Can you post a photo of the front door area too? Do you have a preference on style or colors?

here are some other pictures...i am ok with the front door area with stone.

Thomas

I think you need color. I would paint the front door a bright green burnt orange or barn red. I would leave the shutters but they look too white. I would paint them either to match the door or closer to the color of the home. They need to look like they have a purpose. Also, it looks like you have a sizable front porch. Add a couple of chairs in a bright color that coordinates with the door color you choose with a table in the middle. Maybe even an outdoor runner on the porch. It looks like maybe it's winter in the picture so assume there is more color in the landscaping in the summer. If not, that would be my next project. Plants!

The stone is really lovely. I agree with JudyG about removing the shutters. Here is an excellent article with photos showing the proper size and location of shutters. It is worth a few minutes to read and understand why your shutters don't showcase your home well. http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

I agree about painting the whole house a darker color present in your stone. Originally I asked about the front door to see if it could be a different color. I would paint it a brighter color. I am not sure about the trim yet, whether it ought to be a darker or lighter shade of the tone you choose for the body or another color.

Look at this inspiration pic with a similar but not quite mansard roof and stone, the trim colors happen to be white and there are no shutters but the house looks very cohesive


Or this one

I think the thing that is really missing is something to announce the front entry. I can't even tell in this photo where the front door is. Some kind of covered entry structure is an easy addition and will help to balance out the dominant Mansard roof form (which is kind of funky but I really like it). A small example of what I am talking is here:

This whole of this little project I did for a friend was about the entry sequence into her urban house. A project like this is easily added to the front of your house without too much disruption to your life.

Landscape and paint.

It looks like there is a slightly darker color in the stone (like a very pale charcoal), so I think I would take that color and do the body of the house. The lighter stone color, which seems like the body color now, would be used for trim, particularly that along the edge of the mansard roof area. I believe I would take all the shutters off, as the they don't really seem to add anything to the facade. You might perhaps look at a more striking detail rather than the "Y" done between the posts and the roof. (I'm not sure quite what that might be, but what is there doesn't seem quite "grand.") If you find a sort of detail that appeals, perhaps you could work that into some nice handrails on each side of the main entry stairs. A series of 3 beautiful urns along the left side of the entry opening with seasonal flowers would be quite pretty. Invest in some special light fixtures beside the door. Also, I've seen some very beautiful metal chimney caps lately, and that might add a crowning touch, since it seems that you must look UP when coming to the entry. Renewed landscaping with some really special outdoor light fixtures--maybe even great uplighting on the large tree on the right--might provide more drama.

Thank You all for all your well thought of suggestions. I agree that the paint has to be a darker color of the stone so that the lighter trim shows well. I shall incorporate the landscaping, lighting, plants etc, but I really liked the suggestion to balance out the dominant Mansard roof form. At first glance , I think that it becomes the focus point and stands out too much, I want to try and avoid that. I am not sure how the covered entry idea can be executed since the porch is already covered. Any other ideas as well to balance out the mansard roof are appreciated. Thank you all once again!

Here are a few ideas. i feel the mansard is an outlier in terms of trying to create a unified elevation, and should be removed, ultimately. Landscaping, which I did not address, is important. I like Shuler's entry idea. Here is one possibility to address their concerns and mine. I suggest lap or shingle siding for the newly uncovered exterior walls. The work could be phased. This is rough, but hopefully effective in helping you to visualize one possible scheme. Happy Houzzing.

I kept the shutters. Removing them means having to go to the expense of trimming out and painting the triim around windows where the shutters are removed. I think dk. gray or charcoal would go well with your shutters.