here's what it looks like with the completed black gutters n fascia

I suggest you paint the garage and the wood under your windows a color that blends with your brick. Paint the front door your favorite color and leave everything else as is.

Wow! The black looks fantastic with your brick. Here's some light wood with black.

how about this?

I think nudging your home in a more contemporary direction like phuninthesun did is very do-able and super attractive too. Breathes new life into a tired design.

Not a ugly house! I don't think you should paint anything else black. I would paint the garage door and large spaces under windows something to blend in with the brick. Lighten up the remainder of wood with an off white. I think brick house look great with a natural wood front door.

much better... shutters are going up soon since the brick is so discolored.

Still think the huge pancake juniper should be removed...

adding natural wood trim around the windows would complete the new wood additions better as well...just curious what are those big wood sections under the upstairs windows?

Hmm liked the trim better white i think. Just MHO.. but it's your house and has to be something you like seeing when you pull in the drive. I do like a black front door :) we have one

landscaping will be next years task for sure. the wierd siding under window is flush with the brick so we had to put something there to replace it. i cant put the wood around as we will add shutters to hide the discolored brick

it all was beige before...like 70s beige and it bothered us every time we pulled up. lol.

Front door doesn't standout at all but garage door does. That's not really something that you want to standout. What color are you painting the shutters? Did you try power washing the brick? I can't believe brick would discolor like that. Went from 70's beige to 60's country blue. I guess if you're happy with it that's what matters.

its grey, isnt it?

Looks much better. I agree with removing some larger shrubs as well.

thanks phuninthesun. we plan to redo the driveway and walkway next year and will tackle the landscape. the bushes have to go. 100%

Something more needs to be done to the wood panels...as is it looks like you are covering up/ hiding something....perhaps some matching columns on each side from ground to roof line...or horizontal wood strips above and below the panels..across the full front of that area....the wood panels are hard to see in the picture...they look rough sawn?...are they sealed or stained?...will they discolor when exposed to the weather?..a smoother (sanded?)finish will be more appropriate with the style of your home