I've never understood why some people love their roses, but think of other thorny plants such as bougainvilla as a completely difficult plant. I find that bougies trained flat against a wall or fence don't require much actual pruning, but do avoid the purple form which is a much more rampant grower more akin to Wisteria or Kiwi vine growth rates. I'm not a fan of single brick bands across such a wide driveway, it is too little detail for the scale. Grasscrete as a driveway material or banding can also be planted out to no-mow ground covers such as Dymondia or Ophiopogon. I would still recommend eliminating that additional concrete around the lawn, and if not fencing to create a courtyard feel, at least some cobination of mounds, screen hedges or raised planters to repeat the long low horizontal lines of the house. The house elevation is just a bit bland, and could really benefit from updated landscape treatment in combination with new driveway treatment. I would understand if this doesn't appeal style wise because it departs from the neighborhood norm, but it would be the approach I'd propose. It just seems like this front space could be greatly improved by designing outside the box.

Shutters are a no go on this house. None of the windows are appropriate for shutters. I'm in the don't paint the brick group. You take a no maintenance product and turn it into a long term maintenance issue. Some ideas: A darker color on the siding that doesn't emphasize the difference between the orange brick and the rest of the house would be a good option. A new front door that was not a Victorian leaded glass style (think Mid Century Modern MCM) would also be an upgrade. A porch over the front door would add some depth to the front façade of the house. Pulling all the landscaping (including the woody shrubs on the side of the house) and redoing it. 5) Stain the fence between the house and the garage to tie them together more. 6) Paint the garage door a color that makes it less obvious. Also get rid of the dark brown trim. If you're interested in seeing some virtual makeovers of your home check out my web site, Creative Visual Concepts.

here's a photo.

celery gave you some nice updated versions. think about doing something w/that brick. It's the main thing that is holding back the curb appeal. i'm not as good as celery, but taking away the brick (discussed below) or painting it all white, dark garage door, lights, new door, AND I did a wood shake under the gable area, gives you a whole new house. of course the added landscape is huge. I'd prob do some type of walkway or path across the grass leading to the door just to break up that huge expanse. do something cool like the cement squares surrounded w/pebbles. you can make these yourself. this has a similar gable although this one is over the garage. if you white washed the brick, did something different w/the gable portion (maybe a composite shake or something?) Some other options. you could embrace the 50's and do some slat wood, maybe around the garage door You could also remove the brick altogether, and replace with siding or stucco removing the brick would let you do a vertical or board/batten siding.