I agree with katinparadise and might add get a craftsman style door instead of the Victorian one. Your house is so charming and would look even better with these changes. Leave the brick. Its interesting.

I would paint the brick with body color.

Also agree with kat's suggestions. Your particular brick is classic/nice and adds interest, but I understand if it bothers you. Work on pulling focus from the garage door to the entry area.

Agree with removing the 1/2 moon panels on the garage door (that is easy and effective) and paint the garage door and downspout the same color as the siding.

Agree with changing out the Victorian front door for an appropriate front door.

I would also change out the large plant that is blocking the view of your front door with something that isn't so oversized. Ask for landscape help in the landscape forum.

Don't paint the brick.

Is there brick all around your house or just the front face?

Nothing about your house is modern. If you want to go in that direction you have some good suggestions above. Also the ornate trim on your gables could be simplified. Can you remove the windows' decorative grills?

I would paint the garage door a darker colour. Painting it the same light colour as the siding would still make it stand out.

I think the brick is the prettiest part of the house. Now to get the rest to go with it. There are lots of suggestions above. Think about it.

Limewash the brick and take out the crescent inserts in the garage windows.

I'm never a fan of painting brick, so will also never recommend doing it. I think your brick is timeless. Maybe not modern but doesn't date your home. To modernize it I would remove the shutters totally. Cut the scallops off your trim to make it a solid line. Remove the curved inserts on the garage door windows and remove the panes from the other windows if you can. Some are just easily removed plastic. I prefer white trim so would paint your trim white. Since your siding is different in the window offsets I would keep the color the same where it's is the same siding as the rest of the house so you don't have to repaint the whole house but add a different color only where the siding is different. It could be just a slightly darker or lighter than the current color or pick a color from the brick or mortar. Changing the entry door would also help. Do it a step at a time. Small steps for small changes until you have a new look. Or do everything if you can afford to.

Wow! All of these suggestions are great! I went ahead and removed the panels on the garage door. It only took me 2 minutes. I didn’t realize how easy that would be. I just pulled them out from the front. I will definitely remove the shutters but I’m afraid I would have to paint my house once I do that. Even though many of you say the brick is nice, I just think it makes the house look old. Maybe it’s just me. I will work on the other items like the front door and downspout and then tackle the paint issues when I paint the whole house. Upgrading my lights on the outside is also something I can do pretty quickly. You guys are awesome!

If you paint the brick use appropriate paint for brick. I think painting the siding and garage door and trim a darker charcoal color and a more modern looking front door would make your home look more modern... plus X the shutters.

You can have a more modern rectangular glass piece put into the door to replace the oval, if it's a wood door. Or DIY if you're handy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_97j1OS2VM

To my eye, limewash isn't a more modern look. If you want modern, go for a more solid covering of the brick and a darker colour. Be sure to use masonry paint. Romabio is often recommended on this site.

You don't have to paint the whole house now if you like the color. As I suggested earlier, you have 2 different types of siding. Vertical and horizontal. I'm guessing since we can't see it that the majority of your house is horizontal. Paint just the vertical portions for a little bit of a color block. And get rid if the trim scallops. I think you would find painting the brick a lot harder project if you want it to last. do your homework and do it right or you may be repainting every couple years. Painting it now is harder to undo if you don't like the look. You never have to touch it if you don't paint it.

Nice home. Would NOT paint the brick

Would extend the entry forward via building a large front porch left of the garage instead.

https://assets.agentfire2.com/uploads/sites/825/2019/07/IMG_3900.png

How you build the front of that front porch will decide the old/new vibe of the house. To me, that dominant square front window is what makes the house look older. A more modern front window -- even a bay window -- could help the look considerably.

If you have no separate foyer -- only a door entering int the main living area -- then consider adding a foyer in front of your existing living room and a porch in front of that (perhaps an "L" shaped porch that puts your large front window overlooking the side porch (beside the new foyer).

Might also paint the garage door the same gray as your trim color and siding above the garage door.

I hope you'll show us pictures as you make changes. I was going to suggest changing the door as well. It doesn't even need to be wood to change out the glass. It can be done with fiberglass doors too. It cost me $400 to change out the Victorian leaded glass to rain glass on my full glass front door.

It’s not paint on the brick which is being recommended. It’s limewash! If you apply a stain to wood do you call that paint? No you call it stain. There is a huge difference. Limewash allows the brick to ‘breathe’. Paint seals the moisture in the brick.

https://romabio.com/

Your brick was meant to have an old-fashioned look since it has a lot of colour variation. If you partly-cover it, it will look different but it will still have an old-fashioned look. Suitable for a cottage style. If that's not the look you like, and you want to cover the brick completely with a new colour, use a product that will give you more solid coverage. Don't use regular house paint since bricks need a special paint to prevent peeling.