Welcome to the kitchen forum! About posting pictures -- have you seen the instructions in the "ReadMe" thread (link below)? The key is to understand that there is no photo hosting capability on this site; you can't "attach" photos the way you could in an email. You need a website like photobucket (or, my favorite, Google's picasa) where you can upload and store your photos. Then you can add in links to them in the messages you post here. About your countertop question: how much light is there in the kitchen? Are there multiple windows? If not, I'd be careful about going really dark with the counters... but that is a personal preference. It's not as if there are rules about how to make these choices. If only there were -- then it wouldn't be so hard to decide! Are you sticking with laminate for the counters, or considering other materials? Here is a link that might be useful: Read Me for GardenWeb kitchen forum

Post some pics and we might be able to help.

I also think your home is pretty as is. Technically, if the area under the porch was darker, and the columns lighter, it would create contrast making the porch look deeper and more luxurious. And painting the dormers lighter than the surrounding backdrop would add visual depth. You don't have to use stark contrasts though. Think in lighter/darker terms, not white/black. I think you were thinking that way too, but I just wanted to assure you that you don't have to use extreme contrast.

I'm the first one to say change the color of unfortunate brick. But I would not paint the brick on this house - it's a very desirable color right now and forward-looking as well. Instead, I'd rework/repaint the color palette using the brick to inform color choices for trim, soffits, siding. I know that wasn't your question but in my experience it doesn't work out well to layer more color choice on to bad ones. It ends up costing more vs just correcting what's not working. And, again, I think the brick is working.