I think your house would look great in that color! Instead of painting the trim white, however, you could paint it a more creamy off-white, to go with the color of the brick? And if you ever replace the windows to a more traditional style, you could then add shutters, as well. :)

That's a good thought, to paint the trim creamy white to match the brick. Something good to mull over.

Are there any photoshop whizzes who could work some magic on my house? That would be awesome!

Another note: we'll be replacing the front double doors. Can't spend a million on them, but I want something cute. Any suggestions?

*bump*

Anyone else care to comment? I could use some advice. ;o)

welldone - love the inspiration pic. Makes me miss home.

How about some kind of glass door with a decorative screen door in front of it?

Below is a link to a screen door company that makes plain & fancy ones.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vintage Screen Doors

I think it isnt far from what you have now to what you want. I would go for it! the cream would go with the brick more I agree. I think double doors with mullioned windows in the top would be cute. like in your inspiration pic. would you replace the windows with more traditional with more trim? perhaps painted in a light tan.I don't think shutters would work tho.

That looks like a lovely lot - I love the mature trees! I would go for the red that you showed - it is perfect.

While your are at it you may want to cover the brick pillars too because they are a bit distracting.

Maybe you could just replace the brick columns with smaller wood columns and incorporate a portico there like your insp. photo. I also love the red photo.

lyban, I like that idea. I'm just not sure how to execute it. The roofline is pretty high above the door. I could add a separate porch roof (lower than the existing roof line), but that would likely entail covering up the window above the door. The window is angular and very seventies, but it's the one interesting architectural feature in the whole house, so I'd hate to remove it.

I need to learn Photoshop so I can see what this might look like!

I just wanted to say we did Hardi plank siding, just reg clapboard look with 4 1/2 in to the weather and we are very pleased with the product.

Every time I've moved into a new house, I've had to watch my pennies, so I am assuming that you need to work with what you have as much as possible.

I can definitely see the red siding. I love red houses. I think shutters would also help the look. Maybe in yellow or green? I know they are not "accurate" but it would break up the expanses and give it a little flair I think. You can also buy window inserts that give the windows the look of window panes.

The white or cream trim you're thinking of would be nice. Can you have the trim around the windows enlarged when they side it? Also, in your inspiration photo, the corners of the house have the white trim boards going down vertically in the corners, and I think that would add a little something.

It's the right side of the house that is really out of balance to me. Maybe you could have a different style siding on that side going up about 3/4 of the way to break that expanse up. Or use the different style above the 3/4 mark......just something to break the big blankness on that side.

I can also see some big fan-shaped trellises on that side painted in your trim color. Tall as possible, and then some vines or roses growing up on them. How about some big Annabelle Hydrangeas below to fill in the landscape on that side? Then you could do a large country garden on the left side in a big swooping shape, not lined up in a straight line, maybe even coming out as far as those trees and incorporating them in the big garden. You could mulch with the red or medium tan color to make it a big feature and get some curved lines going.

I've used exterior stains to change the color of bricks and it works. I used several colors to get the variations from brick to brick and it was not a hard project. Maybe some darker colors, or maybe yellows and golds and light browns?

That window above the door does say 70s, but I think if you put a lace curtain in the window and go big and fabulous on the gardens, it won't take the focus and will look ok.

Good luck. I think you can get the look you're going for without breaking the bank.

bananafana (love your username) - We do plan to add wider trim around the windows, and corner trim painted white/cream.

I didn't know about the window inserts - where's a good place to buy them?

The right side of the house (lower section, with no windows) is the garage, which explains the boringness. I agree, something must be done there.

When I saw the first picture I immediately thought "board and batten siding," so obviously I think you are headed in the right direction. :)

The red colour, with beefed up trim in white, would complement your house. I would encase the brick in hardiplank to look like boxed columns, OR make a more rustic bracket that sort of looks like a rafter tail in place of the columns, OR make another gable over the door with the boxed brick columns holding it up or the brackets holding the new gable up.

With ingenuity, some money (not necessarily a LOT), and a good craftsman, you can change almost anything about a house. I think you have a lot of possibilities, and it looks like a very nice lot. Looking forward to updates and photos...

I don't know if you could afford to do this, but I think I would add a small angle on the roof down on the left between the window above the door and the window next to it to sort of create a portico roof to set off the entry a little bit. Then a column to hold each of those sides up, but like somebody said maybe use something other than the brick.

Here is a hack job on what I meant with the roof line.

{{!gwi}}

I was looking around for window grids online and ran into these inexpensive vinyl ones that you assemble yourself. The price is certainly good and for sure less $ than wood ones. I linked to the page that shows before and after shots and there is one with 70s style angled windows like above your door. The grids make them look pretty good.

Since that's the garage on the right, can you maybe install a few windows in there to balance that side of the house?

Here is a link that might be useful: vinyl window grids

Ahhh, lyfia, thank you for the picture. That really helps me visualize it. I like the concept a lot. (That tree certainly is in the way, isn't it?)

As for what we can afford, we're big DIYers, so it's all about what we can afford to learn (or hire a handyman to teach). :)

bananafana, thanks for the link. I can't believe I never thought to look for those before! What a great product.