paint trim white or cream and shutters black...here's my house and it was similar to this before but way worse!

Thank you Fauxfilled! I think the trim on your house is wider so it looks really nice painted white. I am hoping for a classy look to give the ranch a bit of an updated color! any thoughts on the front door color - you really don't see it so it won't stand out - i hesitate with black on the door even though i think it looks great on most houses

Red would also look nice on the door with the color combination you have going. Just make sure it has a little yellow in it as opposed to blue so that it goes well with existing brick.

Sanctuaries - thank you! I am not sure I had ever heard of red having yellow in it before but it makes total sense to me!!!! I love that!

What are your feelings on a deep blue? Something in a very rich navy would look great with grey for both the doors and shutters, it would be more appropriate if you went with a white trim.

bzappa - thank you! I thnk the navy idea is a nice one! and yes it would have to be a deep, rich navy. Any ideas on actual colors from SW or BM that I could look at?

BM Hale Navy #HC 154 is a great color for shutters and doors. I like it with a warmer grayish beige like gray huskie #1473 or cape may cobblestone #1474 for the main body color with off white trim (like mountain peak white). The trim doesn't have to be large to paint it white.

deedeedavidsondesign - Thank you! I love the Hale Navy color (at least on the computer) and Mountain Peak White! I am excited with these colors! Do you know a white at SW that is comparable to the BM mountain peak white? i have already purchased the untinted gallons of trim paint from SW (on sale!)

I'm trying to find the pinterest pic that I thought of when I saw your house... and having no luck! Always pin... you never regret the pin; but, you do regret the forgotten pin!

Something like this:
http://media-cache-ec3.pinimg.com/736x/98/82/06/9882062d2cca16e2c511fc2555f657e5.jpg

Love it! thank you!

If your trim is small and you want white (I would choose white), then make your shutters white too balance the windows and make them pop. For the front door I would choose yellow, very cheery, will create an entry focal point and really pop too. Question: are you painting the brick too?

Catherine, I thought about white for the shutters, but am uncertain how that will look. i have always liked yellow and gray, but am a little on the fence about having the front door yellow. no, I am not painting the brick!

I love the idea of navy shutters and doors, and even a little white will show up with those darker colors.

In my opinion the gray and yellow is very contemporary and that's not the style of your home, plus you want whatever color you pick to blend nicely with the bricks.

SW will match the BM color, just take the color chip to them :)

Fauxfilled - thank you for your input. I agree with you on the yellow being too contemporary. I am going to pick up the sample cards of the navy from BM!