I would forget the stone; it is too much of a distraction from the design of the house IMHO. If you do use stone it should cover an entire building element top to bottom as if it had been the original structure, rather than stop and start in modern sub-division fashion. Materials should reinforce the basic house design rather than disrupt it or act as decoration. If you use vertical board siding don't use horizontal board siding too, use shingles instead, real ones. The stone savings should defray the cost of the shingles. 19th century houses often put shingles on anything above the gutter line because of their higher weathering ability and lower maintenance.

Hi again, I think we have our step plan. Thanks to your words Renovator, we went to look at natural stone steps again. Because our entrance is recessed, we can get away with fewer steps than if all the sides were visible keeping the cost within reason. Our plan is to pour a footing, build concrete block walls for the porch landing and step stringers, top with a stone slab landing/porch and four matching thick stone steps. We will parge on the one side that is visible over the concrete block. We will also put a membrane between the brick and stones (not sure what the membrane will be; some have said rigid insulation) to protect the brick. Does this plan make sense? Also, how do we install the mandatory railings? I assume they can't go through the stones, so what else is an option. Do we install one side into the brick wall? Not sure about the other. Any comments welcome. Carol

Can we assume that you and family will enter the house through the garage and that the front door is for visitors mostly? If so then where the stairs should go depends on how people will approach the door -- where will guests be parking and walking from to the front door. If they are coming from the direction of the garage, I'd put steps off of the side of the landing with a railing (in the same color as the dark trim on the house) across the front of the landing and down the stairs with plantings in front of that. If people will come from straight on or from around the taller part of the house, then stairs off the front, with a railing on the side of the landing and down the left (as you face it) side of the stairs. While I like some of the pics of wrap around stairs, I don't like them for your house design -- too elaborate when everything else is so minimalistic (and I mean that in a good way -- love it!) All that said, if you can put in temporary stairs until you have a complete landscape plan (if you don't already), I might do that, just to keep options open.

Thank you again everyone for all the help you have provided. My wife and I couldn’t be more appreciative for all the advice. At this stage, I feel like we have the following...remove railing, install potted plants/feature on side landings of stairs, paint porch a dark gray that matches the stone walkway, replace exterior lighting, remove interior window shutters, revisit landscaping options, install window planters. In terms of the exterior shutters and door colors...the current color is a dark maroon/purpley color (has to go). Based on some of the great feedback I’ve attached a couple options...1) High contrast black on white with a pretty brown stained door 2) Lighter shutters with a brown stained door. I think I’m leaning a bit more towards the high contrast black on white...thoughts on either and if brown is the way to go for front door or match color of shutters? Also color of planters under windows (same brown as door)?