Much bigger light fixture, slightly wider shutters, possibly an architectural detail over the top of the lower window, two tall trees in pots on either side of that window, a sitting area. Down the road either a sturdier looking railing, or paint this one a darker color. Good looking garage door if possible or sheath the concrete and do a detail on the sides of the opening ( corbels? Or repeat the style of the overhang over the front door.

I was going to suggest bigger shutters like picture above. And that awning is a great idea. How about some shrubbery along both sides of driveway and rather than block view put the flower boxes along bottom of the railing with flowers and vines coming through railing. Maybe paint the railing black and the door a fun color with a couple of Adirondack chairs to match

Sorry, hit the submit button too soon!

Thank you beverlyfladeziner and nancy ingram for the cute mock ups! Just seeing the house with these details is giving me some hope! I love the idea for flowerboxes on the railing and i think i will paint it a darker color like an oiled bronze.. A new garage door sounds like a good investment too and the sitting area breaks up all the harsh vertical lines. Thank you guys so much for taking the time to share your wonderful ideas with me ! ❤️

Good luck kristal.

Hi Kristal - I would just like to add that I am having trouble with the ground floor level - consider painting all of it (steps, garage wall and door and brick the same color. ) I would like to see a dark charcoal perhaps to help the whole area recede and ground the structure. Paint all railings black.

Best.

I would like to see a thicker railing and some color. Door and shutters red or blue and the planters are a good idea

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Hi everyone ! I wanted to update you on the progress ive made with the house,, its not finished but weve made some good improvements i think. I painted the railing black and did planter box idea, got a new mahogany front door, had my driveway repaved, removed the shutters and a path of pavers put in.. im thinking to still repaint the exosting siding,, maybe grey ? Im not sure.. and id love to do a pergola over the porch but i want to see if i can get it at a reasonable price ? Any other tips anyone would recommend ?& Thank you all who contributed

for helping me to get this far !

Looks much better! If it were my house I'd paint the concrete first floor walls/carport a dark grey/black. Love black and white together and I think it would make the house stand out more.

Nice pavers and black railing... I hadn't read before... what about this blend with pavers for hot months?... I think you want something permanent though... ok!

looks good! maybe just paint the trim in the dark gray? otherwise will be too dark. trim around window and eave below roofline. pergola in a nice redwood or cedar (don't forget UV protection spar varnish) would look really nice.

everdebz thats so cool! Ive never seen that screen like that before -- perfect solution for the patio area!

that's a good call everdebz,,,I like that color w/her house too. now do the black or charcoal gray trim and you have it made!

Beth H i was actually going back and forth in my head thinking if i should paint the house darker and leave the trim lighter or vice versa .. do you think leaving the house white and doing dark grey trim for the door windows and roof line will look as nice ? Im just used to trim being white lol.

There are many sizes, shapes, colors of Sunshades... use 2?

Different retractable awnings -- seem expensive, but if it goes with your locale...? offers color...

Absolutely. do the trim. you will be amazed at how awesome it looks. Nothing better looking than black trim windows on a white house.

here is a house we flipped. now it's stucco, but I wanted black trim w/off white body.

look at the roofline w/the black and the white below. Paint the inside trim of your windows black (or dark charcoal). do one. see how you like it. It's only paint.

Beth thanks for the photo that definitely helps me to visualize it better and it looks great!! added a lot of interest to the house :) and i think it will be a lot less expensive than painting the whole house and leaving the trim so thats a bonus

https://www.houzz.com/photos/lake-house-beach-style-exterior-toronto-phvw-vp~20748561

Imagine something like this to help break up the 2nd story expanse. Then you could weave fabric through the beams if needed for sun protection seasonally.

Love all the comments, but what I see first is all the junk/stuff by the garage and I know how things collect so not being critical, it is just what I notice first.

I would put some type of potted plant or architectural interst item on the wall that sticks out on the right; foundation wall maybe?

Then Paint the lower level charcoal, garage door too, just paint it all out. Lastly I would build a wood fence stained to match the front door from the left foundation wall half way across the parking area to where the house ends and the garage begings where the vehicle is parked so that all the stuff can collect behind the fence and not mar the results of all your design work. When you park at night you just have to walk around the vehicle into the open area and walk around the fence.

If you are gutsy paint the whole front of the house black/charcoal and add wider trim to door and window and paint trim all bright white.

Interior designer Alexa Hampton designed a black and white house and painted only the front and the sides and back white and they called it the Oreo House! Here is a house pic that has not much white trim to give you an idea of how your house front only painted black/charcoal could look. Courage! Dark houses are really in now and look so sleek.

You could paint the front. I see it like 3 sections, top ,middle and first floor . If you divide it in 3 equals you could paint one colour but different strengths of the same ,so it would go from darker to Lighter or the other way around . I think grey would be my choice and there is a lot to choose from.

Visualisemaven that photo is stunning id love to do something like that ! If i can find something similar in my budget that would be the ideal solution.. and susan davis - the lower level w the carport is actually all white brick but it was built about ten years ago so its looking dingy, i dont know if it better to powerwash it or i should just paint over the brick ? Ive never really seen painted brick Does it come out nice ? And if i did paint it do you think its high maintenance to keep looking fresh ? Thank you guys !! So excited about all the ideas ! Xox

Great Kristal! Start getting a few, like 3, estimates from contractors, to check out different ideas and estimates for a strong architectural "portico".

I agree with Susan Davis - paint the lower level, brick and all, a deep color to anchor the building. Painted brick does look nice but there is controversy about whether or not it is advised because the brick no longer can "breathe" ( moisture issues). Having said that, your brick is somewhat sheltered from the elements and will be low maintenance so I say go for it for design purposes, Form over function here.