This is the rare house where I would advocate for painting the brick, the contrast between the siding and the brick is too strong. Painting your brick cream to match the siding would unify the whole house, then add shutters to the brick portion. Paint all the trim white including the porch columns. The landscaping doesn’t need to be cleaned up, you appear to have one small tree and a shrub. You need MORE. Trees, shrubs, perennials…

I’d start with removing the shutters altogether.

I like the idea of painting the brick. But I can understand if you’d choose not to. So that’s probably the first decision you’ll have to make. Definitely update the porch posts and the landscaping.

Lots of potential 💖💖

I can try to do the white brick tomorrow. Here’s some brick inspiration. Note, I tried filling the siding with brick as another good option… you have to call a local and see if they can match the brick…

In my humble opinion this facade has a charming spaciousness with the area of emptiness especially above the garage. If I could have my way here it would definitely involve lime washing the brick for a distressed interesting but neutral look combined with darker timber details and much much more vegetation. My inkling would be to suggest some sort of knee braced flower beds with vines. Beautiful home nonetheless!

Many a time it is suggested to take a color from the bricks to take as a siding color. I think I see a dark shade, so going dark - say a brown/black- might be worth considering, or even a darker beige….

I would not paint the brick. I think it looks nice. I would take off the shutters. The siding looks like it could use a good cleaning.

I would paint the post and rocking chairs the same color as your white siding.

Paint the front door, around your garage, and triangle on the garage window all the burgundy color you are using. I think that color goes well with your brick.

Hopefully Dig Doug's Designs will comment on the landscaping. What planting zone are your in?

Here’s some whitewashed brick ideas

I prefer the brick to the whitewash or paint. The siding, would be what I would paint. Are your shutters the type that will close over the windows? Pick a light color that goes with the brick, and repaint the siding. Repaint the rockers on the porch in a brighter color, and put some colorful pots of plants on that patio area. Landscaping is definitely needed. A few small flowering type trees in the front yard, A fence or some type of landscaping to hide all the hvac etc on the side of the house. Front landscaping, that is not all straight lines. Its a pretty house, and just doing a few things, will make a huge difference.

Or maybe replace the siding with board and baton?

Rough mock up of the board and baton idea

Would you consider painting the siding a darker color and even darker for the shudders? And shudders over the garage would give some character too. I agree that the post by the door maybe should match your window trim. If you could add another one that would help. Unfortunately I can not tell you the colors used in the attached photo, your neighborhood paint store would have to help.

I would add shutters to the garage windows and add a lantern with mustache brackets over the garage door.

should you decide to recolor the home, consider using lime wash instead of paint and applied in a distressed fashion so that some of the brick color shows through the lime wash. It will create and instant 'vintage' appearance to the home.