jea2007, Sounds like we are struggling with the same question and unfortunately I don't have a good answer for you. Initially, we thought that we would use all stained trim. It seemed like the right thing to do. But many days I would sit in my current 1930's house which has white painted trim and admire how the trim made my paint choices "pop". Then, I was at a spa that used painted trim with stained doors. I had never thought of that idea and really liked the look. I brought it up to my DH and he said "no go", so I thought we were settled. However, the other day, he told me he is reconsidering. So... The obvious advantage to stained trim is its authenticity. I've been through a million arts and crafts restoration books and you very rarely see painted trim. Then again, epjenks has a gorgeous "old" home with painted trim and it looks great. kats is also wonderful. I like that it is airy and light and I agree that it really sets off the beauty of the stained doors and windows. I like to use strong paint colors and the combination of dark wood and paint might be too much. Last point wrt your comment about painted trim. My understanding is that while the material cost for the painted trim might be less, the installation might be more because they have to fill the nail holes more thoroughly and maybe paint after installation. I've heard it is a wash price wise. Let me know what you decide to do. It sounds like you are further along than us. I'll be very interested to hear what you decide and see PICTURES! :)

I was glad to see this question. I am getting ready to move into a 1890 cross gable Folk Victorian (and I would consider it a farmhouse.) I live in a city in the very southwest of Calif. (almost to the border) In the late 1800s,, early 1900s, ten acre lots were sold to gentlemen farmers from the east and midwest to plant lemon groves. The agreement included that they had to live there and build a house that was worth at least $2,000, which was a lot in those days. Some have been destroyed, but the city is sprinkled with quite a few large, fancy, Queen Anne Victorians, many that are restored perfectly. They are called Orchard Houses, of course because they were built by the owners of the orchards . This house is an Orchard house, but not as big and fancy as others. I can get more info about it at our Historical Society Museum, but I have not gotten over there yet. Maybe they skimped on the $2,000 or maybe there was more to it before. Maybe it had a guest house, or horse stables. I know nothing about old houses but my family is all in Minnesota and this looks somewhat like the farmhouses and rural, in town houses that my aunts and uncles lived in. I had to search pictures and articles to determine that it is probably a Folk Victorian, but I think I am pretty close. I say "move in" because I will be renting it from my brother in law who has had it for 37 years, but it is a rental and he built 2 apartments behind it. He doesn't know much about it and hasn't had a lot of interest it it, other than to keep it rented, even though the Heritage Society has been out to see him a number of times. My brother in law spent his youth in rural Minnesota, so this is just a house to him. I have always liked the house. It is definitely "folk" and doesn't have any fancy Queen Anne style trim etc... It fact I thought it was a craftsman, until I found out when it was built. It is structurally very sound, but is sort of unkempt looking. I am a retired teacher, single and don't have experience in this, but he is happy that I want to make it look as close to how it was originally (but not for much money LOL!!) Just to have it clean and really well kept up will make him happy. The block has a couple more old houses, one Queen Anne Victorian that is not kept up at all. Otherwise it is a hodgepodge of 50s and 60s. This is the one very visible old home, so the neighbors are sort of hinting that they don't like it being such a mess. I especially want to get the bushes cut down in front of the enclosed porch so I can open the windows and use it for that. I saw the house 35 years ago, and now have only been able to do a quick walkthrough. The Craftsman question interested me because I have quite a bit of Craftsman style furniture that I already own, and I felt that it would match the farmhouse feel that this house has. Of course I am just talking about furniture, interior decorations, etc..., no permanent changes. Overall though, I don't think my brother haschanged much (except in the kitchen.) I believe he has maintained original moldings, possibly even lights and he hasn't done any dumb stuff like take out the built ins or put big modern closets. The bedrooms still have the tiny little closets (with the original doors) where you can hang a few things and I think tenants have made closet type spaces by putting rods and curtains at the corners of the gables, so that did not change anything structurally and can look cool with the right kind of material. He is a contractor and does most work himself, and if something can be fixed or maintained as is, that means he doesn't have to spend money, so the house is lucky in that respect. It has a basement with an inside door and an outside cellar door (so I will be prepared for tornadoes), and it has a mudroom, because in Southern California I need a place to put my parka and snow boots (we don't even have rain LOL) and those steep gables will keep the snow from collecting so my roof won't collapse. They built what they knew when they got here!! I think the combination Victorian Farmhouse/Craftsman will work because it has a farmhouse feel and we are only talking about furnishings, I do have one final question though, and I hope this picture comes through. It is odd looking because this house is flat in the front. It has an enclosed porch that is flush with the outside wall, a very small porch for the front door, otherwise, there is no other porch with posts and a covering like Victorian's (and usually farmhouses) seem to have. It looks like something is missing. Maybe something was removed over the years. Or is there a way that a larger porch could be added to make the front look more interesting, and to have a place to sit outside, but still in character with the style of the house? I might be able to talk my brother into it because he could build it himself. I am excited about the enclosed porch because those windows have hinges and open completely out but have not been opened in years. I suggested that it would be really nice if he could take down those dumb apartments, but he wouldn't go for that!! Lol!!

We aren't going quite that bright, but I appreciate your input! I'm getting some samples this week from our lumber yard - Certainteed's "Ivy Green" and also all the following from Sherwin Williams - Roodwood Blue Green, Rookwood Sash Green & Dried Thyme. Has anyone had any experience with any of these colors for your exterior?

Exactly. The specs should have been completed at the plan or proposal stage. The more decisions are made prior to construction the faster & easier it goes, the more time the homeowner has to focus on bigger picture. That's the value of Architects, Interior Designers, contractors with detailed proposals, etc. As a homeowner, there is an infinite level of detail you can explore, but do you have the time? cpartist - most "affordable" wood or composite windows need extension jambs... and they are not sent to be flush. That is uber high end custom work. Not all clients plan to case wrap the inside. Some are drywalled. It depends on the look desired. Managing a clients expectations is a growing & moving target. I prefer walking clients through an existing build to discuss similarities and changes. My favorite proposals are …"like the home at xxx street with the following changes..." With the advent of Houzz, the issues of clients bringing me magazine pictures from a home 2-3x their budget is multiplied, the advice given online is often related to another region, or a bad experience. I think I'm seeing "call a lawyer" in nearly every post.