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decoenthusiaste A change of materials and/or paint will help.

maryannes I have a 4-level split that had white siding and burgundy shutters. Hubby and I chose a dark green siding from Gentek called Moonlit Moss and we installed new windows and doors. The darker siding made it look so much better

maryannes What if you put stone on the whole front under the overhang of the upstairs? Just side the upstairs in the front.

TJP Designs and Construction LLC If you do away with the shutters, you may want to consider replacing upper windows with larger windows!

pierbg Thank you all for your comments. Yes we will be using larger windows for the upstairs and we had thought of the wider window frames with some contrasting color in them?
I'm worried that if we do stone across that whole area it will be too much ? Did you have particular stone color or siding color in mind?
Thanks again!

maryannes These are some examples of colors

Landscape Design Group Inc. A water course of stone approx 3'-4' at the foundation would be a nice way to introduce the material without creating the "heavy" look an entire stone facade. Then transition into stucco or another material for the balance of the house. Also adding a portico at the front entrance would create a stronger visual impact.

Beyond the physical house, I would recommend introducing a well planned landscape. (ie evergreens to anchor the house and create year round visual interest / structure.)

pierbg The comments have been great! We have decided on a vinyl cedar siding on the front and a couple of places on the back in Vanilla Bean by Foundry siding and plan to have Bone colored trim and the rest of the siding will be Lite Maple by Cambridge. The front door is chocolate brown as you see. We think we will add some stone into the garden/ driveway area. My question now is, should we do shutters again or try some other heavier mouldings around the windows in bone or do a third color around the windows ? Any ideas?
Thanks!

judyg I am in late on this discussion, but just an observation…your lower roof cuts into the other, taller portion of your house. I can't find a good picture to show you, but what if you added a porch railing effect, in line with that gutter and disguised the overhang. Then do long windows in the higher peak? (boy, that is such a tough description to follow).

Mega Builders As was stated above, it's a matter of material and color selection. I will add the obvious - and budget.
Here is an example of a dreary and dated exterior transformed. This, however, is extensive and involved and will require a budget correspondingly. Please excuse the imperfection of the presentation - I put these images together right now for this answer.
Good luck!

pierbg judyg, I like your suggestion; long windows there would really change the feeling of the house wouldn't they?! I'm not sure I can visualize exactly what the railing should look like but I'll definitely give it some thought.
Thanks Mega Builders as well, I don't think we have the budget necessary for such a big reno right now. I do love the different peaks along the roofline though.
Thanks!
Brenda

libradesigneye I'm with judy - i think you do best to head away from tradition and go modern. Usting some of the things you've already found. Love the idea of cedar look siding all around with no shutters and minimal window trim.

What if where the split happens up front right where the house steps back, you add a modern run of trellis from left of front door to right edge / end of garage.

Imagine 2' deep, a horizontal run of paralell vertical 2 x 2 across the entire width of the step back. This would be mounted right under the step so you aren't sure it really happens from the front. All elements spaced evenly with equal gaps between them - so you have a little sheltered feeling and also some more attention to the entry door. Stain the new wood trellis mossy green as a nod to the roof, paint your eaves and gutters mossy green.

Use some modern industrial not traditional supports - like galvinized pipe or steel and elect parallel lines instead of crosses and rafter tails. look at this [houzz=
] - the trellis should be more like the Palo Alto trellis above but this shows modern ext. w/ finished look of windows w/ minimal trim.

I'd use very little stone in the front - run it so the top of the stone lines up with the top of the "basement" windows (not "over" them) and run it all the way across to meet the steps and wrap the left side of house / step it down to just cover exposed concrete foundation and let it peter out when concrete does.

I would also (if budget allows) put stone on the back where the house goes under (house wall steps under) only on the left and wrap around the adjacent side to the same level but again, without stepping up except to cover exposed concrete foundation.

The more important use in my mind is in the pavement at the front entry and in some less expensive site walls in the rear that will visually "ground the house" for less.

I see your one screen that has horizontal elements and it gave me more modern ideas. What would you think about using some of these horizontal modern fence techniques to rebuild the screen above the high deck, and any non-horizontal screen walls you need in the rear. See the example - See http://www.kirsch-korff.com/Pages/fences.htm#modern_horizontal_wood_fence

Where you have a wood screen wall out back now, and some grade changes, build a stone retaining site wall and step it up under the deck above to "found" the posts from the upper deck at a much higher elevation (they look like stork legs now -they need to be fatter like 6 x 6, and stop higher ideally on / at thick stone wall).

Since you have the green roof - you could stain all the new wood elements a deeper mossy green and you should choose an earth-tone / brown family stone with some caramel tones to pick up your wood siding. I would suggest a profile like rubble / dry laid walls / so you give it an organic feel. Either a wood look or dark brown garage so it recedes/ blends.

Consider a pop of color at the front door. With the wood tones, and green echoes, this is the place for a complimentary turquoise blue. You could paint all the window sashes a softer aqua - wood and aqua tones were made for each other. In the long run, you might want to try a Crestview modern door - they would be fabulous here. Voila! Modern Lake house - wood, water and forest colors!

You could also widen your front stoop over to the drive with the step running the full width down to the existing walk - modern and more useable.

If I had a street view, I'd find another place for a low stone wall to hold the mailbox or the address number perpendicular to the street. Send off for modern house numbers in the bronze of your new fixtures to anchor on the stone there.

pierbg Wow! LibraDesign, I love your ideas and yes that is the direction we will be going with the house, modern and natural. So many good ideas and so cohesive for the whole project. We will definitely be taking your advice on colors, the screening in the back, the wider stoop and stone wall near the road and I'd love to do the trellis but have my husband to convince yet! We love mid century decor and I think it would set the scene so well for our indoor look.
Thanks for the great advice and such careful thought!