I love it! But my style's more traditional. Do you have a style preference that would help decide? Perhaps painting the shutters and the porch cover would update the look a bit more to suit you.

First, I would inspect that roof and probably replace it. Once that decision is made, then you can figure out the other exterior surfaces. The front porch cover looks like it is sagging, so I might consider removing that, enlarging it and making a more "impressive" front porch. I think that would update more than painting the brick. The landscaping is OK, but it looks to me like some severe pruning was done on old shrubs, so I would expand the beds and give them more of a wavy shape to counter the flat squared off look of the house. White trim and porch along with perhaps a black roof and black shutters might work. Let me search for some inspiration photos for you.

Click on this and pull up larger image. Small porch but notice the two different colors of shutters. White on bottom and black on top. With white trim and porch white and front door black.

Small front porch portico with round columns, black or dark gray roof, white trim dark shutters and they did a deep red front door. Brick is similar and I think with the white, your house would look brighter and more interesting. It is basically a traditional house. Then I would change out the front exterior lights and do something more "carriage like" in black.

I agree with Flo....that roof is the first place that needs attention. (Painting the brick a new color would just make the weatherbeaten roof look worse.) I'd get an experienced person to inspect it and advise re possible repairs, cleaning, replacement, or maybe painting or coating.

I would never paint that particular brick as it is such a soft, classic color and looks really beautiful and timeless to me. The brick is no more "dated" than the overall style of the house - which is also a classic.

The things that could use a change, beside the roof, are the shutters and awning over front door. Also landscaping and possibly front sconces.

I love your house! I really like Flo's ideas.
You could also try a deep midnight blue or grey-black on the shutters.

I would do a lime wash on the bricks to really make it classic, and then either use black with the shutters or go to a natural stained/weathered wood. If budget were no issue, you could change to style of the shutters as well, since all those narrow slats can look dated. have fun!

P.S. I would want that roof inspected as a condition of the "offer" on your house. Doing that much roof is pricey job. Probably $15K, maybe more since I don't know the measurements. Step pitches cost more as well. So make sure you understand that. Any water damage inside? That would give you a clue about the roof.

A classic portico that fits the colonial style of your home and replaces the current porch roof, which is not in the colonial style, would be prime, after the roof issue. I would not paint that nice neutral brick. Once the new roof is on, you can coordinate the shutter color with it.

Paint the brick? No. Just no.

The brick is pretty. The roof, not so pretty.

Super cute house with great proportions. We lived in a painted brick house for several years (it was painted when we bought it) and we loved that house but very few people recommend that unless the brick is quite ugly - which yours isn't. I love the whitewash brick look similar to these.

Thank you for your ideas and suggestions. The roof is job one. Would you all suggest a color or type of roof.

Thank you for your ideas, everyone.... job one is a new roof! How does one select color and type- coordinate with the brick, Are there other things to consider? Would you weigh in on roof type and colors?

Dark dark charcoal gray roof with a hint of brown in it to connect to the brick, which most of us hope you won't paint.

. That would open up a lot of possibilities for trim and door colors. If you want a more modern look, you could remove the shutters.

Some ideas, you need a new roof!

If you're sure you want to change the brick, consider the German smear technique.

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Last ideas

I think you should do the roof first and explore various roofing products and then if you need to paint the bricks, paint them. Also consider acid washing, German smear, or dying the bricks

I replaced shake roof w/ EagleLite tile. The house is cooler, we don't hear rain (only on skylights) & roof doesn't creak in strong Santa Ana winds when it gets under eaves & tries to lift it. Ours is mission style concave-convex, but they make it flat to look like slate & other mat'ls. Multiple colors. Been up ~12 yrs., no problems.

Check out GAF Timberline HD composite shingles. Nothing fancy but durable, affordable and would go with the style of your home. I would decide what colors you would like to do the shutters and front door, then decide on the roof color! That way, you will be happy with everything. I think a very dark teal for your front door and shutters would work well with your brick and I would NOT do anything to it. At least wait, because you will most probably find, that after you do the roof, and some new landscaping, and possibly a new front porch façade, you will like everything including the brick together. I think I would lean to a dark black/gray on the roof, but pick your desired shutters and color first.

Also, you can pick the colors and the roofing simultaneously so you are sure of the combination. If there are extra bricks around that can help you take a brick to do the color determinations. Of course, bring sample boards home of the roofing material to make sure you have the best imagine of the final result possible.

Timberline HD roof color options for my area...

You need an architectural shingle for the roof. The ones I pulled were from Certainteed. Most of the cost of a new roof is the labor so don't go cheap on the shingle. Discuss with your homeowners which roofing products for your area may reduce your homeowner's insurance - it is different for various parts of the U.S. By doing this you may save up to 20% off your homeowner's insurance.

One of reasons I went w/ tile is conversation I had w/ our fire chief. I'd also considered a metal roof coated to look like composite. Salesman toute fact it was fire-proof & lighter than tile. Fire chief said his men hate metal. If there's fire in attic & they have to cut through metal to access it, they get shredded as they rip it off. Here's another thought unrelated to mat'l you choose. My roofers resheeted the entire roof after demo of original. The plywood comes from lumberyards & can have termite eggs in it. In between sheeting & installation of new roof I had house fumigated. It was about due anyway so it just pushed my schedule up a year or two but it meant I wasn't importing trouble.

If you do black or dark shutters, I would do the top right darker black/gray. If you go with blue (dark or teal) I would go with upper left brown on brown. But you have to take actual samples to the house and check them out with the brick. That is key, because the brick is the predominate block of color. But it does have to coordinate with the other elements you choose.

Bruce - y-all are in So Cal right? Plenty of fire concerns so I can understand. I have a feeling this house in not in Calif. ??

This house not likely in CA due to trees. They don't look indigenous to here. My comments were b/c metal roofs have become very popular. A lot of reno's on HGtv use them.

Yes, I know. They are used here too, but usually only on specialty areas like porch roofs, things like that. Some Texas ranch styles use them too. I like the look, but not what comes with them.

Would the same experts who roofed my house help me with a kitchen under that roof?!?!

The Seller has remodeled the house, but agreed to make changes and roll it into the purchase price. He has a crew that works for him.

The kitchen is a little too modern and a little too small. I think I'd like to (1) expand the kitchen into the formal dining room space and (2) turn the bar area into a larger island- longer and wider by relocating the pantry closet. You can see into the formal dining room (future kitchen expansion) from the formal living room.

NEVER EVER let a seller do work on a home you are buying. You want to get a credit, or have them put appropriate funds in escrow. They don't do anything but the cheapest possible slap dash job. As evidenced by that kitchen.

Never buy a flipper's house. They just gloss over real problems and do cheap cosmetics.

And never paint brick.

The bricks set the tone, the house is traditional and it's amazing, don't try to turn it into something else. Power was the brick and add some sort of sealer/enhancer, paint the shutters and obviously replace the roof and you'll have a spectacular home!

Remove the shutters and paint all the trim a dark brown.

I agree w/ Sophie & Pearl. The seller wants to maximize his profit & minimize the time lapse until closing. Help him w/ latter by putting funds in escrow or reducing sale price. Then hire CKD to make K what you want to fits into whole of house, including its beautiful exterior.

Roofers do inside work! Never! Please don't succumb to that strategy. Drop the price to cover some of what you want to do. I would live with it for a little while because I think with some minor changes it could work for you. But I wouldn't let them do any of the work. Just couldn't trust that.