I thought I'd give a quick update to my original question. Over the past two years I've done a lot of research... Our goal is to make this 70s mansard embody a more french provencial look.

• Removed front tree (on left)
• Removed front door storm doors and painted doors black
• Updating Shingles to Composite Slate (Moderne Slate Co) with Greyish tone
• Updating Dormers to have more pronounced rounded roofs
• Updating Dormer windows to single casements with 4 panes and reduced width
• Changing Dental molding to crown molding
• Dormer roofs and flashing changed to copper
• Updating lower front windows to fixed (non-operating) windows with 6 panes

There's still a lot of work we want to do, however, my question is now focused on painting the brick (or not)?

Also, any other ideas or things I should be aware of in the changes listed above?

Thanks!

Updated photos please

To stay in the traditional mode plaster over the brick, adding some reliefs as the last photo.

French Manor House Style Entry · More Info

North Shore Residence · More Info

North Shore Residence · More Info

Andrewhart - with regard to painting the brick. I am a recent fan of that idea. Last fall we made the decision to paint our white brick and I love it! See my post that shows the before and after (scroll down for the after) https://www.houzz.com/discussions/paint-or-do-not-paint-the-garage-dsvw-vd~1160614?n=26 The color is Benjamin Moore Chelsea Grey HC-168. For the record, neighbors thought we bought a new garage but it was only painted.

We've made some additional changes since the 'after' photo. We are installing pavers in the front and back. I can actually hear the workers cutting pavers as I write this message. We've remove several overgrown plantings in the front, we painted the door a fresh yellow (Sherwin Williams Decisive Yellow SW6902), and we replaced the house numbers, doorbell and door handset.

Good luck!

I like the home the way it is. No need to paint bricks. If you are looking for a project, something to do, you might want to think about selling this beauty, and picking up a home that really needs help. That said, base on your list:

• Removed front tree (on left): CG thin, don't remove
• Removed front door storm doors and painted doors black: CG good idea
• Updating Shingles to Composite Slate (Moderne Slate Co) with Greyish tone: CG great
• Updating Dormers to have more pronounced rounded roofs: CG talking some money now, yes, if we were designing this today, the dormers can be improved.
• Updating Dormer windows to single casements with 4 panes and reduced width: CG Double hung windows are the correct style. A more narrow window would look better. You would then need to narrow the dormers, money again.
• Changing Dental molding to crown molding: CG I wouldn't
• Dormer roofs and flashing changed to copper: CG copper would be great, money?
• Updating lower front windows to fixed (non-operating) windows with 6 panes: CG maintain a vertical proportion for the lites, match proportion of lites of windows above. Are you sure you don't need the ventilation?

I love the French style of your home! I agree with another poster about adding a terrace across the front and having balusters or a wrought iron rail across the outer edge. You might have the terrace expand to a ground-level patio around the tree on the left and extend to the driveway. A yellow and white striped fabric awning, which can be retracted, would look wonderful and oh-so-French over the front door. When it comes time to replace the roof, you might consider a navy blue roof and then paint the shutters navy blue. If you go with the yellow and white striped awning, you might consider painting the door yellow. If yellow is too bold for you, navy blue on the door would look great.