Your husband is right:
It's pointless to have a brick house if you're going to paint it - thereby making a maintenance-free exterior into something you're going to have to maintain over the years.

There are a great many other ways to update your exterior that wouldn't involve painting the brick - such as replacing the white iron porch supports, eliminating the shutters and screen door, replacing the front door and garage doors, replacing/updating the windows, enhancing the landscaping, replacing the concrete driveway and front walk with pavers...

thanks a bunch! Yep, we've already considered all of those options. Anything specific to add- like what color to paint the front door, trim, garage door, etc?

Selecting dark woods & paint colors for your doors, windows and trim will definitely make your home appear more grounded and be a better balance for the red brick.

I get the point about maintenance, but I do think painting the brick would be a great way to update the house.

Our house is similar to yours in terms of age and brick color.
We don't like the brick at all either, and my husband had the same reaction to painting it. LoL However, when we are completely done with remodeling, we are going to cover it with something.
Ours is not brick all the way around, just the front. The rest is stucco.
So, we are going to have the whole house redone with this stuff called PermaCoat. It looks like stucco, but you pick your color from the start, and it never has to be painted as it is colored all the way through.
Another option- in fact I like this better than the stucco idea as we live on the water, water everywhere- cedar shake look shingles.
They are really maintenance free, made from modern materials.
I am uploading a couple of photos I have saved, because the houses are similar to ours, and they were remodeled outside, and I like the results.
Meanwhile, if you are looking to spruce up your house for now- As all the others suggested. A nice dark green, chocolate brown, or even navy blue would look nice with your brick.
Also, some plants in your planter and new landscaping below the windows would spruce it up considerably.
Best wishes! If you do make changes, be sure to show us a photo, I would love to see it.

The first photo is "before", the second is "after".
The other two are photos of porches I like. The porch shown on the ranch house is similar to the layout of the front of our house, but we don't have any railings as of yet.
I am thinking I would like to add some. We are also thinking of adding a large cupola to the roof to add some height.

wow, thanks a bunch. those first two photos are a great before/after example. I do like the idea of darker trim/door colors. I wish the house had a dark grey roof as well- that would make a difference.

Hi, I just did a quick color change with your photo. I think either way would update the house with paint.

awesome, thank you! i like the first photo- what a difference. the bottom photo shows me that darker trim and door colors may not be the answer.

good stuff.

Batman14, it looks awesome!

mrssteveb, thanks for sharing your before/after. It is lovely.
Batman 14, that is awesome. I was going to suggest changing out the garage doors-your photoshop illustrates a beautifel transformation.

batman, that makeover rocks my world. thanks so much!

On a home reno show i saw, the designer had the brink stained a different colour and the effect was fantastic!!! It looked like the brick was just that colour and it didn't look painted at all. She contracted it out to a company who does that sort of thing. I think your ranch house is cute tho! a great door as you are already thinking of will make a big difference. I would make the metal columns by the front door more substantial by building wood ones.

Take a look at we did to this ranch at the link below:
http://www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com/article.asp?aid=425&iid=59

markbatson, that is fantastic! I love the craftsmen look it has!

please forgive me but i can't help but suggest a Tiffany window, hollygolightly :)

I painted my red brick in the front of my house. Really updated my home and very inexpensive. I did primer and then a taupe color. What a difference

You should post a photo!!

not the greatest example. The after pic is first. The second pic you can see a hint of the red brick when I originally bought the house

it really is very nice, Batman14 :) and it will look good in all seasons.

Yes, it looks great. You also cleared out the shrubs and trees that were close to the house which i think is a great idea. Pretty!

I love the brick, personally, but I think you need a more defined entry. A lot of those "after" photos not only changed the siding, but also beefed up the front entry.

This is a quick attempt with no color changes, just adding a pediment over the porch, and a front walk.

that larger entry way really does make a difference. thanks for all the great ideas everyone!