Don't paint the brick, just find a way less yellow color from it for the stucco et al -- something like a warm gray.

Thank you. It's very helpful to see the house without the verge boards! If I used a warm gray would it matter that the brick has brown and tan hues?

Thanks K Laurence! I've given up on my paint stores. Already had three people out that were not very helpful. Would an Interior Designer work or some other Designer professional?

I think it would work nicely if you found a shade close to acm's example. It's important to pick something that works with the brick and roof.

Am I crazy for not loving the brick and wanting to paint over it? I know that once I do it I cant go back.

As I stated I think it adds interest & symmetry, I think it would be a mistake to paint over it. How about something in the taupe range? That's where I'd start looking.

Your stone adds texture to your façade, so please don't paint it. ACM's gray suggestion is great. Can you take a closeup of the stone and post it? The usual rule is to pick a color from the stone and harmonize it with the roof. The current color is too yellow; a pale, pale shade of a gray that has a little brown in it would work very well.

If you're looking for pro advice, consider getting a landscape designer to coordinate your plantings with your house. Your beds are a bit broken up. If you have the sunlight, some dramatic grasses, shrubs, and perennial plantings of different heights and colors would add a great deal to your house's curb appeal. The shrub lineup to the left of the door doesn't work, for example.

A warm gray is ideal since you have gray grout, some gray bricks, reddish bricks.

I like acm's rendering a lot. I think with the right color, your brick will look great. I'd paint it only as a last resort. Unpainted, it's maintenance free.

I like your brick a lot. I think you don't like it because that gold color is all wrong for it. I like acm's color recommendation too.

Then enhance the warm tones of the brick with the right landscaping colors. I can see it with bronze colored chrysanthemums in the fall, for example. Or those dark copper colored marigolds. Any gold or orange colors would look good too. Or peach colored roses. The last picture is some leaves of different varieties of coral bells. Great for big swaths of ground cover.

I might go a little darker and more saturated than acm did:

Sherwin Williams color snap gives these colors in your brick:

Thanks groveraxle and to all of the rest of you for your comments and ideas! This is helping us a bunch. The kids are really getting into the post and ideas. It helps a bunch to visualize. My daughter noticed the cute hound on our front porch! Thanks

What app are you using to paint my house groveraxle and acm? I would love to play around with it.

C, I use Photoshop Elements, but I believe Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore both have tools on their websites that allow you to paint your house.

Here's another design direction that I would love for you all to comment on. Feel free to be frank, I have thick skin :)

I'm really trying to modernize this house, but at the same time, I don't want to destroy it. -- What if I used a modern horizontal siding (see pictures below)

San Francisco Exterior · More Info

on the walls of the porch? I could also create some simple false shutters out of the same materials to add to the three windows on the brick walls. I'm thinking that the color would tie into the roof a bit.

Lake LBJ Retreat · More Info

In addition, what if I used the Special Gray in the Sherwin Williams color snap that groveraxel provided and two additional gray colors: One gray two shades lighter and another gray two shades darker. One shade would be used for the brick (I know, you all said don't do it - but stay with me for a moment). Another shade for the stucco, and the last shade of gray for the trim. ---- If not these shades of gray another option could be to use the High Reflective White (also from the color snap) on the brick, the White Duck on the stucco and a third complementary color (???) for the trim - with the same horizontal redwood treatment on the porch and shutters. I would accent the house with large brushed nickel house numbers and complementary wall sconces on both sides of the front door. I'm also thinking about adding some can lights or LEDs under the eaves for downlighting. Please share your thoughts and again feel free to pick this apart. I'm learning a lot here!

Thanks!!!

The SW colors seem to see more pink in your brick, not as much orange. Maybe my screen color is not seeing your brick well. If it's more pink, choose flowers that are a dusty pink, rather than bronze.

Spend your money on wonderful landscaping with the help of a landscape designer, not on adding bits and pieces and schemes to the façade to turn your house into something its not.

I'm really trying to modernize this house, but at the same time, I don't want to destroy it. -- What if I used a modern horizontal siding (see pictures below)

All of your examples have simple materials. Your brick is not simple. It has a lot of color and pattern. Adding horizontal siding will just add to the visual and it doesn't need anything else, there's plenty to take in as it is.

If you're going that far, might as well paint it all white and replace the timbering boards in a stained walnut/pecan wood tone.

Or painted it all a warm near neutral gray color with white trim and timbering.

I used my paint store advisors and was very disappointed. I also used a designer at one point and was disappointed too, plus spent a fortune. Hard to find someone with the color talent. Love ACM's suggestion!

Groveraxle's color suggestions look great. Maybe SW colonnade gray on the body, special gray on the trim and around the door, and nice accent color on the door. I generally dont like pinks or salmons, but the complementary colors already shown would look nice if you want a bold front door. Or maybe something like Roycroft Adobe for a punch of color on the door. Can't mock it up on the phone, but maybe someone else can.

Those coral bells are awesome!!!

Don't do shutters especially if you want to go in a modern direction. The landscaping can help bring you there and if you remove those verge boards you will go a long way in getting rid of the busyness of your home's exterior. I like acm's pic and govers. Take it a step at a time. k Laurence has great ideas for bringing your porch out of the shadows. Lighting is an overlooked feature, especially outdoor lighting.