Your house is lovely. Your trim color is a little dull but not terrible. The shutters seem to be undersized but again, not terrible. I would work with your stone, definitely do not paint it. I might consider replacing the wrought iron with more substantial columns but that's nit picking. What don't you like about the exterior?

Beautiful already. Peaceful, classic, low-ish maintenance.

I would not paint the stone. A lighter trim and shutter color that complements the stone might lift the heavy look.

I wouldn’t say that I dislike the exterior, but I just feel like something is missing. When you say more substantial columns, what do you mean? Could you send me a picture?! I completely agree that something is off with the shutters. Would you recommend removing them completely, or just replacing them with a different size? Also, what color would you recommend painting the trim?

Never ever paint either stone or brick. Address the trim and window color to add more dimension. They shouldn’t be the same color. That’s what reads as flat. A dark black green for the windows would work well with the existing trim. Or a deep russet with a lot of brown. It needs some punch.

Here's the house without shutters:

Also, if you paint the door a contrasting door that draws the eye to the front door that will add to your curb appeal.

I just noticed that some of your larger windows have very undersized shutters. Wimpy shutter size can definitely be a distraction. The larger windows, like your front picture window, should have no shutters.

Here's is an illustration of what I suggested above about the columns. IMO, solid columns will give your porch more presence.

This is from Makin'it in Memphis blog.

"We’re not opposed to painting the stone if that would look better."

If I may be blunt: no, it wouldnt! You have a beautiful neutral creamy color + natural texture to die for. And trust me Im not usually a person who says "to die for." Can we set aside that notion now?

Although it would be interesting, and perhaps helpful if you would state what it is that you think painting it would do for you - does it equate to "fresher" or "newer" somehow? If so those effects can be achieved in other, ways - as others have descirbed above. Aside from esthetics , paint film can cause damage to masonry (due to water trapped behind it.)

I can’t really put my finger get on what I’d like to chande about the exterior, but I feel like it looks a little “blah”. I’d like to add some interest to it. Does that make sense?

I like the lightness that the wrought iron pillars give the porch. Everything about the house is nice although it is a bit heavy and plain. Yes to a pretty color on the front door. The lawn, driveway and site are beautiful. Blooming flowers when spring arrives will spark the beauty that is alead here.

I do not have any advice. I would not change a thing the house and it's setting is beyond beautiful!

Don't remove the shutters it looks like an institutional facility without them. Are you on the water? Maybe brightening up your trim color to a cream/white

Pink peony- I really like that idea! I think lightening up the trim and the shutters would be beautiful. Yes, it is on the water!

I like pink peony’s idea.

I think your home is beautiful, your landscaping is lush and well-kept, and the setting is wonderfully scenic!

If you want to do some upgrading, how about enlarging your front portico? You could add a few feet on each side without having to change your current sidewalk, and you could raise its roof a bit and add different support posts. The existing ironwork posts seem just a bit out of place to me.

sorry for the double post. Im new here and just learning how to use this forum!

Here's what I was talking about for a bigger portico. (Similar to one of pink peony's pictures above.) And repeat the bricks of your sidewalk up on the portico floor.

Exterior · More Info

I think the shutters need to be upgraded - similar to the ones pinkpeony shows.

A new color for the door and the shutters as well.

Think about improving the landscaping - a more naturalized look - not such little, controlled plantings.

Lake Michigan?

Yes, Lake Michigan! How did you know that?

Go with those aqua/ocean paint colors for shutters, garage doors and the door. If it's in your budget to replace with "real" shutters on hinges with shutter dogs -- even better. I don't think I'd paint the trim color to white -- try the aqua colors next to your taupe/brown -- I think it will work without repainting to another color.

Your landscape provides a clean backdrop for a splash of seasonal color from flowing perennials and annuals, tucked in front of some of the green, will soften all the green shrubbery. Nothing major unless you're a gardener.

I like the scale of the portico.

Yes to the right tone of aqua.

Sara, it's my lake, too! I just have to walk a mile to see it, instead of out my front door. Lucky you!

AS you are by the water, perhaps you need hurricane shutters anyway. Whether you get functional historic style shutters or modern specifically hurricane shutters, you will have real protection for your windows and probably the look will be proportional to your windows. Functional shutters do not have to take up a lot of visual space in order to fit you windows. They may well fold upon themselves and then latch against the stone.

I think the very last thing you should ever do to this house is to paint the stone. Please don't. As for landscaping, I think it would help if you could let a few of the carefully pruned shrubs break out and take on their natural, more spreading, more upright, looser form. There is a landscaping design forum on the Gardenweb side of these forums. They might be of help.

Knew it was Lake Michigan immediately - anyone who has ever lived on/near it would know. One of the few things I miss.

Sounds as if you have moved away from painting the house - good call. It really is beautiful as is but I understand feeling it needs *something*. All the suggestions for changes with color, shutters and maybe alterations to the portico (although I'm not sure that's needed) will make a big impact. I'd be inclined to loosen up the landscaping a little and replace some of the tight clipped shrubs - are they old yews perhaps? I'd love to see some grasses worked in. The movement and looser structure will do a lot to make the house feel more relaxed in place. And you have the perfect location to have the sunrise catch the grasses and their seed heads in the fall to make magic with color. Can't tell from the photos but if your setting sun isn't fully obscured, it will make the grasses glow.

Maybe add a pair of tall pots at the edge of the steps with fuchsia flowers to add color. Geraniums should be available soon. Will azaleas or peonies grow there? I love your home.

Here is a similar stone to your homes and a sea salt door, plus the potted flowers near the door that tqtqtbw mentioned above

Beautiful home in a lovely setting. Add me to the NO painting of the stone.

Sara, in exchange for all the good advice, how about hosting everyone on your balcony Wednesday night for the Super Blue Blood Moonrise? Hoping for clear-ish skies! I'll bring hot toddies ;)

Don't paint the stone. I like the dimensions and the weight of the front porch area as is.

When choosing a colour for the shutters keep in mind your roof. The roof is very noticeable as is obviously, the colour.

It is a beautiful home. The only thing that I would change is the color of the front door. Maybe the aqua/blue color of the water. You could also add some nice, tall pots (same aqua/blue color as the door) of flowers in the front for spring/summer.

The stone is just magnificent!

I'd mainly focus on getting more natural and more varied landscaping -- the house is beautiful, but the yard is very low and every shrub arficially shaped. When you have a few more shrubs and plantings to offset the squares of profile and lawn, you'll like both more!