W.E Davies has given you some great ideas. I like the color of your house, so I wouldn't paint it... and love your new windows. On your front windows, how about covering the window surround (the part that looks a little darker than the stucco in your pictures) with cedar -- along with a cedar window box underneath?

I like the picket fence, but it would be interesting to see what it would look like matched to the cedar around the windows. The white is too big of a color contrast to the color of the house, making the house look darker. I'd also suggest losing the screen door and pick the most vibrant color you love and put that on the front door. (you can always change it).

One last thing, I think you need bigger/more interesting outdoor lighting - both over your front door and on the right side of the garage.

I think it's charming.

Thank you both for the great suggestions! Unfortunately the house definitely needs painting/fogcoating; the stucco is chipped, cracked & faded.

PAINT & STONE VENEER: I actually like the idea of a muted sage green or grayed blue-green on the walls, soft tan for the garage door, trim, & soffit, and a deeper green on the fascia & picket fence, if I keep it. If you look closely at the first photo of my house you’ll notice that the house has ‘wainscoting’ (by way of a darker paint color) on each side of the garage and the bottom third of the two columns. My thought was to add stone veneer in those areas. Here are two photos of the same house. Except for the dark brown garage doors, could this color scheme work? (The first photo makes the paint look blue while the second photo it appears green).

FRONT DOOR: I guess great minds think alike! I was thinking perhaps a new door with lites would also let more light inside the house as well. Plus, they look much better than a plain steel door. There are some nice quality fiberglass wood grain doors; I like the medium stains (not gold or orange), but do you think that is too dark for the already dark entry? Do you still think I should paint the door a bright color? I like a door style similar to this:

NEW GARAGE DOOR: This is a drawing of the new garage door, which is not shown in my photo because it’s not installed yet. The color on the photo below is not exact. Behr makes paint colors that match this product, which is why I thought the color on my new garage door could also be the trim color on the house, so everything ties together.

Trying to get the photos . . .

invest money in a beautiful garage door

Here’s a photo of our new garage door. The color is not an exact match; it will be a bit lighter in color. So, the house needs some color don’t you think?

Which brings me to another question. Does the front door have to match the garage door? I want lites on the front door, maybe similar to this style:

Do you like this style entry door with our new garage door? Or should I do something different?

Can you get a garage door like the one WE Davis showed? That's a stunner. I used to have a house like yours. The garage door is such a large swath that if you can splurge on that, it can really make a difference.

Because it is recessed, the front door will be limited in its brightness. Don't set yourself up for disappointment, hoping that a new color will be magic. Lighter paint on the front door will, of course, be brighter. The screen door is contributing to the issue. If you don't use it, consider removal. If you enjoy the air, a full view screen door with modern near-invisible screening would help. The house is really pretty and contemporary looking. The white fencing doesn't seem modern enough and makes the house look darker. I would remove it. If you really like it, think about a dark paint color for it. I would also consider relocating the first shrub on either side of the walkway and finding a pair of spectacular planters in a substantial size. Large seasonal displays can be very dramatic and a lot of fun to change out periodically. Best wishes for a smooth reno.

Hi girl_wonder. Thanks for the feedback. I can’t change the garage door cause it’s been ordered. Yes, I agree that garage door was nice, but since it was nearly double the price my hubby said no. (We also got the most quiet motor & thickest insulation which were upgrades and added to the price). Also, my thinking was to downplay the garage and add a pretty front door, putting more focus on the entry. (I once considered painting the front door a bright red).

Thanks for the comments TBL! I like the fence as a backdrop for the shrubs, but I’m not crazy about the picket style. I agree it doesn’t go with the style of the house. Should I change it to more of a ‘craftsman’ style?

Also, I like your idea about having a planter on each side of the walkway. Would this be like a tall ceramic pot? I just don’t know how to keep it level if it sits in the soil. Do you have a photo of this look?

Re the fence, yes, I think a more rectilinear look to the pickets wood be nice, or a short trellis style.

Oh, dear, my planter posting disappeared? I mentioned that it is a personal taste thing, really like decor. Biggest issue is to get the scale right. Perhaps put household items there to judge the scale from a distance (joint compound bucket, small trash receptacle). It may help you get rough dimensions that would work. Small planters will not make a statement, will get lost in the shrubbery, and larger ones are more fun to plant.

I would avoid blocky square planters, preferring a contrast to the rectilinear architecture. Color should contrast with plants, fence, house so. My personal taste is minimalist, pic above. Simple lines let the plant stand out. The actual plantings in these pots is what not to do (out of scale, no textural contrast).