I really like the color combination you have right now--your roof is dark brown, so it to me is a very restful but welcoming combination which is enhanced by the white trim. I also like the distinctive look the porch rail gives to the house. There is probably no area in which tastes can differ as much as color preference, but I did find one article that claimed that blue is a major preference amog adults: "Adults have been found cross-culturally to prefer blue to other colors. ItâÂÂs a nearly universal preference. But does this preference occur naturally, or do children and infants have different preferences? Prior to 2001, there wasnâÂÂt a definitive answer to this question. In that year, Marcel Zentner of the University of Geneva conducted a study that not only answered that question, but also sought to explore the relationship between color and emotion (âÂÂPreferences for colours and Colour-Emotion Combinations in Early Childhood,â Developmental Science, 2001)." [ http://scienceblogs.com/cognitivedaily/2005/06/13/color-preference-in-kids-and-a/ ] Another consideration would be how your chosen color is enhanced or detracted by the colors of surrounding houses. You might want to consult with a respected local realtor regarding preferred home colors in your area, since you are thinking of selling in a relatively short time. Realtors seem to be willing to be helpfut to possible future clients.

Provia is one of my choices. In my area protection from the winters' cold, winds, and banking snow is the first concern. The only Provia dealer I can find is in Minneapolis, MN; that's about a 7 hour drive from me. I tried sending an email to the company yesterday, and it was returned as "not a valid address". I am going to call them tomorrow. I hoping they can make a storm door with the white outer frame, to match the windows, but have the cross piece for the removeable glass/screen parts painted in the dark brown so it won't appear as a white bar across my wood tone/textured steel door. If not I'll see what they think about a dark brown storm door over my dark brown door. The door faces due east, and it very hot on the exterior until after noon. Once the sun moves over the house it cools off. The screen would be in the upper section from Spring until freezing weather.

Well, OK - you know what you want! So, next step is just to try some whites. Ive been using Zinsser Exterior Permawhite in satin for my white trim - straight out of the can - and have had good results with it. In fact it typically lasts better and long onger than the fancy schmancy Sherwin Williams Seafoam Green that I have on the other parts of the house. Its a nice true slightly warm white - not an identical match to the white aluminum storm windows but close enough to read the same. (It is thin and goes on thin, and I often need multiple coats - up to 4 or 5 - but the end result is a nice hard smooth surface. No I dont work for Zinsser LOL.) What color is the roof? Some people ignore the roof thinking it has no bearing on what their wall and trim colors should be, but thats a mistake I think... unless you're planning to replace the roof in the foreseable future I also give some thought to the neighbor's colors, not that anything has to be matchy or harmonize.... just to avoid flagrant clash which would have the effect of possibly making both houses less appealing. It happens sometimes!

What's dark? Too much shade? Or the paint? If it's the paint, I'd advice picking a shade of cream that works with your siding and painting the brown stuff. You might get more light on the porch with just painting the ceiling white, light blue or cream. If it's the shade, you could, over a few years, remove some of the lower branches of the tree. A bigger, brighter welcome mat would help. One that is the width of the door. Flanking the door with pots with some kind of dry grass might help, too. And, of course, if it's dim at dusk, put in porch lights.