the paint color does not complement the stone of the foundation. you need a different color, a little darker. could you get close-up pictures of the stone and of the landscaping under that window?

it is vinyl siding, so i can't change that, but would consider changing stone, also there is no supporting post there at all by the door.

I would not change the stone. it is very pretty. there is a lot you can do with landscaping. Can you paint the window trims black or dark brown? I would paint front door and the garage door as well. The fixtures need to be twice as big and carry more heft to them.
Do you have pictures of the landscape in the summer/fall?

love light fixture on left ! we pretty much tore out all the landscaping last fall, we want to re do the whole thing , including possibly steps to door and walkway.

I would also plant an ornamental tree near the left corner of the house for balance and color. Not sure where you are but, there are a lot of options.

re-doing the steps would be a great way of bringing balance.. I would do the ornamental tree (choose something that will not grow past the height of the house) and some grasses. I would do some unconventional srubs such as witch hazel or redtwig doogwood. then your perennials for color.

If the budget I would swap out the garage doors for something more architectural and two-tone, then use the second color in the facia boards. If not, maybe just do the facia and windows a deeper color. Also agree wit colorful door and darker light fixtures. Everything is monotone so it gets lost, you need to create some contrast without letting the garage door become the focus.

you;ve already gotten excellent suggestions. i'd stay in the same color family by adding a dark gray or black trim. it looks like the roof is very blue and the stone is more blue/gray than brown. try a cornflower,periwinkle or mediterranean blue for the door.

look on this site and others for a landscape color check of what most appeals to you. at this point you could go very colorful or monochromatic. a green,white,silver and blue theme could then be punched up seasonally with annuals in deep pinks, bright reds or yellows.

you could add a few boulders. google directions on how to make realistic boulders easily and inexpensively.

be sure the window box is full and blooming and include spillers like ivy.if you keep the plants in pots in the windowbox it's easier to change them out for the seasons so the box can be pretty year round.

I think your main problem is that there is no transparency except for the window on the left and the front is very solid. I understand my suggestions are not inexpensive but perhaps something you could do over time. I would love to see new carriage garage doors with windows to add interest to the very obvious garage. The front door needs to be either a full French door or 3/4 French door painted something other than white, and the window needs muntins to match the other openings. New larger lanterns as previous suggested would also be nice and a support for the front door overhang would frame your entry.

Enlarge the walkway garden to create more balance. Move the walkway furtherbdown the driveway and enlarge in depth and width. A flowered tree lined up with the corner of the house would help. Also paint the front door a standout color on the opposite side of the color wheel to make it stand out, and dress it up.

Enlarge the walkway garden to create more balance. The garages dominate. i would almost think a man lives here. Move the walkway furtherbdown the driveway and enlarge in depth and width. A flowered tree lined up with the corner of the house would help. Also paint the front door a standout color on the opposite side of the color wheel to make it stand out, and dress it up. Consult a landscaper for advice and a picture plan.

bluenan, excellent suggestions.

I would consider going with a paint color the color of the stone for your door. I like the suggestions above to go with a darker light for all the lights. I would consider using actual larger stones and rocks to border your garden and landscaping in front of the house and possibly a stone like material for the walkway to tie the front of the house together more.

i wonder if it would be possible to replace the panels in the garage doors and put windows like this ? also do you think it would be a good idea to stain some of the bricks on front a bit darker ?

Great comments/suggestions above. You also need something above the main garage door. Perhaps a large 5 pointed star would work. I've seen these used in the PA area with much success.

Jaraina is right - you need a landscaping designer to seriously beef up the walkway, planting area, etc and the tree is imperative. Paint the front door and get much bigger lights. I'd do all that way before fooling with the garage doors.

thanks for suggestions so far ! landscaping, lighting, are on the to do list. what do you think about new window for front of house ? feel like it is a weird proportion to the rest. Also we do need to put a post by the front door - should that have brick at the base ?

funny you should mention the window. the 1st thing i noticed was the house would look very cottagy with diamond muntins and heavier trim. then i forgot to mention it in my original post. find a diamond pattern in the new larger light fixture for continuity. something like the one posted above on the left but with diamonds rather than circles.

yes to a post by the front door. no to brick at the base since you have stone on the house.

Personally, I wouldn't start changing the window without the advice of an architect whose work I liked, or at least a good softward program that could demonstrate what it would look like. Getting into changing the windows isn't inexpensive, and whether or not you love it, the window you've got sort of goes with the look of the house. Changing one thing might look hodge-podge.

I'd do everything I could that you know has to be done - light, landscape - and see how you feel before I started to do anything with the basic structure. And it couldn't hurt to keep the garage door closed and move the garbage pails out of sight...

Here's my two cents worth -I think that adding an architectural arbor across with tiled patio beneath the space will harmonize garage and entrance. Since the driveway is such a prominent part, make it as attractive as possible by adding pavers . A small ornamental tree and a lawn-less flower bed full of ornamental grasses, perennials and annuals and two containers for season color will add curb appeal. Here's my doodle that illustrates the aforementioned.