Picture is a little small, but the brick is not offensive to me. Wondering if you could put a skylight over your covered front entrance to give it more daylight?

Can't enlarge to see exactly what the "sunken" issue is, but I don't think paint is the solution. You may need to rethink how your enter the home, meaning a grander entry before you enter the covered section, including a landing and steps plus elimination of the concrete walk in favor of something more natural and pretty. Please re-post in larger scale so the landscpe and facade can be analyzed better.

Good heavens, NO! Your house is beautiful and elegant just as it is. At most add some lovely landscaping. There are some ugly brick houses out there, but yours is definitely not one of them.

NO. . . DO NOT PAINT THAT BEAUTIFUL BRICK!!!

If you can paint the window trim and soffits under the roof lin that would add some interest. I like a nice plum or a dark brown or black. This would provide contrast with the neutral brick. It is a lot of brick but it is probably not a good idea to paint it. You could add some nice tall evergreens at the corners and to frame the big front window. Keep them trimed narrow to not block the windows. Paint the door a brighter color and add some more lighting if possible around the doorway. If you can't open up the entry maybe play it up instead. Add a trellis in front of the opening and train some vines over it. Something that will have bright flowers would also brighten it up when in bloom.

What you can't see is that the house is sunk down a bit and in full shade so not much grows. Thought paint my lift it out of the hole? Y'all seem to think a landscaping plan is a better plan? How do I make the photo bigger?!

Something like this?

consider a good tree service to limb up a few lower limbs on the large tree, it will let more light to the house and to the yard, so plants have a chance to survive.

NO!

Oh my gosh! Don't you dare.
Just sell it, if you don't appreciate it.

Please, NO! Just bring in a landscape architect to show off your beautiful house to full effect.

No! Paint your front door a fun bright color, to make it stand out as a focal point! A light turquoise would look amazing.

Many time I have said to clients and members of Houzz, " paint the brick". Not in this case. You have a very handsome home. As others have said, address the light fixtures and landscaping. If need be, pruning the trees will give more light for a greater variety of plants.

I say no.

You have a good looking house. A good landscape plan with some substance will make a dramatic difference. Get in touch with a good landscape architect in your area. I suspect you will find the results of a good plan quite stunning.

I really want to be the only one to say that you should paint it, but I can't. And I really like the way brick looks painted... but this house is so pretty just like that. I am all for painting it just a tad, like the turquoise door or trim ideas!

Lovely home. Your entry looks dark. Can that be lightened up with an off white paint and a hanging lantern?

I could put the off white paint on the door? No other places to paint... except beneath the roofline trim. Otherwise, it is all brick. Have pondered new windows? The house needs some pizzazz!

It's not the brick, it's the front door, it seems as if its recessed to far back, lack of lighting, which is unfortunate, because that is the first thing you see when you approach your house.

Please do not paint. I love the brick on your home. Spend the money on some great landscaping!! I agree on a "FUN" vibrant color on the door and maybe some LARGE pots infront of the columns (unique ones please! the current ones are barely seen and I am sure barely seen from the street) that are the same color or tied in. The entrance needs something to make it grand. You can never have enough MATURE trees. I see a "tiny" light fixture on one of the columns. what about a LARGE PAIR of them (almost over sized) to make a statement (of course gas lanterns are the bomb). could you post some more pics at different angles?

Beautiful home - don't paint brick - this adds character to the house! Something in a wine color for door? Make the entrance a focal point - larger driveway - more curb appeal - Keep searching on houzz I am sure you will find something that suits you.

You all have such great ideas! I'm including more photos as requested!

Do not paint the brick.

I suggest bricking the second story part of the front door and leave an arch (see attached pic). It makes the 2 story entry way feel more to scale and you can place the entry chandelier to hang at the opening inside of that of that new arch. The existing coach light can now be a new light centered over the new brick entry way. You can add a little cast stone around the new arch for character.

A neat trick is to widen the side walk leading to the front door, it give the illusion the entry way is larger by pulling the landscape next to it further way thus making it few more expansive and of course add some landscaping as most everyone has mentioned

I have thought of filling in part of the opening with brick but was told by a mason that my brick has been discontinued. That doesn't allow me to do anything else with brick... unless of course I paint it! Which sounds like I do not have support on that idea!

Do not paint the lovely brick. Your house is a nice brick color. Just add some perennial flowers to the front shrubs in your gardens ( daylilies are great and come in a variety of colors. Some even rebloom throughout the season.) Give them a try. Some flowers in decorative pots will be a welcomed sight also.

LARGE LARGE POT on each side with HUGE lanterns

Sounds like the mason gave up, we typically can find the same brick if the house was built in the last 10-15 years. Your home looks to be no more than 10 years old.

I will consult another one. The house was built in 1989 even though it looks more recent. I like your idea. I also pondered similar solutions. This feedback is fun and helpful... esp when from builders. THANK YOU to all of you!

what about mature junipers infront of the pillars?

The columns are not adjacent to one another. There are setbacks from each wall of windows. It's hard to "get" but it's true. I can treat them like they are across from each other but two lights would be staggered... which might be strange? I think a good landscape architect would be helpful too. I would have an easier time if the "columns" were more symmetrical. The house is sunk down a bit from street level and is on the main drag of the neighborhood. Lifting it out of its shady hole and giving it some personality are in order. Oversized light could help but would be the only one on the face of the house which might be odd. I've been here 2 years and I'm still stumped. Will keep listening, re-reading all of your interesting comments, and get some landscape feedback from a professional!

you could also try hanging a huge lantern or other unique fixture in the space above the door, rather than two next to the door. this would light up the dark space itself. i also like the idea of large ceramic pots (a contrasting color from the door?). I like the idea of a warmer wine color on the door, which would bring out the red tones of the brick, a black or brass light fixture and then sculpted topiaries on both sides of the door?

I'm not sure it this would work, but you could put a little decorative balcony over the door and a nice railing--perhaps Chippendale in style, or even wrought iron, or maybe making the floor like a big skylight, and then painting the window and door a lighter colors. Some sort of pergola out to the projecting wall and possibly out along over the walkway might work too. Adding some window boxes with perhaps wrought iron holders and trailing plants would look great and give it a bit of a English Manor look. I would get rid of the heavy light over the front door and hang something similar and a bit smaller from the ceiling.

The false balcony doesn't even really have to have a floor--just something to break up the expanse of the opening.

I'm not a big fan of painting brick, but you could do something with the quoins (the rectangular blocks on the edges.) Perhaps you could motar wash them to make them contrast with the brick in a natural stone color, and perhaps do the same with the soldiers along the top of the windows perhaps. You must get someone who knows what they are doing and mask the surrounding brick for it to look right..I would try other options first though.

Maybe just doing the limewashing or mrtrar washing (an old-fashioned type of stucco that breathes and mellows with age) on the recessed portion would work, along with the balcony or pergola, and maybe a new light hanging from the top of the tall recess. I can understand why you feel relunctant to do anything so permanent though.

Impatients, begoniais, coleus and hosta all do well in the shade and can add some nice light accents.. Add a nice bench and maybe a little table under the tree to make the front yard look inviting. Some planters on the expanded pad would look nice too

Lighter flooring by the entrance, a bigger pad in front of the pillasters, and making sure the ceiling is smooth and painted bright white, to reflect what light you have would help.

I think a traditional color. like garden bench green or verdigris or Prussian blue would look nice as an accent. Maybe even a door with more glass and a nice light colored curtain.. Here is a rough picture--my software isn't too good and the original photo is low resolution, so you will have to use your imagination. .

Good source for nice window boxes http://www.hooksandlattice.com/windowboxes.html

Victorianbungalowranch, the balcony/window boxes are genius! Good ironwork would give it a Parisian twist.

No! Don't paint brick!!

No way. Dont mess with a beautiful thing.

Old post.

DEAD THREAD from 2012

I'm going to go against the grain here. I paint the brick, but stain it. The proportions of the elevation are off... Windows are too big and that entry "vault" is an odd shape. Those proportion issues can be resolved by going modern, so a shade of grey and some other architectural features could change the aesthetic.

Regardless of painting or not (not is still my preference) what about adding oversized gas lanterns on the columns and then a suspended one as well above the door?

Reface. This brick will never look as good as you'd like it to. The house is truly lovely but could be gorgeous in stone or solid colored brick.

this is a 2012 post - where do you dig these things up from?

Absolutely NOT!

I think painting brick will just be adding maintenance. . Brick needs nothing. Why add something that will need to be repainted every few years?