The upper shutter is a mistake but this is what ChatGPT showed when I put in the information

Bronze color might be prettier than black. Will you be able to open the window without damaging flower box plants?

Whatever you decide, I highly recommend taller plants on the right side. All that brick and such a tiny window look like too much of a blank canvas.

@nova- agree on the brick- I have an Oakleaf hydrangea that will get 6ft tall.. but that’s why I was thinking shutters

@millworkman didn’t think of the brick discoloration. You think adding shutters to just that one window would look silly?

Yes to the green door. No to the black window box, railings, and shutters on only one window. The window box might work, but think of it as an accessory like the flower pots, and not part of the house.

Is the siding and window trim vinyl?

Black is too severe. for anything. The white is too stark. A charcoal grey leaning purple would be nice. no Shutters on just one window, no room for others. hang a flag in your bracket.

plant tall slim evergreens to soften the wall.

I'd put large pots against the house, not on the sidewalk. No need to match the bricks that highlight the door frame, compliment them.

I would change out the light fixture above the front door to a wider, shorter down light.

Paint the railing a hammered bronze (Rustoleum®)

The addition of the bow window was IMO a mistake for this home. I have changed it back to a picture window with casement windows on the sides. Casement windows were a bad call on this house.

This is a Cape Cod when the proportions are correct.

@BeverlyFLADeziner thank you for offering that visual. The bow window was installed by the previous homeowners. Why are casement windows a bad choice??

@woodrose thank you for your opinion/ideas. And that's what I was thinking of the window box as - an accessory for the house. Is it not? I'm confused. Also, what color would you paint the railings and front door then?

@Lyn Nielson what do you mean to put flower pots against the house and not on sidewalk? I Iike the light fixture recommendation and the railing too! Thanks! Just not sure on the door color. I attached a pic of the side of the stairs to show how I have a plant that is planted in the back. It's brand new and supposed to get 6-8ft tall, and only 3 ft wide

I suggest picking-up on the red bricks around the door for more punch! Install a larger black sconce above the door, large street numbers, and paint the railing black Bring more colour with flowers in your flowerbed. If you go ahead with the window box, I would opt for white like the window frames.

I think the house will look odd with just one window with shutters. And it would not look good with skinny shutters on the dormers or any shutters on the bay window.

You don't need a window box. Window boxes are hard to keep looking nice. I'd put a small tree on the right corner. You want it far enough from the house to not be a problem when full grown.

I think the white railing looks good with your white trim.

@sigrid thanks! The window box I was thinking on is a Mayne brand that is not wood but a polyethylene material that’s supposed to be weather resistant

I think that contrasting stair railings is a mistake. I'd paint them the color of the main brick so that the accent bricks are the showpiece. No to the windowbox, yes, to moving the planters up next to the door.

The problem with window boxes is that they heat up in the sun, whereas soil usually stays cooler on hot days, particularly below the surface. Window boxes can be hard to keep well-watered on hot days, because there's a limited amount of soil. So, you often had to keep updating the plantings. Unless you live in a tropical or subtropical climate, they are hard to keep looking nice in the winter. Not much will grow. Evergreen branches will eventually brown. If you don't have drainage holes, they may have too much water after a lot of rain, drowning your plants. If you do, the dirty water can weep down your house walls.

This is what I meant by hard to keep looking nice. I find time and energy put into a garden in the ground is much more rewarding than a window box. I've noticed that window boxes are much more commonly seen in photoshopped pictures than in real life.

And you won't be able to open your window without brushing or crushing your plants.

I like the green door, and while I dont mind the shuitters, they really look out of place on your house because you cant balance them on the front of your house. The window box I leave up to you, but, please no black. You have a brown roof, use a very dark brown or a brown similar to your house for the railings and the window box, and a bronze for light fixtures. You are trying to put colors that you really like without thinking if the house will like them. Remember if you do add the window box, that you need to water those plants, and keep it overflowing with color. They dry out quickly in window boxes.

Great! You are on the right track for the plantings in back.

Here's a nice smaller light fixture. this one is from Build. but you'll find one you like.

I would choose a color like these for the front door. The dark was just a nice NOT BLACK color rather than a real black. Hang a window box if you like... you can always fill it with faux flowers and greens (people do it all the time)

@sigrid I totally get it- thank you! That window gets part sun- say 4-6 hours only. The rest of the day it’s shaded by two giant pin oaks on my neighbors property.

@sigridas seen here. Our houses are close together so a tree wouldn’t really work here unfortunately.

I think the house is lovely as is. The white trim is nice and the white door is beautiful.

I would use white everywhere so spray paint the planters and use white flowers. White shutters.

I don't have software but here is my sketch:

If you want to do the suggested trim on each side of the door.

To the eye the white is a relief from all the yellow and brown.

Nice home. I'm not in love with the contrasting brick work on either side of the door. I'd create an extra wide door trim that covers them up. Paint the door trim and railings the same color, and the door a different color. (I'd prefer to see a stained wood door.) Add sconces into the trim pieces.

No pots/plants on the landing. Looks like a trip hazard. Keep the landing clean and uncluttered.

@Ashley Bryant | Home Like You Mean It Thank you so much! Yes - not a fan of our roof - once we replace it, I was thinking of a more greyish/tan brown color. The Urban Bronze color is beautiful!

Here is a brick house with very nice Urbane Bronze but the roof seems too pale. A medium gray roof would look good.

DO NOT add fake shutters - they look cheap and ridiculous. I generally do not like black, but black iron railing is OK - definitely go with black. And a black wrought iron planter would be the way to go and use a liner to hold the dirt/plants.

The white "pops out" too much (too much of a focal point). The white trim also might be better in another color, but not sure what color - not green as the plants are green. With the brown roof, you need to stay in warm tones - maybe a yellow just darker than the brick for all the trim.

An artist told me once that the eye is always drawn to the lightest part of something, and you may or may not want that. A while house with dark trim is OK, but white trim sometimes is too stark and too bright unless on a very light pastel house.

Nice house! Have fun!

It’s the door that is distracting to me. It dates the house, something that will bring in more light and updated. I’d move the lights to the sides of the door.
Your pots are too small and look cheap. Only use 2 larger ones at doorway. Then work with landscaping down the road. I do like the darker trim in above pic. Good luck!

Your window casings are already white. I would go with white railing. Shutters or not is up to you. Doesn't matter what color the door is as long as everything else is same color. You can paint planters or window box easily but imo it is not easy to paint/change window frames/casings.

Didn’t think I’d like the black til I saw tee8's rendering. It needs black on the left to balance tho. Here’s my lame photo edit 😂
I like the green door

@jeannie_sang - The green door makes the bricks around the door so much more doable!

I like the black better, it makes the house look clean and noticeable. Before there wasn't a pop to the curb appeal.