Have you considered moving? It looks like a nicely kept, if humble, little suburban home. I'm not sure it's feasible to make profound changes to its basic appearance, and I can't tell what's bugging you about the landscaping.

It sounds like you're about to undertake, "remuddeling". That's when you do renovations that actually detract from the homes appearance.
Ron

I wouldn't side over the brick. Brick homes are so much more an asset than siding. The UV really attacks all types of siding,causing fading. You have none of these problems. Maybe take the photo to a good nursery and they will help you design a great landscaping plan. I think you have a cute house,there.

I see a nice brick house with a deep overhang and overgrown shrubs. I'm sure a nursery could help you with a new landscaping plan that would not dwarf the house.

You could enclose the carport and side that portion; could use some of the salvaged brick from the back of the carport for trim onthe front. This would also make the house look larger. Looks like you'd have a "car-and-a-half" garage out of that space.

I don't see anything wrong with the house - in fact my advice would be to lose some of the overgrown evergreens so you can see it better. And trim some of the branches off that gangly (dogwood?) to the right.

To me, the main disadvantage of brick is that it absorbs the sun all day in the summer and makes it hotter in the inside in the evening. With your generous overhangs, it appears this may not even be an issue. Many people would love to have such an attractive, maintenance free exterior as this house.

If you have your hopes on a different look, I would sell this one and find what you want. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding a buyer.

Your house looks very much like many in my neighborhood (in Atlanta). I'd suggest walking round and looking at what your neighbors have done -- at least where I am, it seems that many options for altering these ranches have been tried over the years.

I wouldn't side over the brick as brick is usually considered an asset. One thing I have seen a lot is to paint the brick -- a light green-ish grey is popular and looks good, makes these houses much lighter. But then you'll have all that paint maintenance to do.

Closing in the carport with siding to either create a garage or a new bedroom (or a master with bedroom and bathroom) is another popular change. This has the advantage of bringing your washer/dryer room entry (I'm guessing this is the door to the back of the carport) inside the house.

Skylights may be nice to bring in some extra light.

I think the planting overall looks good. I'd trim or even remove those rounded green shrubs and replant with something less sculpted. You could also consider some nice brick edging to flower beds, etc. Or even a 2-level tiered flower bed as it looks like you have a couple of steps up to the front door.

There was a thread recently about atomic ranch exteriors that might have some ideas for you. I wouldnt try to make this ranch something its not and think it looks good as is.

Not spending a lot of money and doing some of it yourself you can "update this home" in very simple ways...

1. Remove metal railing and columns
2. Replace metal columns with squared columns painted to match your trim
3. Re-do the porch area in a slate or limestone in a pattern that will continue down the torn out concrete path leading to the door...
4. Rip out all the heavy bushes...heck, get rid of all foundational plants unless there's a hydrangea or azalea hidden in there...
5. Replace the plants with one specimen tree (lace magnolia weeping down would look nice in that first bed to your left as you go up the new path)...surround it with mondo grass for low maintenance and plant some azaleas behind it in a staggered (don't do 'rows') row...put one about 1 -2 feet behind the other and let the front two sit up front...clear?
6. On the other side of the path put an anchoring holly...maybe a nellie holly? Even a weeping yaupon would help soften the corner...then fill in with about 3 of your standards (helleri holly, gumpo azalea, 1 or two hydrangea...and fill in the edges or soften them with liriope or monkey grass...
7. Finally, put a knock out door on the house...paint it a nice buckhead green, or leave it a nice American Standard stain...update the lighting fixture outside the door and you'll have a great new look! :)

Tara

Right now, at a quick glance, what you see when you view your nice little house is a large flat roof, meatball shrubs, glaring white trim, and too big expanse of grey cement driveway. Get rid of the meatball shrubs and resist creating new meatballs in their place. Naturaly shaped plants in a pleasing pattern will do a lot to help this house. The house itself is mostly fine. I do think a different colored roof with a bit more architectural interest to it could add a lot to the overall look without detracting from the integrity of the house. A lot of what's visible on a ranch house is the roof, and that's one wide flat and blah expanse. Using really good quality architectural shingles that add some dimension to that flat expanse would be a subtle detail that brings the whole thing together. I'd also consider painting the trimwork something other than white. Against that dark brick, it just stands out a bit too much. Maybe a softer cream would still give you contrast without shouting. Consider having your driveway professionally stained a more natural color, or perhaps even an aftermarket concrete artist can skim stamp a decorative pattern in it. Brick pattern would work, in a slightly different shade than your home's brick. Continue the stained/stamped brick onto the path to the door. The driveway and the roof are the most visable expanses of space that you see and changing them will make the biggest impact.

I would definitely keep the brick. It adds value and makes the house feel more solid. I would say the first step is to dig up those bushes and then retake the picure, looking at it anew. My initial feeling would be to replace the metal posts with something "solid" and then maybe spend some cash on creating an entry way/portico over the door with more posts creating a columned entry way and maybe even extend the bottom step out a bit? This would also break up the roof line, drawing the eye to the entrance and away from the overhang.

Thanks for all the suggestions!