The problem is - that home was originally built as a bungalow (1 - 1 1/2 stories) and some developer got their hands on it to add the complete second floor. Re the original red brick home - if the bungalow was built in the early 1900-1920s, you will never find matching brick today. I've tried for our house.

I suggest your best bet is to repaint the siding on top. Is it Hardie Board or vinyl?

if you want stucco, it will be a costly project which will start by removing all the siding.

I'd probably paint the brick, but I also like paint on the siding that is closer in color to the brick to make the two materials look more cohesive:

before

I also might think of adding a round vent in that upper dormer, like in the first two pics.

I would paint the brick. If you don't like the shade of siding, you could choose an entirely new color for both. If it is in your budget, I would reside it with wider Hardieboard. Lots of color choices and easy to match with paint on the first story. I also think the windows are a priblem with the style of your house. I think you need more traditional multiple light windows. Google bungalows and look at your choices. You will have a house with lots of charm once you do that. Oh, and a round window is a good idea, too!

I think the house needs heftier porch columns--ideally tapered like this:

A new craftsman bungalow with historic charm. · More Info

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I would paint the brick and siding the same color. I really like the white house posted above.

The house looks like an American Foursquare that somebody remuddled, IMO. To get it back to its original style won't be cheap: new siding, different windows, redesigning the top addition into a clerestory dormer. But if you are willing to sink that kind of money into the house over the years, you'll end up with a real beauty.

I don't think you could change the middle post to a tapered column. The wide base of the column would mean you'd have to shift the whole column a little to the left, but then it would be off center.

Here are some Google images of American Foursquare houses. I would love to have one myself.

Google Images -- Foursquare houses

I would not paint the brick cause I prefer real brick to painted and also it will mean a lot more maintenance. I think my biggest issue is not the colors but the windows. I would change the existing windows to double hung, and than add an attic awning window and if you like the picture above, you could also add a small center window and if budget still is available add new column. Here is a quick cut and paste using teeda's windows and columns, I could not do a decent cut and paste of double hung over the existing windows but I would certainly replace those before painting the brick.

In the Roarah pic the difference in the two bricks really stands out and not in a good way. (Totally great redo suggestion BTW) I too am not a fan of ever painting brick--TOTALLY defeats the no maintenance point of brick..but I really think the two colors has to be addressed.

I would bet that this is sort of what your house started it's life looking like. I agree that the windows on your house are wrong, the posts holding the porch roof up are too skinny, I just noticed the the concrete steps are painted that beige color. The brick at the foundation is black - that is odd but I bet it's the seller's attempt to "match" to the original brick, the tuck pointing is two different colors mortar as well. Concrete goes right up to the foundation on the left side of the steps so you can forget about foundation plantings unless the concrete goes. I am guessing that this house is in Chicago - am I right? Too many Chicago bungalows are ending up being flipped by people who don't score at all on the "give it curb appeal" scale. In the backyard all concrete as well?

You could try to hide the foundation brick in the front with cedar planting boxes. Here is again a rough mockup.

As others have mentioned - columns need to be weightier but more like jmcs above, wouldn't bother with the tapered - just keep it simple and columns all of the same width = you already have a lot going on with the mismatched windows and 2nd fl addition -, don't add anymore random elements - and besides often columns of that era were just simple rectangular not tapered or fancy. Or do tapers on the sides but center one straight and of a more solid weight.

Look at arts and crafts colors - esp rich browns/moss greens/terracotta pinks - find something that harmonizes well with the brick but without trying to match it - you never will and the attempt will look grating. White and vintage red brick rarely if ever look good together - a darker heavier cream perhaps, but not white-white.

I don't think you need to spend a lot of money to get this back to some degree of visual cohesiveness - its not like you need to aim for perfection or total historic accuracy ... if its already been seriously remuddled then that ship has sailed. But you should at least research the style to know which visual elements will work and which wont.

Would definitely NOT paint the brick - stain perhaps but not paint.

I definitely WOULD paint the brick! Right now, the house looks like two different houses. I would want to make it look more cohesive and less like a newer addition, and I doubt you would want to paint the siding the same color as the existing brick! I would choose a pretty, soft neutral (nothing as tan as current siding) and get thicker columns. I would do something about those windows...are they new or original? They look like they need some kind of muntins, since this is an older house. I would also, perhaps, look into if shutters would be a period appropriate addition. Good shutters might lend some interest to all of that siding. I would take your time and do some research to make sure you get it right & are happy with it. It is a cute house that could be amazing with the right elements.

Do not paint the brick. The windows are all wrong for the house and so are the columns as others have said. This was originally a craftsman or foursquare house. I would suggest doing some research on OLD craftsman and old foursquare houses, not the new ones that people think are craftsman. Please do so before changing it up as it's already been remuddled. As someone else said, if you take the time to bring it back to its original glory it will be a real beauty, but it will take research. This first photo is a new house, but you can see how the elements read craftsman.

Here are some examples of homes with the brick & siding painted the same:

Two more!

Do do not paint the brick. It will ruin the house.

From http://www.oldhouseauthority.com/archive/brick_article

"If you have a brick house or masonry wall to maintain, you need to know a few things in order to properly restore it and keep it in tip-top shape. We’ve all seen masonry repairs that detract from the integrity of the house. A few simple things will keep it from happening to yours.

For example, some houses look completely different after the bricks are re-pointed. The mortar is a different color and the mortar joints are larger than they were originally. The beautiful patina of the aged bricks is gone. How can such a stark change be explained?

Note how the re-pointing does not match the color, consistency or character of the rest of the wall. The owners stopped this before the entire house was compromised.

First off, it is very important that the replacement mortar is compatible with the historic mortar. Incompatible mortars can cause irreversible damage to historic brickwork, including spalling (deterioration of the brick themselves), cracking, and interior mortar rot. The same problems can occur when an incompatible stucco or paint is applied to historic buildings.

Traditional mortars - such as lime mortar - allow historic masonry to breathe and move, giving new life to historic masonry. The work can look unattractive, but as long as you are using good materials, you’re not causing additional problems. Then again, you can have attractive work done with bad materials, which will cause problems. Of course, in a lot of situations you have a combination of incompatible materials with unsightly craftsmanship. That is bad news all around."

I don't think that center post is supposed to be there. Beef up the other two. Historically, they may have been tapered, but with the addition I think straight line works better.

There is historical precedence to shingling the second story.

bp you are correct about the center post.

Maybe I just don't have enough imagination but I don't think this house is ever going to have the curb appeal of the ones shown in this thread. I say don't buy it.

I wonder if the people who did the remodel, reconstructed the porch roof and ceiling and that post is structural now? I think it's going to depend on how much $$ you want to spend on revamping this house to look more period correct, or if you just want it to have more curb appeal.

I agree that painting the brick and siding the same color is your best option, along with heavier columns and replacing the upper story windows with more traditional ones. Residing the house is an unnecessary expense. I like the shape and style of the home! Be sure to take the cost of any improvements planned (or desired) into account when looking at other homes.

Magdalena, that is an awesome mock-up!!! I hope the OP sees it.

Diane

Magdalena, now I want to buy that house! What a great idea to paint part of the brick and leave part of it and trim out in the brick color on the windows. I love it. The OP seems to be missing all this, but hope she checks back in and sees it. The ornamental grass added to the curb area looks good, too.

Magdalena, You are amazing. I so hope the OP comes back, as what you have 'built' is a home that anyone would be proud of! And, even filled in the grass in the front bed!

Thanks!

I also hope the OP comes back and response to everyone's thoughtful comments.

MagdalenaLee That is amazing!!! I love it!

OP - You didn't indicate your budget but I can imagine it might feel overwhelming to find a house that's almost perfect for you except for curb appeal, and to hear that you should change all the windows and the posts and all that along with the paint or siding.

In my opinion, all of that is completely unnecessary unless your aim is to restore the house to its original period style. If your priority is finding a house that meets all of your needs in the right area for the right price and this hits all of those items with the exception of the siding color or brick, then change those elements to your liking. If the siding can be painted (not vinyl) then choose a color and paint the brick a nice complementary contrasting color.

What might help is to look around at all the other homes in the neighborhood. Does this one stand out like a sore thumb for not staying strict to the original period, or have they all been modified so this one doesn't look out of place other than your color preferences?