Thanks so much

I’m also usually in the keep the shutters camp but agree with cat_ky. I like the blue gray you have currently— it looks nice with the brick. While black and white is classic, it feels very overdone these days.

I agree with above. Some beautiful foundation plantings will improve curb appeal. Very nice house!

Thanks so far, everyone. never thought about taking off the shutters. i really want to paint the brick though.

Painting brick is just asking for more future maintenance. I actually really like your brickwork. It’s got some interest in the details. I think what’s throwing you is the house color which doesn’t coordinate well with the brick color. That said, I think the brick does break up the house oddly, but I’d try to find house and trim colors that go better with the brick. Yes to removing the shutters (and I’m usually a huge fan of shutters.)

The one window where the shutters are not appropriately sized is the double one above the bay window. Remove them all and see what you think. I like your home’s colors as they are!

With only all shutters removed, the house looks so much better...

From the photo above, I would remove all the shutters-wow! Paint entry door a vibrant color and put your $$ into landscaping. Lovely!

And here's the house with a white front door, some landscaping, new lighting...

Wow, thank you, everyone! this is why i love houzz. wasnt expecting everyone to say i didnt need to paint.

Yes to the just-above soft sage green with brick. Front door a darker shade of sage.

No shutters anywhere.

I think I’d paint the window trim a color to blend in, NOT pop. (Especially the bay window. Its bright white trim makes it look like an add-on.) You have maybe 3-4 kinds/sizes of windows? Don’t draw attention to that.

I will be the outlier. I think the brick center section just breaks up the home and makes it scream builder development circa 1994. The form of the house is a nice classic American vernacular Victorian, that illusion is destroyed by the mix of materials and the arched windows on the first floor. If I had monopoly money the arched windows would go away as would the brick and I would side the whole house with one consistent siding material. Barring that, painting the brick to match the siding!would at least make the whole thing read as one house. No you can’t use interior wall paint on brick, but there are plenty of paints made expressly for painting exterior brick, and it holds up fine. People have been Painting brick for centuries and If done correctly does not cause any excessive maintenance issues.

You might also consider painting the garage door the same color as the siding. The current white garage is pulling a lot of focus.