I suggest two relatively easy things: plants and painting the trim. I think adding as many perennials as possible to cover up the area where your brick and the foundation meet the ground would do wonders for you. That would soften that transition and make the house look more rooted in place. Currently, it kind of "floats" above the grass. Also, a quick, inexpensive way to cheer up your front stairs would be to put a potted plant on each step and more around the edges of your porch, with a few trailing vines. A nice potted tree or two on the porch by the door would also look great. I'd also paint all of your windows and door trim the a color that is closer to your roof/gutters, so you reduce the way the high contrast white trim jumps out. Congrats on the new house - it looks like has a lot of space.

Possibly changing the windows, painting the stairs (white or black) and a more grand doorway. Agree with commenter above, definetly need shrubs/flowers on the side of the garage. Also, painting the garage overhead doors and side garage door white would do wonders.

Thank you so much, yes a lot of planting will be in order. would you suggest any structual chanes to the porch?

THANK YOU everyone - we are leaning to painting a cream in all the areas that are paintable - anyone think shutters are a possibility. The house is older (1980's) and I am hoping to give it a more updated look.

One more design dilemma --- keep it or LOOSE IT??
The kitchen has been recently updated (5YRS) – I am thinking of removing the decorative shelf/Cabinet on the counter, lovely piece but I think it closes in the kitchen – HELP ->> KEEP IT OR LOOSE IT?

Lose it. You're right it closes in the kitchen. Regarding your front porch, It looks like there's no coverage for guests at the door. Consider a pergola and shutters.

Lose it with no regrets. This is a case where less is more.

Definately loose it, and never look back. Beautiful floor throughout and nice granite too. I'd consider chanding the cabinet pulls. As for the outside of the home, it looks like it's floating. Nothing is visually grounding that wonderful brick house. I think you need some charcoal paint, all trim, soffits, fascia, downspouts,bricks on the porch, handrail, update the exterior light fixtures. Looks like the picture was taken in early spring or late fall, hold back on creating a landscaping nightmare until all plants and trees are leafed out. It's much easier to make sound decisions once you see the plants at there best. As for that driveway, if it's ashphalt, a coat of sealer would make it look brand new. Nice Canada flag Eh... I have one too :)

Yes nice flag Eh.... agree -- its gone. Charcoal? Really, I would not have thought that. I was going to go all light on trim - cream. If Charcoal, what colour for the front door - that is after the storm door is tossed to the curb... here is the lovely red door now...eek.

Thanks everyone - Cabinet is going going GONE. Feels better knowing others agree with me on that one.

Candace - yes thank-you pulls are also on the list for updating --- they almost spoil the cabinets.

Two thumbs up to the charcoal idea! Will add lots of character to the exterior of your home!! I was going to suggest it, too, but most people are unable to make such a dramatic change from white to black. Definitely give this some serious thought.

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HI --- BIG house ! -- But there is tooooo much brick. I think you could add some siding to the center (tower ) part and then bring some across the lower part on the right, which would include the lower part of the porch. Put a nice wide picture frame type trim around all the windows . Now paint all the new trim and the under eves and roof facia and porch railing a blackish brown Ben Moore " Willow" R-9988. Now for the garage doors and man door - paint them - Ben Moore " Ranchwood "CC-500. Add a wideboard panel on each side of the front door -painted in the Willow. The siding should be the Ranchwood color. Now a beautiful strong color ( red/blue/green) for the front door . Two larger lantern light fixtures. Now for the landscaping .. you need some more foundtion plantings or planters - in front of garage too. Add some more trees and maybe a hedge edging the drive. Now for your kitchen , yes remove the cabinet and over panel, it will open the kitchen up . Perhaps you can use it somewhere else in your home. I hope this helps , fellow Canadian !

wow - Charcoal - i like it. omg that Brooklyn brownstone is stunning.

garage doors - what colour then??

I'm thinking more about the charcoal trim idea. What color are your soffet and fascia around the edge of the roof? Are they white or brown to match the shingles? I'm not sure that it would be absolutely necessary to paint the soffet and fascia around the edge of the roof if they are colored to match the shingles because visually they appear to be part of the roof, however, you would definitely want to paint everything else: railings, window trims, louvered vent on the end of the house, garage doors and even the gutter/drain. If they soffet, facscia are white, they would need to be painted, too.

They are white and chocolate brown, which to me looks very 1980's no??
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They are white and chocolate brown, which to me looks very 1980's no??
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White and brown? Hmm. Maybe you could use the zoom on your camera and post a pic of the trim, etc. around the roof line so we could advise better.

Usually I advise painting the garage doors the color of the house so that they don't become a prominent feature - but not with brick. In your case, charcoal grey.

If you go in the charcoal grey direction you will be making your house look more "traditional". Because of that you may want to consider more traditional, English garden type landscaping - symmetry, urns, possibly some ivy vines, etc. Spend some time searching the Houzz photo gallery for landscaping ideas. Simply look for pictures that appeal to you.

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Ok, forget what I said earlier and go with the charcoal. That is a great idea.

These are beautiful, OK charcoal it will be ! Can you give me the colour chip? I looked up the BM willow as earlier suggested but this is not charcoal. Do you know what the chip number or name it is?

I am excited to do this, thank you so much for your help!!

I think your porch and entry need to be more substantial. It feels very off balanced. I think a portico over the door would cut some length from the right side of the home, as well as adding some much needed heigth. I would also suggest a new entry door. I think because there is too much brick that you need to add some wood for warmth. I see a portico made of of large timbers, anchored at the edge of the porch with black painted porch rail, wood porch posts. Then focus on landscaping, with some evergreen shrubs beside the garage, a dogwood or tall ornamental tree tucked in at the corner of the home's porch area.

Thank you Lynnette, yes I like the idea if a portico as well. Would you cover the whole porch area with it?

I would cover the porch. You will have to follow the line of the pitch of the other rooflines, but you could make a lovely entrance to the home along with having a nice place to sit. Wish I could find a picture that shows what I am thinking, but have looked without much luck.

Here are a couple of ideas to get you thinking.

more.

Oh I see, humm that looks good. I will go looking.

Okay as for the front door, it needs to be rich looking. No reds or blue they'll just cheapen the brick, too 80's looking. What about a nice wood/glass/cast iron look. Is the side light being replaced as well, if so you might have a chance to centre the door. You said " I was going to go all light on trim - cream" charcoal all the way!!!!
As for the garage wall with the window in the right.....Hmmm, I'd add two shutters in charcoal, not square though, go rectangle wide enough to cover the window and about 6'tall should do it. Place the other one on the left side of that garage wall so it's balanced. Garage door in charcoal as well.
Are there three different styles of windows? painting the trims alll charcoal will make it look less obvious that they dont match, you could also add shutters the the 2nd story window and the livingroom window. That will bring them together and balance them.
Yep, I agree the pulls on the cabinets aren't doing them justice.

Lots of great ideas...mine is below. To create a porch/entry I think you need to integrate the upper dormer with the lower living room wing-one possibility is with a curved roof, but this depends on the pitch of the upper dormer. It would also be a good idea to rework the stairs-as currently, they take up a large portion of the stoop. You can also punch of the upper dormer with applied siding and a decorative window with shutters-help break up that mass. Also, a low wall and a tree would help create a courtyard and screen the blank wall of the garage.

good luck, fun design problem-most architects/designers should have several solutions for this entry

Thank you William, will certainly give that some thought. I like the flow of the roof line much better with your suggestion.

I wanted to answer your question from earlier about the name of the color or a color chip for the charcoal gray rather than just ignoring it.

Consider a visit to a local professional designer (perhaps there's one here on Houzz near you) for help in selecting the exact "charcoal gray" for your trim. Changing your trim color is a big investment of time and money (and energy!). It would be a relief to get it right the first time.

I am really not trying to "cop out" here by being evasive about the color. It is nearly impossible to recommend any color with any certainty over the internet because of differences in how colors 'read' on different computer monitors. What looks good in a picture, might not on your individual home.

Do take some time in making sure you have the right color so that your home will be as beautiful as you dreamed it could be.

Thank you Michelle, you comment is a fair one. I will do that. This transformation is being done this fall so I will be sure to post the finished product. Again. Thank you

Black front door.