I think it's a good-looking house, with good proportions. I wouldn't call it "chopped up" looking at all. The mushroom-colored siding and white trim don't do anything for each other. I'd paint the siding (first and second floors both) something like the brick color you're testing in the photo of the front door, but with a bit more orange, and a few shades lighter than the brickwork. Paint the garage door the same color. That should give the house more unity than it currently has, de-emphasize the garage, and solve the "chopped up" issue. Consider painting the lower part of the downspout the brick color as well. I wouldn't use that color for the front doors, though, since you think the doors aren't noticeable enough. White or black would work, as you're already using them for accent colors (and both colors appear in the used brick). Or keep the doors blue. Wait to decide about shutters for the large window until after you've painted the siding. If it bothers you, install shutters; if not, save your money. [Another factor in this decision is the landscaping on either side of the window; will there be shrubs to cover the shutter area? and do you know what the hollies are? Since you're removed most of the shrubs, an updated photo would help.] While shutters are optional, I think a window box under the large window is a definite 'No.' The window is too low. Plant 2-3 evergreens in front of the window instead, and grow flowers in front of them in the warm season. I don't think changing the columns would draw more attention to the front doors, since the columns are in four different locations across more than half of the building. What will help is keeping shrubbery from concealing the area around the entrance. If whatever climbs the trellis will hide the front doors, then move the trellis elsewhere. I wouldn't put anything taller than a foot or a foot and a half in the area in front of the doors. If you want more color in that area, consider adding a narrow bed on the other side of the walkway for some flowering annuals or perennials. How narrow is the narrow bed? Does the porch run the whole distance to the driveway? Am I seeing a walkway in front of the narrow bed, or is that snow? Can you tell us what zone you're in? It will help with the shrub and tree recommendations. If you don't know your zone, you can use your zip code to find out: http://www.garden.org/zipzone/index.php

Ooh, I do love that "cottage green" photo! Since you live near or on a lake, it could set a "south seas jungle or plantation bungalow" motif, & the sago palm would be perfect. Since you like the bright trim on your neighbor's house, though, you might go to the Caribbean or coastal Mexico rather than the south seas: paint the house yellow or aqua or a pinkish sandy color (any other pink, it seems to me, always looks like bubble gum), & paint the trim, including those shutters & window boxes someone mentioned, in a contrasting color: yellow house/blue trim. If blue would be too bright, black always looks good with yellow, & you can use white trim around the windows. aqua house/shrimp or peach trim. sandy-pink house/some more sober color like brown or hunter green or British racing green, but not gray. Gray does not belong at the beach! The house's green mustache (the foundation shrubs) could go, making room for a flower garden, with curves as someone said: straight lines soothe by giving a sense of order, but too many of them fatigue the eyes & fatigued eyes glaze over in boredom.

A couple of notes: - You don’t actually want to plant as densely or as close to the walk as in Doug’s sketch or in three years you will need to do a lot of pruning and in 5 or 8 you will be ripping out plants and starting all over again with many of them. Add large pots or a birdbath or art or annuals while you wait for some of your woody plants to put on size. - Whatever you plant needs to be sized appropriately for it ultimate growth. Plant tags often give plant sizes at an unrealistic 5 years, so be sure to look up on a reputable website such as the Missouri Botanic Garden’s Plantfinder to find the actual expected size. - You have a big overhang that creates a rain shadow that will always be dry without irrigation. Be sure to plan on irrigation for anything within that rain shadow. Regardless, don’t plant anything so close that it will grow to within a foot or so of the house. - Wider steps are great to make a welcoming entry. - Notice in both sketches that the plants in front of the windows are lower with taller plants framing it or placed further down the slope to not block the windows. - Plan to have some of your plants evergreen for a winter presence and some with either colored foliage or flowers for interest. - Sod or hydro seed the lawn at the appropriate time of year for your area which may be now.

Hi EC, love your color schemes (both of them!). I'm not necessarily averse to brick, and as Ken says it will be more maintenance-free if you don't paint it, but I feel like there's TOO much of it here. It's a shame when they built the house they didn't make those windows bigger... Is that yellow clapboard that you will be painting? Or vinyl siding you will be replacing? If replacing the siding, I wonder if it's possible to bring the siding down lower over the brick, to soften the house a bit? As far as landscaping, it's usually best to wait some time to get an idea of your sun situation, as well as using this time to really look for ideas and then research if your ideas will work in your area. Maybe wait till your carport is done before you do any major planting to see how it will work into the design. BTW, congratulations!!!! :) Dee