To replace the tan, I would add wood siding and paint it white like the trim. It's hard to see your front door in the picture, but a black door would look classic and elegant.

I wouldn't go with ornamental grass. Right now you have a very formal house with trimmed shrubs, and ornamental grass is very informal and might look out of place. I would use Daylillies or Liriope instead. These will also add some color when in bloom.

Try filling in the beds with annuals, like Begonia or Impatiens. I would keep it to one or two colors.

If your budget allows, I would plant a large tree in the front yard, like an Oak, and add an island around it. As the tree gets larger, the island can get larger and more plantings added to it.

Paint the tan the same color as the walls and paint your front door white or grey.

Wow! Love all of these ideas, thank you so much. Hadn't even considered white or black, but really think it might just be the classic touch it needs. Appreciate the suggestions!

Use one of the colors that are on the peak of your porch for the door. Hanging plants from porch and flowers in area of bushes. Porch furniture.

Your home is really very lovely and could be a show stopper. It leans towards being a bit dark so I would make sure the accents you add brighten it all up. Are those the colors of the brick or could they use a good powerwashing? In the eaves I would freshen the paint (even if you wanted to stay in the beige family) I would also consider add one of those styrofoam decorative medallions and place it in the center of the eaves area. For the door (this may scare you) but I would go with a bright yellow. Not neon bright but a very cheerful color. Other door colors that pop would be a deep mediterranean blue or a near navy blue. I would also add shutters painted the same color as the door (if you went with a deep navy blue. You could also consider painting the brick patio area a much brighter color or if the bank is there just putting down a light grey blue stone or slate. If economy matters then go to a good store or online (frontgate) and buy a large outdoor rug. I would also consider adding a distinctive and architecturally appropriate porch light and go for bright cushions for both sides of the doors to create a more vibrant seating area. I do like the plant beds but in terms of the perennials you have more than enough. Bring color in with tons of annuals, impatiens, petunias, etc. anything and every thing that blooms annually. The fun with annuals is you can change it up every year. And this is just my thing with houses. OPEN YOUR SHADES. Nothing is sadder that homes with windows as fab as yours that remain all buttoned up. You can just do simple dual sided balloon shades (so that the fabric shows from the street side as well) and combine those with your everyday blinds (not roller shades). I always think a house looks alive when passersby can see the life in it.

Please post any afters when you are done.

oooh wow. GREAT response! Thank you. So funny, after muttling over the first two responses with black and white I looked around at our ALL brick neighborhood and realized that's what most of the homes look like. While I love classic, I want a little bit of "pop" to our home. And yes, the brick is very unique. It's a dark almost burgundy ish color?? When I looked at some color options in a book today I keep going back to one set that had a putty gray paired with this brick color along with black and yellow and off white and white. I may try just painting that inset that putty color first...LOVE the idea of the medallion or something similar. And you can't see in the picture, but there are 3 very large lights hanging down on the porch. When I post the "after" :) I will make sure you see them in the picture. Thinking a rug might be a great idea. I do have one that is a large sisal (?) oval that I use in the spring/summer. But..not sure if the straw color is right. Gosh..so many awesome ideas. I am so glad I posted this picture on a whim! Thank you all so much!

p.s I really hate the tan that is in the eves... I think that's what got me started on this re-do...as my husband rolls his eyes. ;)

hi
your house is so pretty , can i know where it is ? which city ?

I love it when doors are painted a bright almost whimsical color. The door shows up, says "welcome" and that you don't take yourself TOO seriously. If you go w/ black, I think it will receed and be difficult to see (like it is now) and white would just be boring.

Have you considered a gray for your peak? We need a software program to see some changes, please!!

Here is a quick 5 min color comparision for your home with colors matching the front roof inlay color.

Beautiful home. The tan peak really draws attention away from your front entry. Your roof looks like it is dark grey. I would paint the peak a softer color taken from the shingle color, to make it "disappear" into the roof. I know the color of your brick - it is as you describe, almost burgundy. I would look at a very soft dove grey - no blue undertones for shutters and front door, to bring attention back to where it belongs - the entry. ( look at Sherwin-Williams Repose Grey # 7015 ) Personally - would not like the front door being a yellow or blue, I like the idea for a home that is more of a cottage / cape cod style. Your home looks refined and elegant. Put your color in potted flowers flanking the front door -this is where I could see the bright yellow or even a fuchsia pink. I applaud the effort to put tan shutters on your house - but not a fan of the tan - it makes the eye jump all over the place.

Thanks for the color comparison. I can honestly say though..tan is completely out. I just compeletly dislike that color with this house. What I keep going to in my mind is a "putty" color. Almost a grey, but not a solid grey for the inset. Like a "stone" color. Do the shutters need to match the front door? I sort of like the idea of black shutters, black furniture. I just get stumped on the door. But, figured if I paint the peak first, then take a look at it again to play with door colors....something might jump out at me. I agree..white would be boring. And I am not sold on a grey door though either. Black is what I keep going back to, but I would have to do some livening up in the way of cushions and plants on the porch to get it to "pop". All of these ideas have opened up so many options for me I never would have thought of....Thank you so much!

I was going to suggest a grey just a few shades lighter than your roof. Make that area fade. Minna beat me to it.

From the picture meadowyck posted (thank you!) I either don't like the shutters on your windows or the tan. I'd rather see black ones. You have interesting windows already and I'm not sure you need to do anything to them.

I think if you paint the door black, you will still have pretty much the same look you have now. The door blends into your dark brick. If you paint your side panels the gray you chose for your peak, a black door would pop more.

Consider painting the brick a soft grey green or taupey grey. The columns and trim work would stay white with a slightly darker color of the house paint on the peak. It will lighten the appearance of your home considerably and give cohesion between the different textures on your facade. I would consider an small ornamental tree in your planting bed in front of the box between the two windows to the right of the door- Crape myrtle, redbud, etc. depending on your climate. And also a larger maple, oak, etc in the larger front yard within a planting bed- the ornamental grasses would work well there.
Depending on wether you prefer classic or more contemporary, your front door would go black or salmon orange as shown in one of the previous posts.

how do we add curb appeal to our basic ranch style home? there is a large expanse of lawn area that rises (not a steep grade) to the main house. We have a typical front porch attached, which is more than 48" from ground. I would like to add railing and new posts to the porch. We have planted sedum, knockout roses and some boxwood across the front. thanks

I also think a bright cheery yellow would be great. The shutters don't have to match. You could also brighten up the front of your house with some colourful flowers/plants/bushes. A rod iron decal would look great on the door to break up the yellow if you find it is too in your face. The putty colour you are considering doesn't sound very adventurous, sounds safe, but it's your house - your call. I love the colour of your brick and would at more depth with a lush garden that frames the front entrance. Look forward to your final decision and picture. Thanks for sharing.

Just remeber, if your front door gets any sunlight, it will blister & peel very rapidly. I am married to a professional painter & he is always repainting front doors lighter colors because of that situation.

I love your yard. I am trying to make mine look similar, although I decided to go with artificial boxwood to save on water. I hope my yard turns out this beautiful when it is all done!

I'd put in a specimen tree or two. I'd vote for a flowering tree. Most look nice year round and glorious in bloom.

I would definitely paint the area above the porch to match the trim and column color. I would only add shutters if you can afford the look of "working shutters" arched to match the window and I would do a charcoal gray to coordinate with the roof color. Be careful of pop of color on front door since the sidelights and transom are painted. Two large urn style planters flanking the door would add color and depth. You have a beautiful home.

for me at least, all the white is the issue. i would get rid of as much of it as possible