I think I would consider painting the trim khaki color and add black shutters.

Add burgundy shutters and railings between two right hand posts. Needs a flagstone path through front yard to front door - curvy with plantings along side.

I would start by painting the exterior a shade of white. Lighten the brick. Depending on your budget, add a walkway to the house (could simply be loose big pavers) and add a flower bed around the front porch.

Like both above suggestions, but believe additional landscaping to the front of the house would improve the overall look. If possible, develop large curved beds that extend beyond the front sides and turn the corners of the house. Ideally you'll use a mix of shrubbery of varying heights that are mostly evergreen. If also flowering, that's a plus. In front of the green shrubs, plant flowers and bulbs that bloom at different times of the year--a mix of perennials and annuals is best for longevity, ease of maintenance, and great color choices!

Paint the bricks toupe, the trim white and the shutter burgundy.remove shrub and plant flowers around house.

Thank you all for the comments! Landscaping is definitely something we plan on working on. As for paint, due to the upkeep that goes into it, I'm not sure we can paint the brick, but we will see how things work out! Does anyone have suggestions for new light fixtures?

Check out our ideabooks for the doors we make, you might like some. Maybe a nice wood french single french door fit well. Good luck!

Hi, Definitely need some work on front door....replacing the storm door or removing it entirely would make a big difference. Then replacing the main door would really help. Also, some shutters on the windows would add some interest...Rocking chairs and some plants would help, too. Also, if you do landscape, which it needs, choose slow growing and small ones....too many people overpower their fronts with bushes that grow way too large! Hnaging pots would be cute, too....

It looks like you already have a new roof and new windows. The bright white trim paint looks good. If you can afford it, a walkway to the street would be nice. If you want to add shutters to the 2 end windows, they need to be half the width of the windows to look right. For example, a 36" wide window needs 2-18" shutters. I would paint the shutters a matt black. Pull down the wind chimes. Use a grey concrete stain on the porch floor. Move the bench to under the bay window and put some indoor-outdoor throw pillows on it. Add flowers or plant with colorful leaves in the bed around the porch. Add a tall plant between the porch and the left window. Trim the bush or move it out from under the window. You could save it and move it a few feet to the right in front of the blank wall. Go to lightinginiverse.com to look for lights.

Thanks everyone! We made so progress today (no picture yet), by moving the bench in front of the bay window, tearing up the overgrown bush on the left, and removing the majority of the remaining lava rocks (7+ years old) from the landscaping. Tomorrow, we hope to finish with the rocks, lay down new plastic, and get a somewhat sturdy foundation on the landscaping. I'm not where we're going here, but we appreciate all the help-- I will try to post a picture of the improvements we've made so far tomorrow!

Late night:

Made some*

Not sure where we're going from here*

Also, I meant to mention that we really like the idea of a pathway to/from the road, but the house is located on a really busy street. The picture doesn't do the driveway much justice, but there is actually a sidewalk from the porch to the driveway that goes behind the house (on the left). I will try to get a picture of that, as it might help a bit. Thanks!

You might consider adding a good quality tile for the front porch since it is so visible in the picture.

I need to see red brick colonial styl with up dates roofs steps railing for front porch

Some suggestions to strive for simplicity & symmetry: 1. Window shutters charcoal gray to match roof; alternatively dark green-black for shutters & front door (black-green blends w/shrubs) Try some free online paint selection apps too but I'd leave those columns white. 2. Replace storm door with very plain, maximum glass storm door (can that grille be removed so you could keep the storm door?). 3. Install walk from porch right side to driveway (shortest distance to car - think snow shoveling - how about electrical heat elements under walk here to melt snow/ice to spare her parents this chore?). 4. Plant same type tree on left as that on right; locate "mirror-image" relative to house & road just as tree on right. 5. Move shrub from under far left window to left corner of porch (i.e., 1/2 on porch side, 1/2 on porch front - not too close); add same type shrub off right porch corner. 6. Plant boxwood / low growing juniper or similar low evergreen in single row in front of far left & far right windows, extending rows one shrub beyond house corners; and in front of porch between 2 new shrubs off porch corners (all these low shrubs should be the same type, no mixing - gets busy). How many? Always odd numbers (3, 5, etc.) never even number. Ex., one in front of middle porch column, flanked by 2 or 3 on either side. Space all these shrubs @ least 2' from house to allow for growth & rainwater. Evergreens will always make the house look 'dressed' year around whether or not flowers are planted.

Because the orange in the brick is a difficult color to harmonize, I would suggest painting all the brick white and adding black shutters to match the roof. Your home is a southern planter's cottage, and the white and black color scheme is in keeping with this style. I agree with another poster that a walkway up to the door would be nice, and I would suggest stone laid in large squares and edged with pavers that are hexagonal in shape to contrast from all the rectangular shapes in the brick and shutters. Since you live in climate zone six, you could have evergreen rhododendrons and camellias in the landscape for year-round color and pastel blooms in the spring and fall.

I find off-putting the fact that the porch just...ends in a raw cement edge and then wood chips. I think you really need to take a look at Norma Sassone's railing photo. If your path comes from the right, I'd put railings all across the front; if you move it to the middle, then on sides and right half. Either way, it will make it look less unfinished and raw (as will, I'm sure, planting things in the "woodchip zone," heh). You might also want a white storm door to match the white window trim (or darken the trim, but it looks new and fresh)...

(p.s.) no shutters! that large center window will never look right...

Nearly broke myself trying to upload my mock-up. Why is Houzz making things so difficult?? :(

You can do anything with money. Having said that..here we go.

It needs some kind of clear walkway. From the front door would be the most ideal. Blah, blah, blah...foot print is already done. More labour intensive then costly. Some landscaping would do it. Find a friend with some stuff to split, and Bob's your uncle.

Next bulk up the posts. There are only 3. Shouldn't be that costly or time comsuming.

Thanks Plaid Designs