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Hmm, thank you, I"ll try it again!

Please post a picture from the street so we can see the whole area. This looks like the side of the house - I see 2 walk ways. More substantial posts would look better. You can get covers for those. I would not like a black door but a door with windows. A better driveway.

Definitely make the posts more substantial. I agree that black would not be so great on the garage door. I think it would look like a cave. Is that a garden area to the left? Maybe some large pots would help if you don't like to garden-greenery and blooming plants would be pretty. You need some bit of nature, I think.. No stone veneer next to the garage.

Remove the shutters they do not work on those windows . Yes to making the posts more substantial no stone veneer and IMO you are thinking black because the shutters are black so remove thenm then see what you want .I need to see the front of this home too. I think a wrp for the osts in wood and a mtaching wood garage door might work That pathetic litle deck/ garden is a mess . Anything you plan for this side of the house needs to be taken to all sides of the house in some wy so let us see the front with the entry door please Post that here in a comment just like you did before DO NOT start another post .

No stone veneer. No black door. Wrap the entire height of the columns. Yes, remove the struggling shrubs, but replace with more landscaping.

I take it you all felt the need to critique my suggestions and inspiration photo.

No, I am trying to learn how to use this platform. I also just had those shutters installed because I thought it would look better and I don't understand what you mean by critique your suggestions.

Thank you all for your help. I should have mentioned that the stone ribbon on the house has been started. I do not want to take down the shutters because I just had them installed. Yes, I am taking out the horrible small plant bed and all the plant beds for that matter. I am going to put in a driveway as well.

I like @elcieg idea if budget can allow. But just a mention that on the front of the home, I would remove all the stone except for the porch surround. It doesn't really go with the style of the home. The version below is more of a DIY kind of job if you're into it. Landscaping will go a long way if you can plan for along the way.

I love what @elcieg posted to really bring out the best in the house . The issue here often is posters get stuck after not getting help at the beginning . You are adamant about things you chose and will not change so hard for us to help. I think stop right now finish the walkway and the friveway remove that are beside the garge and when all of that is done come back to this post and then carryon with the house / The stone you have stsrted on the house does not work and for sure not with the walkway . If you want help you need to listen , at the end all decisions are yours but we try to help before getting in too deep.I would remove all the stone even on the steps for now finish the major work that is planned and then come back or not totally up to you.

we just bought and started all that stone :( I do have a new garage door coming just like this pic you posted. Maybe I should go grey, It does look good! thank you.

Can you also post a picture of the front of the house straight on?

I like the shutters, they give the house a little contrast and interest. (Some people on this site have very strong opinions about shutters- I am not one of them. Then again I am not a pro, and people don't pay me to design. ) I find that the house appears somewhat plain in the rendition without them, and you just bought them, and I am guessing you like them. We don't all like the same type of music either.

I think that jackowskib and Kendra are right-bigger posts, ( noting the nice beam in the mock up, that goes across underneath and looks to support that overhang-which also makes it look more substantial and not as sad and frail), new driveway, new landscaping and removal of the clutter will go such a long way. I also think painting the posts and downspouts the same color as the brick would look better. I, too,think that the stone over the brick does not look good, or make much sense. (So sad that you did all that work, but again-just my opinion.)

Elcieg's rendition would be incredibly expensive, and while it looks ok in the rendering, I think it would look odd from the front side of your house to have it two toned white top/black bottom. It doesn't seem like the "belt line" would line up too well with the section of your house that is just one level either. However, putting new house numbers somewhere in front or side of house, would be an inexpensive and welcome addition.

Also a little curious about your mailbox...does your mail person really deliver there?!

Here's an idea of what can be done on the side of the house but I'd still like to see a full front view as well.

Install a beam at the bottom of the bricks, enlarge the columns and paint the downspout same colour as the column, install black siding in the gable. Pave the driveway and work on some simple landscaping.

I honestly think bulking up the posts will do a lot of positive all on its own. I do think a darker bottom will balance the house better too.

Not a fan of stone so wouldn’t do that.

IMO, your problems are a dreary paint scheme and lack of landscaping. I'd paint the shutters a color like SW raindrop or a light blue. Then, I'd plant up the area between the path and the stone veneer with flowers.

Fill in one or both sides with a screen or wall or lattice/slats of some sort. Here is something painted to match or with more stone.

Wood screen...

I take it the garage faces the curb.

Sometimes Design Dilemma folks show up too late after they've already made some less than ideal changes and wonder why the house doesn't look better. The tacked-on stone and shutters and planting bed removal are unfortunate. These changes pretty much rule out approaches like. elseig's and listedv's. However, a new driveway will improve the curb appeal if nothing else.

Curious about why the planting bed had to go. A big house like yours needs more landscaping, not less.

So, the planting, landscape and driveway will all be tackled. That is not my dilemma, although I appreciate all the comments of help. I love the mock-up from lisedv, thank you! I love the black gable because we are going to change the shed roof on the front to an A-frame and paint the gable black so this will all tie in. I disagree with all of you saying the stone doesn't go. I love the stone that is mortared to the house and will have a ledge matching the stone treads on the front steps. That stone veneer will also wrap the 9-11" half posts under the garage. I also like the shutters that is why I put them up, the house looked so naked without them. The mail gets delivered everyday there, but that will not be staying.

There is no stone on the OP's house. The stone was my idea, as was the blackish garage door.

Also, the walk will be widened to stair proportion.

Yes, you did suggest the black door and the black beam! Yes, the stone ribbon will go on the other side of the house front as well, we just started the stone. We are installing a stone water table underneath the window sills and all around the stone veneer as well. I will post pics. Thank you, elcieg!

Oh, okay. Well plan some landscaping in front that hides the overhang--maybe two additional arborvitate to hide gutter, overhang etc. Do remove the skimpy shutters on the triple window on the right and plan beautiful landscaping below those windows.

Thank you!!! I love the whole design! This is what I am going to do! I will post pictures when done!

@elcieg OP has repeatedly said they bought stone and plan to install.

I am also on Team Shutters for the same reason kimbers333 expressed. I wouldn't have the garage door black for two reasons: not sure whether a garage door is something you want to feature and black will show a lot of dust and dirt. That may not be a consideration where you live, but in the Dallas area, our houses sport a lot of west Texas dust. I would keep the garage door very similar in color to your main house color. As others have suggested, beefing up the posts is a good idea.

Those 2nd floor windows were sized so wrong for this home.

Those windows are original from 1951 when the house was built.

Applying thinset on the veneer stone to a painted brick will not end well. Nor will the ledgestone cap with only caulk, and the cap's conflicts with the 3 window brick sills. I can tell you got hung up on what to do at the windows there.

You haven't gone too far yet, you can remove the stone. But you can still use it. I suggest a short height wall all along the front, extending to align with the overhang column. Between house and wall - landscape and seating area.

A breezeway is created if you make a column and header for each side for the garage-- and create a passageway in front of the garage doors. Move the shrub to another location, it stops the eye before the end of the house.

ARCH

WOOD BEAM

Those shurbs will be moved. I dont want to draw attention to that area I just want to enhance the columns by beefing them up and adding the half stone veneer on them. Thank you for the idea.

3onthetreee: my husband is a mason, that is mortar and we stained not painted our brick. Also, we are using a high strength extreme mortar for installing the ledge. Thinset is for tile, not brick!

Hope you will post an update when garage area is done, the plan sounds beautiful.
I would paint the gutter downspouts same color as the house.

Okay great but don't forget to add the header shown to bring down the height of the opening.