oh, melle..you know they now show me listings in your area, lol? probably because of these two you shared once..as an examples of what you like/dislike.. but since i didn't know your neighbourhood of preference, etc..In short I just looked at them the kitchen does look like a garage! I like the fire red, very bold of them; but layout is not easy. no countertop around the stove makes it really challenging lots of work, or so I envision bathrooms too..although it might be photos distort the places. Bathrooms are hard to shoot too they're smaller. possibilities will reveal themselves to you when there Iike the living, the backyard(possibilities!) , and the house overall is nice. I do think brick has nothing to do there. But I'd go there and feel it you know? It can be 15 things that you dislike and one you love, and that one will overweight other 15.. ah. don't mind their decor. just kinda wipe it when looking..in your mind. interesting bedroom with that step..

Sara, this is from marbleandgranite.com: "Soapstone and Pietra del Cardosa are both metamorphic rocks. But Pietra del Cardosa is a sandstone, not a soapstone. It’s made from fragments of granite particles. Due to its mineral composition, it has a notable compactness and toughness. However, Pietra del Cardosa is not as dense as soapstone, so it does need to be properly sealed to protect against stains. It does have a look similar to soapstone, however Pietra del Cardosa is completely unique. Much like soapstone, the use of Pietra del Cardosa as a construction material dates back to ancient times. Its abrasion resistance is on the low side, so some light scratching will occur. Over time, Pietra del Cardosa will develop a unique patina that some prefer. When it’s used as a countertop material, you should always use a cutting board to prevent excessive scratching. When used as flooring, use entry mats to reduce abrasion from grime and dirt. If you are considering soapstone or Pietra del Cardosa , we highly recommend that you pay us a visit to see these materials in person. Let Marble & Granite, Inc. show you the various slabs we have in stock at our two New England showroom locations Call us at 877-39-STONE to make an appointment." I'd note 3 comments--its tendency to scratch due to low abrasion resistance, it needing to be sealed to avoid stains, and its propensity to develop a patina, which means it will show evidence of wear. Sounds very much like soapstone. It's incredibly beautiful, though!

Nice looking brick. I wouldn't touch it. Don't take a no maintenance product and turn it into a long term maintenance issue. #1: The shutters are not appropriate for the size of your windows. I would remove and not replace them. #2: Would you consider changing the color of the siding? A darker tone that works better with the brick (gray, taupe, blue, etc.) would make the house seem more cohesive. #3: Windows look fairly new so I would leave them as is. #4: I would remove the large shrub/tree in front of the triple window and replace it with something smaller. Actually most of the landscaping looks older so I would think about replacing everything but the tree at the right corner of the house. #5: Can't tell from your picture but I would paint the door a color that makes it a focal point and draws the eye to the entrance. Most of these are fairly inexpensive changes. A more expensive one would be adding a porch over the front door to add some depth to the facade. If you're interested in seeing some virtual makeovers of your house check my website, Creative Visual Concepts.

The bright white trim and dark blue shutters are not doing this house any favors. I would do a light tan on the trim, remove the shutters and paint the front door a rusty orange. Trim the existing shrubbery.