Your brick seems to have a bit of a peachy/pink tone, which is making it a little challenging to work with. The gold/yellow paint is doing nothing for it. The facia nd overhangs definately need a darker color, gutters too (its okay to paint gutters). Now this is an I think?? get a test pot for sure, but look at SW 6048 Terra Brun. It is a dark brown color with a pinky undertone. Use that color on the trim and vent louvers too. The garage door I'd paint the color of the body of the house, get some swatches and match it as closely as you can. The front door is lost within the arch, and I cant tell if you have a storm door or not. You may look for a nice burgundy, not too dark a little on the brighter side. For the siding on the rear maybe SW6066 Sand Trap, its a taupe color that does have a pink undertone as well and should look nice with the trim color. The landscaping will be crucial to changing the effect of the exterior. I would extend the planting area in front of the window to the left of the front door to arch around and meet the corner of the walkway. I see you have stepping stones too, but if they are not needed I'd extend the planting bed all the way to the driveway in front of the side walk. A Japanese Maple and some Barberry (red) would look great. It looks like you have a small tree hidden in the shadows, I'd bring a larger evergreen outward into that bed, and keep some lower style evergreen as foundation plants around it. I'm not sure which zone you live in or I'd make further recommendations. The two "void" areas next to the window of the garage could use a narrow style evergreen as well, like an Alaskan Weeping Cedar. The green color will help balance the pinky tones in the brick.

Bidu, Everything there can be changed. The idea of a custom metal grill, securely anchored into framing or a wood replacement that keeps the cats from jumping up on a rail (full height jail house wood bars?) gets you what you want...which, as I read it...is safety for the cats, air, heat and light passing through..which, unfortunately, solid plastic or glass will not do. An operable window would work. Though at some point it would be open and the cats would be able to scamper around. Taking this to the logical, code complaint end...a tempered glass, round operable window with a fixed bottom half (a vertical cut may be possible, but then the kitties don't even have to jump). Rough guess on cost of this 4'10" diameter custom window? Marvin Architectural series (wood inside and out for a clean look) $2500 just for the window. Install, trim (round is expensive) and paint...another $2000. Ballpark. My Marvin rep has Sundays off. You are an artist and designer...draw up your fantasy grill for the opening and take it to a local welder. Get a price. Have the welder field measure so they are responsible if things don't fit (I'd make a template). Get their installed price. Don't care for my idea of wrought iron? Think on it for a bit, there are alternatives that will work (soldered copper plumbing pipe with copper foil leaves for decor?). I don't pretend to have all the answers, I'm just listening (reading) and giving the best advice I can.

Your picture did not attach. There are many landscape professionals on here that may help! So be sure to include that picture! (PS- I don't know where you are from, but on the Northeast, we had a rough winter, and a lot of our trees/bushes could not handle the below zero temps we had.... but they are slowly coming back, just VERY differently then we are used to).

Beautiful home Laura, you've made great decisions. Landscaping will help define the space and add depth. In time you may want to add decorative fencing with a small gate...boxwoods in the front will add to frame flowering shrubbery, i.e. Hydrangeas, butterfly bushes or a mix of variegated leafy shrubs...see Walpole Woodworkers for some great ideas.