SFGate

DIAspoton box in the columns for a more substantial look. keep columns and trim cream. add cream railing and spindles to create a porch.

add shutters in medium gray.

you need larger foundation plantings. you could line the walk with a hedge. talk with a nursery in your area. some hedge choice change color seasonally.

is that a beadboard ceiling on the porch? paint it a soft sky blue.
(sideways,not facing front).hang a swing on the left end of the porch.

add 4 colorful hanging baskets.

add light fixtures on either side of the door.

dblapins paint the house white- with black shutter and change the door out- and paint it a bold color: re, yellow or red...plant around the base and add large tree's to the edges of the house. create a focus on the front walk.

mozment Thanks for the comments!! I agree the columns and landscaping will make a huge difference. I had not thought of gray shutter - I like that! I also like the idea of painting the door a bold color since changing out the door it not in our budget at this time. Although I love painted brick - this home was just built in 2007 and I just can't see painting it yet and my husband absolutely won't go for it. Thanks!!

Total Quality Home Builders, Inc. Paint the brick a neutral kaki color( see how the neutral with the dark door pops! It will also make you house look bigger!), go black on the shutters, add more square columns for an updated look and paint your front door a pop of color! Red even! Check out the columns below! Adding some rock would also catch your eye and move you from that box feel! Two hanging fixtures on the front porch between the columns would break up your eye! I would cap your door with tall plants on both sides! Plant a big tree on the left for Height and it will make the left side of the house feel taller! What a great blank canvas to work with! Have fun!

mozment I love your positivity Total Quality Home Builders! I had never thought of it as a blank canvas but more of a headache. Your ideas are great. Would love to add some rock but not sure how to make it seem cohesive with the rest of the house. Soes anyone know how much it would cost to bring the door forward even with the house instead of in that little nook? It really bothers me the way it's inset. Also what are thoughts on board and batten shutters?? I'm seeing them on all the new houses in my area now.

Pamela Bateman Garden Design Would you consider making the front porch a porch with railings between the posts? Look up 'front porch' in Houzz photos. There are lots of ideas there about posts and railings. I would enlarge the planting beds in front of the house and plant low growing shrubs and flowering perennials. A local nursery could help you with plant selection. In order for us to suggest plants we would have to know what climate zone you live in or where you live.