I wouldn't be trying to hide the foundation blocks since they look good and add a positive element to the picture. Maybe they could be painted a color other than white -- something compatible with the brick steps so as to unify the lower strata of the building. And remove the existing large shrubs in front of the foundation as they are bulky and block too much of the foundation.

In order to simplify (and visually strengthen) I think it would be better to consider symmetry for the overall house rather than symmetry for each side as an individual element. Seasonal color should be fairly hefty for this blocky house. Something evergreen could flank the step insides and groundcover could fill in between. The house/yard seems a bit open, unprotected and unframed by any sheltering trees. Maybe there is a space out in the lawn for such a thing, but possibly not. We can't see the overall yard. Here's a couple of closely related variations.

Hi there--welcome to the new thread and thanks for weighing in! Again--I like the improvement via landscaping as I suspect the house will need a bunch of other work as well. Here's a pic of the yard:

I like the front, center lawn area being kept open, but you could -- and I think it would be an improvement -- place well spaced small street trees in the parkway, at the front or at the side. This could give the sense of the property being protected as well as frame the view of the house.

Yardvaark--totally agree with keeping the lawn open and I'd feel better about trees at the parkway if the one at my house hadn't eaten my sewer line.

Denita--thanks! I completely agree with you on the "shudder" issue. I think they are pretty ugly to begin with and didn't realize much of the issue is that there isn't enough room for them. I think if the house works out...and there is $, I would want to reside the whole thing and give it a more modern look.

The garage goes with the duplex.

Are you thinking frame? Or Hardie? Or something else for siding?

Was thinking Hardie--faux cedar shake on top, regular siding on bottom. Maybe in grey? But that roof color doesn't work with any of that....

Just saw the pictures you posted! They are much nicer than what's going on with the property now, but even with that--I still don't love stucco. I guess I'd have to see what options would cost.

That red or terracotta-ish color is hard to work with. Yellow or white works. Let me see if I can find something that might work.

Have you checked to see if the stucco was added over something else - or just over the wire lath? I'm in Florida so we do a lot of concrete block and stucco. I am not familiar with it up north at all.

I would think an ideal roof for that would also be grey. And now we are getting into even bigger $$$. Don't know about the stucco. Very early in the process.

Here is a great color scheme that works with hardie and your red roof (even though this one is metal) - it is more along the lines of an updated traditional house - rather than modern but it would translate well to this duplex (color scheme)

Rehobeth Beach · More Info

I agree--that is the first time I've seen a red roof with grey that works. Thanks!!

Not sure of the color, but both SW and BM can match hardie colors. This one looks to be a gray/green.

Edit:

Found Hardie board (brown) with red (front door) but it may give you an alternate color scheme if the one posted above named Rehobeth Beach doesn't work. Trying to save you money on a roof change if you don't need one.

Backyard House · More Info

One more gray with a red roof - a weathered gray

Harms Way · More Info

I like the weathered grey with the red roof, which, in this instance, just happens to look a bit weathered as it is!

I don't know if that is a hardy product...the closest I found was a Light Mist like below (first pic)

Or the Pearl Gray. If you look at their website you can see the colors and pics of homes completed with the various color selections to see if anything works for you.