Bella, you had it exactly right in your very first picture. That would be such a fresh look for your home. Go for it.

Bella, We have a 1970's home that has as much brick as yours, except ours is a 1 story ranch style. We had it painted a bright white (yes, brick and all), added black shutters, and since we needed a new roof, had that done in black architectural style shingles. To set everything off, I painted the front door a dark coral called "Peppery" from Sherwin-Williams and added a large antique bronze door knocker from Pottery Barn.

It's a very traditional look, which I love. And in a neighborhood full of beige, gray and yellow houses, ours stands out. We've even had people (strangers) stop by to tell us how nice our house looks. This may not be your style, but just thought I'd suggest it.

black or dark charcoal gray! keep the brick red

What colour is the roof?

Judy: I'm very interested in seeing pictures of your white/black ranch home. Any chance you could share? We're considering the same scenario for our brick ranch. THANKS!

How about the colours of my cottage?

washingtonnc, I'll try to attach a photo. It may take awhile as I'm very technologically deficient.

I agree NOT to paint the brick, but rather pick up a shade from the brick that is gray-greenish and use black shutters on all the windows to make it cohesive.

I really like your house. The arches give it great character and I think if you painted the brick with a lime paint in a lighter color and used a darker color as an accent, you could make it pop. Rufty Custom Built Homes profile includes some very nice paint combos and ideas.

I live in a neighborhood full of 1970s split levels with cedar siding and brick. I have one neighbor who replaced part of his siding with a deep dark blue with just an undertone of grey. He then accented with some midrange brown. It is the most gorgeous combination and every time I drive past it I want to get out and thank them for taking a risk with color and beautifying our neighborhood. You can see a picture of it here (although the picture is a little dark to really do it justice) http://www.trulia.com/homes/Idaho/Boise/sold/20042691-2848-S-Chieftain-Way-Boise-ID-83709

Hi Bella! Your house is already just beautiful!
I would NOT paint the brick! The brick in your facade is gorgeous and maintenance free....why paint it and give yourself more work down the road? I would paint the second story AND the front entrance wall (not the brick) a green color with a grayish tone. I love the look on Kevin's first picture.
Instead of painting the brick, I would concentrate on adding more curb appeal appeal by spicing up the front lawn and garden. Perhaps a wider, curved & more welcoming foundation landscape, a curved pathway to the house edged by colorful & vibrant plants. A seating bench or a focal point in your lawn. I can picture a beautiful cottage garden welcoming guests to your home. Ahhh....the exciting possibilities are endless!!!!
Whatever you decide to do, first it must be pleasing to YOU. Go with your guts and most of all have fun with it. Good luck on your project and please show us the final product!
Opppss!!! I just realized you do seem to have a path from the driveway to the house. I would just make the arches pop out more by adding one semi-circular plant bed imitating the arches in front of the entrance. Since the house is not colonial or country, I think window boxes with trailing plants in all four windows would probably be more appropriate for the style of your home.

We went with "green thistle" by Mastic. Not sure what color your roof is, but if it's brown, it should turn out great!

Hi Bella. Adding shutters like other Houzzers have suggested may be a great route to go! Instead of re-painting the siding, since it already appears to be a cream color, why not add Board and Batten shutters in an earthy green? This will give you the appeal as well as the color combination you have been thinking about.

If you would like to see your home with shutters installed before the actual installation, our Shutter Snapshot application is great. You submit the photo (similar to the one above) and we will add the shutter style and color of your choice and send it back to you!

http://www.timberlane.com/resource-center/shutter-snapshot/#.UvKP-2JdXIc

I think you need something with more contrast against the brick, maybe a bench or a trellis and some landscaping with light colors (pampas grass?) and lime green tones.

Why would you want to paint the brick? I think painting the wood in a taupe with a darker taupe for some shutters and adding flower boxes would draw the eyes upward.

Our roof is brown. Thanks everyone, I really appreciate your suggestions!

I think the colours are fine.....how about shutters up and down...?

Bella, didn't you have another thread already asking the same thing a while ago?

I would keep the brick and paint the white around all the windows a deep red to help pull the eye and help give more cohesion to the building. I would also paint the 2nd story the same tone as the brick and add so shutters to the 2nd floor. Then all you need is a tree on the left to get more vertical angles. I really like your house!

Yes, handyman, and we are still struggling with colors. No choice this year, the paint is peeling on the wood siding...so no more time for hemming and hawing, lol.

Kevin the last one you did is a nice color, is that like a gray/green or gray/brown? Thank you so much!

I would never paint the brick! I like the picture on the right that has the coral-? tones in the paint & would change the trim to something other than white, I think enhancing the brick with the house paint color would be enhancing the nice lines of the house, Adding a Japanese maple or a weeping cherry tree at the area of entering the sidewalk from the driveway and arching the flowerbed instead of leaving it straight and adding more distinctive plantings would not only balance the arches with the taller tree at the far left it would add a lot of texture and interest to the overall look. If you have a good gardening center in your area, take the picture you put on this site and talk to a landscape architect at the center and see what they would suggest, If you purchase items from them they usually won't charge you.

We are actually getting a new driveway and walkway....and will add more curves to the sidewalk to add more interest and allow more room for plantings :)

Great, talk to an landscape architect before doing the drive and walkway, you might want to add a stamped concrete or brick walkway...just a thought.

I live in the St. louis, MO area. Actually, Ladue, which was voted the richest city in MO by Forbes magazine. That being said we have a ton of beautiful homes and a ton of ranch style homes (ugly homes which can look nice if done right). The ranches are the "under 1 million dollar" homes. :) We have a tri-level and I was just bringing up the subject of "updating" the outside with my husband. Let me say that you can and should paint brick if it is NOT a pretty brick! So often people think "NO!" but when the brick is not a pretty color it needs to be done. I can't begin to tell you how many homes here are painted brick! With older homes like ranches it is the ONLY way to bring them up to date. I love your idea of the green and cream and would paint all the brick! I was personally thinking about the board and batten shutters as a replacement for our old ones. Note these homes in my neighborhood. First--nice brick and can be left alone: http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/32-Daryl-Ln-Saint-Louis-MO-63124/2762577_zpid/
Next one was a granny fixer upper--totally gutted and needed a paint job! See photo two for the update--not the best picture (side view) and yes it is under contract for 689! : http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/18-Daryl-Ln-Saint-Louis-MO-63124/2762534_zpid/ There are now black board and batten shutters on the windows. And yes, the past few days I have been scouring for ways to update! Seems if you want to go modern it is the easiest way to fix a style from the 60's or 70's. I am not a modern style girl though! Good luck!

Any color that makes the white window and roof trim really pop will be nice. But it's hard to say since you took the photo from so far away. Don't paint the brick. Maybe add a closeup photo of the brick (like 10 feet away).

Kristinsweet1, if you are thinking of replacing your board and battens feel free to request a free catalog from us! http://www.timberlane.com/about_us/catalog-request/

Already checked site last night for a bit. I will request a catalog and get more info. if my husband is on board. thanks

My vote is for dark gray, something in the same hue as the dark brick. To me, green is too contrasting for a red brick exterior (unless you just want a contrast in your exterior sidings). Is there a dark gray color in the brick? Truthfully, the neutral color that is on there now would work if it were a couple shades darker (I think I see beige or cream in the brick?). Whatever you do, do not paint the brick!

If you go green or gray, you'll look like any other uninteresting house on the block. Paint the GD brick. It's only veneer anyway.

What ever you, do not paint the brick. Take consideration on how much light hits the front of the house, it's like a picture. Frame the home with the best color. A rich color of brown glossy works well with the siding, even a deep burgundy red. Enhance the front with nicely shaped evergreens. Medium sized.

I also like the green but I think it pops better with the golden brown shown in the second photo. I wouldn't paint the brick either. If you use green it makes red a little more intense as they are opposites on the colour wheel. I can't tell from the photo if it is red.

Here is a close up of the brick. I guess it is more orange/gold/brown...but from the street, it just screams RED!

Another angle of the house...the shutters are off now. Never liked them, at least not the color.

Virtual redo of house painted....it looks nice, but husband is not on board with painting all of it:

What program are you using to show the virtual redo? That's exactly what I've been trying to find. Thanks! Your home looks beautiful in that pic.

Love it all in the light color. Keep working on your husband regarding the brick. Good luck.

I used to have a blog (well I still do, just never blog any more) and a reader did that virtual redo for me. I clicked on her link in the post I did about it, but it is no longer working.

I always weigh future maintenance, upkeep (and expenses when I make a decision like this) as well as resale. I would think that painting the brick just means more upkeep (time and money) down the road. I would select a livable/attractive color taken from the tone of the brick and grout and use that color of the siding. Then select a slightly darker color in that same tone for trim, doors, etc.

I understand your husband's concerns about painting the brick, it all comes down to maintenance with the men. I love painted brick and I may have the solution for you. There is a paint company called Keim. It is a silicate mineral paint that actually bonds with the surface of your brick. Which means it doesn't fade, chip or peel. Go to their website, keim.com for more info and a rep in your area. Hope this gives you an option. If you are otherwise considering a nice gray green, try Sherwin Williams "Summer Resort" : it is on their old deck. Here is a picture of the color painted on the siding, next to a more solid colored brick.

If you go in very nice neighborhoods you will notice that the homes are not just a flat solitary color but often incorporate different textures and colors. If I look at your virtual redo of the house the paint color looks nice but it would look even better with the natural color of the brick. Love your flower pot. Your brick is nice looking both up close and far away.

If you paint the brick on the left side of the house and the upper part the same color, the remaining brick section will stand out and look very unbalanced or like an add-on. Should be all or nothing. Paint the upper story to match the mortar of the brick to unify all. I would suggest removing the arches to update the facade. The Spanish style does not relate to the house. This would open up the front and give a more welcoming feeling. Yes, I know, the arches are charming but that doesn't make them work on just any house. Just my opinion. Professional landscaping, including several specimen trees, as suggested above, would add greatly to the overall look.

I'm afraid of what the cost would be to remove the arches. And not sure what to replace them with?

Everything Beautiful H.L.D. LLC providing online design renderings 2D and 3D for home owners . I like where your trying to take this but you have some convincing to do. budget is always an issue when we want to reconfigure our homes . There are always good options within everyone's budget. Just have to find the one that fits your budget.

Bella, A modern style large column or one of brick on the right corner is probably all you would need to support the roof. The left side of the roof would be supported by the existing wall of the garage(?). You should consult a builder/contractor about the possibilities.

Here are my thought on your wants. www.ebtdesigns.com

Darker roof and stomp concrete driveway.

With Spanish style overtones or existing brick and Spanish overtones.

We used Everything Beautiful Home Designs. I just love
e how you can see the end results before making that final decision. Very fast service, affordable, too: http://www.houzz.com/pro/ebtdesigns/everything-beautiful-home-designs-llc

How did everything wrap up Bella?