David Cary, I always like your inputs. The first preliminary concept had an attached garage, so it was considered. Owner prefers a detached garage and in this case, it works a lot better. 95% of homes in the area have detached garages. The minimum setbacks here are way larger. She did not want a front load garage and I did not like it either. As for the porch, then again, first elevation concept had a smaller porch. Take a look at the OP's second post, the upper right elevation. She has a large family so she needs a large, front porch, plus she loves them, and the home needs to fit their needs, not ours - so we went with a more colonial look instead Georgian, which is what she wanted from the start. I believe the pictures that she posted are meant to compare shutters or no shutters -and not- small porch or large porch. ... I do not aim to be 100% historically accurate because then, they have to heat the home with logs and go with a stable instead of a garage, but the detailing can be historically accurate and things will be fine tuned. The home needs to adapt to modern day and owner's everyday living while fitting nicely into the neighborhood.

Love that your shutters ARE fully functional with dogs!!! I would keep them on the lower, porch windows. Don’t mess with your upper windows. They look beautiful as they are. No tinkering with trims, etc. I’d keep your shutters and paint them a light color. A pale taupe, a soft green, a faint blue. Or white. Very soft. Just a hint of color. Your home is absolutely beautiful.

I would remove all the shutters except for the two lower single windows on the brick. I think replacing them with appropriately sized, functional shutters with shutter dogs has the potential for a lot of charm. As for shutter color, I would pull a dark grey/blue from your brick.

I like it with the shutters off. I see a lack of any color for interest now though. You mentioned a wicker chair, or two. Please put colorful cushions on them, and in your before picture, you had some colorful plants in front of all the green. They are missing in your after picture, and you really need to add something similar back there. The only color, I am seeing now, is the two yellow pots.