Century concrete brick, Arriscraft stone, tinted mortar, fluted columns combined to
create an established look

In any case, all I could suggest was refacing with different bricks/stones, hardcoat stucco or a wash, though these are usually applied to make a home look more established.

Any pertinent thoughts appreciated.

If I were you, I'd probably start out by asking the client to point out some "modern" houses that she likes to you so that you are sure you understand what SHE means by "modernize" before you even start making suggestions.

That said, if she is really looking for a modern concrete box, perhaps you could stucco over the top of all the brick and stone work to hide those "horribly old-fashioned" keystone lintels and all the textures. Remove all the trim from around the windows and doors so everything is flat and smooth. Then paint all the stucco a flat white except for the one inset wall where the front door is. Depending on your client's tastes, that wall could be painted a soothing earth tone or a crayola bright color... whichever she prefers for "contrast".

Extend those twin arching roof sections forward by a couple of feet each. (Paint the undersides of the extended roof sections to match the color of the contrasting wall section.) Also replace the roof over the garage doors with a flat slab roof that also juts out from the wall several feet. Ixnay the porch columns and extend the porch roof forward so that it is even with the front of the garage. If the porch roof or the garage roof need extra support, use steel cable attached to the walls above and "hang" the roofs instead of using supporting columns. Replace all those prairie windows with plain glass. Replace the front door and sidelights with twin solid glass doors with frosted glass in them. And, replace the carriage style garage doors with some modern looking garage doors made with aluminum and frosted glass panels. Oh, and pull up that stone porch and the brick paver driveway and pour cement instead.

Basically, get rid of everything beautiful and textured and replace it with the flattest, most utilitarian substitute you can think of and VOILA... "modern."

And, if by now you can't see my tongue wedged firmly in my cheek, I'm just not trying hard enough.

Personally, I'm of Hollyspring's view. For a true modern, start over elsewhere.

Here's an example of one several blocks of away. It features a detached garage with transluscent glass doors and an indoor swimming pool. (No leaves, falling branches, raccoons and deer to worry about.)

The designer I've contacted said he will get back to me next week. In the meantime, I will take bevangel's astute advice and ask the potential client what she likes, with examples.
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Contemporary colonial. Real estate speak covers a lot of ground, eh.

The left lower bay would have to be moved forward, along with the window and deeper jamb provided on the inside. The columns are 95% decorative--just four small anchors in the porch tile. Still, I'd probably add some support to be sure if a couple of roofers, say, start walking around there some day.

This would also be an opportunity to redo the existing EIFS face sealed bays, already showing signs of deterioration.

Funny, how a treatment used at least 3,000 years ago is called "modernizing" by many people when what they really mean is I want change.

French Provincial style stucco, 5,100 s.f. 100' frontage (approx.) Don Mills area of Toronto, Ontario. Valued at C$2.2m.

Elevation 2 may be more in line with the owner's ideas.

Natural stone and stucco with cast surrounds and a band at the second floor; additional columns beside the garage matching columns now on piers on the porch; Second Empire wrought iron atop the porch.

I'm thinking I'd also add cast surrounding the entry. I wonder if the greater detailed facade will clash with the plainer sides, one of which is in plain view to the street.

I guess the colour is up to me.

But with one further change: A mansard style roof scabbed on to give it greater apparent height. (See first pic to realize how the roof currently recedes too much from view as the slope is not great.

Now to speak with a designer who can tell me if that's possible and what it would look like.

When it's done they want to resell and build a larger home.

Have they tried to sell it as is?

I know you don't get the painted brick thing but swapping windows, painting the brick, fixing the portico, and raising the hipped roof a bit could look much better for not tons of money . . .

Unfortunately, the best solution is not available as the roof is at the limit of the permissible zoning. That's why other builders use mansard roofs and or massive gables to camouflage the sloped roof at the rear. My thought is that the projecting garage makes any Mansard design problematic.

What the owners want is to be more competitive with newer homes in the area, such as the smaller very nicely done one below listed at $2.995

Have they tried to sell it as is?

That was actually my suggestion. (Hard sell is not my game!)

(I have to confess mrs. worthy didn't like the roof design from day one but I insisted it would be fine. Men are so stubborn.)

Front Elevation 1 it is. But she still wants more "oomph". All I can think of is adding full eaves returns and maybe windows in the gables and/or copper details in the peak of the gables.

Full Gable Return

Filagree woodwork at peak of gable. Reproducible in copper?

She now wants a copper portico roof and copper over the garage roof.

And EIFS quoins over the brick corners and EIFS detailing around the windows to match the details around the EIFS bay windows. I can't find any home that utilizes this combination of materials. But I may be misled, as I've seen painted wood mimicking stone over Palladian windows on a brick house.

Technically doable. Personally, not my choice.

None of these houses are capable of being "modern" That's their charm. They are very wonderful and appealing just as they are.

I'm no architect, but I think the house would look a lot better with a roof that had some pitch to it, but I guess that is not an option at this point.

If the client really wants Modern I'd go with a flat roof and carry the strong vertical elements top to bottom. (with the help of an architect!)

It would look better if it were the same height as the one on the left, with the little detail under the window the same size. At least paint it to have the same height white and use a grey that blends with the house for the lower portion.

Yep.

My bad. During construction, I heightened the elevation 2.5 feet but didn't have the roof redesigned. We couldn't just change the pitch due to height limitations.

The [bay] over the garage looks strange resting on that flimsy little roof. ...
It would look better if it were the same height as the one on the left...

Agreed. Another one of my on-the-fly deviations from the original design. Carpenter's idea.

If a buyer wants your house bad enough, they will buy it

They bought it nearly three years ago. Now they want renovations.

in this economy a paying customer is a paying customer..no matter what they want done.

Bingo!

FWIW, I think it looks great as it is. IMO it would be a complete waste of money to "modernize". That being said, it isnt my money, and in the end, if you get to do the work, you make a buck.