Your ideas are perfect and will definitely add curb appeal. Dark blue grey with a white trim will look smart and a few more details like the foundation slats suggested above is a great consideration depending on the landscaping. Here are some inspiration pics. I hope this helps. #1 Note the white railing, white stair and white round columns. Also a simple straight awning along the porch and matching awnings on the second floor give this sweet curb appeal. Looks like boxwood along the foundation. #2 Note the heavier white railing and tapered square columns. You may want to consider doing a heavier trim around the windows and door. #3 Cute idea with a curved trim around porch and shutters on the second floor windows only. #4 Note the very interesting decoration at the peak of the house and with a paint color change! #5 Again note this interesting decoration at the peak. It doesn't have to be a window at the peak, it can be a louvre oval painted the same as the trim. This shows how nice a heavy trim around the windows and doors look. Don't forget the most important focus is your front door. It should be important and welcoming. I love all the moulding around the front door. #6 Again heavy white trim, square tapered columns, white stair. Love the hydrangeas! #7 Beautiful inspiration #8 Note the double round columns. I tried to find a better pic, but if you can imagine, the top part of the peak is scalloped shingles.

Your home is darling! I think your efforts and budget are better spent toward a cottage landscape and some dark blue-gray shutters. The cost of removing the dutch colonial roof (adorable, BTW) and adding fake dormers is not worth any perceived benefit you may have. Note that the roof ridge height is consistent across your inspiration house. Our last house was a trilevel which we spent a lot of money renovating and ultimately moved because you just can't renovate the split level out of a split level. Unfortunately, the ROI in a split level in my area is frustratingly low. Keep that in mind as you do things to your home.

Sabrina, thank you. I love the idea of black trim, my husband and I discussed that and it seems like a few others like this idea as well. Sandra, I love the idea of printing out the photo and coloring the area to see what works. Zibbe, you are right, we are less than 2 blocks from Buzz Cafe and close to the Conservatory and the park. Beverly, thank you for all of your ideas and photos. I love the planters and FLW style. I will definitely incorporate a lot of the ideas that you all have shared. I appreciate everyone's feedback and ideas.

Great job on the renderings! If you really dislike the brick, then by all means, yes paint! It's about making it your house and what makes you happy. You will have some more maintenance with the painted brick, just fyi. A few additional options with both of this colors for you: A german smear would look great on the brick if you go with the shoji white If you do the urban bronze, maybe do a "wash" on the brick so you get the full texture of the brick, with the change in color. You can test it out and see how you like it before you paint, just some water to the paint is all it takes, but can give more details if needed. Add in more cedar accents. Maybe cedar on the gable over the 2 windows, either with shingles, or gable accents. If you do shutters, just make sure they are the right size for the window, so each one should be as tall as the window and half the size so if you were truly to use them and they were closed they covered the window. I think the idea of updating your posts or surrounding them with cedar post surrounds to make them a little more substantial would look great. A wood door and garage door would also make great accents. Large black light by the front door and on each side of the garage as well. Hope this helps.