Black would be elegant, but . .it's difficult to see the total effect from this photo - the siding, for example, doesn't look 'weird yellow' to me, but rather more like POSSIBLY a lovely buttery cream. You could try picking up that taupe roof color with the door color, enhanced with black hardware. Or you could try a lovely cool green to pick up the color of the trees. Or the classic red door, but don't go TOO red. .. I have a red door myself (because of my house's brick color) but it's very muted. I found the color in a picture frame I had, and took that to the paint store and had them match it. Just hold up things that have colors you like .. .against the front of house - pay attention to ALL the colors around it. For example, I noticed that the glass in my house windows had a definitely slight greenish gray tint, so I painted all the house trim in that greenish gray, and the siding is ivory cream, with that muted red door. The ivory even picks up the color of the brick grout. I usually try to pick up SOME color from something that will be in the 'final picture" Does that make sense?

I'm with black .

If it were my home, I would avoid black. If the yellow siding is bothering you now (I just assume that if you think the color is weird, that's not normally a complimentary description :D ), the black will work against you. I'd use a middle-brown color with more gray than red in it for the shutters. I'd use a warm, dark brown for the door and side light panels, but not the frame- leave that white. Ideally I think I'd change out the door to fir and stain it a cappucino brown. Nussear1's suggestion about the crosshead pediment (trim over the front door) is great and fairly economical, or you could also have a small roof built over the front door.

Paint the door black and repaint all the shutters black.

Gray shutters and door would look good with the yellow siding. I think you should include the trim around the side light windows too. New coach lights by the front door.

if budget allows, add some painted wood or pvc trim around the door. for the door, think of a high gloss dark color door-you could go with a "charelston green" , which is a very dark, almost black green, to keep with green/yellow palate. for gloss levels, take a look at 10 downing street, great look on a traditional house.

The front door should be special and right now it blends in with everything else. In my opinion, black won't be different enough to make it pop. I would go with more of a rusty color - complimentary to the yellow and green and providing enough contrast to make the front door the focal point that it should be.

As others have said, it would also be a nice improvement if you could add some architectural detail around the door with some sort of trim.

I would drive around other neighborhoods to see what strikes you as the wow factor. That is what we did when we repainted. Then you can see the effect on another house before you actually do it. I also noticed when we had a house up for sale in the past that ones with a porch or cover actually sold faster so that might be something you could add. Again, look at other neighborhoods and take pics

It sounds like right now you just want to perk things up with paint but I suggest considering a roof cover with some colonial-style pillars. Yes, that is much more than paint, but it would certainly add depth and interest to the front of your home especially if you went with the black. I also suggest using outdoor wall lanterns with an antique brushed nickel finish. This will pull in the black from the shutters.

I, too, am a fan of red doors, and think that a brick-tone red would complement the buttery yellow and the black nicely. Here's a few examples of the color palette I'm imagining:

Thanks for all your prompt responses and great ideas. What I meant by a weird yellow was that my house is not a creamy yellow but has a green tint to the yellow. I am trying to avoid any green on my house so that the green tint is not as noticeable. The previous picture I posted was before we took down the shutters and removed the majority of the landscaping. I will post the most recent pictures below. Any suggestions are appreciated.

...A black front door to go w/planned black shutters, but also a classic wooden, divided-light storm door painted a happy color, like raspberry. Since it's mostly glass, the storm door color will add just a little punch, and not overwhelm. Have fun with it.

Based on the newer pictures, I'd definitely avoid black. I just think it looks dead, it has no warmth, etc. especially against a happy color like yellow. The subtle green n the siding color might work with it though- it's hard to tell. I'd find a black shutter and a dark brown shutter and place both against the siding to determine what looks best. I think adding a small roof over the porch with some decorative posts would be a wonderful addition. Putting a stone facade on the lower part of the porch would be a nice touch as well. Definitely use a medium-dark, warm tone brown for the door, whether it's wood or not. I hope it turns out great!

Black shutters; black door

A red door with orange hues is warm and welcoming. Adding a portico over the door with stacked stone or brick over the cement steps and foundation adds warmth as well. Black shutters will be a contrast to the white frames. I love window boxes too where you can!!!!

Black door with black shutters, yes, but I think a pop of color on your door would make the house stylish...try glossy red or peacock blue.

Red could look pretty epic for the door color if done correctly. I think Black is too dead of a color for this, unless you plan on doing some other color for the house.

take a look at Benjamin moore HC -69 whitehall Brown, a gray brown for shutters. I used it myself on a house with creamy yellow siding w orange brick and brown roof and looks fantastic. Then a brick orange red door.. could be several Cottage Red or Tuscon Red 1300. Have fun!

Door and shutters should match. It's the law. Or it should be.

trisn, Cute and funny for a rainy Sunday a.m.

Lots of different and definate opinions on the black - I think black makes any colour pop and would do so for your yello - I am mixed on the black door as well or not - I think a different colour door would be quite effective and I like a primitive red - I agree you could add more interest by adding more to your entrance area - either an archtectural feature as well as enlarge your entrance area itself . . . good luck nice house

Any color with red undertones could make your yellow look more greenish; opt instead for greyed tones or even a natty marine blue. As for the porch cover, I had the same problem but my historic district wouldn't allow me to build a roof because the house didn't have one originally; I went instead with a custom but budget-friendly awning.

Forget the fake shutters—nothing looks fake-er than shutters that are not wide enough to cover the window if they were actually "shut". Save yourself the aggravation and paint the house a color you like (look at "traditional colors" in most paint lines.) Face it, you're never going to be happy with the "weird yellow", regardless of what you do in attempts to mitigate it by adding other colors. I'd go with something much darker and pop the door off that. It would be great if you could run another flight of steps up to the landing from the left side. Btw, I miss the hedge that screened the foundation (it's gone from the later photos.) Make the lanterns very large-scale.

See attached photos of a Connecticut farmhouse from which fake shutters were removed, the body of the house and all the trim painted a rich, warmish gray, and the door flanked with the biggest pair of porch lanterns in all of New England.

Red. It is said a red door brings prosperity. Since there are various shades of red, you can pick a color that feels good next to your yelllow.

would love a dark handsome gray for the shutters and a classic red door...

A dark gray would look nice with the existing pale yellow. It's not very typical do a colinal to be painted yellow. If painting the whole house is not an option, then go with gray on the shutters and front door. Hope that helps. Charmean Neithart

http://www.flickr.com/photos/happilyretired/3120043996/

Thought you might enjoy this picture of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's home in Harvard Square.

And this beauty with a black door.

Thanks for the pictures Judyg! Also, thanks to everyone who responded. We went ahead and installed the black shutters yesterday and the house looks so much better. Now we need to paint the door, add larger lights and get moving on the landscaping which we hopefully ground the house a bit. Thanks again for all the responses!

Love to see a picture when you have finished your project.

What about adding these lights I found at Lantern & Scroll (I found them on Facebook). I think your home looks beautiful! Cheers!

Those are great and unique- love them...Thank you very much:))