I think lights over the garage doors would help, yes. I'm also thinking about another awning (like what is over the garage windows) over the large window to the left of your front entry--someone with photoshop skills could probably do a mock up.

But honestly, the most glaring thing to me is the field of concrete that extends from the garage doors all the away across the front of the house--there's no foundation planting on the entire left half. It may not be possible to break up the cement to add flower beds, but could you consider adding flower boxes under that front window? Or at least a whole slew of potted plants in a row up against that front wall? Plants and flowers are the jewelry to a home, and yours doesn't have any on half of the house.

Definitely no shutters. Looks fine to me for the style of the house. My opinion anything you bolt on would a mistake.

I think what is missing is some green plants in front of the left portion of the house. Can the driveway be reduced so that it has a curved drive into the garage? You could add an arbor over the bay closest to the street.

Why in the world did they put a huge window that looks into the garage?

I don't think shutters are appropriate. The windows are not right for them.

I agree this is a landscaping issue

Landscape. Containers / pots in front of the house, mabe a hedgerow to soften the abrupt end of the driveway on the left. Maybe even a trellis and vine over the garage - clematis or similar?

You need an awning over the lower large window to the left of the door that is identical to the one you’ve got on the front window of the house.

Then I would do a light colored striking front door, and a striking container plant with a striking container at the entry.

I would be very tempted to paint or stamp the concrete with a subtle design, from the entry way all the way to where the concrete stops on the left, but it would be tricky to get right, so I might not even try.

PS: Something else that might look nice if it fits with the neighborhood is to put an electric gate at the point in the driveway where it flares, between the flower bed and the tree. Then you could darken the concrete on the house side of the gate.

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I would do a gate with a flat top and without stone side posts. The container plant landscaping behind this gate might give you some ideas.

I think the base of the house is really nice!!! LOVE the brick.
I agree with a lot of the above. That the main thing is the landscaping. It seems a bit all over the place for the style of the home. I think I’d lean it a bit more simple. Modern. Straight lines.
I’d probably do a row or two of boxwoods. Some flowers. And maybe a small tree or two. I’d remove the curves to the mulch. Maybe line the driveway with some sort of landscape. Maybe lights as well.
And maybe have some planters by the door. ....

Eventually when your settled in and know what works for you and what doesn’t I might consider a few more things. But I don’t think there necessary right now.
I would probably paint the window trim black.
I think it’ll make the biggest difference.
I’d also probably remove the awning over the garage window. Not necessary. And maybe paint the doors.
....

Overall I think the focus should be on he landscaping for now. This really looks like a beautiful house.

Agree with a raised bed to left of house with stone retaining wall. But I would also see if you could put a little sitting vignette in front of the window.

Hi, Philip,

There is a large visual mass of brick over the garage doors. I don't think adding lights will be sufficient to mitigate it. I'd suggest an awning roof over each which is similar to the awning on the front window of the garage.

Best wishes in your new home.

I'd rethink the awning over the front entry door. Remove it -- perhaps move it to the back door or another window. They you could create an actual porch that extends 6' in front of that left wing of the house with the new porch roof creating the horizontal feature between the downstairs and upstairs windows to remove the pareidolia -- two eyes and short step above the driveway. A shed roof front porch would work or you could add a forward facing gable over the entry door. Depending upon the size/shape of the upstairs window between entry door and garage, you could extend the roof straight over to the garage as well or you could create a gable above the porch roof that either moves that window forward or make that part of the roof flat and level with the ceiling of the front porch to create a balcony.

The large expanses of brick does not help the appearance of the house. I think changing the garage doors to add color and interest, and having a Belgium shepherd dog lounging in the front yard would greatly enhance the appearance of the house.

A Lamborghini in the driveway always helps. too.

But seriously. We considered taking the shutters off our house, and a friend commented, as you did, that they are like eyebrows on a house. I know they get a bad rap if they are not ”usable”, but as a trim they can really help. (We ended up taking off the shutters from one place they they actually detracted, and left the rest.)

The only thing missing is landscaping.

It'll be tough because it appears other houses use the same brick. Maybe a lot of them is your development. I'd look around for ideas.

I'd put the eyebrow over the garage doors, plus lights!

Dark pergola over the garage doors that extends over front walkway to provide eyebrow with shade and draws you into a welcoing front entrance.

If this were my house I'd add grilles to the windows, and lots of landscaping. A large planter box all along below the triple window next to the front door. Maybe one day upgrade the driveway to a cobblestone look. Congratulations on your new home!

I agree that the driveway layout is unfortunate. I understand the left-side-arm is to aid in backing out of the garage and turning around, but does it have to actually touch the house there? Could 3-4 feet next to the house be spared to add in small shrubs?