I agree that the brick can be painted. The arch seems out of place here and it does need landscaping. Love those colors Lisa. Also consider a pop of colour on the front door.

I would paint the brick a charcoal colour, and all the wood around the doors and windows, the same. This will bring the house to life, on a smaller budget. Consider painting the front door, a vibrant, shade, to add some contrast

Here is what I would think I would consider doing. I had to enlarge the photo to see greater detail of your project. I did look closely at the entry and I do agree the arch is a challenge because it seems to really reduce the head height at the entry and decreases the entry width. It appears you can barely see the top of the storm door and that could feel tight. So,,,,,how about removing the brick at the entry and have a stucco company come out and apply metal lathe to the brick and stucco over the areas remaining on the face of the garage and on the side of the garage and use a texture that is consistent with the texture of the existing stucco. I'm concerned about adding stacked stone is just another texture added to the house and then that material would just be on the garage side. If you introduce stacked stone you need to use it across the face of your home. Good luck.

1/2 of you say tear down and do stacked brick. 1/2 of you say paint. Conflicted. haha Thanks for all the tips however. This is EXTREMELY helpful! So thankful for all of you with an eye for design!

Paint is cheap, try it first! If you don't like it, you've wasted less than $50

Okay....back at this one more time. Since you mentioned the brick is only on the face of the garage.......paint it out....but match the body of the house color. Then remove the brick around the entry. You can use the applied trim detail that is used on the front elevation of your home to conceal the brick pocket at the entry. Then you have any issues at the entry step area where you remove the brick used an porcelain tile that has a slip resistance rating to conceal any brick damage on the front step area.

fieldstone would be lovely

I would knock out the front arch and paint the remaining brick on the garage the same color as existing trim. It might look funny darker or lighter since it is such a small area,as well as not make sense. I would use the money saved on landscaping instead.

thanks Oellien- yes, the entry way feels tight- the arch is low. ummm.... what is metal lathe? see, I am a true rookie! pathetic I know. Thank you!!

Lisa Annis,,,,,,,,,just paint out the brick on the face of the garage, but not the contrast color I first recommended. Use the body of the house color or trim color and then remove the entry brick because It is not supporting anything. But when you remove the brick at the entry you might need to add some more trim (which your house has on the face of it) to conceal the brick pocket...or how they butted the other trim around it.

@7768 what would you do after knocking out the arch? good point about the small area of the brick on either side of garage (since it doesn't run around house)

First of all, your house is lovely. I would pay attention to what Oellien Design suggests (obviously a professional).

Hey you can find some cool house numbers at Home Depot,,,,,stainless that float off the surface,,,,not expensive....and then change out the light fixture on the face of the garage and increase the scale of the light fixture while you are out it. It looks small on that elevation.

@ Oellien- thanks for explaining this to me in simple terms! Yes, this is the most inexpensive option for now. Makes sense and much more affordable- since we will clearly be dropping an insane amount on new concrete entry way and landscaping. Thanks again! Where are you located Oellien?

Tulsa Oklahoma,,,,,,,,but I'm just an email away.....if you have any further questions..... koellien@oelliendesign.com.....good luck.

I would tend toward painting the brick to match the remainder of the house and pop the detail by painting the trim a complementary or contrasting color depending on your preference. The sidewalk area needs to be expanded and you have the perfect setting to create an amazing courtyard-like entrance. First thing you need to decide is the "personality" of the house you want. It could portray craftsman, traditional, contemporary - then we can make more decisions.

@ Oellien- just facebooked your Grand Lake Oklahoma stunner. I'm a marketing consultant, so I'll return the favor with some exposure! Thanks again!

Thank You.....anytime..........I have a few things on Houzz.

These are some entryways I like. I realize we can only get "so close" to modern with our stucco house, but I've seen some mixed materials and ways to pull it off. Basically want simple, clean, square lines.

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Keep the brick, just paint it.

If your goal is to go more contemporary, I would definately loose the arch - and if you want to keep the brick paint it. I love the colors you posted above. You could use a product like I've attached - this is Eldorado stone, but there are many mfg's of something similar. If you do this, make sure that you pick the stone before locking in the paint color of the rest of the house.

Very simple expression........and relates to the 4 photos you posted.........."Less is More"

Thanks Tami. We are definitely leaning towards knocking down the arch! To start- we'll knock down arch and paint the brick on the front of the garage ( similar to house trim). If that more affordable solution doesn't do it, we'll look into a skinny modern looking stacked brick.

That's a great way to do it... and if you take down the arch, add some wood tones to your entry and some landscaping, it will look great! Can't wait to see the "after" pictures!

Here is a before and after

@ Tami If you look back in comments, I included a picture of maybe a more contemporary/modern wood column.

handyman's comment was,

"It's nice, but goes better with a more contemporary house. You are going for a more contemporary look on a tudor look house.I think the stacked stone, the squaring off and the columns would do that for you."

do you think something like this would work?

WOW @ Oellien! That is an amazing transformation. What specific paint should I need to get?? Did you do this? Very nice!

and now I want more window!

Personally I don't think the Columns will look well with that roof line. I think money better spent would be changing the tudor look, scratch coat the brick and then apply a dry stack or a flagstone with mortar joints. It would give the house a more mediterranean look. Just a thought

@ Lisa,,,,,,,here is the before and after of a ranch house that had no character. Of course it is stone but we used a very simple column detail and extended the entry of the residence, new planters and sidewalks.

A close up of the entry extension.

Enough from me........you have a great house......paint out the brick. The painting of the brick is about the primer you are using. Just check with you local paint store and they can tell you the best product for the paint you are using. Get the arched removed. Some new house letter, light fixtures.....landscape........and you'll have a WOW house. Good luck.

@ Oellien- I like how the concrete contains the landscaping. we'll be going for simple, low maintenance landscaping that does not bleed into the yard. would like the grass tight to the house. similar to this look.

perfect Oellien! thanks!

Back one more time.........I'm doing project budgets.......and they drive me NUTS......anyway....this photo sights down the house.....and you can see how we used the metal edging to divide the landscape from the grass and yet the metal edging repeats the stamped concrete work we did. You don't have to landscape,,,,but mulching beds can provide a contrast even when there isn't plants in the bed.

Black Mulch.......fades.......but the best

I'd keep the brick and add post and beam style in front of the brick entrance. The bit of arch showing behind it would be a great feature. I would also paint the trim and stain the new post and beam entry a darker colour. You've got all that great detail so show it off. Taupe on taupe is not working and it's making the brick look terrible when it could be a great feature.

@Oellien- I did plan on a metal edging as opposed to black plastic edging (yuck). I love the square lines in the landscaping and how it mirrors the entry concrete. Great idea. Why are you not in Minneapolis?!

@ Lisa, I can be in Minneapolis.........I/we travel .......and I love Minneapolis. But,,,,you now with all of the technology at our finger tips.......it is pretty easy to work at a distance on a project........enough,,,,,,,back at budgets. Take Care, KDO

I agree maybe that style of wood column on your style house might not be the best, but it looks like if you take down the arch you would be able to see the front door better, bringing in that natural feel of the wood. Love the idea of the concrete to "hold" the landscaping... AND I definitely agree about the dark mulch - MUCH better!

I don't know what else your going to do with the outside of the house but there is not a lot of brick there, so I would take the BRICK DOWN. Can't wait to see what you do with the outside.

I agree of getting rid of the Arch in the entry way, the style does not fit the rest of the house at all.

I love stacked stone but yr house already has a lot of texture. I think you should paint the brick in a dark grey or even render the brink in a smooth finish and square out yr entry. Don't forget once you add grass and plants the house will look completely different you have a lovely house. Good luck :)

paint

I think the archway should be squared off too. I think it would look better.

The brick does not coordinate at all with the overall house. Brick trim should have been used everywhere, e.g. around windows, foundation, maybe front walk. In just two spots it looks random. So either:

1) Add brick to windows and foundation
2) Remove brick
2) Paint brick

@ stefaniam01 how do I "render" the brick in a smooth finish. Is this something I can do?

@LisaAnnis: Stucco contractor can put a scratch coat over brick ( fill in joints cover surface etc) then they apply another coat let it get firm, knock it down with a damp sponge and give it a sand finish. Kinda like 60 grade sand paper

If you get rid of the rounded archway all together you will have much more natural light in your entry way. It looks so dark in the doorway right now.

@LisaAnnis sorry render is the term we use in Australia for stucco. It isn't a large expanse you could probably attempt it I have done on small projects but as this is the front of your home I would be more inclined to have a professional do it for you.