What color is roof? It looks green from here.

Will the metal roof be gray?

I like a black roof. I know nothing about metal roofs.

My favorite combo is the traditional: red brick with white and black.

All trim and siding white and front door (storm door too) & shutters in black. photo 1

A plaque with house numbers might be cute photo 2 & 3

A large black urn to left of front door. photo 4

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sararae, I've seen the first photo TanCalGal posted many times here on Houzz...gorgeous. I think your brick would be great with white and black.

I think a brick edge would be very nice.

As you can see here our front walk is all brick. I like it but often think just a brick edge would be pretty.

I like the stone they used for the front walk. The brick edging on the stone does not match the brick on the house & I don't like that look.

IDK about the curved walk, I think curves might add style and grace, but are not totally necessary.

Below is how to choose paint. I'd match the white trim and siding to the white of the new windows.

Your house is colonial style so I would stick with the small colonial panes.

http://www.lindaholtinteriors.com/2011/07/testing-wall-color-101/

I agree with TanCalGal...brick on walk could be a better match to the house, at least as it appears in the pic.

One of the professional landscapers was saying the other day that the walk to the front door should originate at the road curb. Your guests should park on the road and walk up to the front door enjoying the full view of the house.

Family usually enters house from a side or back door.

I would suggest that you find a plan designer or design/build firm that works in 3-D. They can help you through the process of creating a different exterior façade for the home.

I think originating at the curb makes a lot of sense, especially with TanCalGal's comment about "full view of the house." Very pretty! We have a large circular driveway in front, and our walkway runs from the front entry to across the top center of the driveway.

The problem with the walkway going to the curb is there isn't a sidewalk. Also, it's quite a distance to the road. Do you really want to break up such a large expanse of yard with a walk?

I don't know how much you want to spend on landscaping but I would consider keeping the walkway going toward the drive and instead build out a little patio area with some nice landscaping and beautiful flowering trees.

These aren't exactly what I was talking about but might give you an idea.

I don't think this is really a colonial style house. It's a 1970's house that has a few colonial-ish features. It is never going to look like a traditional colonial or early-mid 20th century colonial revival. The photo of the brick house with dark roof, white rim, and dormers shows a house with much more traditional architecture, especially the steeper roof and dormers.

The shallow roof is not traditional. I would not fight the shape of the house - I would try to make it more transitional/contemporary (which I think is what it is - with some afterthought traditional details).

I love the idea of a metal roof. Can you do a dark brown/bronze-y seamed roof? I would do that and then paint EVERYTHING, including the trim a light taupe/off white, except the windows and front door. I would paint them black, to make them recede. I would remove the snap-on shutters.

If you are going to replace the windows, I would go from pairs of double hung windows to casement windows, in a metal exterior finish to match the roof.

I like the house. It sounds like you are investing a considerable amount of money in this house and I hope you go with it's strengths.

Your home is a bit ranch, a bit prairie style? I agree with janedoe2012, it should be more contemporary/transitional + organic in feeling. Cleaner lines on the house and the landscaping. The landscaping can be lush, drifts of mass planting of one type of plant. Your house does not suit a busier/cottage victorian garden. See the 3rd last photo.

I would remove the shutters. if you are replacing windows, a simple clean style with darker frames. Pull out a midtone colour a brown/slight grey from your brick for the upper storey. Try to look at photos of homes that have a shallow gable roof that are built in the 1960's that are updated. Search Houzz for 1960, modern prairie, gable roof, ranch etc. The last 2 photos show shallow metal roofs, I agree with janedoe2012, bronzey brown, not a black roof.

You should consider a consult with an architect, maybe one will chime in and offer some advice.

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Hi TanCalGal. I think the idea of a darker metal roof would look fantastic and give the 1970's exterior a bit of a modern feel (It will also last you a very long time!). The standing seam style has a nice clean look. I think you might like the bonderized which is a natural finish or another darker color that matches the brick.

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Front porch is a must. It would change the whole look and feel of the house.

Metal roof would be great! * black would hold heat though, Front entry needs re-vamped... diffrent door, embellish, landscape.

You need to decide what style you want to live with as well as what will blend and not stand out like a sore thumb in your neighborhood as being "that house". You commented on liking the first picture of what I'd term as more of a southern colonial. I'd don't know what kind of a budget you have, but dreaming and planning doesn't cost much. Using that first pic as inspiration, bring up the roof on both left and right and the middle to make it more of an angle. I'd add at least one dormer to the left side. If the budget allows right now add that covered porch, if not, plan that for phase 2 in 5 yrs.. Love the brick trimmed path but...DO NOT STAMP IT IN CONCREAT. Lay out the new path with curves and grace, then the brick can come later. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and our lives are continually evolving. What works now may not be great for you in 3 years, so stay open minded, and keep your eye on retail as well, but don't dwell on, just don't forget that someday you'll need to sell. Good Luck.

Please consider choosing a light roof color (e.g., light gray). It will reflect light, not absorb it, and reduce warming of the atmosphere.

Can you help me with the color of the outside sea side cottage??? any picture would be very much appreciate... Thanks

It looks as though the second story popped out of the roof and is not connected to the first floor. If you paint the entire house, brick and wood the same color, it would give it a classic timeless look. The metal roof in a dark grey would go great with a light grey or white paint. Add shutters to the single window on the left to tie in with those on the second floor and paint them and the front door the same pastel color.
Then take a look at some landscaping with a variety of shaped shrubs, taller and looser on the ends and then lower and looser in the middle sections. A curved flagstone walkway to the street would make it look inviting. Also consider few more trees in a natural arrangement. Not sure where you are, but if you want a more casual look, let the lawn have a meadow look with some taller grasses around the new trees.

Lena Sope: begin a new post with your own photos for answers to your question.

Since you are going to redo the roof also, a two story entrance with a roof that rises to the height of the upper windows, would look awesome...especially if you changed your upstairs windows to copper coated double French windows. A third window to allow light right over the door would also look good if the interior allows for it. The two double French windows should rise above the roof line. A metal roof would also look good in a color to compliment the copper French windows. I would also replace the window on the left with a French window that matches.

If there is room, double front door would look great.

Check out this Home Modernization Guide that Frazier Associates created for a community in Virginia. It addresses ways to update and improve curb appeal in mid-20th century suburban homes. http://www.chesterfield.gov/sitesearch.aspx?id=9519&query=home%20modernization%20guide

Please remember that the darker the roof color, the more destructive it is to the environment. Plus very dark roofs absorb heat and cost more to cool.