Are those the only shutters ?

Black. I like classic. Classic glossy front door with a black storm door. That blue is not right at all.

Your biggest "cheap fix" right now would be to dig up the clumpy shrub by the front door and start removal of the rock so something beautiful can be planted around the weeping cherry. Ask at a local nursery for plants that will thrive in your area. Replace the current street numbers with large ones attached directly to the brick. A new mailbox and larger light fixture, plus window boxes on the small windows would increase curb appeal. Power wash brick and concrete, kill grass in cracks. I'd do all these projects before the shutters and take time finding the right color for them and the door. You'll get lots of color suggestions here but don't rush. Let the flower bed come to life and then pick colors to compliment it.

I agree with handymam... forgo the shutters and pick out a new color for your front door instead!

I actually like the shutters. I would put oversize window boxes up with lots of orange and yellow and pinks and an effusion of beautiful plantings in the landscape under and around the bay (climbing vines or roses) and along the path. Perhaps paint the door a bright yellow or tangerine.

I would do the shutters in Benjamin Moore HC69 Whitall Brown and the front door in HC133 Yorktown Green

The bay window shutters should be removed and the others the proper width and length. Black.

Yes I agree with removing the shutters, they can't "cover" the windows and the upper ones are too tall!

I agree. Keep the shutters and make them classic black. A panelled front door with brass hardware would be nice. I also like the window box idea.

I think taking the shutters off would leave the house looking to stark. Better to get proper closing shutters. If funds are not available paint them a dark navy blue and the front door the same. But, some landscaping below the main bay window needs to be done to reflect the new darker color if that it what is chosen.

I would remove the shutters, also. For sure the bay window - they don't belong. Second story ones are too large for the windows. They look like someone's afterthought.
Much more could be done with the front door and landscaping to enhance that house. Brass mailbox and numbers, soft black paint around windows and door to bring in antique light post in front. A brass/black light fixture next to the door that goes with post, and hangs down, instead of going up.

Forgot to say navy blue suites any red or yellow or orange flowers or plants.

make the garden under the window wider/paint the door!

I would paint the shutters and the door an orange toned red on the deep red side. Then please remove the bush next to the door. If you could find a park bench on craigslist or thrift store, paint it black. Place it at an angle in the rocks away from the door. Take 2 large flower pots (differing sizes) and paint them the same color as the door. You can paint a 3rd smaller one black. Then plant flowers that include the color of your door. Paint the mailbox the red color and get the large house numbers painted black or the door color. Add a shepherd's hook or a birdhouse on a post or a tall candle holder for height. Look at garage sales, thrift shops, etc, for an interesting taller addition to the vingnette. Add a few of the patio block stepping stones from the sidewalk to your bench and you will have a nice inviting area without spending a lot of money.

take the shutters off and reate a colourfull garden..

Paint the shutters Slate Grey, door red, widen the garden add color flowers get a larger flower pot for the front and get ride of the bush and add lower greenery!

Here a different option throughout the spectrum to give you an idea!

and again

jofoto - paint the brick in your software, and change the color of the roofing shingles. Paint the brick two shades darker than the siding. . Paint the windows bronze.

Go with a more up to date color such as brown (as the brown family is in right now). Keep the shutters. They are fine. Paint the door the same color and paint a pot to go near the door the same color...Fill with cheap, inexpensive variety of plans with a little fountain grass added in...Also, consider buying an inexpensive light fixture to go on wall that is more like a lantern in black...Paint the mail box the same brown color and put numbers on it or beside the wall in black also.

I'm afraid I agree with those arguing against any shutters. Your windows are the wrong size for shutters, and shutters that don't fit the windows they are attached to look architecturally out of place.

Gotta love the "shutter debate"! Somewhere along the line, shutters became a "decorative" element rather than a "functional" device! Always fun to see where the chips fall!!

I like the shutters the way they are. I would just paint the front door in a contrasting color and concentrate on landscaping, personally.

http://us.yhs4.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?hspart=mcafee&hsimp=yhs-01&p=Kelly Moore Color Swatches&type=mcsaoffblock

Hello, I am a landscape designer and suggest you paint the entire home a solid color, like "Lemon Grass or Chadwick and paint all the shutters the same color as your windows and paint your front door semi-gloss black, as well as the door frame. Lighter shutters and windows will highlight the color of the house and a dark front door will give depth to the new color of the house. As far as your landscaping, remove some of the grass and create larger planter sections around the front window and on the left side of the walkway in a curve and the center of your grass around the large tree shaped in a large kidney shaped planter section and if you're more inclined to add a border around the new front window and around the tree planter sections? Add stacks of natural flagstone, about 4-6 inches in height, add soil and plant away! Don't be afraid of adding a burst of color perennials to brighten up your home. If you'd like ideas on your landscaping, please send me a personal note to info@elementallandscapeanddesign.com. Good luck!

If you remove the shutters there will be holes in the vinyl siding and brick, These shutters I posted are easily replicated. The use of authentic hardware and the correct sizing should improve the overall appearance. Blue is not your friend on these shutters, look for an accent that pulls out the grey on your siding. There are plenty of grays that have a brown undertone that will tie in with the brick. Good luck too you.

@KOH, nice stuff! Thanks for joining the discussion, bound to get interesting as this thread matures! Stay tuned!!

If you like the shutter keep them and go with dark grey for the shutters and perhaps a dark red for the doors (both screen door and entry door) Wrought Iron and Raspberry Truffle by Benjamin Moore, should work well with your brick and siding :-)

yes, red/cranberry would be perfect!

i think you should enlarge the entrance 4or5 ft wide and add flowers bushes,alot of interest plants in front of bay window and a climbing plant on each side of it

I vote for dark raspberry shutters and either black or charcoal for the front door....add extra large house numbers in black, replacing the smaller white one you currently have. Arrange groupings of complimentary color glazed flowere pots( in varied sizes from large to medium) in your rock to brighten the walk way and break up the solid wall of brick.. These changes should be economical and offer some nice contrast/impact.

No shutters at all. They are vinyl and not the correct size.

I would paint the front door and replace the foundation plantings, especially under the living room window.

Operational shutter were a historical necessity and do look lovely. As windows became more sophisticated shutters became a decorative item and added interest to windows. Personally I can support the decorative usage but proper sizing and quality still count.

Yes I agree! Shutters add a lot of character and personality to a home IF sized correctly! Also if the design matches the Architectural Style! I'm not as hung-up on whether they actually "work" or not, but at least shutters should "look" like they can! So I'm a "purest" with conditions, if that makes any sense!

I agree--no problem with shutters that are purely decorative, but they must look like they could fit over the window--balancing its size. Otherwise they just look architecturally amiss.

Charcoal grey for the shutters and a red door.

Front door color idea that is cranberry in color:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/cranberrycocktail

I like the shutters for this size of the home, but agree with @Kevin and @handymam that the shutters are just a tad out of place and too large (the upper ones). Not the end of the world. Paint them the same as the front door if you'd like ore remove them.

Our house isn't exactly like yours but pretty close and this is what we did several years ago......I love my black door and shutters and have never regretted getting rid of the dated brick. I think black would look great on your house also. Good Luck!

Paint the shutters black and the door also. I would trim the shrub a little more. I would add a shrub at the other corner of the house. Paint will cost less than a shrub. Let us know what you decide.

Definitely Charcoal !!! - Black would be too harsh. Make it a dark charcoal, almost black.

See the colour on your roof, go for the same colour.

wow, what a great change, daholley1 - losing the brick for the softer stone look and the darker roof is wonderful. The pitched roof over the garage door is terrific - adds character! Love the black front door and the black shutters for the contrast.
A similar row of low shrubs along the walkway and the contrast of the white rock and the black front door would add some depth and definition to the design dilemma house -- the higher red flowering bush is a beautiful touch.

I agree with the fact the landscaping is all off,the huge shrub needs to go.Redo the front landscape on both sides,take out shutters to match the size of the windows if they were to close,a dk choc shutters and front door to match,it will begin to flow!

My choices for an affordable update would include black shutters, orangey-red door, large coir mat, and a bit of landscaping.

Brick is your base color; espresso bark for shutters, satin black for entry door ( Benjamin Moore) change siding and window trim as desired.

make a slght a overhang over the frontdoor porch down to the other end of the house will at charm ,make sur those shutters are on hinges,like I said landscaping on both sides will do wonders!

None of the other colors look good as i just said adding a front porch will add volmes,let me know