I know what you mean about starting from scratch. Not a new house for me, but renovating a lower level and not planning to use anything pre-existing. All new drywall, all new flooring, no furniture or window treatments to work from. I sort of figured out that wood treatments (something we aren't getting rid of) and flooring would be our starting point. Got the tile picked this week. Used it plus a piece of wood trim to get our paint picked. We'll have the walls primed by the middle of next week and then check the paints. Meanwhile, I'm going around now with the BM paint sample strips (the ones that are about 8" x 5"), a piece of tile, and the wood trim piece and tire-kicking on possible fabrics for furniture pieces. 1. So, will you have wood elements? (Floor, built-ins, baseboards or trim?) Mine's golden oak! That's the only pre-existing thing on this lower floor. In addition, there's golden oak hardwood flooring on the stairs down to this level and elsewhere in the house. It's not something we will change. It's a bit tricky to work with, but it is a given for us. 2. Have you selected flooring type(s)? We're switching to tile with a heating layer or element beneath. It's pretty pricy, so it doesn't make sense for a paint color to dictate our floor. Since it's tile, I'm sure hoping it's permanent. Elsewhere in this project I'll also have carpet, but it will be a neutral beige, and doesn't play in as urgently. Our new floor will be tile over a heating element. We've chosen Terra Antica in the color called Oro. We also plan to remove a skimpy brick hearth and use our tile plus a few decorative tile touches to modernize the fireplace. 3. Drag what you've got around with you and begin to get an idea about the paint. Plan to try it out before final selection. The paints I'm considering are sort of two ways of thinking about the same thing. I know I want a pretty greyed blue with a hint of green (or the other way around) as one of my colors. But do I want it: a. On the walls, or b. In furnishings and accents. The paint colors that seem to work best at the paint store with the tile and wood trim piece are BM Mount Saint Anne or one lighter BM Beach Glass The small decorative tile border has one square that has this blue-grey color (or near enough). It's just a hint, but a nice touch. If I go with walls in this color, then I'm thinking neutrals for a sectional or main seating sofa. / love seat. Pillows will pick up the blue and a toffee / soft terracotta color. I'm also considering BM Toffee Cream. It looks great with the tile, picking up one of its colors very closely. Blues would contrast with it beautifully ... at least I think they would?! I have, by the way, no clue whether my process of deciding makes any sense. I may just be living in a semi-delusional state and all these choices will prove to be wrong! Wellspring

You know, I'm not even sure!!!! Ha ha...I know I'm just having trouble explaining what I'm going for, so here are a few inspiration photos...(I don't think these are anyone's kitchens from here, but if they are, I apologize, I don't have names or anything saved with these!) I realize these aren't very Tuscan, I honestly don't have too many photos uploaded of those (they are on my hard drive). But I guess when I think 'mountain', this is what's in my mind!

I don't have experience with exterior stains but a sage green paint would look good. I like your stacked stone and could see it as column bases around the porch and deck posts. Or you could use river rocks to match those in the landscape. Not sure I like the steel in the middle of the chimney or the mantle overthe top of the TV. They break the lines of that soaring fireplace and the mantle will be too high to set things on. If solid rock to ceiling is not an option, rock to mantle then wallboard with timber trim to ceiling. Solid rock would be good for passive solar so you might get a tax break for that. Once you rebuild deck consider sun sails instead of roofing which could block those windows year round. That would cut your winter heat gain and ruin your views. Use lower deck in the heat of the day and upper one for evenings. Gorgeous setting.

My first thought was…you can’t really see the house well enough….the trees and shrubs are covering most of the house…i would start by removing the overgrowth..so you can see how much natural light you will gain…before you choose colors…also a picture from the curb showing the whole house and property …even a slice of the neighboring homes …will help toward a more encompassing choice…