A big first step to improving the curb appeal would be to remove those big mushroom shrubs on either side of your entry. Add a pergola above the garage doors and plant a blooming vine or rose to climb it. Enlarge all your lantern lights. The brick is fine, but you can stain it for a more maintenance-free change. Once it is stained, then you pick a paint color for the body and trim. Can't tell much about your front door from this pic. Post a closeup please.

What's above the garage? Could a third window be added? Or change the size/position of the two already there?

Trying to avoid big construction costs for the next few years. Kids are in college. Shrubs were pruned long ago. The issues on that side of the house will be addressed at a later date. Prob will add porch rails and dormers. Just need a quick paint an maybe some kind of addition to the front garage windows. . Thanks for the suggestions.

Great point on the light part highlighting and directing the eye. You have great artists instinct. The brick is actually rusty brown.

He he . I live in the south and the shrubs by the front are my azaleas. Gorgeous when in bloom. Southern gals get very attached to their azealas. They get heavily pruned in May. My bottle brush is out of control but gorgeous when in bloom. That is the tree that is supposed to be a shrub next to the garage.

I'm in the south as well, but prefer dwarf azaleas that don't eat the house. I'm not a fan of pruning them, but like a more free-form natural shape. What color are they?

I love flowering shrubs too, so I can understand having a soft spot for beautiful blooms. But that bottle brush is getting too big for its britches!

Your brick color looks lighter than rust brown on my screen, more orange. But either way, greenish colors look good with orange/rust tones. They're complementary colors on the color wheel. So whether you go to beige or gray tones for your trims and siding, stick to green-beige or green-gray versions and they will complement your brick.

They are fusia and light pink mixed in. They were there when we bought. I think about how big they are with respect to safety too. .dwarfs would be a good option. Probably get big enough for the massive field of brick that is behind them. Brick goes up five and a half feet to the bottom of window. Some times the bushes are short and square. I don't nag hubby too much about it as long as he stays away from the magnolias with the cutters.

Can the bottle bush be moved to the lawn area? Several years ago I had a Japanese maple move about 5 out from the house. Money well spent, the tree thrived and is one of my favorites. Even though you prune, it seems the foundation plants are just a bit too big.

Here is a really light taupe with white trim on a house with similar brick. I would do that (or a bit darker taupe) with white trim and black shutters. I'd remove the shutters on the bay window.

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My home is similar (quad level though) with a medium brown brick on the right and half brick and siding on the left, same roof line. It is a balancing act with color to unify the two sides so it looks like one house instead of two houses joined together. I agree the bush/tree next to the garage is cutting the house in half and should be removed. I dislike my white siding, but love that the only thing we have to paint is the front door. Personally I would love to re-side mine on the left of the house to a wood look siding. If your painting the siding and garage door I would use a darker color like a coffee brown with the trim white to blend into the right side and have the left side recede. I would also bring in the coffee brown to the siding to the right of your front door. Add your favorite pop of color for the front door.

It would be great to replace the shrubs with dwarf varieties of the same type, or with different shrubs. It will avoid the ongoing work of pruning them. Check the tag, since it will always say what the mature height and width will be, so you know how far apart to plant them too. Or check an online site like Monrovia which always has that information too. Non-pruning will also allow the shrubs to have their beautiful natural shape.

Think about a different plant color scheme too. Your house will be best complemented by tones of gold, yellow, cream or orange. It's no different than clothing - if you were wearing a rust brown
skirt (your brick) you probably wouldn't choose a pink or bright red blouse (your flowers) with it.

Your local garden center can advise you on which varieties do well in your area.

Wow that looked like a log cabin sitting on top of a garage. That certainly didn't fit the style of the house. Of course the house you couldn't see through the forest. Yinz did a lot of work to the front of your house. I was thinking more of this siding for my house.

I would keep the bottle brush bush just were it is since it is a memorial to your father. Apparently it is happy there. I'm sure it could be moved, but what happens if it doesn't take in it's new spot. If you ever decide to sell you can always have it removed.

That siding is gorgeous!