barkingdonkey - (I like the name!) I assume you're talking about the LP Smartside Product when you say smart trim; I have never personally used that particular product, but we have used and really like the MiraTec trim boards for trimming out around windows, corner boards, frieze and rakes, etc. The MiraTec is much cheaper than the HardieTrim boards and to me is easier to work with. You can get it pre-painted which I highly suggest if you are going to go with white trim. Our painters griped and complained the whole time they cut those trim boards in against each lap of the HardiePlank siding. We used the 5/4 (1") thick boards in 6" for the skirt/belly board and 4" for everything else. Just be sure you have your installers flash really well behind all joints in your siding and between your Hardie & trim boards no matter what product you choose. I would make them go overboard on flashing if it were me, especially on top of the windows so that no water has even the slightest chance of getting trapped behind your trim &/or siding. I think this is the most under valued part of the whole installation process. Here are a few pictures of the most recent house we've trimmed out with MiraTec 5/4 trim boards as I mentioned before, HardiePlank siding and stone: From Hunters Glen - Lot 38a Signature Plan From Hunters Glen - Lot 38a Signature Plan From Hunters Glen - Lot 38a Signature Plan Good luck with your siding. I'm sure you're getting excited!

I will be putting Hardi plank siding up in less than a month. I live in the middle of a woods. I want to blend two different shades of paint. Gray primer(dry) than (light green first...(dry) than a gray over it,(dry) and possible another charco gray lightly to give depth to the cedar mill. Pain staking but I got time and I want my house to blend with the woods surroundings. Could someone please guide me on how to do it right. Thanks!

We used cedar impressions vinyl siding and love it for low maintenance and we like the color. Azek trim means no more painting. Only thing it's very expensive so we did it on 3 sides and went with a matching siding on the back side, but it's still good looking, IMO. You can see the difference from the back corner. But we went with different windows as well, so the back side looks more contemporary than the front. But it still goes.

I like the front per the plan with board and batten with the stone. On the sides, you can do lap Hardie with or without the batten in the gables. We have cedar shake on the front and the shake wraps on the sides over the entire garage and the east patio area. Where we hit the main house body sides, we converted to Hardie lap siding (including the back). We have a lot of landscape on the sides so the transition isn't noticeable to our neighbors. The 2nd photo was taken right after the landscape was done on that side. Now, the vine is up the obelisk and the shrubs are big so that the transition is less noticeable. As for color, our house is a sage/grey solid stain (not paint). We are in full sun with a south exposure on the front (passive solar). I had originally wanted to do a dark brown solid stain, but we decided to go with this color because we had used on a previous house and knew it worked. Hope this helps, Cameron