Sorry I do not an issue with the brick but those garage doors are not good at all I aslo would not equate this home with Italain in any way. It is just a brick house that needs some updating and for sure not painting the brick as a first choice .New garage doors with glass , new black windows and a new front door all in a more modern style is a strat. The lansdcaping is next and what do you mean by modern? Most of the pics I see in your idea books are more on the traditional style. I do not find the house all that dated so I need a bit more help from you.

This is a very traditional Italian American house from a neighborhood with many immigrants from the same area of Italy. The interior is more dated than the outside. (See new pics)
Until I moved to this area, I’ve never seen plain brick houses with no shutters or other features, so maybe it is just my ignorance in the style.
I agree that the garage doors need to be updated, maybe a lighter color?

Unfortunately, shutters do not work well with double windows. I would just do white garage doors, a white column on the porch and cut back the driveway a bit between the garage doors so I could plant something to conceal the concrete. And larger wall sconces.

I think if there are a lot of houses of this general style in the area, and it fits in, I would not worry too much about it looking dated or whatever because it's in similar company, and it's a pretty distinct soft contemporary style from 1950s-60s. (Even if it was built after that, that's when the style originates).

Mary on the half-shell in the front yard and you're good! My in-laws were Italian. A high school classmate had red flocked wallpaper and purple curtains in the living room - at least you don't have that!

The outside is actually typical of many houses of that era in the Northeast. I'd focus on the interior. Maybe replace that tile with hardwood.

Show a close up of the brick if you can. It looks like there is some good gray in there. Gray might be a great trim if you keep the brick but then you’ll have to deal with the gutters and downspouts as well. Get some great Mediterranean light fixtures.

IMO it is just a typical split level brick home in a regular neighborhood which was mostly Italian in background. Those arched details in the garage windows can generally be popped out to reveal the full rectangular window, so do that. I would not want those doors to pop with white and become the focal point. Consider painting them in one of the darker brown/gray colors in the brick. Top them with a pergola and get a plant that vines and blooms to climb onto the pergola from that bed on the left. Cut down that massive hedge on the right side, and renew your planting beds with fresh landscape plants. Increase the size of your lantern lights ( 1/3 the height of the door) and have a pro look at the weeping tree to make sure it is healthy. With a bigger budget, I would straighten the drive to the street, add steps to the front of the porch and take a walkway to the street, flanking it with more plantings.

Two 8x7 Model 9800 Wayne Dalton Garage Doors · More Info

Pink Garage Landscape Details · More Info

You could use the Romabio Masonry paint that allows the brick to breath so it won't peel. This will keep a modern feel to your home.

Thank you all for the great suggestions!
A statue of the Virgin Mary was actually one of our wedding gifts so you know she’ll grace our yard somewhere.
There is no grass between the garage doors but a tall planter might work.
Here’s a closer pic of the brick.
I’m torn in the interior tile, I did have my flooring guy come and take measurements to cover with wood, but it is absolutely immaculate (not a scratch or chip anywhere) so I am feeling guilty covering it.
I may just do dark walls in the dining room with light trim and a light table and hutch plus a large rug. Unsure about the rest but may tackle it later down the line unless one of you brilliant people has a solution for somehow making it look better without covering it completely. This is all so very out of my wheelhouse so thank you so much for your ideas!

For me, the outside is fine. No, it's not spectacular-- but no matter how much money you spend, it's unlikely to become spectacular. It's solid, clean and sports no weird "period" details that scream a particular decade. If you want to work on the outside, focus on the landscaping.

With regards to the interior. for the 1st year that you live there, fix only what is broken or makes you cry. Houses can eat your entire bank account and come back for seconds before you've even had breakfast. So it's important to have enough time to experience the house as it is in all seasons before you start spending major cash.

In terms of minor cash, consider replacing any lighting fixtures that make you cringe. If the patterned dining room floor is just too much, buy a plain sisal rug that will cover most of it. You may find that tones the floor down enough that you can actually enjoy the pattern. And paint-- but only if the existing colours hurt your eyes or the finish is in bad condition.

My Italian grandfather says this should be someplace on the property

No specific suggestions for you, other than to say your post just reminded me of old friends of ours who lived with three generations of their Italian relatives in a home so very similar. Your last thoughts made me laugh aloud. The home is beautiful and I’m sure you’ll be able to make it work well for you. Enjoy!

Reminds me neighbors houses outside of Boston. Definitely Italian. But to be truly authentic - it needs to have 2 kitchens - one upstairs and one downstairs. (You only actually use the downstairs one…….)

@tozmo1 we just go to our friend’s court at his house with a gallon of homemade wine and dried sausage!
We will be 3 generations here and I was remiss in not posting the second kitchen!
Our inspector couldn’t believe how the upstairs kitchen was 40 years old but looked brand new…I had to explain that it’s never been cooked in, they only use the downstairs kitchen complete with a wood stove!
Thanks again everyone. I have so loved hearing your suggestions and encouragement!

As others have said the exterior has no "Italian" details. It is a solid brick raised ranch. The windows are not right for shutters. I think a dark gray would be better than brown. Pop out the girds in the garage windows.

You might want to change the double front door to one with sidelights. You get more light in the foyer and be able to see who is at the front door.

Does the brick go all the way around the house? If so that would be another reason I would be against white-washing it.

If you like the tile, then keep it. I like your idea of painting the dinning room a dark color. You could update the light fixtures.

Homemade wine and dried sausage? I'm there!

Folks, the Italian influence is in the essence of how the home lives. And of course, the tile floors, which I'd keep until you've really settled into an overall plan for flooring throughout the house. That could take a few years, seriously. Don't rush.

I really like @Celery. Visualization, Rendering images 's suggestion. It makes the house look like a new modern home. The patio outside is a nice addition.

This looks to me like a typical raised ranch or ”high ranch” as they are called on Long island where they are abundant. i lived in one for 15 years and never liked the style, although the young couple that bought it from us put some work and money into it and made it look quite contemporary. i think you have your work cut out for you with the interior and i would start there. Those brown/yellow tones everywhere are quite dated, especially that bold flooring. i would start there.

I love houssons render with the black or urbane bronze trim, makes the brick look rich. As to covering the tile- put in hardwood all day- classic site finished narrow oak will last 100 years and will improve the property value- put it everywhere

Yes site finished oak strip flooring would hands down be the flooring that house would have had if they had not tiled.

I changed my mind about white I put above. I think warm white/ivory would work better. I like houssaon idea of dark widow trim.

Do exactly what @Celery posted. Soft white, dark garage doors (and buy new ones with windows) and fresh slate blocks to identify your walkway and little patio area. I would price out replacing the big arched window with a regular rectangular one.
If you want to modernize your interior, start looking at deluxe vinyl flooring. Their wood-look options are amazingly realistic. And it’s less money than real hardwood, which would be age appropriate for your home.
You probably will need a whole new post for the kitchen.

agree, it's just a plain old brick ranch that looks like split level. very common in the 70's.

This is Palazzo architecture

I have an authentic brick home my Italian grandfather built back in 1920 if you'd like to see that!

But this is just a brick home in an italian neighborhood.

How much money do you have to update the interior (which seriously needs to be gutted. sorry, but 50 years is long enough for what's in there!) and the exterior?

I love the pics that Celery posted and think either of those would look great.

then you could do a new door, lights, numbers and redo the porch/steps

In fact, I'd go full out like this. paint/lime the brick, new windows, new paint color, new garge door, and copy this landscaping exactly!

The brick isn't anything special, or good looking if we're being honest. Use a good masonry prodcut like Romabio and the upkeep on the brick will be minimal.

if you did the brick all in white, redid the landscaping similar to this, added some wood elements, black windows, you'd have this look

These are all similar looking homes. some are brick that have been painted, some have siding (which you could also add)

ignore the shutters:

If you do keep the brick, you could add the siding over the garage area like shown here on the left.

copy the landscaping, the colors, a new garage door

if you like more modern looking, try doing something like this w/the garage, maybe add the siding, paint the brick on the other side. add some wood elements

another more mod redo. notice what they did to the garage area. you could copy this.

I would remove that gaudy tile, pronto, and put down hardwood flooring. That plus painting the interior would be my priority.

NO WAY - that tile is MAGNIFICENT! I'd definitely keep.

Sorry, no shutters as they won't fit appropriately. Windows are white and very noticeable. I would paint the front door and trim the bright white and the garage doors the gray of the roof. Add much larger lights over garage doors.

It would be worth your while to hire landscapers and have the front entry totally redesigned so that the walkway leads from the driveway to the front door.