A proper lawn and cultivated garden, with some trees, shrubs and flowers, also planters on the tarmac, to soften it.
Plants cascading off the balcony and more planters, with varying height plants, including tall ones.
Pillars or arches underneath the balcony to make it look less stick outy, possibly glaze some of the underneath space or else just stick some rattan veranda furniture there. More plants, maybe a grapevine.
I think all of that would improve the outside and make it look more homely (NB to Americans, I am using this word in the British sense)
it is a certain style, so I don't think you can disguise it too much, just make it look its best.
Inside, I agree with the person who said a colour wash over all the wood, as it's too much for my taste.
I personally would want a lot more colour on the walls and in the furnishings. The windows are large, so the light is ample, therefore I would want to do a dark colour drench.
if it was my house, a lot of the walls would be taken up by books, which I like, I think it helps makes a place feel cosy.
Downstairs looks like a brilliant utility space, but nonetheless, I would change some of it to more living space, as it doesn't feel like part of the house.