The garage looks better too. I would repaint the storm door the same color as the front door; or get a full glass storm door. You picked a pretty color, but painting the storm door black kind of hides the color.

Thank you.I like that idea!

I think it looks quality adorable outside. And you did a great job on the kitchen. Maybe a blue and white kitchen rug would be more fun than the blah beige one (?)

Thank you. I removed the storm door today and made a flower box for under the small window so im feeling better about the outside. And funny you should say that about the rug in the kitchen. I just dripped paint on it yesterday, so the universe must also be thinking I need a new rug. Ha. I’ll send an updated picture when I have it.

Before buying a new rig, take pics of the whole space. I am thinking that a runner or bigger rug might look better.

RUG!!!😆

There’s a picture of my house without the storm door. And I’m just now reading my messages so the pictures of the kitchen are before I painted the cupboards. Everything is the same except for the cabinets but I’ll take a better picture tomorrow.

paint the utility door white instead of black, and paint the frame around the garage door window white, instead of black. that way all the focus will be on the front door. lookin' good.

Ha! I got on here today to ask that exact question. I just keep looking at the door Something’s just not right! Thank you! What about the black frame around the door. Should I paint that white too?

OK here’s a picture of the house with my flower boxes up. And I found a picture of the whole kitchen before I painted the blue cabinets. I didn’t paint anything else in the kitchen.

I would suggest (similar to my original suggestion above) all doors black and black flower boxes.

I also find that your sconce by the front door is too small. It should be 1/4 to 1/3 the height of your door. I also suggest you repaint the window frames white.

I think the teal door looks happier than the black one. With a white house, your door can be any color!

It's difficult to avoid a vanilla appearance with a small white house. What kind of siding is it? Can it be painted?

Res2architect I’m so discouraged. I agree. White and small… aluminum siding on house. Wood on garage. Different color combinations is what I’ve been researching the last two weeks. It’s not just that it’s white siding. Either, it’s stained and old. When I took the shutters off the areas underneath are stained from the black shutters. I’m not sure that I love the black trim and door either. And it’s even peppercorn black, but it still looks stark to me. Maybe it’s the gloss so I’ve been looking at different colors. I’ve never painted the outside of the house before but it is a very small house and it’s not very tall. Our local Home Depot rents paint sprayers I just don’t want to ruin the house more than I already have. Any suggestions on colors?

If the siding is in “not so good” shape, that really changes the story. If you can spray paint it, would you want another color? It opens up the entirety of paint colors made in America.

I think white or cream are great colors for small houses like yours. If the trim can be changed from black, that would be an easy fix. But first you have to decide about the siding.

It would be smart to get numbers of the cost of changing the siding too.

Aluminum siding can be painted easily. But first I would thoroughly clean any surface to be painted. That way  you will ensure a good paint adhesion and the paint job will last for many years. I like Moorglo for exterior paint jobs, but no doubt there are others, too.

ultimately, good landscape plan will really help this house!

I’d really love to do some thing other than white on the siding. Would Kendall charcoal and revere pewter work on my house? I’m thinking the charcoal on everything and the pewter color for trim. I’ve also seen houses with the same dark color for the whole house including trim and garage door. As you can probably tell, I have no design sense, so I really appreciate your thoughts.

Here are the colors. I’ve also seen a deep navy look really pretty, or even a gray blue.

Here's your house in Kendall Charcoal, white trim, white doors...

Landscaping is an important item for curb appeal.

@lisedv gave you a great mock up with a medium charcoal. Pretty cute!

(jumping up and down) YES!
I love it. Thank you so much next weekend. I’m doing it. I’m watching a YouTube video on 10 steps to paint your own house. I can’t wait to show you the results. Thank you so much. Question, since my windows are trimmed and black right now, do I just prime over the black and then paint white? If this is a better question for the paint store, I get it.

And yes, I totally agree. That landscaping is a big aspect. I did put bushes and plants in, but they are small so it will take a year before they are substantial and make that difference I plan to dig out how long the walkway as well and add some plants in there later this summer

I’m single and work for the state so I have to do everything by myself but I don’t want a crappy looking house so I truly truly appreciate your help

Plus, bigger sconce and bigger numbers😉

To me the biggest eye sore is the small window in the fe left of the photo and the roof slant contrasted with no flat slant on the other side of that section. a a simple solution to me would be to plant a small tree there to obscure that and let the eye go to the rest of the house which doesn’t present any visual design flaws that are glaring in my opinion. Other idea is to make that small window match the larger, but that may not be possible if it’s a bathroom etc.

Ahh. Plant a small tree at that open space between the small window and the door? Or a big enough tree to cover that part of the roof?

I wouldn't worry too much about planting a tree for now, start with the painting,and give your new landscaping a chance to grow, and then you'll see....

I think tall bushes that perhaps extend all along that side of the front of the house under the small window would help aesthetically. I was mistaken about the roof eve, it does match the other side right, it was the angle of the pic that confused me.

@lisedv here’s my finished product. I just looked at your mock up and I see you have my flower boxes white and door frames white. I haven’t found a bigger light or numbers yet either.

Very nice change, you've worked hard! Yes adding more white is what makes the grey stand out and not look dull. So yes I would paint the door frames white (even the front door would look nicer in white), as well the flower boxes, the vertical planks on the corners of the siding, and at the roof line (you can also paint the gutter white along the roof line but leave them gray where they run down against the gray siding).

Wow! That looks great! The house looks fresh and happy.

For a bigger outside light, look at LampsPlus.com, Wayfair, Overstock, or shop locally.

Keep it simple. The fixture should be 1/3 the size of your door.

These are just some looks to consider, not necessary these exact ones. Many outdoor lights have motion features, or can use dusk to dawn bulbs. If you live in the North, where it’s cold and dark at 4:30 pm, coming home to a lighted front area is nice.

Looks great! I would put a colorful welcome mat on the front stoop.

Thank you. I have so much hope for my home now. It WAS hard work but so worth it. I def have touch-ups to do but they’ll have to wait til next week😏

I really love my turquoise door. Is there any way to brighten it up without painting it white?would it look weird if I framed it in white?

If you don't want to paint the door white paint the frame white like all other doors and windows.

I love the turquoise door too. Paint the framing white as @lisedv suggested.

White, gray, black, etc would help to reduce the apparent size of a large complex house.

For a small plain cottage I would add a real color.

The color can be subtle but strong enough to show off white trim and light enough to contrast with dark decks and shutters.

Can you give me an example or show me a picture of what you mean?

The door is a fabulous color - paint the trim and the window Bo’s white, and get a BIG colorful welcome mat which will really anchor the eye at the door.

And a more substantial light fixture!

You've done such great work here and your house looks wonderful!

About the landscaping; I agree it will help a lot. If you're like me, you are good at buying plants, planting them, and taking care of them but terrible at designing a good working garden! My unsolicited advice:

• Find a good nursery (not a big box store, but an independently owned nursery) in your area that provides free landscape design advice (I think most do - their website should tell you). Take pictures of your house to said nursery and ask them to help you design the landscaping. They should be able to recommend an overall landscape design - just be ready to take notes and then take pictures of the plants they recommend including the tags with the full plant names so you can find them and buy them as you are able. Of course, there are wonderful people on Houzz who will provide advice and pictures too. I like the nursery approach because they are in your immediate area and know your climate and other specifics.
• Before you go, think about how much work you want to do to maintain a garden; be clear about this in your conversation at the nursery. Look at garden pictures and start an idea book on Houzz to get ideas of what makes you happy in a garden.
• At the nursery, I would ask for options to always have something blooming, a variety of foliage color across seasons (including a variety of greens in spring and summer), and interesting textures. If you know you love certain plants, tell the nursery that so they can help you to incorporate them. Incorporate some evergreen plants and interesting bark for winter. The nursery will recommend plants that are good for your region and amount of light in front of your house, etc.
• I think planting a tree sooner vs later will help because it will anchor everything else, and the sooner you plant it the sooner it will reach maturity. Be sure to pick a tree that scales well with the size of your house and complements vs overwhelms it. The nursery can help with that. There are some fast-growing varieties out there so you can pick a smaller (i.e., less costly) tree that will grow and fill in more quickly.

The nice thing about landscaping is the process can take as long as it takes. You can add plants as you are ready and able. Start with the foundation plants (shrubs and (a) tree(s) and fill in around them.

That is VERY GOOD landscaping advice! ^^^^^

I love that advice kellie_dyslin. You read my mind because I’m so overwhelmed by this whole process but everyone on here has been so incredibly helpful. The plants situation is just ugly. Right after I bought the house I found a site on marketplace that had $10 foundation plants and I went and bought 12 of them. I dug out an area that I pulled out of my butt and planted the plants willy-nilly. It’s just ugly. At least they were only $10 apiece because since then the deer around here have eaten half of them and the other half just don’t work. I’m trying to take a breather, because I am afraid my latest decisions have been quick to act and slow to think.

I like your idea of going to a local nursery. We have an abundance around here. And I like the idea of starting with a tree and maybe a couple foundation plants. Thank you for your thoughts and the time you put into the message. I will take it as seriously as I have the other great advice on here. Thank you. I posted my latest picture of the house. I did find a bigger light and should get that up in the next couple days. I also found 7 inch black numbers that I will be getting up as well and I’ll post a picture. I’m going to start a little notebook diary of these ideas and print them out and add pictures. Thanks again.

@Sunny Fields, Houzz needs an "empathy" button. My advice is based on many years of screwing up, moving plants and digging up dead ones. Hopefully, it saves you some of that. ;) House is looking great!

It looks so much better!! Love the front door.🙂

Thank you