We bought the house with this interior (one year ago). I would make the shutters a darker taupe, but the brink has quite a bit of dark brown.

1) Do I leave the brick? Or white wash it? (or any other ideas)
2)If I leave the brick, what color shutters?

Siding is staying the same. It is about 10 years old and not in the budget to change.

I have thought of adding architectural awning/pergola (over garage), and making the porch support white and more detailed/molding.

I am basically looking for an affordable spruce-up. :)

Be nice about the landscaping... it is a work in progress as we inherited a unibrow of hostas and I have started to change it this year.