Are you going to structural changes? Paint? New siding?

Paint the storm door the color of the main door.

It looks like most of the plants are not appropriate choices for where they are growing. Get landscaping advice.

the house looks pretty traditional, and rather nice looking. I don't think 'funky' is something you can do w/this style!

I'd concentrate on landscaping if you want 'different'.

a quick update would be new exterior lighting. something less 80's looking and more 2019.

post lights:

https://www.shadesoflight.com/categories/outdoor-post-lights

Don't mess up the outside of your traditional house. Keep the "fun and funky" inside with your decor.

The only thing I see that might be called funky is the octagon window, and it is more old fashioned than funky. All other aspects of this home, including the landscaping, are traditional. What kind of "funky" do you have in mind? What's the budget? Who's doing the work? Color could make a major change for you, but it will have to work with the roof color.

Fun or funky, go with yard art. Paint the house (wood siding, right?) something dark and neutral so it stands down, then go with your funky statues and fountains!

I would replace your front door with something more unique and less traditional. Maybe a full light with a funky glass design. And lose that storm door! Replace your dated lighting with something more current. Perhaps replace light post with bubbling rock with a light in it? All your windows have the fake mullions except the big glass of your bay window and I find that looks odd. Either add fake mullions to that window or remove the fakes from the rest of your windows. Your garden plantings are on the verge of becoming overgrown, especially the shrub on left of pic. Your bay window and porch are becoming hidden so I would do some major thinning. I also find your shutters are too narrow, replace with wider panelled shutters and keep same colour. You could also funk up your bay window by replacing asphalt roof with a metal roof. I was thinking copper but I'm not sure the colour would work with your house.

change out your light post to something more contemporary , trim down the landscaping its on the verge of overgrown , paint the front door and screen door a pop color - remove the gold switch over to a charcoal grey /matte/brushed silver (kick plate, light fixture) find some cool house numbers simple touches can bring it up to date

Thoughts on whitewashing the brick?

Don't whitewash the brick. The texture and color are both nice.

remove the fake shutters to start

thoughts on this photoshop collage? A few new fixtures, wider shutters, new black door, whitewashed brick, new wood posts

I think it’s an improvement. Another thing you might consider is metal roofing (copper or something else) over the bay window.

I like the wider shutters and the new posts, but don't think it's necessary to paint the brick. I would also paint the garage the same color as the siding. The black is too heavy looking for a double door imo. You might consider black posts instead of stained wood so it's more cohesive.