I'd be tempted to paint the brick and siding all the same color to help it not seem so choppy. I'd also remove the shutters. They are not the correct size for the windows and actually just make those upper windows look awkwardly wide.

I think I'd do a medium shade of paint if you're going to be keeping the white shingles... in other words, if your house color is too light, then with the shingles so light there won't be any contrast.

So what about a medium gray color on the house, and then do a fun pop of color on the door... pulling your attention to that.

I'd also recommending doing a lot of pruning or removing some of those shrubs that are very overgrown.

I'd also consider doing an arbor out by the front of the sidewalk with some sort of hedge on each side of the walk coming up to the house, creating a focal point and character. (it would be seen from both inside and out, so can be doubly enjoyed that way!)

Hope that gives you a start.
Oh and when you're picking paint colors, you must sample the chips/paint outside... it's amazing how much the color changes from inside to outside!! here's a post I wrote on my blog when I was selecting paint for the exterior of our former house: the difficulties in selecting exterior paint color

I'd paint the vertical siding white, the door black and the clapboards teal. Shutters aren't needed, but if you like them, go with black and give the door a pop of color.

I agree with nixing the shutters and adding a pop of color to the door, that will really change the look!

I love the blue/green color of the siding though! might be just me!

Let's trim the house with the tone of the brick - get the white elements down to blond /tan. Then, a deeper khaki siding - Bm laurel canyon beige will echo your brick - Use this for fascia, mailbox, eave and shutters if you keep them. We need to use this lighter shade right around the white vinyl windows - will help the eye bridge from the buff brick to the white window sashes and help it all pull together. I would like to see fatter trim around the windows, and for the upper story - window boxes in the same trim color below to add height to these windows, add to the rambler vibe you have going here. You have such a great cottage garden - even silk spilling variegated ivy looks great from the ground. . .

If you were headed more contemporary mid century modern, then we might color block the right side of the house separate from the left - emphasize the blocks, but since we are more of a cottage landscape (lots of great things here), let's try for some tonal shades. It will help the house look calm and dignified.

All the siding in bm strathmore manor - it is a neutral in the right tone for the brick i think - test these colors in your latitude - paint a board that you can carry around the house and look at it next to the brick at different times of the day / different exposures. Since the roof is lighter cedar wood, and the brick is blond, the main rule of thumb is that the house not be darker than the roof. Now that the house is all soft tan tones, let's let the front door charm come out. The crossbuck is darling . . but it does need a light / bright color so it doesn't fall into the recess where it sits under the roof. A warm charcoal is an easy front door choice here but it will recede. You can go purply red if you love traditional and use red inside - a great tone with this brick is bm barrett brick. This is also darker that I would suggest. For you, I think we want to do something to signal a little fun.

My pick is a blue eyes blue - paint the crossbuck and the front door this charming cornflower blue shade . . here's bm blue daisy http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/bluedaisy

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/laurelcanyonbeige#ce_s=canyon beige

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/strathmoremanor

To advance the cottage vibe, you could add wooden braces or brackets under the split level overhanging the windows below - 4 spaced equidistant off the bottom windows to near the corners of the house and then towards the middle seems the right spacing given your garden. see prowoodmarket.com

paint the downspout whatever color it is adjacent to so it minimizes visually.

I am trying to use the Benjamin Moore and SW sites to see how all the suggestions look. Although I am not so good on these things

They do have a visualizer where you can upload your photo. However, the real test is your latitude and light - sw will sell you sample pots of bm or sw colors to paint on some boards and carry them around your home.

Nice textures on the house.

I would

• remove the shutter
• paint the siding in the lightest color of the brick/stone
• replant the landscaping, creating beds in the front lawn istead of against the foundation