I wouldn't do the color blocking. I don't think you want to highlight the different siding materials with 2 very different colors.

Another option with doors and windows painted black.

I borrowed Celery's rendering to visualize painting an all white house.

I think the simplicity gives the eye some relief from the paver patterns.

The siding materials would give enough interest.

Another option is to go with horizontal overhang as balcony. There are tons of balcony railing options to consider.

@Celery Visualization

Yes I also had that idea but the OP mentioned ideas without breaking the bank so didn't show it but yours look very nice! I actually think this is the nicest option!

This is gorgeous!😍
I wish! Maybe when we add the extension on the top.

Agree with @chispa and others - I would go simple with the home and add interest with updated landscaping

With or without shutters, the gray and white options look best with your driveway. I was thinking about larger light fixtures and newer Landscaping under the living room windows. I feel like the house if all gray and white needs something to warm it up a little. The black flower pots don't look bad at all, but maybe it needs something in a warm wood tone for the front door.

The look of the balcony idea on your house with french doors to replace the windows on a stucco background replacing the siding..

Love all these ideas but the balcony and window replacement is a bit out of budget right now. I do like the idea of the garage metal roof overhang and seriously considering this. I have a contractor coming this week to quote a price. Anyone have an opinion on how this would look on my house style/shape? And BIG thank you to everyone for all the ideas. Very much appreciated.

Something like this

I noticed that all the examples I found online have the pointed roofs

@Leah B

Houzz friends -

First off, a huge thank you to everyone for your helpful advice—I truly appreciate it! I've settled on a darker white paint for the house but am still debating the garage door color. I'm leaning toward something like SW Anonymous, a deep, moody greige.

We weren’t able to add the overhang, but we’re making some updates by removing the shutters and enhancing the trim around the garage and windows to add more character to the exterior.

Now for the big question—do you think board and batten would work in the vinyl sided areas above the garage and picture window? Would love to hear your thoughts!

If you want a vertical treatment, slats would seem more appropriate than board and batten.

Natural wood tones like lisedv shows in their proposal. A nice natural color since you are bringing the the nature inspired Anonymous with its green undertone.

Here's the look of your house in SW Anonymous you're considering with board and batten.

It begs the question what is the name of the darker white paint you are using?

@lisedv - huge thank you for mocking this up! I like the vertical siding look and think it works. As far as colors go, I tested Anonymous today and it wasn't a fan fave among my husband and contractor. I'm lost. Especially because I need to tie in the picture window area. I can't seem to find a palette that speaks to me.

@tracefloyd - I am looking at shoji white, ballet white and similar creamier whites.

What if you painted the garage door a charcoal darker than what you presently have and, instead of the roof overhang, build a pergola above the garage doors which wouldn't be very expensive.

@lisedv - As a compromise with my husband about building the overhang, we decided on adding trim (pic to follow). It's a bit more traditional but it looks really nice in person. With my plan to paint the house white, even with a contrasting brighter white, the detail in the trim will likely get lost. Any ideas with this in mind? Do I paint the garage the same color as the house and add a darker color to to the trim (maybe BM Soot)? Kind of like what you did with the window trim.

With the trim around the garage

Idea I saw for around the picture window

I find the bay window too traditional for your home. How about something like this? Just paint and a new wood front door.

Wow wow! Am I this bold? lol. It would also stick out like a sore thumb in my community. What about this color around garage trim, garage door and window trim? Maybe that could work?

We’re not changing the window - that photo was my inspiration for the board and batton 😊

Which colour do you mean? and do you prefer white or a dark trim for the windows and garage doors?

Sorry you don't like the last post for a contemporary look - I thought that was pretty cool on your house with all the pavers, show me houses on your street.

Hi - No, no I love it! Its bold and beautiful but asking myself if I could really pull it off - meaning am I bold enough to do this?!

The color I meant was the dark soot. Could i paint the trim and/or the garage doors this color with a white house? My dilemma is that I prefer white trim but the new moulding work will not standout with white trim on a white house.

All the houses are some variation of this. Tons of traditional brick split style homes. I’m the only one on my block that actually has painted brick.

Just to show how your house would look in your area. With the colours being subdued I think it would fit nicely and maybe tempt your neighbours to update their home as well.

I'll look into your paint colour request later...

Not sure this is what you're thinking of but the trim is dark on the garage doors and windows.

One choice or the other, they both fit in the neighbourhood...

I think the all gray colour scheme is a more sophisticated look.

@lisedv -omg, you are amazing with the renderings. thank you!

Ok, I'm really thinking about the dark color - everyone I've shown this to, loves it. It's just such a drastic change so I have to get used to the idea. Did you use BM Soot?

@lisedv Ok, last one, please :)

What about a medium gray like BM Chelsea Gray all over, white trim around the windows, gutters, the garage door and where the siding meets the brick. And lastly, a dark gray/black like Iron Mountain on the garage door?

this is the one I used BM Soot. Is this the one you're talking about:

I'm a little confused because it's not such a big change from what you presently have except for having the shutters removed and dark gray trim instead of white.

Or did you mean this one which is more of a change?

It never ceases to amaze me how a commentator feels it necessary to negate another's suggestion.

That gray-on-gray with the touch of white and a wood door by @lisedv is stunning!

BM Chelsea Gray has a touch of brown-green undertone - also nice!

@lisedv - thank you as always! I went to pick up more samples today of Chelsea gray, wrought iron and iron mountain. I'm also testing out a lighter gray (thunder cloud gray) I'll send pictures!

Great! keep us posted on your testing!

I noticed in one of your photos the pavers have an undertone of color. Make sure your paint undertone works with them. I'm sure you probably took that into consideration but I worry that the wrong color could make one or the other look off.

It definitely looks like the Chelsea gray is warmer. Looking forward to seeing samples IRL.

Hi - I am back! Things were a little hectic over here and the weather was awful (cold, windy and rainy). I finally got some samples up and what we all seem to agree on the most is BM Coventry Gray. It's light so theres no drama there like with the other darker colors but it's nice and reads well in different sunlight. Pictures coming...

During different times of the day. Ignore the middle color (thundercloud gray). Its reads too purple

More options

we're going to narrow down and paint the entire side one color to get more of an effect. I think the two contenders are Chelsea Gray and Coventry Gray

Darker color is Coventry. Lighter colors are gray owl and Stonington gray

Seeing the siding go up almost makes me want to leave it white and paint the brick only... Maybe just on that one side around the window?

My preference is definitely Chelsea Gray.

I also prefer the vertical siding in the same gray rather than white which looks choppy to me.

VERSUS

I do see a warm tan in the pavers so go with a warm tone paint. Some of the samples look blue/gray they are such a cool tone and clash with the pavers.

The board and batten is lovely.

@tracefloyd Sorry, I meant to respond to this. Yes, you're right. In person, the pavers on the steps definitely have warm griege tones while the driveway is gray and charcoal. It's pretty dirty right now and needs a power wash but the true color is gray. The steps are in bad shape (risers are crumbling) and we've already patched twice so the goal is to replace this soon with onyx natural and blue stone threads. With that in mind, I don't want to incorporate them too much but you're right on thinking this through when considering the color.

Chelsea Gray will be more dramatic and special. Can’t go wrong with either. And yes, the vertical siding looks great.