Did quick mock up.

Here is truer color of door.

Some suggested the current shutters are not the right size, does anyone have a suggestion on what size/style shutters would work better (in addition to the color change!)

Of course this isn’t your style door but gives you a but of vision. I would do the trim in same color. It will give your door more presence.

Your HOA will most likely have a list of what you can and can not do with shutters, and colors of shutters and even the front door. You need to call them and get all that info first. They usually have a list of colors that they approve.

Kelley, regarding shutter size, each shutter should be half the window's width. They should look like they would cover the window if they were actually functional and could close. You can see how wide they'd have to be for your larger windows.

Since shutters are rarely placed on a house to be functional anymore, I consider them to be simply frames for a window and not a protective device. While care has to be taken when choosing the size since some can look too skimpy and others too large, I don't think half the window's width is a necessity for size.

Shutters should look as though they are functional.

I think the home looks a LOT better without them, since having functionally-sized shutters there would overpower the house. Hopefully your HOA has more sense and won't require them.

Trimming down those two tall shrubs will help, as well. It may be that you might have to replace them - that's a lot of trimming and you may just end up with branches.

For door color... step back and find out what you'd like. May mean buying samples and trying it on cheap plywood you place by your brick.

Authentic shutters were attached to windows with swing hinges and while open secured with hardware known as dogs. They closed and latched inside to help with storms and winter drafts. So with what you have they aren’t long enough to swing closed on all windows and they aren’t authentically hung. So I believe if they aren’t authentic they need to go.

Here is example. The “S” curved metal “dogs” keep shutters from banging around. Notice how the shutters are shaped to fit inside frame of windows.

Well I guess we all need to hear what the hoa says about removing them or painting them.

I do think you need a brighter color door tho..if they allow it. Or black. Something striking...

HOA usually has a list of colors etc available very quickly, because, they get requests for this information quite often.

I emailed the HOA and am still waiting on a reply. I am suspecting I can take them off because a couple of custom built homes in our neighborhood do not have shutters. We will see what they say!

The HOA stated there is nothing in the covenants preventing us from removing our shutters. We plan to remove them to "see" how we like it, and deciding from there about paint. Hubby likes the white door, and I don't mind it either...but we will do one step at a time! Thanks again for the suggestions and help!

We took down the shutters and took out the 2 trees. Not bad, but seems to be lacking something. I know we talked about painting the door and/or the shutters a different color and putting them back up. Also, any ideas on what plant, bush may look good place of the trees? I need an overhaul on landscaping, I know ughh!

Wider shutters and maybe paint them a spruce blue/ green? (what color is the roof?)

Wider then what I originally had? The roof is black and the siding is like an warm white

What is in your planters? I’m only seeing green. What about taller, brighter colored planters with ore elaborate flowers (filler, spiller, thriller). That would be an easy way to get more pops of color while you work on the landscaping as a whole. You could also add seat cushions that match the planters.

IMHO, It's "lacking" this:

and a whole bunch of other flowers...

And, by all means, paint your door...

Put a table and chairs on the porch and "set" the table with a table cloth and thrift store teapots used as planters....

Have a bench and cover the cushions using vintage linens...put grandmas crocheted throw out there...

Have hanging baskets...

Yes, it is lacking some character and color, my thought was work on the basics and layer flowers, character, charm, details as I go. Is your suggestion that adding flowers will alleviate the need for shutters (my question to begin with on the original post)... What color do you like for the door? Some suggested a mossy greenish/blue...thank you!

I prefer it without the shutters...it's a much cleaner look (and that's exactly why you're feeling that it's missing something)

Door color all depends on you :) I've had wood, red and cobalt blue. My mom has had green (didn't like it....it was a kelly green) and my sister did an eggplant color, which I thought i would hate, but really loved.

I don't think you can go wrong with a red door on a brick house, but with so many different shades of brick, it can be tricky and there will be a lot of trial and error.

I also like black...it's foolproof but it might be just okay? idk I'm on the fence about black doors lately. I guess I see too many of them.

I'm loving this dark teal color...

but that's my own taste..

Honestly, I don't envy you having to choose!

What's your favorite color?

I think the problem may be that

A.) It's a new look that you need to get used to

B.) The frames of the windows are very, very thin.

But I like it a lot more than with the shutters. Now, on to the landscaping...

PennnyDesign, Thank you for your thoughts, the teal is really pretty. Our brick is like a muted (almost) pinkish color, some people thought a more muted color, like a mossy blue/green would suit it well (see the earlier pics if you like, someone did a mock-up), I see myself liking something in the blue/green family. The door was actually a brickish/orange when we moved in and i hated it! I actually replaced it with the white door, but agree some color would make a difference...

Someone earlier in the thread mentioned "beefing up the window trim," another person mentioned how thin the trim is- how do you go about expanding upon the trim? What if we made the trim wider and painted it the same color as the door. I picked up some swatches in the blue and green family today and will post my top picks later!

"Beef up the trim" seems to be the default comment when shutters are removed, here. But that's not always the right thing to do.

In the case of your house, I feel doing so would make things look too blocky....

Just my opinion, only. I'm sure many others disagree :)

I don't think you'll find agreement on this forum about the shutters, so choose what you like best. Personally, I like it better with shutters. I'd beef up the size of the shutters on the larger windows on the right to make them look more authentic. The current shutter size on the smaller windows looks fine to me. A dusty blue-green on the door and beige on the shutters would look wonderful, IMO.

Hello all, out of all of the paint swatches, I narrowed it down to these 2 for the door. Both are a shade of teal- for those familiar with SW, the colors are Silken Peacock and Secret Cove. My thought was to paint the door first and decide after what to do with the shutters. I think I am going to leave them off until I get my door painted and some landscaping done and see then if it "needs anything"... Thoughts on the colors? I know its hard to tell with a swatch. I know a lot of you mentioned a dusty blue/green, but I thought that blended too much and wanted a little pop of color...

Hale Navy would be great too!

OMG taking out the shrubs really opened up this house. I like much better sans shutters btw. And I still lean toward a navy door or black. Jazz up the patio with some planters and furniture, live with it awhile before putting in any more plants. I would say you need some flowers more than anything right now

So much better without shutters. I don't think those colors quite work for the front door. Sorry, you either need to go dark gray or black or perhaps a color, but I would rather you start with some great planters and loads of flowers first. Some great colorful chairs on the front porch would be nice too or at least with bright cushions. Then you can test colors, without making big permanent choice on front door. It definitely needs something but testing colors in your light is a good idea. You might want to try a deep green too, such as BM Secret from their Affinity collection.

Your brick is pretty pink under tones...

Following for pictures

following...

Home Interiors, Julie, love the porch..I was looking for planters online all weekend and didn't see anything as nice as what was in your photo, where would you suggest I look? I think I need 29 in. or so for the bigger planters, what I have now is 17 inches and just seems too small, a few people suggested I need something taller... I like Hale Navy and another recommended Bunglehouse Blue that I want to look at too

A few people suggested furniture, I have 2 rocking chairs and a table (can't see it too well in photos), is the suggestion to replace those? I did see a bench from Grandinroad that I really liked. Black or Neptune Blue,

This would be a great size and give the height you need...I think a solid panel door or a upper square window door would look much better..a bit more contemporary to go with the new no shutter style....I will post a few...heading out for a few hours..I will check back...now that I am on this thread believe me! you will have a lot of suggestions...:)))

Thank you Julie, I always love (and appreciate) your suggestions and help. By the way, i looked at this planter fro Grandinroad, that is where the bench I just posted is from too (and its on sale!)

Is this what you mean by the door? Without side panels, since my door frame isn't built like that...

You can spray paint the white rocking chairs a fun color, or black to give them some oomph I did one in a purple color last year and it was pretty easy.

Here are some door options, i happen to end up liking black the best I also added some flowers and colorful shrubs. And I increased the size of the garage wall light... it needs more one size up.

Thank you RL! What a difference some plants make! I am considering black or a dark Navy, a few people recommended Hale Navy, so will look into that too! Thank you for the suggestions, painting the chairs is also a thought!...

The rocking chairs are also giving the house a country style...I would think about new more contemporary outdoor chairs..add a couple fun pillows...

Julie, did you like the bench I posted from Grandrodin a few posts back?

IDK if I could pull this off with what I have going on, but i loved the look of this set up with the bench and I love the black and white table (grandinroad also has other similar black and white planters that I love but didn't think they would go with my pink brick!"

Yes that would look beautiful too!

Love that black door and bench. Super cute table too. This Grandinroad stuff should all go on sale real soon.

Flo, the grandinroad stuff is on sale now! I don't think the black and white planters are yet, but the bench, pillows and cushion...unfortunately, I wanted the white cushion with the bench and the size I need is sold out! :(

Kelley I would keep it without a cushion...it is a pain pulling it in and out depending on weather.....a cute pillow is all you need and so easy to pull in when you have bad weather...start with the bench and black flower pots...then build off of that if needed...

Try Ballards. You can get black and white stripe there too if you want. Target has some items too. Not sure what they have left. It will be great in any case.