You've accomplished wonders in improving your cottage--which is adorable! Even though the photoshopped windowbox is cute, I think your windows are large and low enough that it really would look just as good IMHO to just add some taller plantings below. I think some tall delphiniums with a deep bluish-purple bloom would really go nicely with your pink flowers and would come back each year. Your yard is really lovely already! If you decide to do shutters, I think a dark charcoal or black would look nice, although michelle's dusty red ones are perfect for her garden shed. One thing I've found on GW is that some on here feel that shutters should actually be large enough to cover the windows (if closed), so your space wouldn't meet that criteria. (Mine don't either, but I have them and like mine.) For the foundation and chimney, I'd paint that either the same color as the house, or a slightly darker shade. Your plantings will show up nicely against that. And for the front door --I vote for dark red since I can't quite picture the blue, but once I saw it, might love it as well. Your home looks so inviting.

Your house is beautiful. I just painted my new craftsman in SW FL with Sherwin Williams 7726 Lemon Verbena for the hardie siding on top, SW 7733 Bamboo Shoot for the stucco on the first floor and SW 7730 Forestwood for the trim. I just personally love greens for a craftsman house but felt that with the light in FL, the greens had to be a bit cleaner and brighter than what is normally chosen for the rest of the country. (The trim isn't finished being painted.)

Still no definitive answer on the house color. I've been playing around with an online color program and have been able to eliminate some colors. Grays don't look right, Darker Tans and Dark Beiges blend too much with the roof. Blues didn't look right. Not going with stone, but shutters are an option. What is the opinion on this option? Kilim Beige Exterior, Alabaster Trim and Shutters in a shade of blue (Slate Tile pictured)? Open to different shutter colors too (seal skin, . Am I on the right track?? ANOTHER option that I just put together is Downing Straw, Alabaster Trim with Studio Blue Green Shutters (or a similar look). Only problems I see with going this route is the house diagonal from us is very similar to this color (minus the shutters) and husband is saying no to yellow again (2 of our previous houses were yellow).

(not a pro) It might help others help you if you also post some pics of what "rustic charm" looks like to you. But 2 cents from a non-pro until some pros chime in: I love the look of a sage green cabin I prefer your exteriors without the decorative pediment in the left gable (just over the door to draw attention there) Would you consider using natural cedar for the front pillars and pediment? Cedar is a good exterior wood (pros please correct me if wrong) and looks so great with green siding IMO