I agree that the shutters seem undersized. Built elements such as a portico or porch will be expensive; on a tight budget, look to simple changes such as brighter paint colors on the doors and shutters to create contrast and depth, window boxes for seasonal flower color, and small trees and varied shrubs to help bridge the house with the yard.

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--Yes, remove the shutters, which are too skimpy.

--If you have the budget, add a simple peaked portico over the front door. That shouldn't be outrageously expensive.

--Add two good-sized sconces on each side of the front door along with a large, handsome black mailbox. If you don't do the portico, then just install a large black lantern light over the front door that matches those over the garage.

--Paint the front door black and change out the existing front door with an all-glass storm door in black.

--Flank the front door with two deep square planters in black and add overflowing plants.

--Paint the garage doors black.

--Add electric lights as Bevolo suggests above over the garage.

--Paint your chairs black or cobalt blue with a matching painted round table between them.

--Build a painted black enclosure for your garbage cans.

Take a look at the brick on Bevelo's example. Paint that dull brick a cheerier color, add some light fixtures on both sides of the entry and make the garage doors darker to take away emphasis on them. I'd suggest a very light pale gray on the brick with charcoal garage doors. Paint the shutters a shade in between the dark and light, perhaps a pale eggplant. A fabric awning porch cover over the area that extends to the seating on the right would help add some charm.

Noting the chairs in the front yard, you could build to suit your purposes for the space, doing so in three stages as budget permits:

You could create a larger covered stoop and make your door the focal point of the front of your home. (paint or replacement of door and frame).

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/a7/5c/6f/a75c6ff68245db908275a22137ef0127.jpg

leveling up your front yard a bit to do so and then adding a front yard patio for your chairs, preferably planting a hedge outside the knee wall around it.

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/20/be/6b/20be6b5bf96602cd8b69deb792bff136.jpg

With a little pre planning in the creation of your patio, you could add the rest of a front porch on the right side of the house -- from halfway between left of front door and window to the right end -- later, using a shed roof but with the gable over door.

http://st.hzcdn.com/simgs/38e19d450f58d655_4-8460/traditional-porch.jpg

Adding a cupola to the left half of your roof could add some curb appeal as well.

http://www.cupolacreationspa.com/images/photoshopped/groupheader.jpg

You could roof the cupola the same as the roof of your house or not, adding any weathervane that suits your -- or none.

My inclination would be to remove the shingles, either replacing them with larger ones or leaving them off -- and repaint the white deck rail and garage doors and trim something not white, perhaps even the same color as your home. If you add larger shutters, paint them your new shutter color and do paint whatever that is to the left of the garage with a color intended to and the objective of making it visually all but disappear.

So our project is coming along. Next I am trying to decide on stain color for new wood porch and if we should paint the brick or not. We will be getting rid of the shutters and we're thinking of adding wide trim or new larger wood shutters.

So I guess share an opinion about color scheme and shutters vs trim around the windows. Also we plan to add a pergola over the garage doors and paint eventually replace garage doors.

Thank you so much!!!

Looks like a great start! I think you should take the shutters off and see how it looks before deciding whether to paint or stain the brick. Maybe try a cedar or redwood colored stain. Or, if you want a strong contrast try a dark stain for a very modern look.

dark stain wood with natural brick

Opposite: Dark background (not brick) with cedar stain trim

Whitewashed Red brick redwood stain

Stain matches the tones in brick

traditional style of white and red brick

I always like this photo of red brick with dark trim and reddish wood, how the colors all work together

Good luck! I'm still in the no shutters camp, I think with your upper story windows so close to the roofline they just won't look right. But I think the pergola over the garage will add more interest, unless you want a very modern look.