In 1957, houses often were designed and built with shutters just like the ones you removed. They don't "fit" in the sense that you can imagine them closing. They were meant to add color and style. You may want to restore that type of shutter. Only the smaller window has enough space on either side to have shutters that "fit" like a Colonial style house would have had.

A new screen door can match the color of your front door. A custom wood screen door would be a good addition, especially appreciated on spring and fall days when you are airing out the house with a cross breeze.

The house could use some more substantial landscaping. Roses, rhododendrons, azaleas, spirea, are all possibilities depending on which direction the house faces.

Thanks, apple_pie_order! Our house didn't have any shutters originally - they were an addition by the previous owners in an effort to add curb appeal for resale. I've considered not adding shutters (as it was originally) and focusing on other features like landscaping, lighting, hardware, paint, etc. I even thought about adding a Bermuda shutter to that left window for something different, but I don't know. I'm mulling through options. :) Also, the house is east-facing. This is our first house and we've never had a yard so I'm having to learn about hardiness zones and what plants do well in different environments.

No shutters especially on bay window.

Ashley, I think your brick is quite nice so personally I would not change it. The first change I would make is to the metal porch supports. I think that they really date the house. Wood supports-either painted or stained might look much better. Search houzz for "front porch supports." There are lots of ideas to be found.

I would forgo shutters on the left window. The brick looks fine to me. The supports are fine but I'm not a fan of the scroll-y metal. I would keep any new supports white to tie in with the windows and door. Landscaping will add a lot, including plantings to help with the space between the two left windows. Change the color of any downspouts to blend with the brick.

Landscaping will add a lot to the appeal of your property. The walk would look nicer if it was wider -- maybe its possible to add brick edging that would match the house. I like your house without shutters!

You have an adorable house and are so lucky that it has been well maintained.

What style of shutter “goes” with this style home? I'm with apple pie in that shutters on this type of home often didn't follow the 'rules' yet they still work when done well. These are technically undersized but are part of a look, not meant to fool anyone with practical use.

You could do a board and batten type of shutter, either in a natural or stained wood to take the house is a different direction. With that, I'd be replacing/covering the metal porch supports with something more like this

or even this, but that' may not be your taste.

Leave the brick as-is or lighten it up? I understand the inclination to do a wash and it would look good. Honestly I'm in the 'don't mess with brick' camp unless it's horribly ugly but if you're confident about a wash being little to no maintenance, then why not if you want that look. Do remember that when the time comes for tuckpointing (and every brick house needs it at some point) paint or a wash will make that problematic. That's pretty much the only maintenance brick ever needs so go in with your eyes open.

What color shutters & door? The trim is vinyl and will have to stay white. Shutters I mentioned above. Door colorihas lots of possibilities especially if you do some type of wash on the brick - what colors speak to you? Whatever you do with the brick, paint that downspout to match so it's not a brilliant white vertical divider on the front of the house.

The biggest changes will come with landscaping. Curvy garden beds, a flowering tree or two to softly frame the entrance - not too close to the house but pulled back closer to the sidewalk or street.

A positive about the shutters is that they were added only recently and the brick behind them won't be a different color from the other brick. For authenticity's sake, I would remove them. In 1957, east facing windows would more likely have had metal awnings above them. My granny's house did, but I replaced it with a pergola, mainly for protection from the huge old oak in front and flying debris and branches in storms. It lightened the front room so much.

RL Relocation LLC 's mock-up looks so cute. But I like the metal posts. They are period. I would paint them glossy black.

truthfully the landscape and door will make a big change.

The house doesn't NEED anything. It's very basic and lovely. Why guild a lily! The shutters were decorative, add them back or not. space between two front windows looks a little awkward without them. I might add some fantastic metal art piece, maybe a sunburst there. I saw a house with that once and loved it. Not for everyone, that's for sure. Keeping with the "low maintenance" trend for yards, all I would add is a flowering tree in the front yard to give me something nice to look at in the spring. We have an allé along our driveway consisting of a dogwood, star magnolia and prairie fire crab apple (we live in the midwest). We get lots of compliments on all of them. How you landscape depends on what you like. Same with how you "upgrade." Do you like the little modest rancher look, or do you want to tart it up? I also love the low maintenance of brick. A slight wash could add more interest, but since your home is so small, the appeal to me is the neatness and prim aspect of the home. Very "modern" and not blowsy or artsy. Like that old sororrity/frat. look what was popular back in the day. The 50's and early 60's were tailored. Not my look, but I'd either commit to it, or go in whatever direction I wanted. A middle ground just looks like you're patching.

Wow! SO many great and helpful responses!! Thank you. I definitely love neat, tidy & minimal homes - with a dash of southern homeyness. I will definitely paint the front door a nice bold color and figure out something with the beams and gutters. Maybe the landscape can add the "southern" charm that I'm looking for, without doing too much to the house itself. I definitely want to maintain its character from 1957, without letting it feel dated and unloved!

nothing like a good front porch set up to scream southern charm.

Yep, we already have our rockers!! We pull them in during the winter but I'm ready for spring so we can rock away! :)

Now about my kitchen .... LOL. It's so awkward!

I posted in your other thread. Square white columns and you're done.

Your house is darling! I think you've already recieved a lot of great advice.

I would leave the shutters off completely, and a lot of landscaping for interest instead. Possibly a cute little path (I can't see the material of your current front walkway). I also think some hanging baskets (possibly ferns?) could look nice and very Southern during the spring/summer/fall.

Depends on what you like. I'm a garden fanatic and I'd fill the space between the house and the walk with plants, and equal size bed on the other side from where the walk turns. Small blooming magnolia in the front yard somewhere if my husband was willing to mow around it (thank goodness mine is!). But if you don't like to garden, you're going to want to go with structural dwarf kinds of shrubs for the front, minimal and call it a day. Heck you could even do a rose climbing up between the windows to fill that space if you're not too far south . . . (otherwise something like jasmine or bouganvilla or a fragrant climbing honeysuckle. It has to be hardy to heat because the brick is going to give off a lot of heat to the plant in the summer, although your eastern exposure will help).

You could also without too much kitsch, put up some picket fencing to serve as a backdrop for something.

On the plus side for your kitchen, at least you have a fairly long expanse of uninterrupted counter space. My last three living spaces did not have that and I sure miss that! I love those old galley style kitchens, lots of counter space and room for two butts in two different areas!

about the kitchen, how's your thoughts on removing that wall between the two rooms?

I just posted a full post with pictures on my kitchen dilemma to give more detail about what I'm working with and the layout of the house. [1957 Kitchen - Open or Closed? Updated or vintage?[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/1957-kitchen-open-or-closed-updated-or-vintage-dsvw-vd~5636881?n=25)

I know that everyone is advising to change those columns. I would not do that. You have a house built in 1957. It looks very well maintained, and those wrought iron columns fit the style of the house perfectly. They were meant to be there. The shutters, is sort of up to you. Some houses had them, in 1957, and some didnt. Yep, I was around in 1957, so I do remember. I actually graduated from high school that year,, Now, if those iron posts were on a houe built in 1999, that would be a different story, because, they would not be what that year of home would have.

Re those painted steel or iron curlicue columns . . . I like them but if you don't, they can be replaced. Since I liked them, I know they are not easy to come by new these days. I looked and looked to find new ones for a railing along my steps at my last house.

Charming house and I love that you're not trying to tart it up to look like a younger model LOL. For the same reason, I'd leave your front door white and not paint it some bright color.

Please don't let another growing season go by without adding some permanent landscaping to your front. It's an investment in your property that becomes more valuable as time goes on and your permanent shrubs become fully grown. From what I can see from your one picture, I'd add plantings to the entire area between your front porch and your walkway, and also add a bed that's at least 5 feet deep in front of the left side of your house. That will give you enough depth to put decently tall evergreen shrubs as your background plants, that won't touch the house when they are fully grown. Then another layer of smaller plants in front. I don't know the Virginia climate so I can't recommend specific shrubs.

Why not start a thread asking for planting recommendations, and giving us some photos of your front from several angles, along with the measurements of that bed. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/planting-zones/virginia-planting-zones.htm