I just had my hail roof reshingled. Drove around the area to see what people have done. It seems like every house got hit within 2 miles. My prior roof was a black mix and a lot of houses have chosen the same. Not sure if this was to insulate with the sun during winter on black or just a choice. My decision ended up with mixed shades of gray and like it so much better. Mainly because the roof looks like shingles. I have a white cottage, am not suggesting this color for yours. What is directing you thoughts towards a black mix? If there are other homes in your area similar, suggest a drive to see what they look like.

Hi Cindy, the brick is "Old Orleans" by Cherokee brick. Its a great looking brick with lots of character. The mortar was rubbed over the brick to achieve the aged look. I put the same post in the home decorating forum with a couple more up close pictures if you care to see any more of this brick.

First thanks everyone coming in this question with tiles “ need help”. We have a kind of traditional California house with siding on exterior wall and a porch. Milgard Black bean as window frame color. The roof is kind of gray shingle roof. We decided to paint Benjamin Moore Collingwood Gray on siding and trim. Use Simple White or White Dove for porch beam and column My question is, should I paint the gutter same color as the roof which is gray, or black same to window frame? Or the wall color? Or white same to porch beam and column :-( And we have the old nothing-fancy garage door, not sure if I should paint it to white to stand out or same wall color to blend in the house.

There is a large camp of no shutter people on Houzz. If they don't function or are not as large as they should be to function - get rid of them. I sometimes agree, and sometimes feel like the shutters add color and interest and are there purely for decorative reason, and this is perfectly okay. Your description of Victorian Inspired is also fine. It is not a Gothic (Think Haunted House) or Queen Anne Victorian, but it has the general shape and feel of a Victorian home, which is why you used the word "inspired." "Queen Anne homes are the quintessential Victorian home: They are asymmetrical, two or three (or more) stories tall, have steeply pitched roofs and large wrap-around porches. They are often adorned with differing wall textures and ornate trim—which gives them the “gingerbread” effect commonly associated with Victorian homes—that is typically painted in a variety of accent colors. Some Queen Anne homes also have octagonal towers (topped with a round pointed roof) and ornate bay windows—in short, nothing about these homes is subtle." Not all Victorians are the quintessential Victorian. Here is one that was featured in Architectural Digest. If all you want to do is change the color of the shutters, door and garage door and you found something that you think is beautiful a few blocks away, I would go knock on their door and ask what colors they used. My experience is that people are truly flattered when you knock on their door and ask something about their color choices or landscape choices. I have ended up in long conversations and even been given home and garden tours by doing this. I have gotten plant cuttings and been given samples of paint when the label was unreadable. I have never been turned away or scolded for admiring someone's home.