Congratulations on your first house! How exciting! I would take out the shurbs in the front and add landscaping in the front similar to Denita's left photo. A beautiful tree in the left side of the front yard would also add some beautiful appeal. Your idea for a full glass storm door would also look very nice and show off the door you currently have.

I would remove the shutters and paint the window sashes a dark gray like this house: The same for the trim and the railings. Use the light gray on the garage door and gable.

I agree new landscaping will do wonders.

Congratulations on the new house, Laura.

I think the white of the shutters and the siding contrasts too much with the red of the brick....it makes the brick look cheap. I think houssan is on the right track...a dark grey or even a rich earth tone would be better than the white.

I also think the house would be improved by removing the horizontal hedge and adding a small deciduous tree in the front yard to break up the horizontal lines of your house would also help. Move the planting away from the house and vary their height.

The other images submitted all achieve these things.

Good Luck!

I really like that Dallas house in the photo above. I used to live in a home that did not have shutters and it was a refreshing change. In that house, I also inherited "straight-lined" flowerbeds that I enjoyed enlarging and giving "wavy" lines. Those old bushes could come out and the flowerbed made larger using a long, curvy line instead of the overused, typical "straight line."

Your front door is dark and thank you for wanting to change out the white outside door to a full-view one. The outside railing looks like a barrier, though.

You could take a different approach and install brick steps in a semi-circle in front of the porch, which would also involve removing that barrier-rail. Then the sidewalk on the left side could completely come out. A new handrail could extend out from that vertical support. That would really open up your front door area.

Look to your brick for color inspiration. The white is too stark against the brick. Agreed, remove all shutters and paint all trim and the garage door the same color...a gray would look good...and maybe paint your wood front door in a bright white to match what I assume will be a white full-view outer door.

I agree with the comments about removing the shutters and the darker color. I would also advise (if your budget allows) on replacing the wrought iron railing and support/column as it dates the home. Using an 8" or 10" square column made from wood or fiberglass and wood/composite railing all painted the new trim color would significantly update the look of the home. Good luck with your project!