New professional landscaping. Tell the designer your budget in first phone call so you don't get a $20K design.

Agree with something more colorful for your patio furniture. It could be just replacing the cushions and adding an umbrella. The marine blue would be very pretty with the existing color of your home. You could add some large pots of colorful plants near the porch also, or just use ferns. Hard to see how much room you have there.

Also yes to improving the landscaping. The big ball shrub should go. It looks too large to be effectively trimmed back to a natural shape. Plus, you need some smaller near those downstairs windows that won't grow huge or wide and block the windows in a few years. The reddish shrubs could stay but need to be trimmed. Plant something tall and columnar at the corners to soften the edges.

It would be nice to see a closer shot from each side of the house.

Paint. The siding and window trim is too close to the same color. New plants as mentioned. Trellis for over the front patio. Beautiful house and lot!

ETA: Windows are fine.

What a lovely house! The setting is magnificent. I would add window boxes with lots of flowers and greenery spilling out. Then I would get cheerful Sunbrella (or such) accent pillows for your outdoor furniture.

It's a really handsome house, as is. I agree about putting your money in landscaping. Take out the "nose" bush (doesn't it look like a nose below the two window "eyes"?) and have someone help you maximize the impact of your $$. Add some large pots with colorful annuals...LARGE pots!

With a larger budget, I might repaint to a more interesting color, but maybe next time it's due look at some other colors.

I can't really see the furniture, but if it looks nice, maybe just add a couple of umbrellas - maybe you have them but just not out for this shot.

Add some plantings lakeside! This picture has a grass strip, not a lovely lake, but the planting idea is the same. And some "spillers", cascading flowering or vining plants. And, it will distract mosey canoers from staring at your house don't ask me how I know this lol...

Thank you for all the input so far! I definitely agree that re-landscaping is a must, and the idea of putting flowers against the seawall spilling over is a great one! Thanks! We'll get some new patio furniture too to spruce up the overall look.

Regarding the color of the window trim... since the windows themselves are beige (and I don't think the window itself can be painted), would it make sense to paint the trim around the window a different color? If so, what color would you recommend?

Dark trim.

Now that I have taken another look at your picture, I don't think that the windows look bad at all. I believe that it is my monitor washing out the house color, it looks nice on my Ipad.

Agree about the large bush in the center of the windows. It needs to move. What is it? Looks to be a holly.

I agree with all of the posts that some colorful furniture/umbrellas and some landscaping with greatly enhance this beautiful property. I am not sure what planing zone you are in but look into some grasses, they are low maintenance and have that casual lake feel and many pops of color perennials go nicely with them. Also, for furniture, look into pollywood. It comes in some great colors and is very durable which is needed near the water and sun. I can not see the dimensions of your dock. but if there is space, seating on a dock is always nice.

I am looking at the windows, rather the inside treatment. Some are open; some are drawn..which ever you choose to do, be consistent. Front or backside of house, I like the windows to look the same.

Paint house black
Paint trim turquoise
Get rid of the shrubs hiding the house
Put colorful canaopy over door area

Put in sand, gravel and firepit
Drag furniture toward the water
and paint dark grey
with colorful pillows
Or vice versa

Loose window and door and
Save up to install patio door

It's a 3 year old post. They've probably already finished with their changes.

Oh dear thanks