Exterior color suggestions

[simpsongal]

i50.tinypic.com/1604kx.jpg

I think I managed to get a working link. Here's a so-so pic of our exterior. I'm going to remount the black shutters, and I'm replacing light fixtures w/this line of fixtures: www.wayfair.com/Savoy-House-Castlemain-Outdoor-Hanging-Lantern-in-Black-Gold-SOY1605.html

The porch needs to be painted, and I kind of want to paint the door. Suggestions? The brick is a varied, orangy color.

Also, what do you think about the bushes by the door? I think they're too big and we should replace them w/something smaller. DH disagrees.

[tarheels]

The shrubs immediately by the door? I'm pretty sure those will grow into actual trees, so yeah, they need to go. I'm sure TD will be along eventually to say whether I'm right or not. (And totally personal: I dislike any yellow-green shrub...it always looks like they're sick, even when they're not.) I think all the foundation shrubs need to be pulled out and redone, personally. A landscape designer will draw up a plan for you for $200 and you can buy the plants yourself and do the labor at your leisure.

Black's the only color for the door, IMO. I think three colors is plenty (brick, black, cream).

[FoxInFiji]

I'd keep the porch a cream color and paint the door a dark color to make it a focal statement. It has to be something that doesn't clash with the orange in the brick so I would go with a dark navy or black myself.

I don't think the evergreens near the door are too big for your house just yet since it's two stories. What bugs me more is the lopsided evergreens a few feet away from those. They look like different species in the pic and one is fat and rounded while the other is skinny. If you stick with the symmetrical look the previous owners were trying to go with you might want to prune the one on the left. It all depends on what kind of look you're going for.

[simpsongal]

It's hard to tell, but the porch is currently a gray-blue. I'm a little nervous about going light on the porch b/c of showing dirt. I like the idea of black for the door. The other option I was considering was an earthy maroon/red-type color (with orange undertones). But I was afriad that would look too monochromatic with the brick. DH thinks it should be a saturated yellow - I think that's a bit too much.

Fox - I think there was a bush that matched the fat one, but I guess it died (there's a prettty big gap). I promised DH one Christmas w/the fat bush on the left for Christmas lights, then I want it gone )