I agree about beefing up your column, but you could also plant a flowering vine to grow up it. What you choose for landscaping does depend on where you live and the daily sun exposure. Some of the forums on the garden side that might give you ideas are Shrubs, Perennials, Cottage Gardens, Trees. Check out the gallery on each of those for extra pics, but there are usually lots of posts with pictures on the discussion sides as well. Although you didn't ask, could you paint the garage doors to make them less in-your-face white? It could be my screen, but they look much whiter than your siding. Eventually (or immediately if you are full of energy), you could widen the walk and change it from a straight one to one with a curve or two that joins the sidewalk further away from the driveway. We did that and it wasn't all that awful-we did have someone jackhammer the old concrete walk before putting in a flagstone walk. For you, a brick walk would be lovely. That would give you room on both sides of the path to plant with more than just perennials. Having a curving walkway bordered with mix of shrubs, hostas, and flowers can make a very welcoming entrance. Oh, and check out the Hosta forum, too! Your home is pretty and I know you will have fun making it even more so with your landscaping. Oh, and I see a rock garden on the hill to the right of the driveway. Can you tell that gardening is my passion? :)

I think a medium toned olive would be nice. Too dark, and your roof and house will just blend in together. I would do an warm white trim, not stark white. A rusty red for the front door would really stand out against the olive. Or, consider a warm fall gold color. Be sure you paint the garage door the same color as the house, otherwise the white or off-white massive door will be the focal point. Gate the same as the house color, with the raised panels in the trim color. I would get rid of the overgrown bush to the left of the garage and put a nice planter there instead. I would also think about creating a curved bed that comes from the right side of the house and meanders down to the point where the little sidewalk turns to the front door - right at the point of the angle. That lawn space isn't really useful, but a pretty bed of low plantings and bushes that come up along the front of the house will take the eye to that area of the home, and bring it forward to balance the garage being so far to the front. It is a charming house, and your new colors will really make it feel even more welcoming.

Pink Mountain, lol about my house being a prime example of needing foundation plantings! It's what we've been saying for months. We've only been here a year, got a lot of inside work done and now want to start on front. Little by little as budget allows. I'll definitely use these ideas.

Don't blame your brick and grout. They give character to the whole house. Surround them with the right support and you will love them again. If you are going to paint a house in gray then the house will look flat cos you have a gray roof, Just freshen up the white by matching it to the colour of the white brick. You may like the black garage because it's more contrast, but with the gray roof, fence and garage door the overall look is more balanced and culm. However, this is just my opinion. Good luck. P.S. Your roof looks like green gray colour, so garage door and window trim should have the same undertone.