Lots of things you can do. We have a small feral colony that we've fed and sheltered for a while now. We have a Shed In The Box, with interior smaller shelters inside there..and a five feet by 8 feet kennel that is tarped off for winter that has shelters up off the ground...however, when our ferals got caught a few weeks ago in our first very deep winter storm, they all ran scared and frightened up onto our back porch. So, we prayed and asked the Lord for his Guidance and Wisdom and he helped us. We got tarps and heavy duty shower curtains and heavy duty tension rods and paneled off the back porch...then, we put vinyl and rubber mats along the floor of the back porch. Then, we added cat igloos, and made other shelters out of Sterlite plastic chests...and made an interior tent over those shelters with a camoflauged tarp. When the temps dropped below freezing, we cracked the back door from the kitchen to let heat go out into the now enclosed back porch area...made a tremendous difference. Right now, it's sleeting and we are letting them come into the kitchen to get extra warmth, and we have litter boxes and fresh water in a corner of the porch as well. As someone has already mentioned, shoeboxes, cardboard boxes, cutout coolers with straw in them....cat igloos...we put yoga mats covered with soft cardboard in ours. The main things, give them a break from the wind, give them warm shelter, food, water, and a feeling of security...you're good to go. The more love you put into it, the better your results, you know. Good luck and God Bless. FYI, we also do trap n release and we are seniors in our late sixties, so if "we" can do it, so can anyone else, you know.

Tannantok, you're describing my DH's place when I met him! He also had a beer can collection growing on his back patio. He owned virtually no dishes (eating out of the pan was the norm). When you walked in the door you were greeted by a picture of a big haired blonde wearing suspenders and not much more. Laminated to a piece of charred wood. Given to him by his mother. Current decorating would be blankets tacked up to the windows, but he'd also have 1000 watt lights all over the place. I tell him the sun would not provide enough light for him. Clothing would adorn all the lamp shades (if he used lamp shades at all...probably adorn the curtain rods. Bathtowels would be the floor mats. Steak knives would pin up things to the walls, and EVERY wall would have something pinned to it. He'd have a ginormous sofa with blankies and his dogs. No pillows, except for what was on the floor. And every cupboard would be doorless and the drawers self closing.

The ceilings are all white, the pics don’t show it well though. We are having the whole interior done, so the ceilings will be refreshed with a new coat of white. I would love to paint the beams as well, but husband likes the rustic look of them so I may lose that battle. Celerygirl, that is very close to the vibe I am going for! Thanks for the visual, that is hugely helpful. I have been saving headboards on Wayfair that are very similar to the one you pictured. I fell in love with this dresser and snagged it for a steal from Facebook marketplace. It would fit in perfectly I think!

Your husband is a very wise man, and has good taste. I also appreciate the taste and style of the former owners; and I appreciate how they honored the house. Nothing wrong with green. Your house is a unique house. There are TONS of cookie cutter houses out there, and more being created, 24/7 - with new builds and also with ”renovations”... Personally, I will never understand the, “Let’s just paint or whitewash/lime wash all the brick!” mentality. But I come from a place where features such as brick have value, and these type of alterations are just not generally done as a matter of course. For example: Where I am from, when considering the building facade, alone - the brick house in above pic would have so much more value than the white house pictured to the right of it. No contest. Also note the arch detail on the above house; i.e. the arches on ground level, and on second story windows. And, btw, there is zero wrong with the existing arches on your house. They are part and parcel of the uniqueness and style of your house. It would sort of be akin to acquiring the brick house shown above or this house pictured below - and then showing up here to say, ”I like the house - but the arch(es) are not ‘modern‘ enough.” Or, ”There would be more symmetry without the arch(es)” etc. I mean ??? Your house is another house. Your house also features more arches than these houses; but that is really the charm of your house!