Sidney, you did a fantastic job with your kitchen! We have a lot of similarities, the top of my hutch is like the top of your cabs over your range. My floors are on the red side, but do show up brown on the monitor. Right now I have braided rugs in front of the stove and sink which makes the floor look a lot better and not as busy. Here's what I have to keep on my countertops and I'll give the color of each item. Coffee pot - white Compost jar - Red Paper towel holder - Red....BUT...is there a better place to put it? We have the compost jar to the left of the sink for easy access. To the right of the sink I have a smallish cream wire basket wich holds Dawn, hand soap, lotion. I don't want to have to keep bending over getting those things out from under the sink. lol The do look good in their grouping. Graniteware Pitcher - Red. I use that thing several times a day. So that's five things that must stay. Oh, on the far right side of the counter is where I keep milkbones. I have a cabinet under the area for dog food, but I get tired of bending over a couple of times a day to pass out their treats. I keep putting them up, then I just leave the box on the counter. Lazy, I know. What is everyone else's must-haves for your countertops?

I like taupe also but would paint the bottom brick part a darker taupe and the siding upper a lighter shade. Otherwise, with the overhang, your house will look top heavy as it does now. You want to minimize the mass of the second story and you can do that very effectively with a lighter shade of paint than you choose for the brick. A medium taupe for the brick and a lighter shade for the siding, then real shutters on hinged pins in a soft black. The house trim in a creamy white that complements the taupe.

Thank you all for your suggestions and comments!! I have so FAR decided regardless I will add 2 cedar window boxes on first floor, and add 2 larger lights. I took off shutters on the side of house to not make such an eyesore to see how the condition is underneath and how 'off' the color is. (Picture below.) I sprayed it down with water but tomorrow am going to try to scrub with some bleach and separately a vinegar/ baking soda mixture in hopes to match the colors. ANY other suggestions to clean the aluminum siding??

It looks like you have only one set of shutters on the house. I think the house looks better without them. They are a distraction. Better to have the front door (and the bay window on the first story) as the focal point. Trim and shape the tree in front of the door so the door is more visible. Remove the bushes that seem to act as a barrier to your entry and think about how you might change some of the landscaping and hardscape. Larger house numbers and porch lamp. Maybe paint the siding in something that is less stark than the current white color, although the current color is not bad. You have a really pretty house and a few minor changes will enhance the curb appeal.