Thanks, everyone, for all the advice, landscape and otherwise. I don't necessarily dislike our brick colour either. I think the problem is that the original family that had the house built, opted to increase the floor plan (main floor and basement) by putting a family room where the garage would normally be, right beside the main house. This is great for our family as far as the interior goes, but it ends up affecting the balance on the exterior, not only colour wise, but also as far as structure goes. My feeling is that the overall drab feeling of the house might be remedied by choosing a nice colour siding (I am leaning toward taupe), which would also be used for the garage door. In addition, perhaps a cosmetic change to the long main floor roof line would break it up a bit? I am in full agreement that the pillars/posts/columns need to be more substantial.

Do you have a dog? Do dogs run free in your neighborhood or is this your neighbor letting the dog, while on the leash or just accompanying your neighbor on a walk, poo on your lawn? Would build a covered front portico/porch with the the front of the porch roof and/or floor even with the front wall of the garage -- using the same floor level as the height of the current first step out the front door. Put a second square landing one step down from the front end of the porch and add additional steps on the side toward the driveway. If you can fence in your yard, do. Personally like a very short knee wall (no digging under it) and a sturdy metal fence (black or dark green) atop that. You could then create a green fence inside that actual fence. Even if you don't build a front porch, seriously consider changing your sidewalk to have it turn toward the driveway so you could plant cacti all across the front even if you didn't have a dog poo problem. If you're not permitted to fence your yard, then outline your yard with briar rich rose bushes or prickly cacti and add a gate ( with or without an arbor over it) , at the end of your sidewalk -- as is or changed to lead toward the driveway. Even if the rose bushes are not thick to begin with, you should be able to put a short "temporary" support "fence" -- with spiked top if possible -- behind the roses immediately beside the sidewalk to discourage the dogs entry into the yard. Something similar to these: https://www.amazon.com/Amagabeli-Garden-Fence-Decorative-Black/dp/B0814NQBKN Until you can resolve the problem with fence or thorns or cacti, if the neighbor is next door or really close, use a flat shovel ) think ... one intended for fire place ashes) to return the poo to the neighbor's yard if asking the neighbor to pick up after their dog doesn't put an end to it.

For curb appeal, remove the faux shutters and the arch inserts that are in the garage window. Add a light fixture that is 1/3 the front door's height. Unless required by HOA or you have livestock or pets in the fenced areas, remove the chain link fence. In certain places it can lower your property value. Bring your flower beds on out around the landing pad and down the edge of the drive. You could consider blue siding; it will work with the brown roof and brown brick. Not so sure about a black door with all the brown. Can you cancel that order?

If the deck is replaced sometime in the future, it could be expanded and done in a more transitional style…perhaps in white, wood, and some black trim. That could be the transition from your rural surroundings to your contemporary/modern interior. I thinks it’s fun and exciting to be surprised when you walk into a home that has an alter ego from it’s exterior. Have fun with it!