Thank you! I wouldn't have thought of that. If paint the siding to match the brick, what trim color should I use?

No expert here, but how about paint the gates and railings some creamy white, to make the left side appear brighter, and have some vines growing up and over the arches. Also, perhaps a couple more sconces on the left side of the house.

Cottages have lots of floral charm, so dramatic flowers needed.
Lastly, maybe the pathway can have a brighter appeal somehow. Maybe it’s just the picture tone, but would some fresh DG help to brighten it?

I vote to keep the pretty blue siding. I like the awnings too. I think you mostly need landscaping and flowers.

How recently did you lime wash? I think a fresh or heavier lime coat and a white/light color paint on the siding that matches the lime wash, would be a nice fresh look. It would provide a lot more contrast with your roof. Maybe use black or another rich dark color on the fence and gates and other wood trim/fascia etc. and maybe an arbor over the two windows instead of the awnings?

heres a picture I found that’s serving as inspiration for my suggestions.

And to get that Midsomer Murders cottage look, I think you need to freshen up your garden quite a bit. Think big voluptuous hanging baskets between each arch, and/or climbing roses/vines (but not anything that could damage the brick) on the arch walls. Consult with a good local nursery or garden designer for suggestions of plants that will grow well on your area and do well at your site.

NO the 1970 robin egg blue has to go and so do those awnings. I like awnings but not on garage conversions, with window boxes.

1. remove the gate, and fencing no need and it is an after thought.

2.remove the window boxes and awnings.

3. remove siding and stucco or cover with field stone or at lease paint a dark gray

4, think about replacing the drive way with cobble stone, but more than that change where the car parks, so it isn't so obvious the garage was there.

5. put a pergola with ivy over the two front facing windows let it creep around.

6. get red of all the square edges you can in the garden think English garden.

Your home has a split personality. One half leaning to Spanish Colonial and the other half leaning to cottage style. Make up its mind and go one way or the other.

My vote would be to get rid of the arches. They appear as though they were tacked on by the original builder, because you don't seem to have any other Spanish Colonial details. Besides the arches cut off too much light into your house.

I think you need to brighten up the interior area behind the arches with some type of lighting- maybe even a lighter wall color in that interior - agree with top posts- lighten up the whole house w same color-(Love DH first posted photo) get rid of the awnings- get rid of the gates and fencing in the arches add another few sconces- the single sconce at the walkway is lonely

I do have vines growing here. We've only owned the house for 2 1/12 yrs so they've taken a while to grow. Sorry, not taking down the arches! Like I said they're about all I've got of any beauty on this plain little house! But thanks! Love the ideas, y'all! I wish Id consulting you 1st before having it painted! Its bothered me!
What trim color for the white paint idea?

And P. S. : we DO need prettier railings, I agree, but we can't just have nothing as they keep our 3 rescue dogs from flying the coop! xx

And please tell me paint colors by name. I am not good at picking them on my own!

The two small awnings look choppy and I love RL's idea of a pergola since it replaces the shade provide by the awnings while ramping up the charm.

I think the right landscaping could really make a difference. Less lawn, more flowers and shrubs, lots of perennials, mix up foliage colors (include yellow-greens and red-purples), and include some evergreens so you have year-round interest.

How To Create A Cottage Garden | Waitrose and Partners

Forgot to say, our neighborhood won't allow fences in the front yard :(

The driveway to the non existing garage needs to change. Will eliminate the conversion look.

I really like DH's inspiration photo. I also like the window boxes. I plant wave petunias in mine in Miracle Grow potting soil, keep them watered and let them take off:) Since the driveway no longer goes to a garage, consider reshaping it a bit. Extend the planting area all across the front and possibly curve the walkway and the sides of the drive as long as you can still park the car - less sharp angles. You may want to look into a new driveway altogether if it is in the budget - using stamped concrete or cobble stones - whatever works for your area.

I recently discovered Midsomer Murders and have been watching it on netflex - as much for the scenery as the story. The juxtaposition of the grizzly murder and the beautiful gardens and rolling hills is part of the atmosphere of the show. It does take persistence and patience to get a garden to thrive. My area doesn't have exactly the same lush growing conditions as England:) Read up about what grows well and is native to your area and ask at a local landscape shop / garden center (not big box store) for ideas. Native plants are usually easier to grow.

My local garden center is more expensive, but since I belong to the garden club, I get emails about sales and specials that bring the price down quite a bit - so ask if your center has a similar club. Don't forget hardscape like fences, trellis, statuary - don't go overboard though. I had to build a dry creek to run sump pump water away from the house and added a small waterfall fountain to hide the noise of the pump. It added a lot of charm to the garden, and I am planing similar in the back though not looking forward to the work:)

It appears the arched area doesn't have a roof on it. I have seen those kinds of porches turned into wonderful sunrooms with the arches glassed in, but you could add a glass roof too. Plants would be very happy there.

Personally I hate ivy, and from the pics I was looking at of English cottages, I think a vine or climber that blooms will add more beauty and interest to your home. Although, if you’ve got the climate for it, hops or kiwi can be very lush and beautiful.

Would you mind posting another other pic of your home from a little bit further back and a little more straight on? I can see what looks to be a little bit of a garden bed in the lower right corner, and it might help to get a better overall view.

The arches are gorgeous. I loved the white color you had before. I agree with add beautiful iron sconces on the arches and I would change the wood gate and fence to iron. I would lose the awnings and put in wood or iron decorative accents. Not exactly like the photo I attached but try something similar to add interest above the windows. Please post photos as you make your changes. It will be beautiful, whatever you choose!

Don't plant ivy anywhere near your house. It's death on siding and roofs. Virginia Creeper is a non invasive vine that can climb on a house and not damage it and it turns a vibrant red in the fall:

Hi, Susie. What a cute home you have. I would paint the siding white. I would paint the trim, gate, railing and flower boxes a navy and also change the awnings to navy or a navy/ white stripe. If you are able to resurface the walkway and old driveway portion , I might suggest Pennsylvania bluestone. Then make that area have a more patio - like feel with a white bench and some potted ,colorful flowers in yellow or pink.— The inspiration pic. below has used Farrow and Ball “ Hague Blue “ on the shutters. Similar colors are SW “Naval” and BM “Hale Navy “. Best of luck.

It appears you need a downspout from the gutter perpendicular to the arch on the right. It looks as if the gutter overflows and comes down to the right of the rightmost arch and makes the brick look dirty.

Consider having custom iron railing and gate installed for the pooches then. Your house trying in too many directions that is the problem. you need so simplify. or instead of fencing the porch, fence the yard. that would make more sense and be more toward the look you are going for.

Where did the OP go ? Any recent thoughts, Susie ?

I like some of the suggestions. Thank you. I've added a hanging basket of flowers.
Sorry, I'm not going to replace the gutters as they are brand new lol
I never thought about using navy on the trims, but I love it. Hopefully someday we can make some changes, especially in the paint and iron ideas. As I stated before, we are not allowed by the neighborhood to have a front yard fence. All we can do us have the little fence on our porch which keeps our 3 crazy dogs from prancing away!

Trying to improve the porch area.

Watching MM right now...where are you located? That would determine what you can plant...

Oh! Your porch area is SO cute! Lots of potential! You are off to a good start with it. What a great place to read or have a cup of coffee, or happy hour! Just keep adding and tweaking!

I agree with many about white paint for house. Very cottage.

What about a hedge of boxwood or something taller to create a “fence”? Something that would have been as tall as that cute white picket fence that you can’t have?

I think flowers and other landscaping will help you along the path to the “cottage” look you are after. Many landscape professionals will create a plan for you that you execute over time.

It sure is a cute house!

Arbor over windows of a garage conversion. You could use stain the wood instead of painting if you wanted to bring out the Spanish feel of the curved arches a little more. If you don’t need to park next to the house, maybe you could use that area for a patio... add some potted plants in various groupings?

Maybe the new gate and railing could be a mix of iron and wood (again, honoring the Spanish feel), to help tie in the wood from the arbor... start thinking about how to tie the two sides together more by repeating some colors and elements, possibly even shapes.

Here are some new pix!

please keep the ideas coming! xxo

DH, those are good ideas and advice.

What color white paint???

Forgot to say, we live in Austin,Texas.

I think you’re little front courtyard is adorable. I love that space. I think a little cleaning (leaf blower and broom, maybe light pressure washer on low setting for the brick floor) would help it feel fresh, and you could bring in some fun color with an outdoor rug... the kind you can just hose off and let dry in the sun. I would want a bright one, yellow? Orange? Something fun that plays off the blue/neutrals nicely. And maybe a few colorful planters to help add bright accents? I think your grandkids would love some more color. ;-)

Thank you for the encouragement!
We left an Austin stone dream house to live here near our daughter & kids, so its been a sometimes-painful adjustment, but we had to do it.
Here are some of the reasons for our gate and porch fences!

So I think you have the climate to go with a Mediterranean cottage garden. Lavenders, agave, rock roses, stuff like that.

And I don’t mind the rustic feel of the gate so much, but would suggest that it be replaced with something a little more delicate and charming (like how iron would be) and for the fence in the next arch to match it. If you or a family member is handy, this could be a DIY? Or, it at least might be more affordable than wrought iron. Pair that with a coordinating arbor over those two windows instead of the awnings... voila!

Ohh love it. Thanks for all the ideas! Midsomer here I come! I may bring along Fr.Brown for protection,tho
Yes I do grow a lot of lavender and herbs in my garden!

You need more garden, even if some of is just something like limestone screenings or pea gravel. A really big glazed planter (maybe blue) set in the bed could look nice. Disguising the sharp angle of the path would help.

It's that garage conversion that sticks out and clashes. You could paint the whole thing including the top V a light or medium gray color instead so it would blend more with the other surfaces and not be so obvious. That top V piece where the house number is should be all grey but a better shade than the one that is there. More to the color of the walls on the other side of the house. Remove the awnings and window boxes or paint the window boxes white or black and extend them. They look too short and choppy. A raised flower bed at that height would look better that went across that whole wall to the end. It would be one long line. They should have predominantly red and white or colorful flowers in them with lots of different color green leaf plants. Put a trellis of climbing roses there. Or you could build a complete raised flower bed across that front area right to the side boards that come down. That would look best because it would balance out that area. I agree that the awning are not good. Shutters on either side of that window would be better. Black shutters would be best. The next is that you need roses added as they are the traditional English garden main plant. Put a climbing pink or deep red rose on a trellis in that corner on the right of the main house. Extend that garden on the left so that it is more even with the one on the right. Put plants in that are flowery and colorful, some with big showy blooms. Put some plants in ceramic pots and place them around the front. One by that statue. Hang some plants on a tall plant hook stuck in the ground. Make sure your plants are not poisonous if you have young children and pets.

Can you post a picture of limestone screenings? Not familiar

https://kilbournegrove.wordpress.com/tag/limestone-screening/

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/590534569858519759/

I would clad the front of the garage conversion with a rounded stone product. The siding doesn't fit the look you are wanting.

My Projects · More Info

wow I'd love that! I adored the slate of Pitlockery,Scotland and wonderful Tobermoray. -Reminds me a little of that. I was bummed the house had no stone.
We've spend $$ on it just bringing it up to normal inside! It has charm now and the tiny kitchen is IKEA expanded and cute.
I can't wait to fix up the exterior. I'd love to have it stunning.

We have to cover the windows from the glaring sun. And the magnolia tree we planted to create shade has a long way to go. I do love all the suggestions of pergolas,etc and the garden ideas. Ty.