If you enlarge the windows that will mean cutting into the brick, which will result in some raw edges that might be hard to work with.

I would remove the shutters, paint the siding (probably a taupe to tie the existing brick in with the new roof) and remove all the existing landscaping and re do it. It is too large on the left side of the house and needs to have more vertical elements on the right side to break up the mass of brick. Also, I think if you remove the landscaping your front door will become much more visible. Besides the cost of moving the front door if you center it in the LR then you are basically cutting that space in half, which I wouldn't do. I like the idea of replacing the wrought iron post with a more substantial column, and a square cedar one would look good.

If you're interested in seeing some virtual make overs check my web site, Creative Visual Concepts.

I like Kevin's suggestions. The shutters do need to go. They're not sized correctly...each shutter should equal half the window's width. Also, the style of the house and windows isn't a good fit for them. I love the trees behind the house in your first pic...so pretty!

i like the trees behind your house too, but i'd strongly consider eliminating the ones in the front.

we lived in NH for about 28 years and trees like that were the bane of my existence, they killed the grass, dropped limbs in ice storms, and generally LOOMED. i wanted them gone but my husband just couldnt imagine taking down trees. i convinced him to remove a couple of them....after they took out decks with falling limbs, covered parked cars with sap.... but there were still too many. 9 years ago we sold the house and moved 30 miles away. last year we were back in the neighborhood visiting old friends and lo and behold the folks who bought our house took down all the towering pines. and my husband had the GALL to say 'wow the house looks great with the trees gone'. i just wanted to kill him.

/rant.

Thank you for the comments!

We are planning on pulling out all the landscaping along the front of the house. I completely agree that it is way too large. I think seeing all the brick on the right hand side of the house and not being able to see it on the left is part of what is making it hard for me to visualize. My husband's work schedule should allow us in the next week or so to start pulling out the bushes and I can't wait! As much as I would like to take out the trees in the front yard (they are HUGE pine trees) we are going to have to wait and save up to have them professionally removed because of their size.

The windows that my husband wants to enlarge are on the end of the house where it is all siding and then on the driveway in the below image where it is all brick. The windows on the front he wants to widen more then lengthen because of the brick placement. I hadn't really thought about removing the shutters completely, so now I am curious to get them down and see what it looks like.

I'm not opposed to painting the brick. Which is why I was wondering if I should paint the siding and the brick the same color. Is it better to leave the brick as is and adjust the siding and front door color?

Congratulations on your purchase! What a beautiful landscape. I agree with your husband, blow out those windows!!! this will create an open concept transparency to your home. Light grey with white trim is an excellent selection for the exterior, this will maintain the classic contemporary appeal. Of course I have not seen your structural design, however if you can rip out that old brick it is only going to cause you problems in the future. A deck in that location would pull everything together, I would suggest using large glass doors accentuating your bright and spacious them.

Front door placement is an important part of the functionality of your home. You have allot of open yard, opening straight into your living room can be a messy intrusive design. If this is the time to alter your entrance, go for it! chat with me live @ vanyadesign.ca