I would use a darker blue on the shutters. I would also maybe add a thicker trim around the door. Lanterns in an oil rubbed bronze or black would stand out nicely and go with the dark hardware on your door. Add an informal house number plaque with black numbers as well.

Most of all I think landscaping would really add interest. I would frame the beds with river rock or some type of stone that has shades of brown to tie in the brown in your door. I would replace some of the shrubs or fill in the open spots and vary the shades of foliage because all the plants are the same shade of green. Try barberry and some light green hosta.

I would put cedar shakes in the triangle-shaped area of the front porch cover to add warmth and also bring out the color of the door. Also, you could add wooden shutters to your windows in the same wood tone - I like this design style of shutter but in a lighter stained color to match the door:

A nice size set of house numbers hung vertically to the side of your front door would be a nice touch also, something in pewter or black would look nice with the new black lamps you're planning to install.

I think also using potted plants next to the door rather than the foot of the stairs would be more attractive.

Also for the landscaping--all of your plants are similar scale, you might add a row of lower-growing perenials in front...lime green hostas are a great suggestion for color constrast.

I think the doing the gable wnd in shakes and then staining the, so they stay the same tone as the door would look fantastic!

Thank you all so much for your comments. I can't tell you how helpful this is. I have driven myself mad second guessing my self with every decision.

eileenmarie3 I love the suggestion for framing the beds with river rock and thank you for your suggestion for varying plant foliage.

14thstreet I love your idea for cedar shakes in the triangle-shaped area, I will have to sell my husband on the shutters.

Christine, thank you so much for your great advice on the ceramic pots of plants. The house number and Flag will be an easy addition.

I have one last question. We need to replace the gutters which are now brown. Should I replace with an off white or stick with the brown?

Catherine...what a pretty house you have...I love the blue you painted...I think flower window boxes would be pretty when you put on your shutters...I also like potted plants on each of your steps at the side you don't walk up...I think plain terra cotta pots with pink geraniums would be very pretty...

Hello Catherine,

Your house is pretty and has lots of potential. You have some great suggestions here already and your question about gutters is a good one. I would stay with the brown as they virtually dispear when you look at the house while white ones would attract the eye. They are not a feature you want to draw attention to and also they would seem to overshadow the windows in white. Keep them brown and add your shutter in deeper blue, window boxes with shades of blues, whites, violets and yellow greens would look wonderful. Also the suggestion to add hostas is a good one, their variegated leaves in all shades of green would really add low interest in front of the bushes, Trim the bushes back a bit though as they will hide the window boxes.

I would do aged brass lanterns and numbers as they are more in keeping with these ideas and would work with your door colour. Pots of flowers at the doorway instead of the bottom of the steps sounds good too. Your home should be quite the little gem when you are all done!

Regards

Susan

I think that removing the structured highly-manicured shrubs and replacing with some Annabelle hydranges (white mop-heads) to lessen the traditional look will help. Add some shutters in a darker blue as you have chosen already. I agree with the comment of adding the shaker style shingles in the gable end in color similar to door. Beef up trim around the door and line the stairs left and right with some potted geraniums in clay pots to re-iterate the pumpkin color of the door (as best I can tell). Add a few adirondacks in the yard to give it a casual appeal. Cute house by the way, just needs a little accessorizing!

Good luck,
Brenda

Susan and Brenda,

Thank you so much for your advice. I really needed reinforcement to remain with the brown color for the gutters.

Brenda, love the idea of geraniums in clay pots. I do believe that they may be the one plant that the deer won't eat!!

I love the suggestion of adding cedar shakes to the triangle section. I agree that the landscaping is really what is lacking here. A small bench on patio with several potted plants would look nice. I would add a steel edged flower bed to the side of the walk with the lamp. It looks like it might get some foot traffic so I would maybe add a couple of stepping stones. With the appropriate flowers you could cut back on watering and mowing. I can't suggest plants without knowing what zone you are in. But it does look like you have some shade to the sides but it seems like full sun in the front.

Beef up mouldings. Shutters either stained or off-black. Black carriage lights. landscaping. some substantial planters maybe flanking the door. House is just a little lacking in depth but you have a great canvas to play with house has great lines. def do some hanging planters on porch.

The steps are wide but thats good...you can line each side of the steps going up with bright flowering potted plants for more interest. What could be more welcoming than that?

BTW..the new door is fantastic

Think structured yet graceful with the plants..this house has a cottage feel so id think southern style cottage which is a hot look now anyway.

If you are not wanting to change the siding colour you must change the door colour even though it's a lovely door. I always am against painting houses blue, for some reason no-one I speak too likes blue houses.

The suggestion to add shingles in the triangle area is a great idea. Consider Hale Navy HC-154 by Benjamin Moore for your shutters. New landscaping will help a bunch...lower to the ground would be nice. Cute house...good luck with your project.

Thank you tambela, Richard, Tammy and Charmean for your comments. All very much appreciated.

tambela, I live in Zone 7. You are correct Shade to the Sides and full afternoon sun in the front.

please photograph and post as you make changes so we can all see the improvements if you have time.

I will certainly keep you updated and post photos as the project progresses. Unfortunately we are travelling a lot this spring so it may take a while!!

I agree with Christine on the lights - copper. Black would be too heavy a color for this lively looking home. Copper would add more interest. Also, 14thstreet has a great idea with the cedar shakes. If it were my home (and budget allowed) I would put them across the front where siding is now. But in the apex above the porch would be less expensive and would add to the curb appeal. For shakes I wouldn't go as dark as the door, I'd do sand beige. Most of all, every single evergreen bush along the front would all go. I would replace them with a few leafy bushes and fill in with hostas and flowers. I would make the entire left side of the front walk, out to the parking area, a flower bed and make a bed of the same depth along the right. Then I would line it with hostas and impatiens (shade) or for a sunny area, marigolds or geraniums and coleus.

blue house black shutters

Funny I was just scrolling down to say black shutters! And I saw Richards pic. Gorgeous! My suggestions, gutters white like trim, shutters black, all hardware dark, oiled/rubbed bronze. It will look sharp and crisp, very traditional.

Does anybody know what color this house is?