Is your house brick all around or just the front? Were you unable to match the existing brick for your addition?

It is brick all around and can't match it.

Gosh, I hope you don't do anything to that beautiful brick! I would think the addition could be done in a stunning Hardi siding color that compliments with the brick. Looks beautiful out front, so perhaps you've considered a paver driveway and some colorful flowers out front?

Don’t even try to match that brick. Go siding…all the way…with your addition. That way, each stands on its own merits. Your home is lovely. Wait until your addition is done. Then…see how you can pull it all together. Don’t go wild with your addition. Listen to the aesthetic of the front of your home: windows, trims, etc. But they needn’t match. You know, in the preservation world…the idea is to NOT match. Do not TRY to match. To acknowledge that THIS is the original house. This is the addition. Deal with it. So. Be honest. Add your addition. Own the difference. And then…move on!

I agree about leaving the brick as is. It is really nice looking so why add extra maintenance. No shutters because it looks like they would only fit on the left. I would just enhance your landscaping in that area and add new front door.

Can they save any of the brick when they add on? Even just a small amount could be accents with siding.

Your house is lovely! The brick looks like it is in good condition. I agree with those above who say to make the addition out of some type/color of siding that complements the brick. I would go with something that is plain and has no pattern -- plain stucco, or some type of wood siding. If you stain or paint your garage door to look like wood, maybe you can make the addition with wood that matches the color of the garage doors. (I don't know if you can "gel stain" a garage door unless it's made out of wood.) I think a color for the addition that is a kind of dark redwood color might look good with the brick, but I'm not a designer so I'm just guessing. Something light might be too jarring and might contrast too much with the brick. I notice that you seem to have some sort of chimney that is a light cream color. Eventually, it should match the type and color of the siding of the new addition.

New landscaping in front will add a lot to the appearance of your house. Plants that are more loose and fluffy instead of the round bush balls, and several small trees, placed well away from the house, seem like they would be better than what you have now. Getting a design from a landscape designer would be worth the money. Good luck!

This house needs landscaping not limewash. Why does the front path not reach the driveway?

No shutters....they do not fit the style of your house. When you do the addition, save any bricks removed during the process and use those along with a similar color siding. I can't comment on garage doors as we can't see them. As for front door, wait until you have your new roof on and then decide on a color. Next, you are in desparate need of new landscaping with color rather than sad green bushes. Finally, your driveway needs serious attention.

when i look at the house all i see is the left side, the one window grouping is inconsitent with the right side of the house, which has much more detail ( although it is a bit hidden from the street view. focus on that section. the brick dominates the look, so maybe remove the brick on that section and use the same texture as what you put on the adfition. what about a vertical wood application?? You would be toning down thebrick in the overall look.this would give the house a more modern look. the roof lines would support this look. maybe a darker roof? if you remove the brick on that area now is the time to think about making the window change and placement. i think part of that area is the garage. garages can have windows. (you need to add detail on the outside, think about what works from the inside too).

the comments regarding landscaping are spot on, frankly, there isnt any! i have no idea where you are located. are you in a fire zone? if you arent, add some detail all around the house. think dogwoods ( white would be nice) japanese maples ( they come in great dark reds), birch ( the bark is a gorgeous textured white), japanese snowbell ( gorgeous when they flower). make sure you repeat what you choose, maybe a grove of birch ( they grow big) . for perennial color think daylilies, hosta, and tall grasses would be great for texture. its whatever you like and can handle.

the driveway looks narrow. it it should is be a bit wider. that wpuld make it much more elegant. add trees throughout the front yard, accenting the generous driveway. you have plenty of space. you can group plantings into a large bed too. hire a landscape designer, definately worth the investment. So many great options.

improving the landscsping will take your eye off the house. you will see it all as more cohesive.

In terms of front door color and garage doors, start with the bigger changes, once design is done, youll see what you want for color. the color of the brick is setting your perimeter.

overall, you have a great start, think of yourself as adding detail and interest.

its all about you and what you like!

Thanks one and all for your comments. I will definitely be addressing the landscaping and driveway but focused on the house now. We bought it from an estate sale and it needs alot of updating. It sits in the middle of 15 acres and the drive into the property is lovely as it is lined by pear trees and there is a pond on 1 side but to me the house just looks so out of place in the country with all the red brick and black roof so just looking for ideas. The chimney will be gone when the roof is replaced but the windows are staying.