grover - he said gutters and post black, so they'll be painted I guess, but I'd paint them white if they lie against the house. Can't go wrong with a white house and black trim.

Help me choose some exterior colors!

More and more people here in Austin are building with brick and leaving it natural, and I love the look. I agree with removing the shutters. What about black trim and then landscaping. That should be a big update with not a ton of $$$. These pictures are pretty grand homes but the idea is the same. (This architect if you want to see more: https://cuppettarchitects.com/portfolio)

Wow, I love your breeze block wall! Just a question, how white were you thinking of painting the house? To me, stark white is so ... styrofoam-y. But white with a drop or two of robin's egg blue, or mint-y green -- very very pale, just enough to hint at a color, would look fabulous in your setting with a bright yellow door. And might work better with all your cement than a more pure white.