Paint the whole house Naval and you might like the brick as is. It's very neutral. Or then maybe just a white or charcoal permeable stain on the brick....no paint.

Have you tried SW ColorSnap Visualizer? Upload your photo and render different looks for your house.

Thanks Trace. Yes I have tried the visualizer but find that the quality is so bad it really is still hard to tell. With the brick as it is looks so light and since it so central you mostly see the brick which looks awkward to me. We were thinking of actually using an opque stain the same color (naval) so it would look like it was painted but less upkeep.

The stone is pretty neutral. You can do pretty much any shade of green and a few shades of blue. Navy blue stone will look odd. This shade of green with cream trim would look great.

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I agree with Sigrid, navy blue stone will look odd - very odd. While brick is frequently painted or whitewashed, that is rarely done with stone. Your stone isn't unattractive. Try to work with it. I also like Sigrid's suggestion of a green instead of blue. It sounds drastic to think about moving, but if you really don't like your house the way it is, maybe it is time to move on. If it's going to make you unhappy every time you see it maybe it just isn't the right house for you anymore.

sigrid, I like your suggestion and I tried a green a while ago in one fo the visualizers but didn't like it. Maybe the color wasn't right. That is a challenege finding the right color. Anyway, ido you know of any nice greens that would look good on exterior?

At first I thought navy blue brick would look odd too until I googled it and it actually looks really cool and modern.

Do you like green or yellow?

This is Sherwin Williams Urban Bronze. I love the way the foliage stands out against it.

ffpalms. this is an interesting one.

happyleg, I like green but I am not into yellow.

Looking at the brick more closely, I see what you mean about the awkward shape of the trim around the garage and I don't think it should stand out either.

Your idea of all over matching paint and stain color is great to make the brick go away, and unify the facade.

But not Navy now that I see the darker charcoal grays suggested...fantastic idea. The Dark Olive and Urbane Bronze suggested are so rich looking and are proven winners. Warm grays that go with the warm brown roof.

What I don't like about the brick is it's limiting me, I feel, in color choices. While it is nuetral, it is just very light and kind of an odd color. My husband and I both feel the exterior is blah as it is and we want to interject some life and style into it. just not sure how to do that.

I think the most interesting you can do for the house is to, first, change the garage doors. They are up front and very obvious. Then, consider painting the all the house white.

Inspiration:

Yes, you have Carriage House garage doors and now I'm loving the white and wood. I see why you came here...so many fantastic options.

thanks for your suggestion

elceig, YES I thought of changing the garage doors but unfrotunately that is not in the budget and actually we are painting because the house desparately needs to be painted. So the only think in the budget right now is paint.

Whatever you do, please don't paint the brick navy - it will ruin the house. You've gotten good suggestions for greens, or stick with the taupe/tan colors for the siding.

Pick the paint from the brick for main house. Accent doors in olive green or sage.

I know everyone is scared of the navy brick but it will just look like it was painted navy. It can be quite beautiful. Here are some inspirations. Honestly while the brick is in good shape and looks okay the part of the house I like the least is the brick "accents" on this house. In this neighborhood there are so many like this- meaning they have this weird brick accent on the house that ,to me, looks like an after thought or a designer trying to create something interesting but in my opinion it isn't that interesting and instead looks out of place. I would want all brick or none on a house. Not a sprinkle of brick. Seems like the 1990's was full of builders or designers trying to be creative but the designs in my opinion just don't work well Just my opinion I am sure you all have your own. Anyway, Here are some examples of navy brick. The first one is the best example of what I am thinking- you'll notice navy brick by the door. I just want the brick to blend in and not be a focal point.

You've described your house as blah, and having not much detail. I have to disagree. Your house is a very complex shape, has a variety of windows and a very busy roofline. There is a lot going on. And the house is visually imbalanced with the garage side very prominent, and the more attractive "home" side smaller and set back. Houses look more welcoming when the front door draws the eye, and your door is recessed and not highlighted in any way.

Painting the house any dark colour will make it look even busier, because I assume you will be leaving the windows white. Too much going on. The deep blue will not look good with your lighter brown roof. If you look at the photos of blue houses you posted, you don't see a light brown roof and in fact you don't even see the whole house on 2 of them, just a carefully selected very cute little piece of the house. Using that blue colour won't give your house the feeling that those photos have.

If you dislike the brick and want to paint it, I suggest that you paint the whole house white, including the garage doors. It will simplify the overall look because there will be no "pop" of your white windows. The white will look good with your existing roof colour. Be sure you use the appropriate type of paint for brick or it will cause problems down the road. Paint the front door a very light colour, or white, to bring it out of the shadows a bit.

I'm glad to hear you will be addressing the landscaping later. It's a great opportunity to draw attention to the right side of the house by extending the landscaping forward and past the right side of the house, revealing the whole window, and creating a straight view to the front door that gives a welcoming feel. Your house will have better balance. I did a quick picture to give you an idea what I mean.

You have a lovely home! A movie star or singer has a black one. I love it's current color.

Blue is so the wrong color for this house with the brown roof.

It's CONTEMPORARY, not traditional. Don't try and turn this into a colonial style.

The lot needs some updated landscaping and contemporary homes often complement the environment in which they are placed.

I might select the dark olive recommended above.

I like this look for your house. I think all the white trim has to go. A Dark Bronze for all the windows and gutters.

thanks Beverly I see what you are saying. I like your ideas of changing the trim but still the brick really bothers me in your rendering. I would still want to change it's color. I especially want it to fade away around the garage. I know that staining you can change it quite easily and if you want a brick look you can change it in that way too. Additionally, our windows are vinyl and so is some of the trim so I am wondering if that can even be painted?? Here was my original inspiration picture with a brown roof. however, our roof does look lighter which is why I was wondering if my original color was too dark and I should pick a lighter blue.

Beverly, I really like your suggetions, I just am not sure I am crazy about the olive color. It just is not speaking too me. I wonder if there are other colors other than brown and olive that might work?

You could paint a solid wood stain for the garage doors and they will look like the wood shown. That would be awesome.

I understand you want to make a statement, but looking at inspo pics of blue brick houses, they are all cottages. I think the white house with white brick and with brown garage doors and brown roof is the most stately.

It is a bad idea to try to paint vinyl windows. In addition to the risk of peeling and flaking, it will likely void your warranty. Dark colours are more likely to warp. https://www.qualitywindowanddoorinc.com/blog/can-vinyl-windows-be-painted#:~:text=Vinyl

I walways thought that too, Partim, about vinyl windows.

I just don't like outside brick painted it might not breathe well and fall off the house or deteriorate inside brick is fine to paint the outside you have so much maintenance without adding more

Yes, something that won't disintegrate the mortar. Moisture trapped under painted brick will do that.

It must be an application specifically made for brick and mortar.

Yeah, that is why we were considering staining the brick. You can look it up. Staining absorbs into the brick and actually becomes part of the brick. There would be no layer on the surface so it breathes etc. and there is no upkeep and it lasts for 20+ years.

You've done your research : )

:)