An instant update would be to paint your windows dark very dark Bm raccoon dark

Post dark as well, remove shutters for even more of an update

You could add some interest with metal awnings

Brandi, I never thought of painting darker, I wonder if that will work. I did think of going lighter like this house.

Do remove the upstairs shutters. Do not paint brick. You could paint all the surfaces currently painted the cream color of the brick centered above each window and go bold with your front door color.

You could add a gazebo to the left side of your front porch.

http://images-32.har.com/e1/mediadisplay/32/hr3524232-2.jpg

http://www.recentlydesigned.com/upload/floorplans.houseplansandmore.com/071D/071D-0164/071D-0164-front-main-8.jpg

Upstairs looks a bit blocky. Consider replacing that center upstairs window with a patio door and create a balcony above front porch with an arbor above the balcony with a gable roof in the middle of the arbor over that patio door.

Where you have a large expanse of grass in the front yard, consider leveling up the part of the yard nearer the house and creating an outdoor living space there as a focal point.

http://cdn.ulive.com/video_thumbnails/b3/99/a31df20c45958051764d8a5945f5/b4b1dd3b54d27a8db4db9595065c9ca40000.jpg

perhaps with an arbor or gazebo.

http://cdn.hometalk.com/media/jbynhfypsbt9opq5a7t9514b88c220c6e.JPG?size=634x922&nocrop=1

Beautiful house!

I agree with Brandi, paint the house trim and the window trim black, remove the shutters or replace it with a more traditional style shutters. The white indoor shutters will look classic and stand out against the black trim. You still can have the white columns that you like so much.

How about an accent color for the front door? Maybe a shade of the indoor blue color you have?

I love the brick with white and black. Very elegant!

You also have the dark gray roof....

I think that's a pretty house! I like the brick, I think the green trim blends beautifully with it, and I love the style of the shutters. The other houses in your neighborhood but be total knock-outs.

I would get rid of the rounded foundation shrubs, do more natural plantings. I vote for gray trim and shutters rather than black. And remove the shutters on that one upstairs window. You need a front door color that makes more of a statement.

Thank you all so much for your input, it's giving me a lot to think about. I always thought painting the brick was my only option but I need to consider painting the trim and updating the door. I agree, the upstairs looks so boxy, I love that advice to add to that. Yes, the houses all around are real knockouts but we got our house for a great price so I figured I can make it great. Check out my kitchen reno.

I am trying to decide between these two doors. I thinking about a dark brown stain. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

1. Awesome house with great potential. Always buy the worst house in the best neighborhood. Congrats on that.
2. White trim and columns. Black shutters. Keep the brick. It will dress things up and if you don't like it, you've only spent money on paint. Hanging flowering baskets between the columns on the porch.
3. The door on the left with the diamond shaped glass in the window. Rectilinear seems in better sync with the house.
4. Consider playing off of the railing on the porch with wrought iron flower boxes under a few windows.
5. Kitchen: WOW!!

Thank you kateroni, I love your suggestions!

This is the door we ended up getting, until we get trim color painted this is a good start. I love the door.