I think I would like to do white trim around the Windows.. . White or black gutters... White or black aluminum railings.. paint the stairs to match deck posts and trim... brick - bare or paint? Likely replace the wood panel front with hardi board... What colors for all of this!? Ps. Not a fan of greens or browns.. but stuck with a brown roof

House needs an actual porch or at least a portico.

https://www.pinterest.nz/pin/317081629999895983/

[https://www.houzz.com/photos/sherman-lake-home-traditional-exterior-new-york-phvw-vp~2130348[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/sherman-lake-home-traditional-exterior-new-york-phvw-vp~2130348)

You could either create a curved sidewalk that gets you from door to driveway without the steps -- baby carriage; when chair -- and/or create a retaining wall parallel with all along the driveway from the steps to the road.

bump

I kind of like the colors it is. I would like to see the back painted the same color though as the front. Also your house is sadly lacking in landscaping

Gutters should be the same color as the surface directly behind them..aka they should not be noticeable or contrast in any way ideally. In an earlier post on HOUZZ a similar house time line, it was determined that the exterior vertical lines are an asset to the design period by various posts.... If the wood front siding, is in good shape, I would paint it the same tone as your chimney is, as well as the stucco on the back wall too, the window frames there(a monotone back wall would be great), and the window frames on the 2nd floor in front, & the ceilings & walls of the carport and deck... I would paint the foundation the color it should be, and maybe the front porch and carport floor too, with a nice sheen to make it look fresh. They have some awesome concrete finishes now! The front door & sidelight could stripped, and sealed --only if the wood is in nice condition in a wood tone that is natural, or antiqued perhaps to mimic wood tone if necessary, tho the Craftman style front door kinda fights with the house period design if you are in the notion to change that out --the stripping of the door and side light would be for the next owners and you could get a nice thermatru door with the 4 or 5 horizontal glass insets that mimic the modernist era of your home? Look at their website and see if you find something that appeals to you and your budget? ..I would make all iron posts or metal railings a brown/ black color...The handrail is a bit lightweight in design, but it is there and in fine condition, there would be another style or even a wood rail that mimics your vertical siding lines that might be stained to match the wood stained door, only IF you go that route, it all takes more time and money ....... Again,the gutters, should match the surface they are in front of. And the garden hose would not be on display near the front door when you are done...... :) The house has so many variances with window size, heights, some framed, some not, some stucco, some brick, some siding(the fireplace), that embracing the roof, and limiting the variety of surface colors will make the home look larger, let the brick shine, and be a more a classy home, to the eye. Curious to hear what others may have for ideas. Thanks for posting!!!

Here are gray, white and taupe to compare

Your door is wrong.

With new stair rail.

I'll have to tackle the landscaping later.

Yes, dark gray, modern railing, colorful, modern front door. Listen to Grover.

Couple of thoughts ....the concrete steps and foundation should match the brick or the house color...white will be a mess most of the time.........also the steps seem to use up so much of the little patio...I would move them to the end opposite of the house with a staircase that turns ...(much safer as well) or at least.... does not land in the middle of the little patio....lastly....the deck looks a little too obviously “added” in the white color I would paint it to match the house color since it is a little out of sync with the style of the home ...this will make it settle in a little more with the rest of the house...

Grover is spot on! I like the darker gray, and to me the no. 1 way you could improve the look is a new front door, MCM style to compliment the house. I also like the black railing suggestion.

Ah...... the front door and all windowsnare brand new. Flat fiberglass. No chance in changing it now. It really goes well with the interior though.

The deck was not an add on, it was original, stairs are also brand new so they won't be getting moved, the concrete patio is actually large (30×15) and the deck is even larger.

I think I would like to change the siding on the front (vertical wood) to hardiboard in a darker grey? And the sides in something lighter? Deck also would need to be a darker colour I'm not a fan of white. Landscaping is last. We spent the last year just gutting the inside to studs and rebuilding it. I think horizontal fiberboard siding to replace the old vertical board, and the eventually add a few roof peaks when I redo the roof (in dark grey or black, maybe in 5 years)

Keep the suggestions coming!!!

I was thinking something like this maybe? Thoughts?

The horizontal siding is fine, but your door is still wrong and if you're looking to add gables in the future, you will destroy the strong linear form and turn this house into something it was never meant to be.

Thanks grover... but I spent 4k on the door so it's got to stay! Could paint etc but I won't be changing it out.

It's not just a color issue, it's a pattern issue and orientation.

Horizontal siding is going to feel better with brick. I like vertical siding alone or with stone. The tension of direction between vertical siding, shape of windows and brick conflict and I don't like how it feels. And then there's the argument that vertical siding is too contemporary to use with brick which is more traditional but I digress.

I don't care for the color of the brick and I'd paint it. Any of the suggested colors would work. Yes, you can paint brick as long as you do it right and use the right product.

All one color will do wonders for the curb appeal and also reign in the pattern that the door windows contribute. The door is gorgeous on its own but it doesn't contribute in a positive way to the curb appeal.

The house needs to be all one color on all sides, top to bottom. No reason to paint the front one color and the sides a different color. Edit and simplify.

Do you guys think that pulling the plastic peices out that chop the door windows up, would make it look better? Then it would just be sinlge squares of glass instead of little peices? (Doing what I can.... don't want to toss a brand new door.

Yes

Horizontal siding no

Those little plastic pieces are called muntins and they shouldn't be plastic in a $4K door. And no, pulling them out is not the answer. In fact, it looks worse. The problem is you have a craftsman door on a mid century house. It's a total mismatch.

If you're determined to keep the door, try painting it a really deep charcoal. The mismatch will be less obvious then.

I kind of like the picture with the muntins removed. They are plastic but the door is fiberglass. Not sure what else they would be made from.

Romabio is a mineral paint. https://romabio.com/all-products/biodomus-i/

"BioDomus I is an Organic, mineral paint for exterior walls. BioDomus I is made with a higher potassium silicate content ideal for masonry applications for extreme durability. A high-performing and easy to use product that is superior to acrylic with excellent color durability. It can be applied to all types of surfaces and is a smooth finish for unpainted brick, stucco, masonry, MGO & cementious board."

They have a really pretty warm gray that would work well with the roof. Color #DO-369

If you paint the house all one color, the door will feel better. Get a bigger coach light in the right style, new house numbers, landscaping. I can see it now. :) Very pretty. Clean lines, contemporary vibe.

DO-369 is similar to SW's Pewter Cast but the Romabio color is prettier - it has less redness.

Thoughts on this? BM elephant risk trim and patio. BM Copley grey paint.

this is a very common house style but difficult to find any that look half decent ("BC BOX" in British columbia)

Thanks for the tips everyone. Landscaping is last. The door will stay.. Although it may get painted, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to paint the entire house (bricks included) the same color with the exception of trim.

I will be doing black aluminum railings on the deck and rear stairs, front stairs will also get a new black aluminum railing. Let me know your thoughts. I think this colour goes very well with the brown roof. BM Fairview taupe walls, BM pale oak trim.

Why paint the bricks?...painting everything the same color loses some of the distinctive architectural style that make this house different than a basic box home....

Pretty!

What ritasj said... and where there is stucco, just paint the window trim the same color. Where there is brick there is no trim, so carry that thru as the white windows stand out enough as they are.... and don't forget if you are not going to use the red of the chimney where you are putting the tan walls now, paint the chimney the same tan as the trim/stucco is. You don't need to paint the brick really, with that color tan it will be fine on the front and alot less maintenance in the years to come, and it gives the home a more decorative front appearance. Use the pale oak tone all around your roofs' overhang, and don't forget -- your gutters should match whatever color that are in front of....tan, beige, white(they are not an 'accent' to a home). Black in your railings, will make your home have a stand out sharp appearance---I don't know, but the front door might look nice in black also? if you leave your brick unpainted more surely..... I would paint everything you want to paint, than wait 2 months and see if the brick doesn't look just FINE with your new home colors. At least paint the brick last, so you can give it a chance to do what it does best, make your home look a bit more elegant. I still think your door would look very pretty with a wood stained finish, but that was before I knew your door was NEW and that is a tougher call.. Very nice home! Good luck with your final decisions..

Once the painting is done...get bigger ...simple ....separate....numbers in black and mount them vertically to the right of the door.....

Also ...if those are your interior shots above ....nice job....

I am confused now! Some say paint the brick some say don't! Which looks better!?

I love your brick. It is the tone that is timeless(not like 50's pink, you know?) If you paint the siding as you plan and leave the brick for last, you will know if you enjoy seeing the brick, I would think in a couple of weeks time, after completing the trim and the siding....you will know if the brick accents are pleasing to your home aesthetics.. I think it is very pretty. There are folks that don't care for brick..they prefer siding and thus, they paint the brick. I think brick adds elegance and fits well with your house. It is your house. These are just opinions offered. Do what makes you happy. I just think your brick is very pretty, and with warm colors or warm neutrals it looks like a nice way to make your house look special and unique in it's colors. And it is not in bad shape, the mortar has not been patched as a result of poor installation or foundation issues in times before you owned it, and why buy paint if you are not trying to bring a cosmetic benefit to the brick -that is what drives a lot of brick painting in many areas--that and the dated color of the brick too as mentioned earlier. However, if you do not paint the brick you might be able to not paint the fireplace chimney. IF you do paint it all, than don't forget the fireplace chimney. It's a very pretty home!! Others may add something that helps you decide? Brick's advantage over siding, is you don't HAVE to paint it regularly like siding.. Once you do however, it's now a part of exterior maintence for you and the future owners to endure.

In your first pic ....the roof ....and the brick ....and the house color appear to match /coordinate perfectly?.....creates a nice cohesive flow....not sure what you are trying to achieve by going much darker on the siding?...

I figured I would follow up for any of those interested. Before and after! Really happy with how it turned out. Much cleaner look.

Still have to install the new white gutters and black aluminum deck railings.

Before.

After.

The natural brick definitely highlights the architectural interest better...

The door does beg for a splash of color for sure

Good choices. The brick does add to the style of the house, so glad you kept it.

I love your crisp, clean, neat home! Congratulations!!

Looks good. love the color and glad you kept it vertical - so right for the look of the house. One concern I have is the space between the back of the carport and the porch where the steps are. I think that should be closed off for safety sake and I think it will look better. I assume your are putting a railing on the upper deck.

Yes the railing for the deck is going on next week, and the backyard will be fully fenced (was removed for new concrete patio pour)