From this angle -- the placement of the trellis is NOT the actual problem -- the very dark brown trellis is very visually "heavy" -- compared to other elements on the façade.

The trellis IS at the correct height for the total height of the doorway/palladian window area but a few ideas may be the answer/s:

a)Paint the trellis in white or gray -- is the area around the doorway painted in white or gray -- hard to tell from the photo?

b)Extend the "legs" of the trellis -- leave the lanterns in their place and add a leg on each column to create a longer visual line ....and "ground" the trellis ......

c)If possible consider slightly larger lanterns -- the whole area is VERY tall -- and "longer" lanterns would guide the eye down slightly .....

Just some thoughts -- hope you don't mind!

It's a beautiful home!

I'm no expert, but I agree with teacats about the "legs" of the trellis. I think the reason it looks out of proportion is because it's hanging out in space, and the dark brown clashes with the grays.

I do think the shrub/tree on the right has gotten out of control. Can you even see out that window? I really like the contrast of the dark shrubs and light plants, but the tree is a distraction.

Your front façade has a lot going on and I would not have added the trellis. To make it work I would paint it the grey/taupe color or the new color you might pick. I would probably paint all the trim white, so that the windows don't stand out as empty rectangles, the trellis would also be white.

I agree that the trellis does not work there, at any height. A trellis is for more cottagey house, or in the back. It just doesn't fit with the style of your house. Of course, that's my opinion. It is just a very formal look and I think you need to go with it. I think some of the painting suggestions above would work. Your home is gorgeous, with lots of potential.

I am very appreciative of your opinions!

We did not like the exterior of our house when we bought it seven years ago. The two-story entry is not our style at all. It also didn't match the other homes in our neighborhood, which are casual and many are traditional southern homes with front porches. We are trying to "warm it up" and also blend it with the rest of the house. The brick is only on the front of the home. The sides and back are siding and much more casual than the original front of the home. I included a picture of the back.

We've even considered painting the brick so the house would be one main color front/sides/back. There are several painted brick homes in our area and they look beautiful. We've considered off white, tan, or gray (like the back siding color).

I'll follow up with a picture of the entire front of our house so you can see that the shutters are stained the same color as the trellis.

There's a house that's a new build nearby that has a trellis as you enter the front door and it looks fantastic. I'll try to get a picture of it to post.

The tree by the bay window is a japanese maple and has gotten so big it would be expensive to move. I'm hoping it grows so the bow is above the window!

Does seeing these pics bring other thoughts/suggestions to mind?

Thanks again!

Here's a photo of the entire front of the house.

Had used the online visualizer to consider painting the brick...

Here's another color possibility...

I agree with the idea to have legs going all the way down instead of the corbels. I like the trellis overall, but it has an unsupported feel (even though I'm sure it's built well and not really going to fall over). Actually, I rather like both the front and the back of your house. Love the brick color and love the gray. I do think you could consider painting the trellis gray, but I also like it wood now that I see you have wood shutters too.

Lighter...

last one. This is the color we have on the back and sides of the house.

Most people will probably say don't paint, but our house is painted brick and the paint job has lasted fifteen years and still looks perfect. I like the two mock-ups and think I prefer the first. Love your house from the back and totally get what you are saying about the style. In your first pic with paint, the trellis looks much better, I think.

You're right, the back doesn't match the front at all. I like the idea of painting the brick and matching the color of the whole house. A lighter, washed color will take away the formality and thereby allowing the trellis to fit in with the home. I don't really have a problem with the height of the trellis.

Either way, lovely home!

Have you considered changing out that door and frame around it to a darker one? I think changing the door and the frame around it might be just what you need to tie it all together and make the door anchor the space . Maybe paint the frame around the door the color of the trellis including the window frames by the door as well. And either paint the existing door the same dark brown or put a new on on in a dark stain wood with the tophalf of the door perhaps being glass. The glass would make it seem a little more casual to tie it in with the back.

I love your mock-ups of the painted brick--it's like a different house. I would do that in a heartbeat. Painted, your house looks charming, unified, and much warmer. Transformed.

We moved into our Colonial-style home in 1993. The previous owner had painted the brick about 5 years prior to that. We have never had to touch it up or to repaint any portion of it in all those years.

I love painted brick. To me it is usually prettier than natural brick. One of my favorite homes in our town is in what was "the area" if you were wealthy. The brick is painted a gorgeous light creamy yellow with black shutters. It looks stately and elegant but also maintains a coziness that is what I love to see in a home.

I really think painting your brick on an already lovely home will make it look even lovelier!

I think your house would look great with the brick painted! It seems that the color could unify some of the elements that seem detached as it is now.

Alternately, I would paint all of the areas which are the grey color such as the bay window a warmer reddish brown matching the shutters on the right side of the house and the trellis. I think that color (the brown) goes well with the brick and would warm up the appearance.

Essentially I think somehow you have to unify the overall appearance with color... reduce the total number of colors on the front of your house!

Wow, your first visual of painted house (Jul 30, 13 at 14:41) looks amazing. I never would have thought that color could make that big of a difference. As Tinan mentioned above, the color unifies elements that otherwise compete with each other.

I'm quite sure I prefer the first visual, but I am just curious if you were to keep the brick, but paint some of the competing elements a brick color, how it would look.

You might want to ask the question at the building a new home forum as there are a few architects that frequent there and may be able to suggest a kind of cover that would blend better with your house style...I understand where you're trying to go and I'm just not sure the pergola style is the best option for you. They may offer some better solutions.

And perhaps you can trim some of the lower branches away from the tree so you see a little more bay window.
I have to admit that the lighter colors above do make it look a lot better.

I like the back of the house a lot.

If you really don't like the double height portico on the front of the house, you may actually want to see how much it would cost to take it off. You might be surprised. I am not strongly suggesting it, but it could be worth looking at slicing off the top and putting a conventional, lower roof over the porch under the pseudo-Palladian window.

It's absolutely Not what you asked, but rather than try to make multiple, rather expensive changes to compensate for it, I would recommend at least pricing the removal of the offending element. It's what I would suggest to someone who asked what I would do with it. Feel free to ignore me completely.

I love the painted brick. The painted brick gives your house a little more southern style.

I think the trellis would be better if it was a pergola! I'd lower it so it was centered between the upper window and the door. If you add supports on the front then you could probably still use the existing lights. If not, I'd redo the lights in some manner that works with the trellis/pergola.

Something along this is what I'm thinking.

To all of you who are painted brink supporters, thank you! I was so excited to hear your comments and am excited to paint!

Madeyna, I think your idea about the door is a good one. A door stained the same color as the trellis and shutters and making the door frame higher and in that dark color could be the answer. Along with painting the house an off white.

Palimpest, I may see about taking off that part of the house because I think that could be the most ideal answer but I am afraid of the cost! But I really appreciate your honest answer!

Caroleoh, I like the pergola idea but our porch is tiny! The pergola would only go over stairs. We thought about building a wide one but we have those bay windows which we think would look weird.

Annie, I'm going to get my clippers out today and see if I can take down some branches. I also like the idea of posing the question on the new build forum.

I'd call an arborist (they usually come out for a free estimate) before taking clippers to the maple. Some maples can't be limbed up, and still look good, but they can be thinned out. If you want to leave the tree there, be careful what limbs you cut out before carefully thinking it thru.

I saw your question on the Remodeling forum re: mounting the lights on the wood.......if you extend the vertical 4x4 'leg' of the arbor all the way to the porch level, a hole can be drilled thru the 4x4, the electrical pulled thru the post and the light then placed on top of the 4x4.

As for which color I really like the one posted at 14:55 as "lighter".

The one that says it is the color of the back of the house - in the photo of the actual back of the house it looks much more green, in the mockup it looks a bit taupey. WHich is more representative?

I think I like that one too!

The color on the back of the house is actually a light gray with a little tan in it. No green, really.

If there's room, I'd add shutters to the second story windows.

First of all, I love brick and the low maintenance of it.
I usually say never paint brick, but in your case, it looks awesome. Your home is very nice from the front view and very nice from the back, but the two just don't mesh - two totally different styles.

There is a big old Georgian style home in a wealthy area about an hour from me that was dark brick and they painted it white about 25 years ago. It still amazes me when I pass that house - has a southern plantation look now. Of course I can't see it up close.

To all of you who are painted brink supporters, thank you! I was so excited to hear your comments and am excited to paint!

Madeyna, I think your idea about the door is a good one. A door stained the same color as the trellis and shutters and making the door frame higher and in that dark color could be the answer. Along with painting the house an off white.

Palimpest, I may see about taking off that part of the house because I think that could be the most ideal answer but I am afraid of the cost! But I really appreciate your honest answer!

Caroleoh, I like the pergola idea but our porch is tiny! The pergola would only go over stairs. We thought about building a wide one but we have those bay windows which we think would look weird.

Annie, I'm going to get my clippers out today and see if I can take down some branches. I also like the idea of posing the question on the new build forum.

It may be cheaper than painting, depending on how much there is to paint, particularly if you consider you would never have to do it again.

My first impression of your house is that it's really pretty but there's A TREE TRYING TO OVERTAKE IT.

I believe removing that tree should be your number 1 priority in selling. Or even if you don't sell. The tree is growing so close to your foundation that it's going to cause you serious problems very soon. Yes, it may be expensive to remove. But I don't think you have any choice.

Wow, what a transformation! The end result is really beautiful.

Thank you, smalloldhouse_gw!

Wow! So fun to see the final result of all your decision making and hard work. It's absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for posting the update.

Thanks for coming back and showing us! It looks terrific! (I especially like the Christmas picture.)

Thank you Olychick and maddielee! Took a few years for me to post the results but better late than never I guess!

I just read from the start of the thread and I have to say, I'm so glad you kept the pergola! I think it breaks up the tall entryway arch, and all of your updates really make for a lovely, inviting, much more cozy entry. It looks great!

I wanted to add, I love that you kept the brick on the porch natural. With most people polarized one way or another with regard to painted brick, it seems like we don't see enough mixes of the two. Painting some brick, but not all, can make the remaining brick look fantastic, and pays homage to some of the original detail of the home!

That looks so good now! I love it!

Amazing transformation! Looks great!

Thanks for the feedback, elizatheva! We drove around to see what other people with painted brick houses did and mostly we saw unpainted porches. I agree with you that the mix sets off the stairs and porch better. It also seems to me that painted stairs would be more slippery!

Thank you grandmapeanut and Hockeymom84!

It's gorgeous! And to think I almost didn't click on this "old" thread .....!