For example, there has been a movement from darker, cherry wood kitchens to lighter and brighter ones, often with a modern-farmhouse twist.

It is made of wood and wat to close to the house for my liking.

@Roy Cleeves @Melanie Dupuis - Thank you so much for your responses!

It’s gotten rather nasty over the years and I’m conflicted between just replacing the carpet or refinishing the wood underneath?

Is this a camping in the woods idea or something more comfortable. 

Knock on wood its going fast and well.

Same 70s carpet, kitchen, wood paneling throughout, and an unfinished basement that already has roughed in plumbing for an additional bathroom, never been painted since he owned it, a hilly gravel driveway that only 4 wheel drive vehicles can safely navigate to get out, unless it is re-graveled every year because of erosion.  

To solve that dramatic deficit, I picked up the Evelyn Wood Reading Program from Nightingale-Conant which I noticed is not there any longer, but they do offer another speed reading program which I'm sure is just as good and that you can find here.

SFH are through the roof in my neck of the woods.

Wood steps are definitely an option I am considering.