Your adobe / burlap toned brick is nice and neutral. My suggestion would be to get as close as you can to that shade but slightly lighter (rather than the tan you show above) and then use a lighter shade for all of your shutters. You show all neutrals, though blue-greens or greens would do well here. Do pick a soft tan for your "white" trim - off whites outside turn white and then you have the right undertone.

I would pick out a red door for a house with all brown and creams. Or, a kiwi green door. Test bm umbria red http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/umbriared

or - historic Sherwood green http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/sherwoodgreen

Shutters - Red Door if you find a nice dark siding color .. look at Manchester tan for all your trim and posts, and Danville Tan for shutters . .you might test bm Kingsport tan for siding to match your brick . . http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/kingsportgray

Shutters - Citrus Green Door

Stick with the off white / bright shutters - Manchester tan ..or go to a deep green like bm sweet basil .. . . match the garage doors to the brick or upper siding. . .lessen the contrast there.

Thanks for all your ideas! I finally got to the paint store to check out all the suggested colours. We are still wanting a more tone on tone type of colour scheme... sorry but no coloured door. I love the Manchester tan you suggested for all the trim and posts. It's about the same colour as my siding so I would need a different colour for my shutters to contrast a bit.. Would you do the Pilasters in Manchester tan as well or should they be more white like the window frames?

Also when I was at the paint store the sales clerk suggested 'ranchwood CC500' ... said it was very popular for exteriors. It seems to have more grey in it than the yellow like in the danville tan. Seems to be the same kind of tone as my brick but lighter. The Buckhorn CC510 (on the same card) seems to be the same as my brick.

So I'm wondering if I should go with

Manchester Tan - for all posts and trim (including pilasters ?)

Ranchwood - for front door, shutters and garage door

OR

Ranchwood for shutters and garage door

Buckhorn for front door

I wish the Benjamin Moore colour visualizer represented the colours better.

Thanks for any feedback!

Get rid of all the shutters: their strong vertical fights (not balances) the strong horizontal lines of the house. The bigger columns will make a great difference.

The only window you have that is suitable for shutters is the single one in the middle up top, so eliminate those entirely. Not sure your house is right for pilasters and leaded glass in the door. They're a bit classical for this casual, more cottage or even garrison style home.

I would like my house exterior to be more classical/ traditional style. Would love a portico but my budget doesn't allow it.

Out of curiosity, are you planning to paint the PVC molded columns? Or does the brand you are using come in color? Also, can you remove the column between the garage doors?

Also, keep in mind, when you are picking colors that your downspouts and gutters will still be that reddish brown color like your shutters are currently unless you are planning to change them too.

You have a very nice ranch style house. Great idea to beef up the columns, but NOT In a classical style. Look at some examples of ranch style homes and use one of those for inspiration.It looks like you're trying to change the style of your house with some add on's. This will only look confusing. Only a massive remodel would get you to the classical look in your inspiration photo. It's much cheaper and more effective to work with the style of your home, not fight it. I suggest an entirely different door than the one you picked, which was popular in the 80s and 90s. Play up your porch, it's lovely.

Downspouts can be painted to match the house or brick color with proper prep.

Yes, I'm planning to paint the pic columns (they don't come painted)....also plan to paint the downspouts whatever color which will make them disappear. I don't think the column between garage doors can be removed due to the distance between and support required.

thanks

karen

The shutters are all the wrong sizeamd IMO should go I like the colors in the rendering picture but of course without the shutters and I would make the door a little more inviting or maybe a walkway from the street to the door since right now that entry is very uninviting

I do have plans to change the landscaping ... covering porch slab with pavers and adding another deep step up as well as removing the portion of the garden directly in front of the door and instead extending the garden down the driveway. This will give a clear view of the entrance way.. making it more inviting.

The pilasters around the door should give it some architectural detail and will match the columns/posts... which I'm thinking should make the door pop.

Hi

It took a long time but finally the front of my house is done! (...with the exception of the landscaping on the far right of the house...I need something that is green all year long to cover that corner of the house... currently there is a bit of a hole there).

Here’s the after photo:

Door - Sable 2140-30

Shutters & Garage Door - Pebble cc-480

Columns - Almond Cc-90

The stone work was done by Justin and his team at Millennium Landscape and Design. They did an amazing job and we are really happy with it.

Karen