Lovely house! Just my opinion, but I would say no to shutters.

I personally don't like that door with your house. I don't like the oval inset or the floral design. I would look for one that is similar to your windows - rectangular window with panes.

I wouldn't gussie up the house's good lines with inappropriate shutters or fake vents. When you add gutters, that will add some heft to the roof line and make the house look more finished.

You're adding 6 large columns and a porch rail -- that will add enough visual busy-ness, and assuming they'll be white, will be the focal point of the house.

A house near me is a soft gold with red brick. It's very nice and a little different. Looks good in all seasons.
Other than that, all your home needs is landscaping. It's going to be lovely!

Ahh, thank you both so much for the compliments and the feedback.:-) That's exactly the kind of info I'm looking for.

Graywings - Something like this?
{{!gwi}}

Or this?
{{!gwi}}

Or this?

No shutters or fake anything, please, and I agree that door (and light) doesn't coordinate with the style of your house.

Can we see the columns and railing you've chosen?

I would not use the porch railing. That will close in the front too much. Just the columns will make your house more regal looking, and not too country.

My preference would be for the third door you show in your alternate choices. As for porch railings, how high the porch floor is from grade level determines whether or not you need a railing. Since you mention a railing choice already being made, I'm assuming that your porch flooring is more than 30" above grade.

What kind of lights do you think would look good? I struggle with stuff like this, so I'm open to suggestions. Those lights are some that our lighting designer pointed out and thought would look good on our house. I see a lot like them on houses around here, but we haven't ordered yet so we could still change if you think some others would be better.

Here's a picture of something like what we're doing with the columns and rails. Our porch is over 40' wide and 12 1/2' deep. We're building in the country on an acre with a pond, so a country look is fine with us.;-) There are a lot of newer houses in the area that look similar in style to this.

I guess maybe it's a regional thing, but almost all houses around here are built on slabs and do not have elevated porches. There is no safety reason for rails on most houses, they're used more for looks.

How about something similar to brutuses' front doors and lights in this post:

Here is a link that might be useful: Just a few posts into the thread

Thanks for the suggestions, Greenthumbfish. I like her lights and beautiful front doors. Maybe this is another post altogether, but I'll ask anyway:-) What color should our front door be? Inside we'll have painted trim. Floors are white oak and will be stained medium dark. Here's a picture of the entry from inside... Thanks for your help.:-)

I actually like the solid door with no windows. You already have a lot of glass in the porch area. I would get a solid fibreglass door and stain it maghoney color. I also like the railing idea if if you dont need it. I say no shutter either, and like the colors you have chosen. Your house will be lovely.

Thank you Roseabbey.:-) It's nice to hear reassurance that the house is going to look good. We've never built before, and I'm finding myself 2nd guessing everything now that we're getting down close to the end. A solid door would certainly help our budget. So, you think it would look good to stain it even with all the trim around it inside being white?

I know it is hard, we have built 10 houses so I know what you are going through. I would paint the door on the inside white, same as your trim and stain the outside only the mahoney color. We did that with our door, there are many who have done the same. There was a thread here before about doors being different on the inside and out, it is a commmon practice.

I personally like the idea a darkly stained board and batten shutters (not everywhere though) and make them fairly wide with little or no space in between. Depends on what you look out at or visa versa , but I like the solid door, although I am a person who loves the outside in, so hmmmmm.

Thank you for the continued help.:-) I really appreciate it.

Oopsie - The view out our front door and porch area is a beautiful one, lots of trees, a windy street and a pond with a fountain. My only hesitation about a front door with glass is the privacy issue. Not so much security, as I think if someone's going to break in they're going to break in. But, I do think about not being able to sneak up to the door and peek through the peep hole to see if I want to answer or not. I have always loved the doors with clear glass with divided grills like I posted above, but the privacy thing sways me away from them. Hmm... A solid door would be cheaper and more private, and I'm glad to hear that at least some of you think it would look okay.