First, paint the body of the house (brick and siding) all the same, white.

Secondly, because the basement windows don't align with the upper windows, remove the black shutters from the basement windows. It only draws the eye to it.

Paint your door a shiny black, or red. Paint the remaining shutters a glossy black. Consider adding a trellis along the front of the house, starting at the front door and going left to draw the eye toward the front door.

Try making a flower bed to line your walkway. Add a bench or seating spot near the front door.

Another possibility.

I'm not wild about painting brick. My suggestion is to add more foundation plantings. Also, larger planter pots near the front door.

I'm also not keen on painting brick in most circumstances -- but I think if I had a brick wall with random bricks already painted I'd probably want to paint it all.

OP, which thread do you want people to answer on? This or your other thread about curb appeal?

I would paint the brick a mid tone gray. Google split level exterior updates and you will find several ideas. Here's a house painted gray like yours and some updated ideas.

Handyman

Sorry! This is the first time I've used this app and I thought my post was skipped so I reposted. You can post to either.

Landscaping and new bluestone or slate sidewalk would be nice.

Have you considered going over the brick with a stone veneer? We see this a lot where homeowners are looking to update their curb appeal. An application of stone veneer makes a big difference in updating a home's exterior. You can custom color it to match the existing siding too. It would be beautiful on that house!

Nobody on either thread has pointed out the most glaring problem, at least to me: that receding front door. I wouldn't worry about painting or landscaping here. Instead, I'd get an architect to rework that whole front entry space.

Yes! That's where I feel a lot of the problem lies. However, we are a family on a budget so I'm trying to tackle what we can to make our home more inviting without breaking the bank.

Maybe something like this:

cspyder, never hurts to get a bid or two.

I have a problem with changing the actual structure of the home. The architectural style is 70's Cape Cod. So it makes sense to stay with building things keeping this style in mind. Don't just randomly start building a new front door. There are many ways to attract the attention to the front door with landscaping, with no construction involved whatsoever. If you want to paint the front door an attention grabbing color, fine! But the house is Cape Cod, so stick with what works for this kind of architecture. My thinking is to research the appropriate landscaping and architecture for this style house.

I am thinking maybe an arbor by the front door, maybe some window boxes, some shrubbery around the foundation, large, tall shrubs at the corners of the house--maybe some plantings along the sidewalk, (perhaps roses) a small sitting area a little further away from the house--all in the Cape Cod style. Maybe even a couple of trees. If you do plant trees, make sure they are well away from the foundation, because what looks like a tiny stick now, may be a giant in 30 years. You not only want to create a doorway that is attractive, you may want to create a visual path to that door with plantings.

However, before you do anything, research the Cape Cod style of architecture. Stick with colors, styles, etc. that go with Cape Cod. Make your plantings coordinate with that style. Don't do any more painting on the brick--leave it as is.

During the 1970's not a lot of thought was given to landscaping. Builders were in such a hurry building tracts, and greenery went by the wayside. Stick with Cape Cod in your designing, You can always change plantings if you don't like them, but you can't always change construction.

Good luck!

According to the idea book "Roots of Style: Midcentury Style" this is a Midcentury style split level house.

http://houzz.com/photos/1919725

Ack! Sorry! Wrong photo! This one is from the referenced idea book. They have added a portico/front porch

http://houzz.com/photos/2538284

Soot sprite, you are correct--but lots of homes in the 1970's were originally inspired by Cape Cod, particularly on the East Coast.

Anyhow, it doesn't really matter. It's just a lot of fun discussing the various changes we'd make. I tend to believe that original is best. This stuff is a lot of fun to think about. :-)

Where would you suggest putting window boxes?

Also, the door is really pretty. It has a really pretty stain on the inside. Should I stain the outside or paint it? The idea of painting a nice wood door doesn't seem right.

I would put window boxes on the upper two windows on the right, think of some colorful plantings that hang over the boxes. My grandmother used petunias, but you could use geraniums or something else. Balance it out with an equal amount of the same color on the left--you might want a window box, or not on the window on the far left. Maybe you could plant something in the ground. Use your imagination and have fun with it. :-)

Sand and stain the door! It's always a shame to paint over beautiful wood! :)

Progress

Now let's talk plants.
We live in Louisville, KY so the 6th region. My original thought was boxwoods and mix in some begonias. I'll post another pic to show what I mean. It's hard to see right now because it is so young and hasn't bloomed yet but there is a Japanese maple in the half circle. I was thinking about day lilies maybe around it? It doesn't produce much shade.
Now, the left side of the sidewalk is in a lot of shade due to a big tree off to the left. It does get morning sun though but nothing after noon.
Thanks for the advice!

My husband likes the cleaner look shown on the left. I on the other hand am a bigger fan of whimsy like on the right.

Your house looks like ours (1960s split). Plant some shrubs in front of the lower windows (second also removing this shutters). Since you can't paint the siding, I would consider painting the trim and windows to match your shutters (maybe in a lighter color?) and paint your door a brighter color. I've seen a bright turquoise door with black trim that looks great. Also your window treatments need to go. Shutters or blinds will look neater. Maybe some hanging plants. And definitely some shrubs under the front window. See my house for landscape. I need to paint my shutters!

I don't like Grover's build-out for the front door, but I think she's nailed the problem. I think something like a porch roof or pergola would help draw the eye there and bring it forward visually. jbelcore's photos give a sense, but you could do a narrower landing porch right around the entry rather than across the whole house. Solutions like this are less likely to break the bank.

Planting ideas: we have spring bulbs (daffodils, tulips, lilies) followed by hosta in the beds in front of our azaleas, holly and boxwoods. And a beatiful big camellia tree and rhododendron for height.

Hi
Could you replace the walkway with flagstone...it appears a bit like a runway now so needs to be a bit wider too. You could alter it by adding a small curve but would have to augment that with plantings and shrubbery such as a boxwood. Not sure what zone you are in for plant suggestions.

Hi! I'm in zone 6. Probably can't change the sidewalk right now due to expense.

I like the pergola idea but how would I do that? The porch continues under the siding part so would I have to attach the pergola to the siding? Any pics to show what you mean?

Also, I have some rose bushes on the right side in front of the lower windows but they are just now starting to get leaves which is why you can't see them. On the left there are roses, azaleas, and a heavenly bamboo in front of the far left window but they aren't in bloom yet either.

Also I'm confused by the idea of removing the shutters on the brick. There are built in places for the shutters so won't it look even stranger if I took them out?

Is it really necessary to have the siding stand out so much by painting it white? Too much contrast is drawing the eye to that. Could you pick up on the colours in the brick and paint it that colour? Grey? Unless you are refacing with stone. Then pick a stone colour. Redo the walkway and plantings as I mentioned.

It actually is a light gray

Someone suggested adding large planter pots to the front...that would draw the entrance out a bit without having to pull any permits! Maybe even a nice dwarf tree...

What about mulch color? We were thinking the natural cedar. We have tried black in the past and it fades within a week of sun.

I prefer mulches that blend with the colour of the earth. I live in S Africa, where the retail choice is not wide, but I wouldn't use anything that looks striking or dramatic in itself. The pleasure is in the texture. In fact, I have found that a small packet of bark I bought is uncomfortably fresh and orange-looking. I have faith that it will fade. And disappear in the other packets I need to buy, anyway.

If it's any comfort as you work with this, I love coming back to this thread. There is something just so charming and beautifully balanced about your house. PS, I'm afraid I think your husband's choice of garden style works better for this house than yours. My own taste is more like yours ... English country garden, bits of everything. Love it. I think at the street end of your pathway beds, a small tree or tall shrub on each side would be very attractive. I don't know Kentucky conditions (I have difficulty with my own), but something graceful.

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Voila

Voila

Other angles

now paint the front door black.

Paint it black or stain it red? It's a very pretty wood door

I agree with removing the basement window shutters. You really don't have to paint if you don't want to change the color. But you absolutely have to get some foundation beds around the front and down the walkway. Evergreens never go out of style and then you can implement some color with seasonal flowers here and there. If you have a lot of shade, plant hostas.

Cspyder, I see what you mean about the shutters. There is no brick behind them and the back window sills extend the entire length of the window and shutter. I suspect that actually looks rather strange in person. If you have a little room in your budget, you could remove the basement shutters and tooth in new brick around the windows. If you are painting the brick, it doesn't have to match the old brick color, just the texture. Of course shop around and see if you can get a few bricks in the same style first.

This is a COMPLETE overhaul.... but this is my friend's house that was VERY similar to yours before the remodel