I think you could do some fun things with the color. What about something like the grey in this photo for the body.

Then you can do a fun accent along the eaves and finish with a great accent door?

What kind of style do you have going on the inside?

Instead of actually painting the brick, what about using a concrete stain to make the bricks a more natural/neutral shade that blends better with your lovely rock walls? It would also work well with the brown/tan/neutral paint colors you mentioned. That would make the house less "choppy" and will give it more visual significance. Combined with more visually exciting landscaping, your driveway won't seem so much like the "main attraction" when looking at your house.

As far as landscaping, the two front walls that are blank expanses of brick definitely need something to break up the monotony. You might consider using some taller plants in the center to create an "inverted V". Or, you could add some nice trellises/vining plants to help create that look. You could also expand the planting beds out some, perhaps make the bed semi-circular. If you expand the bed, you could even reuse some of your current plants (mid-level plantings) to reduce costs. I like your use of plants that have a nice pop of red. They will look great against the house even when it is neutral. You could incorporate some plantings into the beds that either have reddish foliage or reddish flowers.

Speaking of the red flowers, they are lovely, but lack a sense of visual weight. You might consider using two much larger trough planters (in either a chocolate terracotta or a stone look) on either side of the sliding doors instead of multiple smaller containers. You already have upright plants and some fuller plants, so you’d only need a few trailing plants to fill in and complete the trough plantings. Also, I love the red flowers along the wall near your front door, but I’m not sure that’s the best place for them (the ones to the right don’t appear to be as happy there). You could rework some of those plants into the other beds, and again, reduce the monotony. It would also be less obvious if a particular plant is having an issue when there are different kinds of plants vs. using all of the same kind of plant.

Last, I’d like to suggest a few decorative touches. If you like the pop of red against the neutral house, repainting your bench is an easy an inexpensive project. You might also consider replacing the numbers on your house with either a more updated color/style, or a number plaque. I also like your plan to stain the door. The dark wood will look nice, and it’s always great to reuse or repurpose what we can. I’m sure others will have more great ideas for you as well. Good luck on your endeavors!!!

oh, I forgot... I don't see much lighting outside. Your house would look great with some recessed lighting. And I totally agree with Deanna, some new house numbers will go a long way. Use a nice black cast iron and don't put them on an angle again!

I would look to paint the wood trim in an earthy green like Benjamin Moore's Mountain Lane 488
and do the trim in Pine Brook 490. See this page of other combos: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/mountainlane

I wouldn't paint the brick.

Since the garage has been converted to living you don't need all that concrete up to the house. All of it from the house out about ten feet can be broken up. Large pieces of the concrete can be reset in a random pattern to form a patio with either grass of round stones between it. You can add plants like those already recommended. This will make huge difference to the feel of the house. See:

I would never buy a house with painted brick, and I think it lowers resale price. Not sure, but that's what I've heard. Anyway, I like natural brick. Painted brick seems....like you're trying to hide something that really can't be hidden. Seriously, consider reconsidering painting the brick. Hedges, decorative trees, etc can do so much more for your curb appeal than paint!!!!

I am not a fan of brick. My first instinct is PAINT IT! but that could have a lot to do with my love of color. I can see why you'd want to paint yours: it's a blah school-house brick with no distinctive features. Basic building materials. Painting brick requires a higher level of maintenance. A professional will know how to prep/what type paint/etc. for the longest lasting results. It would so unify the 2 building materials of your house since you could paint them the same, compatible or contrasting colors.

Color: That stone work is mid-century (so is the house) and has good tones. Pick one but test it. (I've been renovating a 60s ranch and went through 8 colors before I found the right one!) Colors look totally different from a 1" square sample to your walls in sunlight! It's too easy to end up with something that is too pink, too yellow, too green, without doing this, and it costs little in comparison to a total repaint.

Roof: consider a metal roof. They cost only about $500+/- more than shingle and not only lasts twice as long, but lowers your electric bill by 10-20%. (Just had mine replaced.) If you're having the roof replaced, consider the color you'd pick. There's a wonderful "antique bronze" metal color that would work with earth tones.

Concrete: I assume you don't park between the 2 house wings. Have you considered a deck platform built over the concrete (the best of all worlds). It looks like you have a 4" lip from slides threshold to the concrete that would give you a smooth transition. It would break up all that concrete! A pergola from that corner bump-out to the house corner with a wood deck/walk? There are variations of that depending on your $$ and taste. Good luck!

Oh the perennial to paint or not to paint the brick question. Here are some thoughts:
1. Painted brick requires more maintenance, and thus costs more and can be less attractive to future buyers.
2. But if your brick is unattractive then painting it a lovely neutral color as part of a larger aesthetic plan for the exterior can improve the curb appeal and, as a result, be more attractive to future buyers.
3. I think your brick is actually quite neutral and attractive (though I may be biased because I prefer soft brick colors without too much variation). So even though I am a big fan of painted brick, I think I'd be inclined to keep and work with yours rather than painting it.

I like some of the suggestions for paint colors for the wood and trim that others have offered, particularly those in the gray-green register and/or picking up colors from your stone.

Good luck!

hire a professional landscape architect- they can work with you on, hardscape,lighting, color scheme, different brick applications, future roof color, plant sellection etc.....
It will be money well spent
Good luck
I love the lines of your house-

Landscaping:
I would enhance the circular driveway by edging the concrete with a stone that matches what it already on the house. I would also place some sort of bushes on both sides of the drive way, then I would create a flower bed around the trees planting flowers that will bring color. As for the bare brick walls you have you can always have a trellis built and over time you can have climbing flowers grow. You can make these traditional to contemporary. Also, remove that sliding glass door with a French door!





House Color:
The color of the brick isn’t that bad but it isn’t pretty, if you were to paint the brick do something that is still somewhat neutral. Always think about resale value, even if you think you will be living there forever. Plus you can always add color to it through the woods, plants and accessories.

Thanks for all of the great advice. The color options are great. I'm still torn on painting the brick. I'm going to test out a lot of paint colors on plywood (where the brick is) and get a feel for the options. I too would hate to paint the brick and deal with the maintenance and cost. It's very popular to paint your brick in our area of town, so I don't think it would hurt our resale too much.

I love the pergula idea over the driveway. I've thought of that too, but I think it's a little more than we can spend these days. It would be a dramatic change. And we do use that area for parking during get-togethers, etc. We drive over it in order to enter the garage which faces the old converted garage.

Cait: I love the photo you posted with the stone edging. I like the way it follows a natural curve. Great idea to tie in the rocks from the two rock walls. Now if I can just figure out where to find rocks like that. And I too have considered adding windows to the two front brick walls, but again it comes down to cost. Plus the playroom will one day become a master suite (dreaming) and we may need to reconfigure the room. I'd like to hold out until then.

Again thank you for taking the time to share your opinions. Feel free to keep them coming.

@Jenbruce- You have a beautiful home! Have you ever thought about using a brick veneer instead of painting the brick? The veneer is lightweight and cost effective and can really change the look of the exterior.

We offer free computer design of your existing home to show you what your house would look like with new stone siding. You can upload it here- http://www.northstarstone.biz/exterior-designs.htm (we also have some great picture galleries to get some ideas if you like) and we'll show you what it could look like with stone.

http://www.dyebrick.com/

I've created a drawing if you are interested. Cannot attach images as it's a word doc.
Cynkloeter@gmail.com

I wouldn't paint the brick, maybe a softer sand color instead of the yellow siding would modernize it. Plants alone can create a total new look.

I wouldn't paint the brick, maybe a softer sand color instead of the yellow siding would modernize it. Plants alone can create a total new look.