My deepest sympathy on the loss of your son. You will get more help if you post your question in the Home Decorating part of this forum. It's more active than this one and there are lots of talented people who have good ideas re color choice - both exterior and interior.

i'm a sucker for a deep blue. I adore cobalt. Here's one with a glossy navy or you could do more of a pale aqua the last pic is more of a vibrant red. I don't have the exact name, but it leans over toward the orange side of red rather than the blue/violet side. here is what I meant about some planters on either side of your door. This would add so much, especially if you went w/black or a cobalt. the pinks and vibrant greens really give a punch you could also do a midnight blue and get the same look have you ever thought about painting the siding? and the flowers beds in the front draw your eye to the door. This one too.

Before any and all..........address the kitchen layout and function. I doubt you can open the fridge fully, the desk should go, I think you do not want a microwave over the range. .........All these, including a more built in look for the fridge, should come before tops of any variety. Frankly, it appears the kitchen is too small for the island within it. Start with clearances, layout etc, before the bells and whistles

Thanks to everyone for their comments and opinions. It's exactly what I was looking for. I had written a follow up the other day to this post based on some great questions from all of you...but after a longer message, it didnt end up uploading after I hit send. And I didnt have the time then to re-type. I wasn't open in my initial ask of what I plan to do and how much I'm willing to do. First off, this was a 2 family when built and had been converted now to a single family. There is extensive work that will need to be done on all sides exterior, and the entire interior. It looks like someone may have started to revive this home about 7-10 years ago and that's I am guessing where the front door came from, vinyl windows, maybe painted lintels and some exterior tuckpointing and roof work. It has sat since then and some of the issues have reocurred...and some are okay. So our budget is around 150k. So I didn't write it, but the windows, the front door and any other ashtenic look or ideas for the front is what I should have initially asked. Aslo, as a couple of people have pointed out, the house got a water service upgrade coming into the house so hence the extra lumpiness in the front yard. That space needs to be excavated and flatten correctly...as does the backyard where a sewer lateral change was necessary too. The front yard is not large and the 3 other houses right next to me all have the same house and same size yard. Lastly, the top of the building in my original pic with all the ornate and intricate brick work is unfortunately gone. Unfortunately the house was recently hit by lightening (if you can believe it) and 1300 - 1500 bricks were blown out of the top and onto the street and yard. Thankfully no one was hurt, but clearly a set back and something I never would have guessed is possible. We have applied for a masonry bricklaying permit here locally and waiting for approval so that area can be repaired. But unfortunately, we will not be able to re-do the original design or get that brick again. Alot ot you have asked about historic restrictions and rules. Though we have other neighborhoods that have been deemed historic and each neighborhood may have some guidelines to follow, where this house is does not. As for painting the brick, I clearly get the overall consensus to not paint it. so thank you. however, where we live, there are literally 50,000 houses like this. So though it may look unique to some, it has become just a normal daily sighting. which is why I really want to make sure this house is different and stands on it's own merit. my personal taste is clean lines and maybe more of a contemporary theme...and I understand that some or that may not fit exactly. But many people here have done some (what I think) are neat changes or ways to redfine their own homes starting with a template like this. As I mentioned, on this block alone, there are 2 identical homes to my right and one to my left...with about a 2f alley separating each property. So I don't know if that helps at all. Or changes anyones thoughts or ideas. I was heading down the path of doing steel or aluminum windows in black and some form of a similar thought or idea with the door. And part of me thought a classic look against the black was a white washed design to make the home classic but also rustic and timeless. But that's as far as I got. Because the masonry work will need to happen now before fall or winter gets too far in, I believe addressing as much of the exterior issues now makes the most sense. Hence my post. So thanks to everyone again.