My personal favorite is porcelain tile as it's practically bulletproof and aesthetically acceptable here in Texas.

If the tile and backer beneath it is in good shape, have you considered just reglazing the tile to improve the aesthetics?

In a C area, you can significantly increase the value and rents of the building with a few badly needed upgrades, just to provide some necessary exterior appeal.The major aesthetic liabilities to overcome are as follows, one at a time... the building sits just a few feet off the street and has a power pole complete with lotsa wires planted super close.

Here are some of my options:1) Landscaping - Putting in a nice fence and replanting the lawn will be great aesthetic touches and I can do them at low cost (less than $3,000 and a few weekends of solid effort).  

On decorating, my first reaction is that the aesthetics in the back don't match the front elevation and the interior, which both look great.

Historic windows are not necessarily inferior to new, and in most cases are aesthetically superior (which may be why Ms.

They are more or less equal durability-wise so it is really an aesthetic choice (and a “modern-ness” choice)

If done correctly (with windows, nice stone finish material, etc), it could be an architectural asset as well.With some proper professional landscaping (maybe also cut out a planter along the side of house), and addressing the driveway issues, that should eliminate the aesthetic liabilities and give you an amazing amount of curb appeal.There are other possibilities for completely redesigning the approach to the entry (straight off the front with a right-angle landing and a gabled portico), but would involve a lot more demo-ing, building, and expense.Similar to this:http://www.houzz.com/photos/17493/Becker-Architect...

A nice gray color of paint would look nice in this room with the white columns, giving you a clean aesthetic.

Not the most aesthetically pleasing but an option and more DIY friendly than metal railings.Good luck.