Have you considered a mineral paint for the brick? It eliminates the traditional problems of painting masonry. Casey

Christine- you saved a life! Not many can say that! I like to think I'm the type that won't panic but since I've never been in a true life threatening situation, I can't know for sure. I was an athletic trainer in high school, in football country, so I've had my fair share of calming injured persons down. This is completely anecdotal but football players are WAY more "sissy" than softball/volleyball girls. I had to restrain several girls and tell them "NO, I need to look at that ankle!" while I had to tell at least one football player to get up and get off the field! The closest "panic" experience I've had was when my 2 year old severely burned herself. I only had panicky feelings AFTER she was at the hospital. During the moment, I was in the moment, using the skills and knowledge I had to help her. Did I ever mention my original "when I'm grown up I want to be..." was a doctor? Probably helps that my dad was a first responder and I remember sitting around the dinner table and him telling about reaching into a guys broken leg and pinching the femoral artery shut. When we were at a family gathering later and he was sharing the story, others were disgusted and couldn't finish their meals!! That's when I learned that other people have a different tolerance/panic level than we (my family) do. Marrying ketshup....EWWWW!!!!!!! Look, I'll save the old, almost empty bottle (in the fridge) to use next time but mixing them? Bleh!! Shaken, not stirred? All juices, salsa, ranch, BBQ sauce, basically all condiments, chocolate milk, tea. I'm a southern gal but growing up my mom only drank unsweetened tea. It wasn't until I was a teenager that I learned that southern iced tea is generally sweet tea. Still can't stand it to this day. IF I'm going to have tea it will be iced and NOT sweet! Also, no one else has said it but can I just say that canned veggies need to die a horribly slow painful death? The only veggies I got growing up (remember mom HATED cooking) were canned. Canned corn (Meh, OK in a pinch) canned peas (SOOO mushy!!), canned carrots (OK, if I can't have fresh I actually do prefer canned to frozen), canned beets (BLEH!!! Still my most hated veggie to this day) canned green beans (THIS is LITERALLY the worst!!! Salty, limpy, bad flavor yuckiness put in a can!!!) The only one I actually liked and still buy/stock my pantry with is hominey. My canned goods storage is very different from my moms. Her pantry was/is stocked with canned veggies, soups, beans, etc. The cans in my pantry are generally tomato sauce/paste (hoping to start growing my own next year!!), and prepped beans. Pinto, black, refried, black eyed peas, etc. I really want to start my garden next year and grow tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, garlic and herbs to start with. Hopefully, years from now, my daughters will talk about mom's atrocious pantry with ready made foods because they have grown accustomed to having fresh food. :)

Have you considered a larger more sheltered entryway? Do seriously consider putting a roof between the left (garage) wing of the house and the right wing of the house for a larger covered portico, and adding porch/portico lighting in the ceiling of the new portico/porch. As you extend the roof, put your support posts literally against the inner sides of the two wings of the house (rather than crowding the entryway with posts closer together). ... One option would be to extend the roof on the right wing of the house: https://willophx.com/home-tour/ ... Another option would be to create a hip roof portico (preferably without the double bulky posts) : https://www.georgiafrontporch.com/portfolio_category/hip-roof/#prettyPhoto[gallery2935]/0/ ... Another option would be to create a rounded front for a flat roof of the portico, https://in.pinterest.com/pin/490610953134023345/ ... with the rounded part front of the flat (or nearly flat) portico roof extending in front of the front exterior wall of the house so it shelters the rounded front steps. By making the roof top of the portico deeper between its upper part (roof/balcony) and its lower part (ceiling), (with or without a railing), you could bridge the distance between the height of the two roof lines.

Your house will never look elaborate. But that's ok. Simple is good. Yes, embrace your house for what it is -- a small, simple, neat home. As others have said, trying to make it something it isn't will only backfire on you. Bigger and fancier isn't better; often I see a bloated, overly complex house on this site and think, "Someone actually built that -- and thinks it looks good." You're starting with something solid and basic ... and you can make it a standout house. If this house were painted a nice color and surrounded by lovely trees and plantings, it would look entirely different. What I'd do to your house: - The simple shape is good, but the color is dull. Paint it blue, yellow or sage green ... do not go white or gray; you need a color that'll bring in personality. Your roof color is simple and can support any of these colors. - Avoid shakes, as they are high maintenance and their color will fade over time. - Paint the porch white. - The white front door is kinda invisible ... so choose a color to accent the new house color. - I see two sad brown chairs hiding on your brown porch ... paint them a colorful shade to match the house color (not white, make them stand out from the porch). They look kinda large for the small porch ... consider smaller chairs and a tiny table to hold a cold drink and a pretty plant. But, at every turn, color. - Once the painting is done, reevaluate the shutters ... I'm not sure what to say about them at the moment. One school of thought is to keep them black to match the roof, but (once the color is done), you might opt to remove them or paint them white? Unsure. - Do you have a light on your porch? I can't see it. Add a lantern-style lamp ... most people make their porch lights too small. On a porch this size, you'll probably only have one light, so make it 1/4-1/3 the height of your door. - Finally add your house number above the porch. - Have a landscaper come out and develop a plan with you ... accept that this will take years to "grow into". Treat yourself to some bright, colorful annuals that'll give you an instant pop of color and a hanging basket of colorful flowers on the porch ... but put most of your effort into things that'll last /take little effort over the years: a couple trees, foundation bushes, a row of hostas around your walkway. Include a birdbath. - Add a solar-powered light on a post near the driveway end of the pathway ... this plus the porch light will look welcoming at night. - When Christmas is over and the wreaths come down, keep a seasonal wreath on your door ... but make it a little larger than the one on your door now. The wreaths on your windows are great.