window box may get in the way of the stairs. One option is to use a darker brown color for the siding.

I'm not a professional landscaper; but a lot of people stop and admire my gardens in the front and back. I'd put some dark chocolate brown narrow shutters on the large front window with a full length same color flower box below filled with colorful 'red' flowers (geraniums) that are full. I'd also paint the front door so it pops. Right now it is a very dark color that is hidden in the shadows. Even a bright red like the geraniums would make it welcoming.

Normally I like dark front doors but right now the entrance looks like a black hole. I would paint your front door white and add some lighter cushions to the furniture. Is the front door area the same color as the siding? It looks darker.

I agree with mark Davis...add dark shutters and make the front door pop.

Sounds like you're getting lots of advice. Sometimes I think we can do simple things without spending a lot of money. If you don't have the software........you can print off as many pics of your house as you want and use some colored pencils to play around with different effects.

Thanks for ideas. The front doors are solid oak antique doors so I would not want to paint them, however, there is trim around them I could paint a lighter color. Here are a few more pics

I can understand why you don't want to paint the doors. What about painting the brick in the entryway and the porch and steps lighter colors? I also think the stair rail is all wrong but I can't decide what would be better.

Paint the trim around your front door a dark charcoal gray to match your shingles, add pots to your front porch area with pops of red flowers

By painting the trim a dark color will make those beautiful antique doors much more noticeable

Hi Lisa,

You didn't mention the style you preferred when you posted. I can definitely see the traditional details, and could even see perhaps an English Country style as well. Your doors are stunning, and I personally wouldn't touch them. I love the aged, just right look of the copper, above the bay window. It is always such a daunting task, and everyone, regardless of the architectural style of the residence, wants their choice in painting, to turn out perfect. The option, I think that I would consider for this home, would be a beautiful yellow on the siding, not too pale a yellow, that it is washed out, and not a yellow that is so bright, you need blinders to view it. Have your painting contractor, put up any samples you are considering. When it is the correct yellow, the house virtually pops with color. Trim to be white. Also, the only other improvement I might mention, are carriage doors on the three car garage doors, as your budget will allow. I totally see what Dytecture is referring to, in regards to the bottom story window, regarding a window box. I can't tell if this is a brick belt line, or a planter below that window. If there is enough room, where a window box would not impede the stairs, this is where I would place it. I also assume that there is a window in the garage that faces the street. Depending on the window configuration, I probably would place a window box here as well, again, depending on the style of the window. Lisa, your home's charming details, lends itself to innumerable options. I could see a darker gray with white trim, and white garage, or carriage doors at some point as well. Perhaps a colonial, or slate blue, with white trim, would be beautiful also. The brick would really pop with this combination. Perhaps a deep barn red, very deep, with white trim, is beautiful, and often overlooked, in the traditional color palette. Whatever your personal preference, your home is charming, and the color you personally choose, and it is a personal choice, will be stunning. The best to you!

In my view you make a planter box all the way in the front following the angels of the house. In front of the steps leave the space and put in the corner one planter. Add topiary high plants with the villa to shift the hardness into softness and layering to small plants at front. Simply by softening the enterance you can make it amazingly nice looking.

Thanks again Houzz friends! There is room in front of the window (with stairs in front) for a planter. It's hard to tell the different elevations of our home from the photos. I was thinking of going really dark taupe/grey on the siding but don't think it would go well with the current roof, and may make the brick look more pink! Also- in summer we have a vine that grows along the side of the bay brick that gives it an English cottage look. I love it but it drives my husband crazy because it's "prongs" are difficult to remove once it encroaches the siding.