I don't see anything wrong with the look of the brick. It looks like the brick used in the garage.

Is this a new house or an older one?

All the brick matches, the garage, house, and front. I don't see anything wrong with it or the stairs. It looks nice. You need some flowers in the pot.

How about painting the brick the same charcoal color as the columns?

Although it does match the garage, the garage is off in the back. The brick clashes with the stone.

You also need a landscaping plan. Another idea is planting something that will grow in between that and eventually cover cover the brick.

if you want to totally replace, i would do balusters in charcoal.

IMO the brick should be removed and a nice railing put there instead but I never like brick and stone together IMO all the trim the dark color like above the prch on the left would also be a good idea.

The brick matches the brick by the front door.

The brick is quite appropriate. Stop looking for things that are not problems. Do a general cleaning of the area and perhaps boost the level of landscaping. It's a really lovely home!

The brick is probably original. These houses weren't meant to be monochromatic. Plant some bushes underneath that will grow taller if you can't stand it.

I think it looks great! I agree to add some flowers.

I go with the consensus that it’s great — although I would be tempted to think about painting the area behind the steps a color that matches the dark pillars, or maybe just one tone lighter, or with some very dark green in it. But I would photoshop it and think about it a long time before actually doing it. What you’ve got is quite nice. If you like to garden, maybe some plants with a reddish hue instead of lime green would be nice. But maybe not!

taller plants. leave the brick alone

PS If you feel like spending money or doing work, consider switching to a natural wood front door in the same style you’ve got, or if that door is good wood painted over, strip it. Right now your front door is a bit of a dark hole, and bringing it out with a warmer look would be nice — including painting it if that’s the only option for lightening it up

Romabio can probably match a masonry paint or stain to the stone, or either the dark trim or the white masonry railing and bases. I think it is probably original, and would only change it if I did the same to the garage.

I'd stain it to match either the roof or the columns. No need for this postage stamp of red brick with all the other finishes.

something was added later. i'm better it was the stone veneer.

I'd paint that portion of the brick black to match the columns.

(yours would have the holes, obviously)

If you also want to paint around the door, you can do that in black as well, but I'd change out the door color. Or, preserve the brick and cover around the door area w/a board and batten. paint it white or the black

Bring in a better looking porch light

I'd do a wood craftsman door if you go black on the porch area

Romabio has a masonry paint you can tint to any color.

Removing the brick and replacing with rails would allow you to see the cute porch. The brick is charming and if you decide to keep it, could have a wash put on it that is similar to the tone in the stone. The mock up with the dark color does not look good to me. It doesn’t flow but rather draws attention to it.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think the picture I posted wasn't great - the bricks and stone are original and the patterned bricks in front porch are not original - not sure when they were added.

What are the local regulations concerning porch railings? Can you research original city docs about the house to see how it was back in the day? With the new, full facade photo, I don't think I'd want to paint/stain any of the original brick, but you might be able to remove the porch brick, although you may have to replace the barrier with something else to be up to local code.

It's a cute house.

If they aren't original, what if you called out someone to have them removed, and the railing replaced w/something more period appropriate? Maybe just simple vertical rails painted the same as the columns, or, the same colors as the stonework.

What about a limewash with Romabio? Just enough to shade the pierced brick towards the surrounding stone. You can wash it off in the first 2 days if you don’t like it. https://romabio.com/masonry/limewash/ageless-beauty/