I would remove the shutters. Spacing will not allow for correct proportions on your home. They are too skimpy. Don't forget the garage doors. Consider something other than white for window trim.

Just a general comment about people wanting to "update" the exterior of a house that is a perfectly fine example of the style when it was built, because there is some idea that it's "dated".

At one point in the 20th c., people thought this:

(C.1958)

Looked better than this, because this was "dated".

Same houses now 2000s.

Don't pay attention to the fact that the stucco building is starting to look a little shabby. At one point it was a brand new treatment and people thought it looked so much better than the original facade.

That’s a lot of brick. Have you gotten estimates on what it would cost to do this treatment? The going rate in my area would be $10,000+ for a house this size.

I think your brick is nice-looking as is.

Read everything you can about it if you decide to proceed:

https://axmasonry.com/a-guide-how-to-fix-german-smear-gone-wrong/

The yellowing discussed above happened here:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5085777/german-smear-gone-wrong

https://joydeleyer.wordpress.com/2020/02/06/german-smear-gone-horribly-wrong/

Darker roof, no shutters, grey green trim, dark front door

PS to my post: The inspiration photo in your OP is not German Schmear, it’s professionally limewashed (the architect stated that on his IG page):

https://www.peterblockarchitects.com/american-english-residence

Ditto Jan’s photo (she didn’t say it was, I’m just clarifying). Romabio limewash digital rendering:

(I agree with her to remove shutters.)

That’s why I try to caution people against a potential disaster based on HGTV and internet fads and trends. Pretty pictures are pretty, but there’s a lot more to it.

If schmear, painting, or limewashing brick goes wrong, it’s permanent. Yes, there are some ugly bricks out there that can be improved; I don’t think yours is one of them. Resale is another factor, not everyone wants this look — especially as natural materials and colors are coming back in style.

Natural bricks last forever … coating them won’t.

My town has a few limewashed houses I’ve driven by and they look awful, like primer or typewriter correction fluid (bad DIY jobs). And there have been posters on Houzz who have come back with regrets. These whole house exterior treatments are best left to qualified pros, you don’t want to risk ruining your house. It’s not a basement fireplace, it’s a huge investment.

I would say yes to painting, limewashing or German smear on your house but as someone else said any of these options are permanent. Once done, it can't be undone. Would suggest that you find examples of similar houses in your area and see how you like the results of painting, limewashing or German smear. Good luck!

Note that your inspiration photos do NOT show any shutters. Remove yours. And certainly don’t try to match them to your arbor, a stained wood. Your windows, with their keystones, are lovely. Your home is beautiful. Embrace it! The inside can be anything you want…it doesn’t need to “match” the outside.

I agree that you have a lovely dignified home. Don’t embarrass it with cheap shutters that don’t belong and take off that foo-foo arbor over the garage.

Instead, spend your money on fine wood garage doors. NOT white ones.

No, you already have a beautiful home. Why would you do this? In a few years, your brick will still look like it does now. In a few years the german schmear will be looking dirty and tacky. Its a trendy fad right now. It wont be in a few years, but, your house would be left looking tacky. I do like shutters on your house. Its very nice, just the way it is, dont spend a lot of money on things, that are not broken.

IMO fastest way to devalue a home is to paint the brick and if schmear is done wrong it does mean painting the brick The white trim , the shutters and the garage door in white are the issues not the brick.. You have a grand house it needs grand lanscaping do that first right after you remove those cheap looking shutters , no shutters on that house please.

I agree with the don't fix what is not broken. You have a very nice house and I personally wouldn't take the risk.

This is a picture of the inside fireplace I recently did and I have received so many compliments on how it turned out. This is the look I’d be going for on the outside. It’s the same brick color that’s on exterior.

I do like your fireplace, but I wouldn’t do it on the outside, unless maybe you are in Tuscany.

Possibly a brick stain to tone down the color, but I wouldn’t do the schmear. It looks too old world. (I have no experience with brick stain, so do your research if you decide to go in that direction.)

If it were my house, I would probably leave the exterior brick alone. I’d be more inclined to change the garage door color and pergola to be darker, like the shutters.

You did do a nice job! It looks great.

But … an entire house in that is a whole ’nother ballgame. :)

The German smear style you are looking to do on your home is possible, but as stated in previous comments it is permanent. As for the yellowing issues, its typically caused by not properly cleaning the brink before applying the mortar. Iron oxide or pollen build up can also happen but with proper chemicals and cleaning it can be removed. German Smear when done correctly will not peel flake or fade so it will outlast paint while also not needing recoats.

What did you end up doing?