Yes keep the same configuration!

You could pick up on the grays in the step risers or a soft brown. I like the current color, too. Good looking house!

Love just what you have. It's a lot of money to spend and not SEE change but when you hit it right you hit it right!!!

Gorgeous house. I actually like the colors you have, but everyone needs a change and updating those windows will go a long way to keeping you warm during those cold Canadian winters. If you can keep the same shape as you have as the ones you have are beautiful.

Colors...

I agree with @houssaon a gray color from the stone or even a cream color from the brick you have could be stunning.

see hownice the gray looks with the blonde brick

Mackey Ranch · More Info

Flintrock Residence - Desert Highlands Court · More Info

I never would have thought of black until seeing this stunning house.

Simple Perfection · More Info

Keep in mind that modern glazing has color; often a green chroma.

Something like this color for trim.

Maybe try dk brown for windows and doors

The first thing that struck me is your soffit and the color of your fascia. The soffit is very linear in appearance and doesn't do anything to enhance your home. In fact, it detracts from it. The juncture of the soffit and facia is less than desirable also. Would help if the soffit and fascia were the same color.

What do you think about a sleek contrast for the windows and doors against the brick? For example, consider deep Urbane Bronze or something like Naval. Urbane Bronze provides a warm, rich feel, while Naval adds a classic touch. For the roof, Gauntlet Gray would complement the brick nicely. Consider coordinating your gutters, soffits, and trim with the window frame color for a unified appearance. Good luck with your project!

I ike the shape of the windows but not the red look wood I would do a nice dark bronze for the windows and all the red wood items too .It will aslo help to tie in the stone steps with the rest . Love your landscaping maybe a more interesting modern lighting

Dark bronze for all trim. Maybe a wood entry door.

I think you should lean "modern" in your renovations. Dark bronze window frames, gutters, etc. as others have noted. Having the soffit the same color as the brick does not bother me. A dark soffit could be too heavy-looking. Remove the medallion above the garage door, the Grecian urn planters, and the address number medallion. Replace the lights by the garage and by the front door with a modern-style light -- something with a black or bronze metal frame to complement the windows. Address numbers in a modern style on the left side of the garage. A more modern mailbox. There are many styles of modern garage doors -- for example, the one boxerpal shows (above) with narrow windows along one side. And a new, modern front door -- maybe one that is the same style as the garage door with glazing. Now -- about the front porch. I think the idea of removing the brick wall to open up the front entry is a good idea. Remove the red tile entry and steps and replace them with something that does not clash with the brick. A plain concrete, tinted to complement your driveway, might be the best and most practical option, since you are obviously not going to remove the driveway. Even using pavers like you have for the driveway might work. A simple railing around the porch and steps -- something modern like a black cable rail, or glass with a black/bronze frame. I can't mock up a picture of what this would all look like but I think the prairie-style house that boxerpal shows is a good goal to aim for, style-wise, with your lovely house.

Wow, this is the first time I use a discussion forum on Houzz and I was really not expecting any feedback. Thank you so much to everyone for your suggestions. I truly appreciate it.

Thanks to those of you who complimented the current colours. Although we feel they coordinate nicely with our brick, we’ve had this colour variant since we bought the house 24 years ago and we feel it is time to update it.

As for the configuration of the windows, it looks like it’s unanimous that we stay with the current layout. I would agree as I think it aligns well with the Prairie inspired architecture of the home.

We will be changing the windows to a hybrid window of aluminum outside.

1. Do we keep the thickness of the frames the same or should we look for a little thinner to get more window and less bulk? I am not even sure that is possible in our Montreal climate so I’ll need to validate it with window companies.

2. Do we keep the brick sills or should we introduce a light coloured concrete sill to bring in a pop of colour (like the colour of my pavers).

3. @Boxerpal, thank you! I love that last image. I love the dark bronze (I don’t think it’s black). I also particularly like it with the wood grain siding detail for the soffit and over the door. Do you think I could incorporate that feature in my home? If so any thoughts on how?

4. @Norwood Architects, thank you for your feedback. Could you expand further on what you mean by “the soffit is very linear in appearance and …detracts from the home”. How would you suggest we enhance it? Do you feel a dark bronze fascia and soffit like the windows, door and trims would work? Or perhaps introduce the wood grain feature noted in 3. above.

5. @Housekeepinbay thank you for your comments. Urbane Bronze from Sherwin Williams is actually the colour we are considering along with Peppercorn and Iron Ore. would you introduce an accent colour somewhere without compromising a unified appearance. I feel like it would just look beige and grey without any interest. Perhaps window sills in concrete or the soffit remains the colour of the brick or wood grain siding as per my comment in 3. I will be removing the current tiles on steps and porch to help in that unified look as well as removing the brick balcony to give it an airier appearance.

6. @Patricia Colwell Consulting, I appreciate your suggestions. Sounds like a dark bronze is a popular choice. I will be removing the current steps however as I will be removing the brick balcony. The bricks are starting to crumble and I don’t like the “fortress” feeling it provides. Any thoughts on what I can replace the brick balcony with? More modern lighting, address and mailbox are absolutely a must for sure.

7. @nester44 thank you for your thorough comments. Love and agree with your suggestions. Our style tends to be more transitional than modern but I get your drift. Similar to @Boxerpal’s image here’s another group of images I was inspired by. I particularly like the warmth of the garage and entrance door along with the line of concrete to break the monotony of the brick. Do you think I could factor this scheme somehow in my home?

You have all been such a wealth of inspiration today…THANK YOU!

Great suggestions. Keep width of window trim. Don’t mess with sills. It will distract from windows. Might take a look at S.W. Black Fox. It’s a wonderful deep dark chocolate almost black but not. I love this color and have used it inside and on exteriors. I think it might hit the “sweet spot” between brown and black. I would consider an accent color for the front door for a little pizzaz. Maybe a grayed line green. Garage door same as trim and windows.

@sandrabroccoli Thank you for considering my suggestions. Urbane Bronze, Peppercorn, and Iron Ore are excellent colors! Warm Stone SW 7032 could work well for window sills, and it's best to keep the soffit brick-colored. Alternatively, consider Weathered Shingle for a warm, wood-like look.

Sturdy Brown could be suitable for wood grain siding. It would pair well with Urbane Bronze and brick. If you want more color, Hale Navy could make your front door stand out. Consider bronze or copper finishes for items like fixtures, door handles, and window frames. You might also try adding some colors like Retreat for a fresh, lively look. Really can't wait to see what color designs you would apply. Wishing you good luck and I’m sure the result will be stunning

@sandrabroccoli

you wrote..

1. @Boxerpal, thank you! I love that last image. I love the dark bronze (I don’t think it’s black). I also particularly like it with the wood grain siding detail for the soffit and over the door. Do you think I could incorporate that feature in my home? If so any thoughts on how?

Yes you could. I think you could even change your windows to remove the grates and go solid glass. Change your soffits to wood just like the image. I love that last house too and I think you could incorporate all the ideas you love and update your home for the next 24 years.

Funny that the house you like is from Vancouver... Another Canadian. : )

there are 20 more photos on this link but sadly only the interior. It was redesigned in 2019 and they may know the colors... send them a message.

Simple Perfection Contemporary Exterior, Vancouver

It is super important to look at renderings of your home in the dead of winter with only your evergreens in place and look at your color selection. I'm often a fan of black-ish colors, but can imagine them looking really harsh in your long winters. For this reason, I'd consider something with a bit more color - I just glanced down and saw pewter green in @Flo Managan's comment. Experiment with something like that. I'm certainly not at all suggesting a bright color.

Yes, keep the window layout, don't mess with sills. Don't fix what isn't broken.

I would change the color and material of your stairs and porch floor to match the drive way.

I don't think that adding to the porch a new railing instead of the brick wall is going to improve the house. So I wouldn't mess with it.

I like having urns at your garage. Replace those with more modern shaped low black square boxes.

Number location and lighting location are good. Just replace for more modern fixtures and numbers.

I love your idea to replace the brick walls of the porch, balcony, and steps with railings. Replace the stair tiles, yes, they are busy so all one uniform stone.

I like the pics of the house you posted, Sandra. The dark soffit is not as off-putting on that house as I might have imagined. However, I think I would leave painting your soffit until the very end and then maybe the decision would be easier to make -- once everything else is finished. I'm also not sure that a band of a differing material, like concrete, would look good on your house. The horizontal space between the sets of windows on your house shouldn't be broken up by a band; it works on the other house because it has the additional architectural details -- the horizontal change in front profile, etc. So I would not add that extra "detail." As for some wood detail -- I like the natural wood soffit idea but that would be an expensive change, and it wouldn't look good unless you have some of the same wood elsewhere on the facade as in that Simple Perfection house that boxerpal shows. Maybe the garage door or front door? A visual rendering would be helpful. I think I'd be inclined to start with what you are sure of -- re-doing the front porch and painting the window frames and gutters, and then see what you think. (I'm sure some of the professionals out there will think it's crazy to start a project without having a finished plan first!)

Thank you all for the additional comments, you’ve given me some great ideas and suggestions. I’ll write back when we have more concrete decisions..