Really nice home and yard. With a healthy lawn you don't need a lot of landscaping.

It appears you may have (?abandoned?) a raised planting area in the center of the yard at the top of a slope. If you choose to restore it, you might consider creating a short wall on the lower end and on each side (only a couple of feet ending with the tops of the bricks or blocks or pavers at ground level in order to create a small level planting area you could reach/tend while standing below -- easier on the back. Keep the top of the wall level. Your slope is not as steep as this one was so your wall would not need to be as tall:

http://ifcod.info/source/

You have two front doors which isn't necessary. You could add a flat roofed unheated sun room or a screened porch in front of the door that is not your front entry door and then add a side facing door to that room/porch, thus removing any "competition" for your front door being easily visually identifiable as your entry. That side door could lead to a walk to a future front or side yard patio with a "green" fence shielding it from the road.

Would definitely want a high ceiling portico at the front door with the top of the portico close to the window sill of the windows above.

https://www.google.com/search?q=tall%20flat%20roofed%20portico&tbm=isch&tbs=rimg%3ACd3f9yg7DbEzImA7PNBZB3lwumzoDEmXv_1QdbUdyZxxN4osDmInHf0HRW_1s23boNNwvY_1ulYTrASGZSVV1b6G2wg56eS_1GlukWbAu8WN9r5gpVSffXUBrDY6KSIBrsCpqrKDsX_1Pv6BKc1cqEgk7PNBZB3lwuhGWBG4y-R7O6ioSCWzoDEmXv_1QdET1hi320yHh-KhIJbUdyZxxN4osR-xA079BSVNgqEgkDmInHf0HRWxE9YYt9tMh4fioSCfs23boNNwvYEbOxYlv90Ub_1KhIJ_1ulYTrASGZQRIaL2RQClPYQqEgmVV1b6G2wg5xF0XaPSbEuZuCoSCaeS_1GlukWbAEbJb-gYUcxXPKhIJu8WN9r5gpVQRCJp_1L89e2CQqEgmffXUBrDY6KRFH8h6uLwLPeCoSCSIBrsCpqrKDEU8MLfhMEK4IKhIJsX_1Pv6BKc1cRiHfX_1h-UNZphPWGLfbTIeH4&client=firefox-b-1-d&hl=en&ved=0CBsQuIIBahcKEwjogpqrm_vpAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQCw&biw=1349&bih=654

Consider removing the upstairs shutters and not replacing them -- you might re-purpose them for back yard patio side tables.

At the appropriate time of year for the shrubs you have, trimming the shrubs in front of the two story part of the house all the same height ( just below the window sill ) would appeal to my sense of symmetry. Do some research on how to trim the kind of shrubs you have because some grow thicker looking if cut at a little bit of an angle to let sunlight reach more of the interior part of the bush.

Before you do a lot of landscaping changes, seriously consider how much time and effort and energy and money you're going to be willing to put into maintaining it on an ongoing basis.

You have a classic Garrison Colonial.

The shutters are not appropriate. But, quite frankly, I would not touch the brick. I would paint the side door a dark color.

I can see a classic portico or something a bit different, like this:

Green Door Colonial Renovation · More Info

The traditional door in a fun color would be eye-catching.

This is another portico, you could use:

Poolside Cottage · More Info

I like the side lights and the large lantern.

I would also add you need some flowers to liven things up, maybe in that center garden.

It is a very nice house.

I would remove the shutters from the lower level. Get a full view storm door.

Other than that, any further improvement would be in the way of landscaping.

Post on the landscaping forum as well as here.

Is the one level end of the house the garage? Was the door in that section added? It looks squished against those 2 windows. The step is off center and the fascia looks off, also. Where does it lead to? Is there a walkway to the doors? I don't think the house looks flat. I would remove all the shutters, they don't belong on double windows. Fix the door on the right , and get rid of all the misshapen bushes. If you like to garden window boxes would look nice under the 2 picture windows

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful and insightful advice. It is much appreciated!

We bought the house two years ago and haven’t done anything to the landscaping yet because it is full of poison ivy and extends beyond the picture with more poison ivy around trees etc. so that is why it looks so overgrown.

The second door that is tight up against the windows is actually what we use as a mudroom. Originally, the mudroom was a breezeway between the house and detached garage (there is a double garage, side facing, the furthest windows to the right) but the original owners enclosed it so that is why it looks a bit off and tight.

The bricks look very dated to me and are so dark, with dark grout too. Would you suggest painting or changing the brick?

Also, I like the portico idea. Do you think a porch would work too?

Thank you again!!

Unless you use that mudroom door heavily, why don’t you do away with it? Convert it to another window and remove the step. That door is obviously a remuddle feature and takes away from the dignity of your house. (At the very least, paint it to match the brick. I’d push for its removal though.)

Build a nice wide portico over your front door like houssaon posted. Enlarge the stoop and step and install a nice wood door.

Almost forgot - remove the shutters. They look cheap.

I think you would be amazed at the difference these things would make.

You could fill in the large space below the upstairs windows with a roof extension similar to this. Gives cover to the entry too and takes away the blank feeling beneath those windows.

View from the Front · More Info

Are you looking to improve what’s there or transition to a different style?

A quick question. Is the brick just on the front of the house or does it cover the entire first floor? (This might help others assess whether or not you should paint it.). I , for one, like the classic red brick. I also like the enclosed breezeway with the off center door. Its lack of symmetry makes it unique. Remove all the shutters on double windows and see how you like it. Beefing up window trim might be the way to go, instead.

The brick is only on that front facade And chimney. The other three sides of the house are white siding. My problem with the brick is it isnt a nice brick I feel it is dated. I am attaching a detail photo.

Ultimately, I would love to transition to a different style but I don’t think that will happen for a while so I guess I am looking to improve what we currently have, while also getting ideas for what could be done in the future.

Thank you all so much. Your advice and opinions are much appreciated.

The brick is only on that front facade And chimney. The other three sides of the house are white siding. My problem with the brick is it isnt a nice brick I feel it is dated. I am attaching a detail photo.

Ultimately, I would love to transition to a different style but I don’t think that will happen for a while so I guess I am looking to improve what we currently have, while also getting ideas for what could be done in the future.

Thank you all so much. Your advice and opinions are much appreciated.

What style? Modern is easily achieved in houses like this

Is it vinyl siding or wood?

Vinyl

and yes modern would be great!

look into staining the brick to a uniform (or nearly uniform) color that you don't mind. Still better than painting. I'm going to do a bunch of the suggested changes so you can see what their impact might be.

Here you go!

I agree with you that the brick is doing nothing to the home - I'd lime wash or paint it out with Romabio like Beth suggested. That product lasts 20 years so maintenance isn't a problem. A portico will bring out the front entry nicely. I agree that the door squished against the two windows look odd. It would look better to remove the door and just come in through the garage, but if you must keep it, paint it out the same color as the brick so it recedes.

Scroll down on this Houzz thread to see how someone recently whitewashed their front brick. Looks good. I'd do the same with yours.

I really love this before and after and could see your house like this.

Remove the shutters. Paint the siding and brick gray (and the second door). Can you remove the grilles from your windows? That would look more modern. I really love the metal awning on it too. And the aqua door.

Could do something like this for your entry