Tracy, I’m no pro, but I would not paint the bay window brick to make it “pop”. What state are you in? (I ask because I would paint a house differently in Fla than I would in MT, same goes for décor.) For one thing I would suggest improving your walkway form curb to house…..make it wider, not so straight, maybe border with some plants….I don’t know your budget, but maybe consult a landscape architect? Or search Houzz for photos…..you’ll find a look you like here!

Get rid of the shutters to start. No to painting some of the Brick. Decide what the home wants to be… it has a traditional ranch shape with a bay window, picture windows, Victorian door… it’s a little of everything. I would put on a simple wood door with glass (not craftsman), get rid of the shutters, and paint the trim a darker olive or putty tone that blends with the brick but is darker to provide some contrast.

Making it pop will not matter if the house cannot be seen. Start with getting rid of most of those trees.

It's a beautiful house. Don't paint anything except the shutters. I'd go with a muted, grayish turquoise. Widen your path. One way to do it is to add a border of bricks. Get brighter cushions for your porch furniture.

Millworkman you heathen! Those are lovely trees. First thing I did when I bought my corner lot was plant four live oaks and a ginkgo to hide me from the street (I take your point that clearcutting and planting grass would make the house show up more but to what end?)

Lighter, brighter color on the front door or on the siding in the entry area. Or both. Coordinate the shutter color with the new porch/ door colors.

Revamp/ remove the curb landscaping and change the sidewalk as suggested above. New, different mailbox, possibly relocated. Brick monoliths along the curb trouble me in that if someone is involved in even a minor traffic mishap, I don't want my mailbox being the cause of even more serious damage, injury, life altering injury or even death.

Those are Live Oak trees in Texas, shade much needed. I’m guessing this house is in the Hill Country.

OP, don’t paint any of the brick.

Can you get a closer and clearer picture of the front door area and of the brick?

Such a nice house on a great lot! I agree with @HALLETT & Co. — i think an update would involve cleaing up some of the details, not adding more -

I would remove the shutters also, and i think a professional landscape plan is a great idea. Even small things like the window treatment in the bay windows makes an impression - hard to see what is there now, but the blinds(?) makes the windows look closed off/unwelcoming (at least in the top photo) — I think your plan to change the front door is a great idea

I would eliminate the mailbox cairn, widen and relandscape the walkway and focus on the now very difficult to see front door area. I would replace the Victorian door either with glass as @HALLETT & Co. suggested or something painted a color. Is there dark siding in the entry area? I would lighten that, I think. The house is very serene - just looks rather dark and ... dark?

Sorry, it's definitely not Craftsman. Like the other commenters I can't recommend painting brick (yours is not ugly) and emphasizing the bay windows would not enhance the appearance of this house. I can suggest power washing the brick if this isn't something you already do regularly. You have gotten some good advice, follow up on the parts that work for you. Landscaping can be expensive, but you can spread the work out over a couple years and it pays off as far as your future enjoyment of your house and whenever you sell. Everyone's landscaping deteriorates over time, bushes become overgrown or die, so we all need to work on it every 5-10 years and maintain it in between.

I think you’re house looks great! My suggestions would be to NOT paint the brick or emphasize he bay window with paint. I would change the front door (now you have a Victorian door on a ranch house), address the landscaping, and change the sidewalk leading up to your house. Good luck!

I agree with keeping the trees (maybe prune some branches…. professionally!) …don’t paint the shutters any kind of turquoise unless you’re in Fla, but do get a nice, wooden front door, with glass. House is definitely not Craftsman. Where again are you?

Thank you everyone for the great ideas!!! I live in San Antonio, Texas so my Live Oak trees are important to me. In fact, I've spent thousands to save them from Oak Wilt. With the treatments, I've still lost 6 trees so you can see the replacements. I have always wanted a circular driveway but I am not willing to cut down the trees unless they perish. Love, Love, Love the idea of bigger walkway and just don't know how to make it flow with the front. When it rains (not often enough), water builds up on the sidewalk by the brick wall in front of the window and floods the walkway. I hate the brick wall in front of the window and it was covered with cast iron plants and pretty yellow flowers until we had a freeze. I've been door shopping but couldn't decide on a style. Now I understand why. :) I feel like the porch is what needs an update. Thanks again for all your help!!!

This is a landscaping issue, not a house issue, IMO. And yes, this is not a Craftsman home. Think about creating a stunning walkway leading to the front door from the street, including lights and plantings. A few ideas:

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Good for you, Tracy! Yes, save the trees!😉

I would get rid of the shutters and you could place some pottery up on your Brick by your porch and I would paint my front door a turquoise or a tail and I also think your Shades or drapes should be a whiter and ivory from the street side cuz somebody might think they're doors you could also plant some low type of bushes a few of them

I also think the tree in the front near the porch looks too close to the roof and it's in b line of the door needs to go it don't look welcoming make sure you have good Lighting on your porch that it throws enough light and your house numbers need to be visible

Actually I think you can get rid at least three trees that doesn't block your front view of the house you don't want any tree limbs too close to the roof

I love all the suggestions to widen the path and add curves that weave through the landscape. I’d contact a landscape architect to help connect the path with the porch to make it more of a welcoming destination.

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OMG your trees are beautiful- definitely keep them! i second removing the shutters, getting a new door.

I would cut the trees down , they distract from the house and are in front of the windows , they are terribly placed as they obscure the house design and look and are much too close to the house / roof . .
I know everybody always wants to save the trees ..and if you can move them , do , but if not , I would cut them down and use them for firewood for the next 5 years …… then do some landscaping and look at your house again . It’s a lovely house !

And I would remove the mailbox construction …!

It’s unanimous- it’s a landscaping problem. And you need a new door.

I understand why the brick wall in front of the patio is annoying you, but that, too, is a landscaping issue. You need to treat that brick wall as if it were the edge of your house. Low bushes mixed with flowers will make that a focus (in a good way).

To find the right walkway design, you need to consult a professional. Taking photos of the perimeter of the house will help you get landscaping ideas. We know you’re in Texas so that narrows down the plants that will thrive.

If you even pick up a paint brush to cover that brick, we will drive down and stop you. That’s such an “HGTV” knee jerk reaction to a brick house challenge. Your brick is NICE! If it needs power washing, have a professional do it so the mortar doesn’t get ruined. We cleaned our brick house and the little bit of white siding we have got really WHITE. The moss and dirt added to the overall feeling that the house was “dirty”.

Some of us can post ideas for a new door to help you envision it. If you take a close up of your entry, with good light, there are posters who are good at photoshopping.

As the owner of a light colored brick home in the same climate. Power wash your house, mailbox, walkway and curb. Then repost some pics again and go from there. Front door and trim color changes everything with pale brick. Also post picture with trees leafed out, if you have one.

What about adding black? Black door, black window trim, black planters...maybe a long one. It would sure highlight your pretty brick. A bench out by the mailbox would be inviting also. I think there is an episode of Fixer Upper where they took out a brick wall that is similar to yours.

You've had good advice that improved landscaping is what's needed. Mostly hardscaping - reassess the behemoth stone 'mailbox' - it blocks the streetview and completely throws off the balance of your home. Perhaps you could deconstruct and rebuild a pair of modest stature (1-2ft) stone bases from the materials you're able to reclaim. Reinstall an attractive mailbox on one post and an equal scale lamp on the other. If cost is a concern, widen the walkway by simply edging/ removing a foot of lawn on both sides of the current path; then top with gravel/ pea-stone / mulch for example. You could add interest by dotting with clumping native grass or small boulders- keep to low growing varieties so the house feels welcoming. Have fun - your house is lovely

Yes, black should be in consideration for your door. Power washing the house may give you a new perspective on other color ideas.

When it rains (not often enough), water builds up on the sidewalk by the brick wall in front of the window and floods the walkway. I hate the brick wall in front of the window

If the brick wall is acting as a dam and trapping water between the wall and the house, then it absolutely needs to be demolished. Whatever the case, since you don't like it, remove it. It isn't doing much and can go away without any bad affect.

I didn't realize that the porch area was brick when I suggested painting that area. I assumed a dark stained siding looking at the first set of photos. Rescinding that suggestion; don't paint brick, please!

I would change the front door & paint it a light bright pretty color. Possibly paint the entry area soffit white to help lighten the entry area. Remove the dark shutters on the double windows in the entry area. White lined window coverings on those two windows. That will help lighten up the area. Then add some bright flowering plants when weather permits.

NO to anything black in south Texas. Cool light sagey greens for all of the trim/ door would be lovely with the brick. The current beige is a bit of a downer.

What is going on over the bay window? It looks odd. Can you post a photo of that area?

Ci_lantro,

Thank you for all the great ideas!! Here are the pictures of the bay window hip. I also added a picture of the left and right side of the house. I have that silly short wall there too and want to knock them down. On the right side, I didn't know if I should put boards or wrought iron for fencing. I'm not sure you can see, but on the far left side, we enclosed it with wrought iron at the end of the driveway. What would you do?

You might want to use a charcoal gray (the tone will be important - it can’t be too cool due to the color of the brick) on the trim. That can give the house more depth. Right now it’s all the same color.

If water is collecting in front of the brick wall then you must redirect it with landscaping. If you remove the wall but don’t give the water somewhere else to go, it will flow right up to the porch. Again, a professional landscaper can help with this problem. Keep it on your list of things to consider when landscaping.

Someone loved building walls for that house! If you plant beautiful bushes in front of all of them, they will have more purpose. Not sure if knowing them all down is a good idea. I’m envisioning azalea bushes everywhere to add color - and they can be trimmed to stay at a perfect height for these myriad walls.

Ah, nothing wrong with the bay window roof. It just looked weird in the first photos because I was mistaking the flashing for something else.