Does the roof need replacing? Normally, I wouldn’t change the color of brick , but I would consider staining or painting yours. Other will address the shutters. Also I’m not crazy about the front door, but only because it’s not my style. New lighting flanking was the entry and new house numbers would look good. I think with some creative landscaping the lower two windows in front can be de emphasized. . I would hire either a landscape architect or designer to come up with a new look, hardscape & landscaping. It can be done in stages if money is an issue.

Thanks for the through advice! We will need a new roof in the next few years. Would you do a white wash on the brick and a colored front door?

I think the front door is more suitable to a Victorian. If you have the budget, it would be one of the first things I'd change.

I noticed that you have a large overhang on the left portion of the house. That, with the concrete pad, leads me to wonder if there were once columns.

I would paint front door, shutters and garage door.

I'd start with removing the shutters (they are the incorrect size anyway) and getting a new front door. the faux victorian one does nothing for the style of the home.

any of these will be 10X better. (if you're near a big city, look on craigslist for doors. sometimes you luck out and find one in your size. even one you can paint would be a bonus)

new porch light, new address numbers and take out the wrought iron railing and replace with a nice redwood or cedar. or remove it altogether and terrace that spot w/steps. (see below for idea)

try this first, along w/your landscaping, before considering painting the brick.

(if you do plan on painting the siding and the brick, consider what color roof you want in the future. a nice charcoal gray looks good w/just about anything except tans and golds. and please, get the appropriate paint for your bricks)

landscaping ideas

Or

that's nice. hate the door, no matter what color it is.

I agree, the door definitely is an eye sore- It is not my style at all. Ideally I'd like the house to have a more modern look.

houssaon- Thanks! This house has actually been in my family for most of its existence. It has actually never had columns. It is a puzzling area to try and style for me.

celerygirl- Thank you so much for the photos. I have never thought of any ideas like that for the front yard! It is awesome to visualize them!

Beth H. : The first picture you posted for landscaping ideas would be perfect, along with celerygirl's idea in the upper yard. I definitely can picture how things could look now. The craigslist idea for a door is something I never would have thought of. I may have one sooner than expected!

Teayellie,,,yes, I see them all the time for sale on mine. people renovate older homes and are looking for a quick sale for the original doors.

you can also look at a Restore, habitat for humanity or salvage places. people remove really nice wood doors because they don't want to bother w/redoing them.

also check the 'boneyard' at home depot and lowes. sometimes people custom order doors and change their mind when they come in so they will mark them down and put them in the 'clearance' pile. we got our front door that way. person never came to pick them up so we got a door and sidelight (beveled glass) for $800 or so. it was a steal.

I'd keep the shutters even though they are not quite right because the house needs some type of details. Celerygirl has given you some good options if you're trying to do this as economically as possible.

If you want to step up the landscaping you might consider replacing the sidewalk with a curved stone stairway

Celerygirl, could you come on back over to this thread? https://www.houzz.com/discussions/cold-room-needs-warmth-to-make-this-a-home-dsvw-vd~5349394

Thanks!

BeverlyFLADeziner- Those steps would look so nice with the landscaping Celerygirl posted in her last example.

You all have given me some great designs to work with! I am having a great time researching all these new ideas :)

Quick fix: have the current roof power washed to rid it of the unsightly staining. If you're going to remove the driveway vines also power wash that area.

yardvaark- Thanks for your feedback. I love these plants. So would you get rid of the stairs connected to the driveway?

dig-dougs-designs- wow thank you for this!! I love your ideas. The seating area in the front looks great. It’s something I’ve wanted but have a hard time envisioning with the current lack of privacy.

chiflipper- thanks! I was checking into that and seamless gutters improve the look of the house.