General contractors can build up a new facade that makes your house look fantastic, while diverting attention from things like vinyl siding. Personally, I have never found vinyl siding to be the worst thing on Earth, but I am in the minority.
For facade refurbishment, in my part of the U.S. (Seattle, Washington), there is a cottage industry of contractors who slap up wood facades that have a distinctly "Pacific Northwest" look, all while covering up Sixties-era Brady Bunch flat stucco boxes underneath.
Talk to local contractors. But unless you are an architect or otherwise experienced in such matters, do not force the issue on contractors who don't have a clue what you're talking about. Deal only with contractors who have done this kind of pre-sale facade work before.
