I think replacing your garage doors is an excellent place to start!

Since this is the side that faces the street, I think you want some windows, just to add a bit of friendliness.

Here is a first thought:

You mention that the entrance is on the side behind the garage -- I think I'd focus first on drawing attention to that entrance.

What a charming home! Its really wonderful!

Painting the whole house would be a dramatic change -- perhaps one of our talented computer virtual photo wizards might help out with some color changes??

I'd love to see it in a soft creamy yellow OR a classic dark sage green.

And for calling attention to the entrance -- how about a gorgeous pots of flowers in bright colors -- or even a simple white? Perhaps add landscape lighting along that pathway to the front door?

Thanks All!
mclarke - WOW I love those garage doors - what is the brand/model - it would be a huge improvement over the current door!

I would love to be able to draw attention to the front door - Maybe large pots of flowers will do the trick - I'll get some this weekend (hopefully I'll be able to keep them alive since I don't have much of a green thumb).

I'm intrigued by the thought of creamy yellow and sage green - I think they'd both probably work with the brown roof & windows that I don't plan on changing!

Thanks so much your ideas!

I'm probably the only one who likes the brown :) I like that it blends with the environment and it gives you so much opportunity with plantings and let Nature do the talking.

I agree that focusing on your front entrance and making it more obvious is the place to start. Perhaps making the walkway wider and adding some interest with plants and boulders? In general, I would add blooming shrubs and a japanese maple or two for some fiery color.

Is the front of the house actually the side of the photo we are seeing (i.e, is it a side load garage)? Could you post a pic of the front door? Looks like you have a very pretty lot!

I really like the brown too and it look like a lovely lot with nice mature trees. The gargage door that mclarke posted is really nice and would add some nice detail.

I think landscaping would do wonders for the setting.

I love your home! There's something very graceful about the lines and the approach.

Is that a gorgeous porch you have there to the right hand side? THAT'S one of the first things i would work on highlighting the garage doors posted are to die for also).

Those gorgeous trees give your house all the curb appeal that I need, though I do love the garage doors that mclarke posted.

I do think that keeping with the natural environment is key. Part of your houses appeal is that cabin in woods feel. It looks like its wood siding? I personally wouldn't paint that. Perhaps a thorough power wash before restaining would lighten it back up?
That said garage doors that are a lighter brown, like the siding, would stand out more against the trim, with windows would add quite a bit of interest. Wood doors would be fitting with the surroundings but I think are pretty pricey. You could put some lights on either side of the garage doors.
Its hard to see but there appears to be a big blank garage wall in the "front" - maybe you could do something there? An huge oversize oval grapevine wreath with some flowers as spot of bright color or the large rusty barn stars - both have been used a lot but all that means is that people like them and theres nothing wrong with that:) Maybe some really large wrought iron fixtures with flower boxes on the bottom?
Is there a garden bed with the light post in it? Does it run between the cement of the driveway and sidewalk? You could definately dress that up, small rocks, flowers, a flower urn for interest and to set off the walk.

I like the way your house blends into its environment too. I think you just need to bring some color, via plantings, into the picture. The bed under the pines (is that what those are?) would be a great place to start. What zone are you in?

I love your idea to focus on changing the garage door and I like Mclarke's suggestion for a carriage door.

Here is a link that might be useful: more carriage doors

Thanks for all the advice! I'm surprised that the brown on brown on brown scheme is so popular - I wish I could learn to live with it but I think it just blends in a little too much. Jen9 - that is the front view of the house (not a side entrance garage) - so the "front door" actually faces my neighbor's house and isn't visible from the street. Estreya - yes, that is a screened in porch on the right - it wraps around the side & back of the house, but most of it is blocked by the fence from the front, so I don't know if there is much more I can do there.

Sounds like I definitely need to work on the landscaping to bring some color and interest to the front of the house - I don't know what zone I'm in but I live in Maryland if that helps. I do love the carriage style garage doors. If I kept the siding brown would it look odd if I got painted carraige style garage doors and painted the trim on the house and maybe added shutters?

Thanks again for the great advice!

I'm not usually a fan of brown houses, but I love your house stained or painted brown.

If it was my home, I'd bring the bed out all the way to the driveway (with a beautiful curve to it) and put an interesting stone or brick path meandering through the trees. A beautiful garden bench that is out of the ordinary, perhaps paired with an outdoor table would be lovely.

We have used the services of a landscape architect at two of our homes, and it has worked wonders. A really good landscape architect can give you a design that is low maintenance, drought and pest resistant, and holds year round interest. Both times we paid for the design and installed the landscape ourselves, so it was very affordable.

Your home would lend itself so well to some wonderful landscaping, including lighting.

I think if you paint your home a more vibrant color, then you will emphasize the fact that the garage is what we mostly see from the front. By leaving it brown and emphasizing the landscaping, you will play up your home's strength, which is that it blends so well into the setting.

I think I'd start with some shade plants in the area to the right of the drive. You can find a lot of different colors and sizes in hostas and the thrive in the shade. They come in blues, greens, yellows and all variations. They'd be beautiful in that spot. Then check out more shade plants that bloom or have different textures and leaf shapes and colors.

Maybe you could paint your front door for that pop of color. Have you thought of trimming the lower limbs on the trees over the screened porch to let more light in? I love the setting and the way the house seems to be part of it.

Check with your local gardening center about your Gardening Zone, soil, water and light requirements for the best plants for your area. I think you may be in Zone 6 (maybe 6b or even 7a) but do check it out! It is SO worth the times and effort to gain some basics before you start a garden!

When you go to the garden center do take along photos of your home -- and tell them about the sunlight/lowlight issues -- plus find out about local soil. Adding lots of compost and organic materials always helps out!

Beautiful home, it reminds me of house in our neighborhood that I love. This is what I would do:
Paint the house olive green and dark rust (or similar "craftman colors" or don't paint, house is very nice as it is).
Change the garage doors like the ones that mclark describes and put lights on each side rather than on top. You also might want to consider a decorative pergola with brackets above the garage door. Landscaping works wonders also. If you can, get landscape plans for planting that will give year round interest. Some thoughts on landscaping: I love trees, but air has to flow, so I would prune those trees up and every other branch (or take out the middle one -- I love trees and we have lots of them but sometimes they can give the house a very dark appearence); I would turn the path (bluestone or aged brick would look nice) and make the bed by the lampost larger and plant day lilies, hostas, astiblles, lady's mantle, pansies and other shade loving plants/flowers. rhodendrons, azalas and hydrangas all do well in shade. You might also consider an climbing flowing vine for you lampost. I would place a boulder just near the path entrance. nice house, enjoy it : )

I love your house. It looks like a secluded cabin in the woods.

I do see what you are saying about your garage door though. There is a spindle-like tree right in front of the garage. Between that and the lamp post I would plant a bushy everygreen to help hide the garage.

mcu, you asked where I found the garage doors. I found them on the website of "Best Garage Doors." Link below:

Here is a link that might be useful: best garage doors

I'm with Domesticah: elevate the trees by removing the lower brances, or take out one tree. Opening up the entrance to light and air will be a big improvement.

I like the brown! It has a warm, rustic, friendly look.

I like it brown as well, and I also like the slender tree by the garage. I think it needs landscaping along the lines of what has been suggested above, and the garage door that has been posted has great style. I'd go easy (understated) on stuff like walkway lights and other non-botanical additions. The house has a serenity that doesn't need much else.

Your house is so lovely. I agree with Daisyinga and bring the curve out or create a curve. Yes by all means put in a compact Japanese maple in the curve so your light shines on it. On Cape Cod we use pine needle (makes sense under the pines) mulch and have rhododendrons among pines. Hostas are absolutely wonderful for color and taking up space. On the right side of the garage it looks like you have yews or small bushes. How about something that grows upright to fill up that space and create a less garagy look? You live in a lovely state and again your house is beautiful!

Other than routine maintenance, I would not change the colour of the house. I love the way that it nestles into its surroundings and rests there.

I don't know where you are and what grows in your area, but you would likely be able to find shrubs or plants to suit your climate.

This is just a visual to help you see how reorienting your walkway and adding some plants could direct people to your front door.

I think I would put a pergola just in front of the garage, using two posts and a short upper structure whose horizontal joists are only about 3 ft. from the face of the garage. I would make sure there is some space between the facade of the garage and the ends of the pergola joists. I would then train some sort of native vine that is fast growing up both posts of the pergola and across the top. This will give some depth to your garage.

I would also make a flower bed around the large tree to the right of the garage, with a nice curved stone path leading around to the porch. On the side door of the garage I would put a half-round canvas awning in a sage green.

I like the pergola idea proposed by domesticah and kswl. I'd put it in front of the garage with vines growing up the posts. I'd also extend the arbor/pergola with a peak over entry walkway. If your entrance is behind the garage, a great pergola will help downplay the garage doors and play up the hidden entry. I'll link a picture of an arbor, though your peak would be off on one side, not centered.

I like the brown in your wooded setting, but another earthy shade would be nice, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Entry arbor

I also like the brown color in your setting.
We have houses here that are stained brown like yours and they have used a soft red around the window and garage door moldings. It is really a nice look. I've tried to find a picture and so far no luck, but I'll post if I find what I'm talking about.

I found this picture on the Building Forum that is similar to what I'm talking about.
It is near the bottom, the house with the steel roof.

Here is a link that might be useful: building forum picture

Before you remove the brown you MUST ... please:>) ... find a photo of Martha Stewart's brown house with the light blue- green-almost turquoise trim. It was a vacation house on a lake, if I recall correctly. I always loved that look. I did a quick google with no luck, but have seen many photos of that house over the years. The brown with the proper lighter accents would fit so beautifully into your woodsy scene.

Lily Pond! That's the name of M.S.'s brown shingle house in, I think, The Hamptons.It has this beautiful almost turquoise trim...shutters, etc. Check it out via google. Nice work, homemaker. Would love to see more photoshopping on this lovely home!

Thank you all for the ideas! I looked up the Martha Stewart house and its gorgeous - if only my house could be a fraction of that :) - I'm no Martha that's for sure! I don't know how to photoshop, but I did draw on the picture and I think I like it! What do you think?

{{!gwi}}

Maryland - you should be in zone 7. I also like the brown; it's fitting for the style of house.

As for landscaping, you can lighten up the heaviness of the old pines with the addition of a lacy dogwood or one of the many beautiful varieties of Japanese Maples out at the sunny edge of the stone retaining wall. The lamppost bed would look nice with something simple like Perovskia or Walker's Low Nepeta - both have silver grey foliage with lavender blue spikes of flowers. I'd resist the temptation to color up with the usual assortment of rhododendrons and azaleas - beautiful, but just everywhere in the Mid-Atlantic. Sometimes less is more.

..Dang! Just when I was gonna say azaleas! Jap. maples and Dogwood would be wonderful. Wish we'd get more PhotoShopping on here...especially would love to see more with a light shade (turquoise!) trim work done and more on a walkway up to front door. The little bit here is just whetting my appetite for more!:>)

If you are in Maryland, I think I can guess where!! I too love the brown and how it fits the trees and the land. I wouldnt do anything to the house untilI landscaped the yard. Then see what you may want to do. If you live where I think you do, in the city of literary named streets, you have very strict covenants. ;) Sue also in MD

LOL Sue - you definitely know where I live, in the J.R.R. Tolkien section of town :) We do have strict covenants, but others in my neighborhood have changed the color of their exteriors and it made a big difference, so I was hoping to as well. But it sounds like the feedback from this board is to leave it as is, and focus on the landscaping so I'll have to rethink that!

Ha! I just knew it!!! LOL. Gotta love those names! I really do think the relationship of the house and land works as it was intended. I think landscaping will really do the trick here and enhance your house beautifully. We are just about neighbors, just the other side of EC. Sue