Spending 100K to remuddle that house will net you maybe a nickel. And be a turnoff to most people who would seriously hate that you ruined such a great example of a ranch.

Spend the money on good landscaping instead, so you can show off the house instead of hiding it behind overgrown vegetation. An updated door would help too.

What do y’all think of painting it? I had a neighbor with a similar house paint theirs and it looks 100x fresher.

I second the suggestion for relandscaping. A major renovation is needed.

I did do some work on the landscaping here are some previous pictures... the grass is very bad right now but it’s not the time of year to address that I suppose

Agree with comments above to cut back all that overgrown vegetation. That is a huge contributor to the dark feel.

After you've addressed the landscaping and trees, give the whole house a good power washing. Then you might paint the trim a lighter color, and update front door and entry space.

Another vote for landscaping, maybe clear a few of those trees close to the front of the house, some lush low gardens. If changing anything about the actual structure of the house - maybe something to the door area - at least a different door - or take the door opening out thru the sidelight windows and out in a large double door ? Or a new door with bigger sidelights ?

I love painted brick so I'd love to see a mockup of your house painted

what about addressing the doors (?) and this siding color?

Which trees? It feels so wrong

I signed a contract to paint it already, but with the option to not paint the brick. I really am ready to part with the olive green... there is a LOT of green already. I totally agree about the can’t see the house for the forest comments... it’s just difficult to know which ones should go. I fell in love with the neighborhood because of the foresty feel, it reminds me of my childhood growing up in the pineywoods of east Texas.

it's beautiful. and I can sympathize about the trees, but you can't have a forest, and a house that's visible. You need a professional landscape designer that can show you what can be done. maybe they can work w/the trees, don't know. that's why you hire them so they can show u diff options.

I was born and raised in the pineywoods of East Texas. Keep the trees. Paint the siding a lighter color. Not the brick.

Yes to spending on a landscape overhaul. Painting the siding and fascia for a refresh would look great, I wouldn't paint the brick.

I love painted brick, but I don’t think you need to do it to your house. I’d just clean up the landscaping. You can keep trees, just thin some low hanging branches and streamline the foundation planting.

Looking at the first photo you posted there's a clump of 4 (?) trees in front of the middle of the house - I would consider thinning those out so you can see the house better . Not all of them but at least one or two ..? I'm not a landscape designer nor do I play one on the internet lol, just a quick opinion.

I feel like “should I paint my brick” is the “should I get bangs” of exterior delimmas

I think I’d like to see the cedar go because it’s somewhat random looking. Not sure that would solve the problem though.

Landscaping for sure. I love good landscaping. This is pretty overgrown and much for my eyes. If you have the ability elsewhere, you could always plant a tree or two to offset what you take out, you know? I agree w/the others about not painting the brick, but painting the siding instead. Front doors are fun too..you could do a really cool wood stained door, or paint an eye catching and fun color. Something else a landscape-knowledgeable person could do is help w/the flower/plant beds as well-decide what should stay, go, be moved, new brought in etc. I think you'd end up w/quite a great looking place w/some help!

I would LOVE a new front door (like this) I feel like I should wait a bit because my sweet dog likes to scratch them up. I would love to have the sidelights be lighter somehow. Our entry/living room is quite dark (because of the trees?) which is why it looks so black in these pictures. The rest of the windows have white plantation shutters so they look much brighter from the outside.

You need to add some color to your landscaping. Some classy plants.... that love shade? Paint that front door the richest looking white color you can find, not a cheap chalky paint, and make sure it is mildew and mold resistant. That will be a great start! You need light on the porch. A white door is the best start...a semi gloss is very pretty to reflect the light. Maybe add a white porch fixture also for light. And some pathway lights and a yard lamp if you can. I don't think solar power will work in your shade, but look into your options at least...<https://www.consumerreports.org/exterior-paints/exterior-paint-that-best-weathers-the-elements/>  Everything is beautiful. Your window treatments are perfect from the exterior view. IF you want to paint your fascia board and eaves(and gutters that are directly in front of the fascia boards) the same white, as your door choice might be nice. Don't paint the siding over the garage. It is a wall. It blends nicely with the brick...don't let your painter use builder grade exterior paint. DO NOT paint your brick. It is so classic!!--------June2017**

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Be aware that doors with windows like you have just posted, invite people to break glass and unlock and enter uninvited. I know at minimum 3 events in the past few years.. If you do go this route eventually, you will need a 2nd lock about 1 ft' from the top of the door that requires a key to open from the inside and the outside, with a long plunger, because you just want to be smart about things.

You can see my attempts at brightening the front porch by painting the door a fun green blue didn’t quite go like I had hoped. The previous graphite color was more classic but didn’t help with the dingy feeling.

I think it was a great place to start and truthfully, I went looking for a color to work and than realized...you just need white. With your window treatments too, what a great selection. My front door has always been white. On white houses, a color door is very pretty. So is a stained wood look door. On medium to dark brick, it just needs white. It will bring out the white tones I see in your beautiful brick! And that was after a 2nd look and I saw your pretty door and that beautiful color, you had already done. Also, paint those house numbers white too. If they are metal you might want to use a RustOLeum brand paint for them, but they get so little weathering the same door paint would probably hold up for a long time.

Some mockups of possible color combo for painted brick

I'm no professional landscaper, but for shade, hostas are my absolute favorite. Easiest in the world to take care of and there are so many variations in shades of colors, leaf shapes, sizes of the plants. We have probably 200 of them.

Your future if you want to paint brick. But factor mold and mildew on that as well, because of the shade. That’s especially noticeable on light colors.

I wouldn't paint the brick. Paint the siding a light color that goes with your brick. That, plus landscaping will brighten it up considerably.

DON'T paint the brick!!!! you take something that is NO maintenance and turn it into something you will continually have to paint. it may look nice and fresh when completed but how long will that last before fading and peeling start? drive around and look at a lot of houses on houzz photos to see what colors you do like. I think just painting the already painted surfaces can make the difference along with some color in your landscaping.

Snuck a pic of my neighbor’s house. They face the same direction and have many trees. They painted their brick this past fall and I was so jealous. They also did a huge landscaping change so I really agree with everyone on that count.

I wouldn't paint brick if it was free....I think you need a new front door and color on the door. Start with smaller ticket items before you think you need to paint brick. For a 70's home, quite honestly, I think you have pretty nice looking brick! It's not plain cream or plain beige and actually has some character. Take a picture of your front door section and mock-up different door styles and different colors. Come back and post those...

I’m not against brick, we have some in our living room and our kitchen too I just like it better in small doses I guess

Pretty fireplace wall.

You can add a lot of lightness with a white door and some nice perennials that don't mind the shade. Just a quick mock-up (doesn't show any of the trees removed, but I'd remove the right two or the left two). Also looks like your brick could use some cleaning up, but other than that I think it is fine. I'm not really wow'ed by your neighbor's house and think yours could be every bit as "fresh" with the right steps taken.

Love how those plants look! Really beautiful

@crystalpea, nice mock-up!!

please please don't paint the brick. I love the timeless look and easy (NO) maintenance and would love a brick home. since you have it inside your home too, it ties the inside with the outside. just makes more sense to leave it alone. the last mockup crystalpea posted shows how much better just bringing in more color in your plantings makes the home look. I like trim to be white and would bring in a warm lighter color from your brick for the painted areas of your home and a richer darker color for the door and shutters