Lose the shutters. Go with black windows and black siding, or black windows and a darker sage green than you have now. Look at the photos below for the color combination, not the style of the house.

This photo shows how black and brick work well together:

Magnolia Residence 03 · More Info

And here's a dark green/gray house with black windows.

Home on the Plains - Magnolia Journal Feature Project · More Info

Yes! I forgot to mention that we will definitely be saying goodbye to the shutters.

Thanks for the photos - I love the colors in both of them. I agree that black windows are the way to go. Or a dark clay color. I've posted some of my inspiration photos below. I'm a little bit nervous to experiment with colored vinyl (if we hate it, we won't be able to replace it) - but some of the darker colors look so classy! The first house here has actually used red windows, and it looks great! (I realize that these houses probably don't have vinyl windows, but that's what we will be getting, so I'm just going to look at the colors and not worry about the material.)

Also, I checked and it turns out that the orange brick is actually just a façade. So I'm definitely going to look into replacing it. I will also be removing some bushes and doing some new landscaping eventually.

I am a bit confused. Aren’t you keeping the shingled siding that is on your home and painting it? You refer to vinyl siding. Where is it located? Or are you planning on replacing your wood shingles with vinyl siding? Why?

Sorry for being confusing. I am definitely keeping the wood shingles, and will be painting them. There is no vinyl siding, but I will be doing a window replacement soon, and I expect that I will use vinyl windows. Finally, the brick you see in the photo is actually a facade, so I am thinking about replacing that as well. So I'll be making three changes and I'm interested in feedback about all three:

1. Suggestions for paint and trim colors?

2. Should I try out black vinyl windows? Or maybe another color? Everyone does white around here, so I'm a little nervous to try something different.

3. Suggestions for what to do with the dated, orange brick facade? I might just replace it with a stone facade but I'm open to suggestions.

Thanks!

Man, I never liked this kind of split level exterior designs. That doesn't look...harmonious, I just do not like that. It does not mean that it is something bad, it is just my own opinion, and my own tastes. I really like when you can mention the symmetry, in this case it looks even more beautiful. I am not saying that you cannot find some buildings that lack symmetry in their design, and actually look beautiful. Mainly, it depends on the facade. Every time someone asks me for a good company that could actually make a great facade, I only recommend, cprfacadeupgrades.com.au as they are actually really great.

this is prob my favorite split redo

I know you don't have a front facing garage, but you could still do this

this one is almost identical to yours. looks so much better

https://porch.com/projects/thomas-exterior-update-1

look at the before photo here^

I say, go for broke and do a modern make over!

both of these lean a lot more modern. I love the addition of the composite wood siding

this one had painted brick lower, vertical siding upper, dark windows, and landscaping.

similar style to yours except both sides are bump out. I don't necessarily like the ledger stone in place of the brick, but it's an option. they did the composite cedar shake instead of siding.

Budget chat: what is wrong with the windows? Windows are not cheap. Changing the size of the windows means even more money out of the budget.

If new ones are needed, how about black? I would still keep the white trim.

Choose one color you love and paint the orange brick and the clapboard the same color. No shutters! They don’t fit the windows. Front door and the storm door should be painted one accent color. Also, don’t paint the exterior lower level differently than the upper. It exacerbates the “split look”.

Do not panic! Look past the bushes, etc to see my idea. Working with your pale green roof, I would go with a dark gray, keeping windows and trim white.

Thinking a bright green front door with the gray and white trim (notice the black replacement in this photo with white trim).

Focus is on front door…body of house is constant, as is trim. Windows and front door rule.

Aurelia Paige, I see you are new to houzz, as you have only made one (this) comment.

As a long time houzzer, I would advise you to address the dilemma.

Random negatives do not accomplish a thing.

What are your favorite exterior color combos? Your suggestions would give the OP some ideas.

Come on…join in.

Great article, JudyG! So many of the points they made are spot on. In fact, we *are* using this split level to form a multigenerational household. My parents own the house. My husband and I (and our two kids) are buying it from them. We are going to live upstairs, and my parents are going to live in the in-law apartment (an addition, which is not pictured in the photo), downstairs. The layout is ideal for us.

I really appreciate your ideas about the exterior. I think that I'm going to use your idea of painting the brick and the shingles the same color, to create a cohesive look and not draw attention to the "split" features. The shutters are definitely going to go.

As for the color choice of the paint: I have been told that the roof is super old, and in need of replacement. My parents are also strongly advising that we replace all the windows, because they, too, are very old and drafty. So with so many projects/expenses coming up, I want to view this as an opportunity to make some thoughtful design choices and update the look of the house.

We haven't met with the window vendor yet, or even decided if we want to go with wood vs. vinyl windows. I just got excited by the idea of being able to use a color other than white, to give the house a cool, well-designed look. But I'm not actually sure if black will look good in this particular house.

Thanks again for all your suggestions and comments! I'll keep you updated!

When we bought this 1976 downsize house, everything had to be updated We took it down to the studs, which gave us the opportunity to deal with old wiring, and install new insulation. All windows were replaced and we went with Andersen 400 series. Chose black with new white clapboards. What you can’t see is the muntins. The bays were replaced with three windows, 2/1. side windows, 2/1 and the full view front door is 2/2.

I’ll post a photo of before and after. (After was 5 years ago, so landscaping was just at the beginning stage). I should take a photo of the front in June…I went with a Japanese look.

NICKERSON HOUSE · More Info

NICKERSON HOUSE AFTER · More Info