Hello! It's difficult to tell in the picture, but we're assuming that's an intense red brick. That being said; what is your budget? Are you planning on just modifying the brick, or are you residing the home, replacing the roof, changing garage/front doors and/or replacing windows? Low-budget yet high-impact changes would be to paint the brick (it pains us to say that), change the garage doors and add real wood shutters with iron hard ware. Here are some quick 'sketches' for you. Good luck with your project!

Change out your shutters to the proper size:

Shutters vs Shudders

The red is quite bold and the black doesn't contrast enough with the red. And this white trim with the white garage doors seems to contrast too much. Is this the brick or is it painted red?

Excellent note about the shutters, Denita. And great article; we always enjoy those posts!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions! Yes..unfortunately the red brick is very very red. That is a picture I took of it when I rented it out and it may have been filtered... here is the google street view picture which looks way more pink to me than it does in real life...

I totally appreciate the article about the shutters Denita! I agree...that is the first thing I will change. I was also thinking of getting rid of the shutters on the window about the front door. It's brick...not painted.

Bear Creek, no the brick is not painted...it's just that red!! I agree that the front door needs to be updated as well. Thank you for the suggestions.

Meyer - I'm not sure if I can paint the brick (I need to look at the covenants) but I was thinking about removing the brick and replacing it with stone on the garage part of the home...something to break up the harshness of the red. It's such a dilemma I'm so struggling with. I will update the garage doors - thank you for the pictures. I need a program like that so I can play around with different looks!!

I also want to change the color of the roof - to black. But would prefer not to replace the roof totally (however I may have to). I've researched some products that allow you to paint shingles...anyone have any info or experience with that?

Thank you again guys for your feedback!

Here are a couple of insp pics where the trim is a creamy rather than bright white. In pic 2, I think the dark garage doors (same tone as the red) help take the emphasis off the garage. Your thoughts of having a black roof are right on the mark. I think it will open up your decor options tremendously. I happen to like the decorative gable vent in pic 1, something like that would work with your 3 gables IMO.

One more insp pic using a blue gray trim

I think it is a mistake to change the roof to black, it will make the red stand out even more. I can say that painting all the white a light tan will soften the red. You'll be surprised how much.

Ok Denita - I see where you're going. Make the contrast less stark...so maybe I could go with a tan/khaki color and similar color garage doors (updated of course)...to give it a softer, less intense look. I don't think I can do like a dark color trim (like I said...its a HOA community and kinda cookie cutter place...but I will definitely explore that option) but I get how I should be thinking...

I didn't think about that houssaon (black making the red stand out more). I was thinking it would define the house a little better, but I see your point. Maybe the new trim color will tie in the existing roof color.

Houssaon - yes, after looking at Denita's posts, I can see how changing the white will create a better look.