house became a very successful B&B.
Sorry to ramble but I was noticing the beautiful big trees behind your house which reminded me of another idea I had to share. For less than $35.00 you can buy mini-spotlights that are battery operated and remote controlled. You could put one at the base of each tree and uplight them to create a stunning scene when it gets dark or starts to snow. I am all about the outdoor space being almost like another room, depending on the climate where you live. In fact, my dad built some concrete steps and on one of them he wrote in Latin which translated to "If you seek his monument, look around you." As he did all the gardening and also had a great sense of humour, I always wondered who he was alluding to - himself or God?
That sounds beautiful!
There are big trees in the front yard too behind the camera. We are super lucky.
I'd change the window and trim colors to something darker, black or maybe dark sage green. I would also add shutters, just make sure they're not too undersized.
As I always suggest, remove the blocky overly shaped bushes and go for something naturally shaped. Make sure to plant different varieties with varying leaf shapes, sizes and colors. https://diy.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/diy/fullset/2017/5/22/CIPreen%20Perennial-border-with-curved-edges.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.462.suffix/1495553537035.jpeg Maybe not quite as giant as this but focus more on the mixture of plants and layering... https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTDDPYg-LcJ19ji0sHx2PohlBJulSlXmFJp8RXdG9iFsA&s
I really love that perennial border!!! Saving that link for sure.
Remove the storm door. Replace front door. Keep the handrail along the steps. Gotta have one for safety. Toddlers, old folks, you with an unexpected injury. Newer bigger light fixture. Large house numbers. I’m gonna go against the crowd and say, add shutters. Black maybe. Do other brick homes in your neighborhood have them?? Traditionally these style homes in a lot of areas have shutters along the front.
Good luck and have fun updating your already lovely home!
Our neighborhood is split on shutters but none of the houses match each other besides all being pretty traditional.
I know they can be dated, but something about the house seemed naked. Maybe with the good ideas from all the comments I’ll see what it looks like after some improvements and then reassess my thoughts on shutters.
ETA: and thank you!!
Replace that 1980’s door with something colorful or modern, update the sad landscaping. This is a LOVELY home that won’t require much!
Thank you!! I’m sure the door and landscaping were beautiful….in another decade…
I love your house! The others have given a lot of great ideas. I agree that new landscaping would really improve the curb appeal.
Thank you!!
I would add wood. A deck entrance, wood railings and where the white is up above the door...maybe some cedar shingles. Wood shutters would look nice with all of that. Change the front door to something wider and more dramatic.
Big dramatic doors are so nice.
Add some color with landscaping, and a pop of color on an updated door. Red is always a nice, traditional choice! If it’s in the budget, I’d switch out the windows for some without panes.
A door similar to this, to update the facade.
Ooh. That’s a nice door. 🚪
NO SHUTTERS. Nothing worse than one shutter on each side of double windows
Yeah. It’s a little odd to see. I think everyone has talked me out of shutters. LOL
Update your front door! Would make a huge difference. Maybe this style https://www.homedepot.com/p/JELD-WEN-36-in-x-80-in-Left-Hand-4-Lite-Clear-Glass-Black-Painted-Fiberglass-Prehung-Front-Door-with-Brickmould-SP-607DG-SD4-LE-1P-BLK-LH/315097557
I really do like this door. Two comments have suggested it. It must be popular!
New landscaping and add SHUDDERS!
Do you mean shutters?
I shudder when I see homes without shutters. 😂🤣They gave my home super nice curb appeal. Without them they always look unfinished and less appealing to the eye. And you knew exactly what I meant without correction. 😂🤣
Add some horses.
I wish! And chickens and goats!
The house is beautiful so I wouldn’t touch it with exception of the front door - I’d replace that as it looks dated. I’d also redo the landscaping and add some more color.
Thank you! I think this will be good steps.
How much skrilla you want to put into it?
We cannot completely rebuild the porch right now but we’ve already budgeted for redoing the landscaping and can afford some extra mid-range projects.
Color pop the front door. I think landscaping will make ALL the difference.
Thanks! Fingers crossed!
Some vertical interest between all the open brick areas between windows would be my first vote. The house itself is cute but there’s too much wall showing. Depending on what direction (NSEW) the front of your house faces will determine what to plant, but some smaller crepe myrtles, Japanese maples, taller ornamental boxwoods or junipers, or other interesting vertical botanical elements will make the face look much nicer. You don’t need them along EVERY open wall, but it’ll give some color and interest to the bare brick areas.
I also wouldn’t paint the brick if you want color. The windows and fascia give a good contrast IMO, you just need to add in color along the front alongside the vertical elements. Roses, dahlias, echinacea and other sun-loving plants if the front faces south; hydrangeas, ferns, hostas and/or other shade-loving plants if it faces north; or a mixture of things that can tolerate sun/shade if it’s east/west.
As for the stairs, while I’m not a fan of vinyl railings you really do need a safety rail of some kind, or otherwise extend the stairs/deck out a bit more so the stairs are shallow and easier to climb/descend. I absolutely love all the trees and shade you have, I just think a gardener or landscape designer could have SUCH fun with your blank slate here!
Yes! Ornamental trees could definitely break up the big blank spaces!!!
Where those dead bushes are under the window to the left of the front door, I would remove them and plant some perennials/annuals.
Part of the appeal of ranch houses is the simplicity and profile. The house itself looks great and in good upkeep. I like the fact your roof is clean .
The biggest issue with the landscaping is the green bushes seem to have grown different sizes and are placed in what look like random spots.
Thank you. I appreciate this!
Looks good to me
Turn all that grass into vegetable garden
Kill the lawn and plant a meadow of native plants and flowers.
I'd paint it and hang shutters and add new landscaping.
https://inmyownstyle.com/exterior-makeover-dated-ranch-to-modern-farmhouse.html
That’s lovely!
Paint it. Add shutters and a coordinating door.
From what I can tell from the picture, the landscaping looks somewhat “dated.” It looks like what was very common where I grew up (central Ohio) in the late ‘60s and ‘70s.