I think it just needs some color around the door with plants or flowers in pots. You could paint the door a bright color but it's not always easy to pick something out to go with beige.

In some ways I think the posts would look more substantial if they matched the lighter color on the soffit and fascia, right now they blend in. I know the stained column is popular right now, but they are kind of disappearing and also really the only structural thing that color. A lantern near the door would be nice, but it looks like you are not wired for that.

Congratulations! The house looks very well maintained. I like the idea of beefing up the posts. Will you post a wide view of the house as well? Will you be keeping the stone treatment on the gable and the top of the garage or do you need ideas for that as well?

Beefing up the posts is a good idea, so that it looks like they might actually be capable of holding up stone. I wonder what it would look like to clad them in brick or the same stone veneer?

I wonder if you can extend the door threshold out over the porch a bit? As it is, the door seems to be floating in the wall.

Congratulations on your new home! You must be so excited!

I wouldn't introduce black. Let the posts recede--brown does the trick. I might change the shutters to a beige to repeat the color in the stone work and front door. Put hanging baskets on the posts.

I'd focus on the landscaping. What's there is going to grow out of balance to each other. I would move the grasses to the edge of the sidewalk leading to the front door to soften the line. You might be able to divide them and make three plants, but if that's hakone grass, it might not like it there unless it gets afternoon shade. I would also plant something taller with an open structure in the back of that bed. Here in the PNW it would probably be a small Japanese maple. You'll need some shrubs under the window. I would keep them low and uniform. You might need a tree or evergreen on the corner of the house which is out of view.

I would want to remove that stone cladding on the gables, because it just screams fake. Real stone wouldn't be floating up there with no real support!

@chispa

I am uncertain if the stone is real or artificial but likely won’t be a first change either way.

Yes, landscaping is necessary however the facing is south and summers are hot - since we’re relocating from northern IL it will be necessary to learn proper plants.

Appreciate the feedback. Like the post lamp suggestion. Thank you @palimpsest.

I too think the biggest issue is the stone; which looks like it is over the garage too, and it does not go al the wal to the corner? It looks out of place with the brick. I would either try to paint it to blend in or remove it and put wood shingles there?

In the meantime, plants in a pot always does wonders!

Congrats, Fnm! I remember your backyard video and how gorgeous your yard was, I know you’ll have this house transformed. :)

I like the idea of beefier columns, too, and your front door idea. I think wood or wood-look garage doors would look fantastic.

Is the back of the house brick, too, or is there any siding? If siding, are you wanting to paint it, too?

Jmho, but if you go with a darker color, I’d look for one on the dark brown side. BM Black Fox, Urbane Bronze … along those lines.

It looks fine as is, maybe live with a bit before deciding? See how the light hits at various times, etc.

The real question is — what about your murder mystery parties? Those threads were so fun. :)

Nice house and congratulations!

I agree with what others are saying. Part of the problem with this style house is the garages are so prominent and the front door -- which you want to be most prominent -- isn't. So anything you can do to add interest, color, and importance to the front entrance would be good. One thing that bothers me is the squareness of the sidewalk. No one walks like that. And having it so close to the garage door is never where anyone steps out of a car. Pulling it back some from the garage and making it more curved would soften the look and be more practical. I agree that beefing up the columns even with trim top and bottom would help, but they could be larger in diameter as the mass they are holding up seems out of proportion now. I would definitely add foundation plantings along the left side of the house. I'm assuming there is some kind of light fixture in the overhang. If there's any way of adding an interesting fixture without interfering with the storm door could also add interest.

It looks like the porch extends all the way to the right to the wall. If so, you can add a chair there to make it more welcoming and hang a metal or other weatherproof decorative object on the wall to help balance out the window on the left. I don't have a problem with the dark brown. It's not bad, but it's not outstanding either. I'm always a fan of a saturated color on the front door. Your palette is so neutral, you can go in any direction you want. Think about any color you might add in the bushes/flowers and coordinate with that perhaps.

Wonderful house, just has a bit much going on with the brick, stone and shingles. Wonderful house! Remove the shutters. Pick a paler trim color and use it for all trim and garage doors. When you are due for a new roof, pick a darker color that is very consistent and has little variation. A dark roof will not heat up the house because you have decking and insulation. A pretty rug for the front stoop and use a color from the rug for the front door. The stone is veneer and can be replaced if you want.

Moving the sidewalk out away from the building would allow space to put a plant there and soften that corner as well. I chose the red from geraniums, but it may not be your thing. Any color will work, but I think this shows how you can draw attention to the front door.

Oh, and congratulations on your new home!

Particularly if this is the style of the surrounding houses, I would not be too concerned about its placement in the gables. It has good company and fits into it's environs if that is the local style.

When someone is in the planning stages of building, I know I will discourage people from putting stone up in the air like this, or to see if there is some way to put multiple finishes on to meet the requirements of the neighborhood or association. But once it's done, I know my own inclination to remove a cladding material off a new (or new to me) house, for purely cosmetic purposes would be about Zero.

It's there and it is not particularly high contrast against the brick, they generally blend together and I don't think anybody is under the illusion that a house of this kind is solid brick or solid stone, and they know the surfaces are all decorative. And some people probably don't know that you could actually build a solid brick or stone house anymore because this is the norm.

Thank you everyone for your consultation, suggestions and thoughts. Rome wasn’t built in a day so making it ours will require time. Last home was ours for 27 years and we still had ideas. And we will be patient making modifications. Home is 3- years old and was built by a tradesman/original owner who added premium upgrades but has a man’s taste. LOL! Thus the necessary welcome Entrance is a priority.

@jilly - Murder Mystery dinners will take a break until local participants are aquired. Unfortunately in the downsizing most of my formal dining was sacrificed. Themes will be adjusted accordingly.

I envy the future invitees!

I hope you both love your new house and neighborhood. Looking forward to seeing the changes you make.

Congratulations on your new home! I think you do much simply by changing the door as you mentioned, additional landscaping, etc. without going to the expense of changing a sidewalk, etc. I can see possibly a green front door - i would get some samples of various shades.

I would definitely beef up the posts. If you don't have wiring for a light, I would think about adding a light and using the new light bulbs people have been using in sconces, etc. (I have them bookmarked on my phone I think - I will check). Also I would probably do larger lights on either side of the garage doors.

Thats a beautiful mock up Annie. You are very talented and always have good suggestions.

Perhaps you could add railings on the left and across the right front and make an enclosed porch. The additional wooden structure of a porch may give the illusion of beefed-up support columns without having to actually change them. So I really like the idea of an actual porch instead of an open entry with two plain posts. Also, in my neighborhood, those posts are capped top and bottom with 6" trim, so I'd at least add trim.

Congratulations on your beautiful new home. You must be plenty busy (and excited) planning your move.

I don't know if I'd beef up the posts or paint them a different color. I kinda like Pal's suggestion of painting them the same color as the fascia. In any event, painting them would be minimal cost and effort.

A little landscaping can help a lot. The existing bed along the garage wall is very pretty. Yes, sometimes plants outgrow their space...ask me how I know. Something similar under the window on the left would soften your facade and add color.

Where I live, most newer houses have the same walkway as yours, leading from the driveway, making a right turn, and going to the front door. I had mine changed, both in materials and shape, when I had a major landscaping redo in my front yard 12 years ago. It was the most expensive part of the landscaping. I would do it again, but you can certainly put it on a would-be-nice-someday list.

I also come from the land of prominent, forward thrusting garages. It can't be disguised, so I treat mine as kindly as possible. I eventually added a garage door with lights (windows) and new lamps and number. I don't think dark dark doors will make it recede. It only makes the doors into black holes that suck everything into them.

If you don't have wiring near your front door for a light, is it impossible with brick siding to add later? A pretty porch lamp would look nice.

Have a happy move and many happy days in your new house!

Just wanted to wish you good luck in your new home. I do like the idea of beefing up the posts, and Mtn's idea of plants in pots go a long way.

I have no original ideas for you but you are one of the few posters whose names I can clearly remember. ( you had that dark blue powder room at some point, right? )

@salonva - Thank you and, Yes, that was our Powder Room. Glad it was memorable.

What a beautiful home! agree with others who pointed out the fake stone cladding above the door cheapens your entry. add lighting and plants and paint the columns the same as the fascia. more fake stone would take this in the wrong direction.