It looks drab because the contrast between the white , dark brown trim and brick is not great. lighten the dark brown, add a nice color over the white and leave the brick, it will look more balanced then.

The new addition is going to lighten up the look by having more of the light color. Are you sure you want siding in the addition when the other area is stucco? Also, landscaping and wood look garage and a wood front door would be a very nice look for your home. I don’t think I’d lighten the brown elements but maybe do more of a griege white for the painted stucco, etc.

Also, I’d consider painting the front entry brick area as that brick is fighting with the main brick. It’s just too many materials and a wood door would pop nicely against a lighter surround.

As the others have said, the most important thing is to use a creamier white and lighter color on the trim. While tudor style is usually done with brown accents, here is someone who used blue for a different look. A wood front door is customary. The white storm door is really unattractive. If you have to have one, get a full view door that matches the trim. No stark white.

Traditional Tudor Living & Dining Room, Seattle, WA · More Info

Really helpful! I like the above and that makes me lean towards black exterior windows and then a grayish/blue roof.

@thinkdesignlive, yes the bricks compete. I am very interested in covering the new brick around the entry and garage! Any ideas on material for that if I do a wood door? What stain and colors come to mind when you say that? Appreciate all the thoughts and insight here!

Elle Andi, please edit your images to remove the address.

Done! thanks for flagging

I love that greyed green and it would pair nicely with dark bronze window frames. No black windows for sure! It would be best to get some samples and line them up on the brick and look at them with the window companies sample options. Also, borrow the roofing sample boards too - a warm dark tone like Glacier from IKO or Owens Duration in Sable. Once you narrow down the accent color then look at a neutral warm white like Sherwin Williams Shoji. It has some depth but still reads white.

I would paint the brick around the entry and the garage the body color you settle on.

[Edited to remove what turned out to be an irrelevant comment about painting brick.]

I suspect that the main reason your home looks drab in the photos is that it is backlit. The front of the house is in shadow.

In addition to Lyn Nielson’s green suggestion I just want to say that I would love to landscape your home, fun! I have no idea where you’re located, however, your style of house begs for more of an ”English” cottage garden look. Colorful flowers & shrubs, David Austin roses, trees that bloom ( such as an Eastern Redbud ) , that sort of thing will help you achieve your objective of a ”happier” look for your home. Good luck!

Amy we are only referring to the small sections of (probably 70’s added) brick around the garage and entry areas. Not the main body of brick. That wouldn’t be painted. And brick can be painted if done with the proper breathable masonry paint.

thinkdesignlive, thanks for setting me straight! I somehow missed that bit. And this is with a new eyeglass prescription. *sigh* I've now removed that portion of my comment. Also, I didn't know about breathable masonry paint, so now I've learned something new and useful!

Elle, I think your house is cute as a bug's ear. Something about the design of the garage door doesn't seem to fit with Tudor Revival to me, but I'm darned if I know what a good solution would be. And if it doesn't bother you, then it doesn't matter anyway.

@amystollef …. I like the house also. I think the garage door should be wood ( or preferably “wood look” for ease of maintenance ). A search for Tudor inspired garage doors will yield many suggestions on Google.

i love Tudors! such a cute house.

try and keep materials 'period' to the home. (have you checked w/the city building department? a lot of times they will have grants for homeowners to maintain period appropriate updates (like windows) to the exterior. it's worth a shot to ask.

of course landscaping will be a good portion of curb appeal.

this type of landscaping would be nice if you can swing it. some flower beds around the chimney, lose that shrub by your porch, some potted plants on either side of the door.

This one is equally stunning. If you could somehow make flowerbeds and copy this, it would look great.

As for color, I love the bronze window colors w/your brick.

I would do the bronze windows and think about Urbane Bronze paint where you have white.

I love the look of the dark w/the brick. Not the same type of house as yours, more of a modern tudor, but you can see how dramatic the black works here.

bad pic, but closer to your style

another one w/bronze windows and dark bronze trim work

Here's two of the darker tones, paired w/more appropriate style garage door w/iron carriage hardware (that you really can't see. u can buy it on amazon)

a better looking front door, removed your shrub, gave you a few topiary type plants for the porch and a potted Japanese maple off to the left. nice bronze/brass address plaque and new light.

You'll have to imagine the white portion done in the urbane bronze. maybe someone could photo shop it.

another photoshop w/a flower bed on the lawn, diff door

similar to your style w/the darker windows and wood garage door

another similar style. if you like the greens, try SW Jasper

complimentary colors w/this one:

this was the iron hardware I was talking about. they have diff styles

i'd splurge on a more tudor style carriage garage door since yours is so prominent

here's a 1935 Tudor in texas

https://www.tiktok.com/@migrealtor/video/7423204220846886186

I hope when you wash the brick it lightens. Every photo posted shows a Tudor with lighter red brick, none as dark as yours.

Consider including the other three elevations in your decision making. It is a sculpture not a painting.

great house! terrific advice already - Do you have divided light windows? I can't tell from the photo - If you are replacing windows then I would think about simulated divided light (SDL's) - they are a bit more expensive but make a huge difference on a an older home (I wouldn't do black windows on this charming home, but that's just a me thing)

Am I missing it - not seeing the architects elevation that is proposed with the addition. Elle it would be money well spent to have a professional rendering done with your preferred direction. I could see the front second level addition being the stucco to match the other side.

This Tydor type house is always a bit dark and moody it is part of the style I would not paint the brick for sure unless you do not care about dropping the value of the home. I do agree thatgarage door needs to be adifferent style and color , I like the dark color trim and siding with that brick and house style .I would do dark windows for sure I do not think white is the answer on that house . I think divided light windows would be more appropriate for that home style also .