Thank you! I like your ideas. I was planning on removing the rock walkway and the hosta and sasanqua to the right of the walk and replacing with rock or outdoor tile and placing a water fountain against the wall, as well as removing the bush to the left. I really like your idea of the armandi clematis on the long wall. I added the shutters years ago because the house is so plain. I thought it would add "something" but they can be easily removed. I also plan to paint the smaller window that is painted off white to a taupe color the same color as the trim on the garage door. I LOVE the idea of the lanterns on each side of the garage door and at the front door. I contacted a concrete company today for the driveway and hope to hear from them tomorrow. I also thought about a long narrow pergola over the garage door made from cedar and adding some type of vine possibly the armandi clematis that you suggested. A neighbor recommended that I add a pergola type construction built at an angle made from cedar and adding a column at the end of the walkway where the dog is sitting. I'm just not sure I have enough room or if that is even needed with your suggestions. Thank you for taking the time to help with my eighteen year dilemma. If you think of any other ideas, I would love to hear from you.

Vanessa

Something like this would work well at the garage. Not sure about one at the entry. Your entry seems a bit dark already and that would darken it more. How about a brighter color on the door and storm to help with that? The wall fountain sounds great. Do you have one in mind? A bench there would go well too.

I really appreciate the attached pictures. I especially like the first and third pics. The pergola over the garage is a definite. I have a fountain in mind, I just haven't yet started looking. By removing all plants to the right (hosta & sasanqua) and remove that curved edge to the right of the rock walkway, the fountain and the bench with maybe one or two large potted plants would look great.

You might extend the skinny pergola so it is above the fountain if you grow a vine on it. Be aware the clematis armandii is woody and heavy.

The picture you attached is beautiful. That is a great idea extending the thin pergola over the fountain...except where would I put one of the lanterns that I was planning on each side of garage? It was also suggested since our brick is so plain with no character, to add the dark gray and tan stacked rock look that you can glue on the brick but I'm not sure where to start placing it on the house and where to end. There are no breaks in the shape or style of the house. When it was brought to my attention, it was suggested on the wall where the garage door is and the large plate glass window to give it a cottage look. What are your thoughts on the synthetic rock.

Vanessa, I liked the idea of staining the driveway, I would suggest accenting the cracks with a darker color and then staining the rest with a lighter color. Also, Hanging Garden Trellises cover bare walls beautifully.

The hanging trellis is very nice.....would work perfect on that bare wall. Thank you!

Give your home that extra curb appeal with a water fountain. See more at http://www.soothingcompany.com/water-fountains/outdoor-fountains.html

Great ideas, folks! Definitely paint the door a lighter color. You can still have those gorgeous lanterns with the pergola. I love that armandi clematis. It regrows vigorously after you cut it back. A wall fountain to the left of the entryway, French style.
No shrubbery or plantings on the right, no shutters. Is there space for a larger, more attractive window on the left - can you move it if need be? That is a huge forecourt but I am not a fan of crazy paving or faux anything. I had my concrete pathways stained by experts and frankly for what it cost I could easily have done it myself for the cost of the stain. If that is a faux window on the right of the doorway definitely paint it out.

I was going to suggest painting your door -- some bright color to contrast with what's there, like a light turquoise blue or some tone of red. Would help bring it out of its dark tunnel vistually. (also like removing at least one of the shrubs and also the trellis on that wall.)

Thank you all for your suggestions and ideas. I've attached a few more pics that may help. Has anyone ever used the synthetic rock and applied it to the brick? Just thought I could somehow add some character to this plain brick.

The pergola over the garage door with the lanterns on each side of garage door and the clematis will work very nicely. The windows are not faux so I can't do anything except paint the window trim to match trim on garage door, taupe color. Are you suggesting the fountain on the large wall near the smaller window and then maybe a bench or potted plants to the right? It was suggested to redo the walkway and take out the hosta and sasanqua and put a water fountain and/or bench to the right.

I was thinking just to extend the narrow pergola over the garage to the left with the water feature on that wall between the large window and garage door. That way some pretty blooming vine could also enhance the water feature as in the pic I attached. Would still do a matching cedar support for the clematis armandii between the trees on the blank wall left of your white window. It will make up for the removal of the shutters there by providing some evergreen interest in that spot. Don't know about faux stone over brick, but you might consider replacing your porch and steps with stone ones to match the walkway and drive. Why not go on some paint company sites that allow you to upload your photo and "paint" your house to try out some colors. I was thinking that both windows appear to be white. Maybe try white on the garage door trim so you get some contrast to all the beige on the eaves and soffits? You might not like it with the pergola - three colors - but you might consider white for the pergola. You do need something to break up the beige.

It was hard to imagine a white pergola on the brown brick until I saw the pic you attached. I was considering cedar or dark brown but if I install a white pergola would I need to paint the garage doors white also? Also what other areas would need to be painted "white"?
I like the fountain on the small wall between the garage and large window and would be easier since there is already a water supply at that location

Not sure you'll need to paint the garage door white. You can decide that after the pergola is installed. Try just the windows and the frame around the garage in white first. How old is your garage door? Does it function well, or could it use replacing? A door like this would look good in cedar or white. If your door is not that old and works well, you might be able to replace the top panel with a window panel for some more interest.