I would say you need shutters because it kind of looks like another door without them.

Hello,

Another yes vote.

poor window looks naked when the others are all 'dressed'... another yes vote

Yes to the shutters, I agree with Katrina Ellen.

I vote yes to the shutters. Consider the idea of trimming back the bushes on the left and the right of that window. The brickwork on your home is pretty!
-Laurie

I too vote yes, but suggest you might balance your desire to have more brick exposed by trimming back the tree and shrub. I think I might replace the shrub with lower plants along the entire front. That would also help balance the left window being different. Don't know where you are, but I'd find something not deciduous and easy to care for that would make a great backdrop. If you wanted color and blooming plants like a low growing variety of azaleas or hawthorns don't work in your area, you could always add seasonal flowers in front. Sorry to provide more suggestions than you asked, but sometimes it helps to have a fresh set of eyes as you plan for the future.

Yes, because I honestly did think it was a second door.

Yes, indeed, put on the shutters and widen your planting area on that side into a wavy half circle, adding shorter, colorful plants. Brick is pretty.

Thanks for all the votes. I thought so too, but my DH and the contractor both were saying it looked better without them (and the contractor has done tons of stuff for us that has been extra without charging because it just looks better, so I don't think he was trying to get out of work).

Thanks for the advice about the plants. Normally this area has a bird bath and some other colorful stuff, but I cut everything back for the fall and so that the workers had access to do the siding and shutters. Good tip about cutting the bush back or removing it. The bush on the left is the most beautiful rhododendron I've ever seen, so that's not going anywhere! Thanks again everyone!

I agree, shutters like the rest of the windows. I wanted to point out that the white wood panel beneath that window seems out of place. It also draws a lot of attention, more than the front door, I think, and mostly as just looking odd. Maybe it looks better when the shutters are on. I would either remove it if there's brick underneath, or paint it out the color of the brick to camouflage it. It reads kind of like a storm door with the panel beneath, with no shutters anyway. I think shutters usually go to the length of the decorative panels, not just alongside the window.

What color shutters did you end up with? Can't tell from the picture, unless they're black.

I guess I'm the only dissenting... looks fine without to me.

No to the shutters as it will only make that window visually line up with the one on the second story, accentuating the sudden end of the overhang of the front porch.

I know you didnâÂÂt ask about this, but I hope you donâÂÂt mind me asking. Did you ever consider running the overhang all the way across the front? It seems to stop in an odd place. I think having the overhang all the way across, with another white post on the left would be amazing. No shutters needed for sure then.

Also, no matter what, please consider adding another post on the right side by the house. It kind of looks like the overhang is being propped up on the left, and the right side could go down any minute, which I am sure is not the case.

But for now, if that is not workable or desirable for you, take off the white panel if you can, or if not, replace it with siding to match the rest of the house, framed at the ends to look finished. Or, replace the short window with a taller one, perhaps to match the ones on the right side of the house, or a garden window that would have more visual substance there.

Then I would take out the boxy bush and replant that somewhere else. Trim back the bush on the left end of the house. Once the boxy bush is gone, if you donâÂÂt extend the overhang, add a trellis or other tall, narrow bush there to fill in the brick space a bit and make that bottom left side of the house balance in weight to the right side.

I think you have a nice home, and just need to tweak a bit to get just the look you want. Sounds like you have a great contractor who will help you get there.

My 1st thought was about the "missing pillar" on the right. If a porch is held up by pillars, it's usually 2 or more, never seen just 1 before. I think if the panel under the window were painted same as the shutters, it would then look more like a window, don't think adding shutters would be a help as the window above it looks to be a little wider so if that is the case then the downstairs window shutters would look a little off as they wouldn't "line-up". Just get the other pillar & try putting a piece of cardboard painted color of shutters over the white panel to see if it would look more like you want ,before you actually paint it. Very nice house!! Bet that bush is beautiful in full bloom!

Yup,

Another vote for yes. I personally feel that you must go for shuttering.

Here is a link that might be useful: EPDM Coatings

I agree with Les that the overhang either needs two posts or the single post should be more substantial.

I wouldn't cover the brickwork with more shutters. Remove that white panel if possible or paint to blend in with the brick. It's very distracting to the overall view of your pretty home.

yes, to shutters and yes to a thicker column, perhaps a corner column on other side corner, or flat against house to match the new one you add? up to the roof of course..

Another vote to add the shutters for visual balance.

Perhaps add thin shutters to each side of the front door?

Yes -- to adding to the thin column -- and yes to adding a matching column at the other corner.

Consider painting the front door white to match the white storm door -- a trick to make the whole front door appear larger and more cohesive to the viewer's eye.

As long as we're talking about the porch, I agree to move to a thicker and more traditional style post for your home for both better proportions and style fit. It wouldn't seem likely the porch would be extended (remember loss of light to the interior if considering that), but insetting the post more (it's too close to the edge) and adding another to the other side would look more visually balanced.

Some minor changes that would make a big difference, I think, would be to overlay an arched porch header (with trimming details) to the plain straight base that's there. That would really soften and break things up a bit overall, while adding more interest and impact to the door area. I think it would also improve the proportions of the porch and how it relates back to the house. I'd also add some simple window headers for more emphasis and for varied architectural details across the facade. Adding a somewhat substantial piece of white trim between the siding and the brick on the peaked side would really carry the lines of the porch across the front so it all flows. That piece would probably fall just beneath the siding material at this point (rather than it being the last piece of siding for that area). I've seen it done both ways.

These finishing details would really complete the renovation and provide cohesive and interesting details across the front of the house. Adding more of the white detailing would also brighten your home overall, adding a little sparkle, as well as balance and/or substantiate the existing whites more, I think.

I'm sure this reno was tough but you are almost there!