I don't see a problem with your house, the sectional panels on the windows can easily be removed, your white shutters will then add to the Hamptons look you love. The Black pool fencing is a positive addition

Have to say I love those unique windows which are part of the character of that period,don't make your house look like a lot of other cookie cutter houses. Save the money to spend indoors to get your total Hamptons look.

Have a look at "Somethings Gotta Give" the movie, that's the real Hamptons style Houses

i think the downstairs verandah looks much too skimpy for the house...is there a good view from upstairs? a long term investment could be to remove the existing verandah and add a deeper?two storey balcony with roof and smaller square posts across the full width of the house... replace the angled bay windows with square bay windows, keep the brick corbels and paint all the brick white with a dark trim ...replace the floor of the downstairs verandah and the cramped garden bed to create a deeper sitting area under the new verandah, pressure clean all the paving and add tall shrubs in pots to screen across the pool fence and emphasise the location of the entry gate

You can extend the Verandah by adding a pergola and removing those small garden beds and either adding a low deck or extending the current verandah paving.

Real Hamptons Houses use a lot of painted and unpainted shingles. The columns on your house fit perfectly with this style and your windows work as well. You already have a beautiful house and make too many changes

These are all Hamptons houses, check out the details you already have some to work on, even keeping the sectional windows

Yes weatherboard cladding over brickwork is expensive. The labour content is significant due to adjusting the eaves, window and door openings, etc. the list goes on. Then scaffolding and materials, it all adds up.

You could frame and cladding under the bay windows to hide the corbels and disguise jutting out look. Again not a cheap option. You could replace with standard windows and rework the walls to suit then render and paint brickwork to hide the changes so its comparable to the window on the far left of the balustrade. Again not a cheap option.

That must have been a very big shock! This would have been an Architect designed house?, follow up on it's history, we have a Modern 80"s Architect designed house which we love.

I would work with the unique features of your house and not cover them up. As per the following photo you could paint the sectional metal window dividers. Use your money to enjoy life with your young family, it's already a beautiful house with distinct features.