Thanks! I wanted the home to look as if it had been built in the 1800's and chose a color of brick that would have been used then. We purchased the brick from Cason Brick company. They are based out of N.C. The brand was Pine Hall and I think the name was Pinehurst. The mortar is just natural mortar color and is a pale gray.

There are the exterior window color choices we have to choose from. The one on the left is cashmere, bronze in middle and pebble grey on the right. Was leaning towards the pebble grey as blends in with the brick mortar. Was not sure if the cashmere was just a little off color, bronze kind of looks like the aluminum windows we are replacing. Would be going for double hung with no divided lights as both my husband and I like the uninterrupted view without divided lights. Other other possible exterior window color is black, but my husband kind of nixed that idea as did not like it.

You are right about the colors in the inspiration room rug pulling in all the colors of the room. Somehow I either overlooked it or didn't want to admit it. How does the saying go..."sometimes you don't see the forest because the trees are in the way"...haha... Anyway, I just fell in love with the stone medallion rug and was offered it for a great price because it was a return to a local place that makes them. It isn't the colors that I would have chosen, but I was trying to force it to work. It has no grout because it is made with a compouter controled water jet and all the pieces fit tightly together to form one big solid piece. It's really lovely, but you are right, the colors aren't the best for the design. I have changed original design a bit because I felt it was too Tuscan/Mediterranean for the house. I am using more rustic wood instead of so much cast concrete..though I am using the cast corbles that flank the radius ceiling. I wanted it to feel casual and rustic French, but with an elegant touch of "jewelry" that the crystal and possibly some glass tile accents would bring. The color swatch under the sink is such a bad representation of the vanity color! I attached a photo of a premade cabinet in a similar color and style to what I am having made. The wall color has not been determined yet. Any suggestions?! Thanks again! Your advice is really helping me see this from a different prespective. Did I mention I am a bit over my head with this project? This monster spec house has 10 bathrooms and not enough budget! I'll post some pictures as the project progresses.

Hi Amy, Heres my two cents... Ipe porch (or maybe FSC Cumaru) with bluestone patio out back would look great. May be worth researching if there is a local stone available and seeing what it looks like. We always try to source locally if quality and supply will allow. Too bad the cherry trees trees have to go, but if they are encroaching on your septic you have no choice. Front retaining wall some form of stacked stone so you're looking at the edges of the stone. I'm thinking a brown rust color, but you could stick with bluestone and use the same for the driveway retaining wall. Keep it simple and it will tie in the other areas and disparate materials. That said.... if it was me.... spend the time and money focusing on the porch and patio as that's where you will be spending the majority of your outside time. Find a local landscape architect with knowledge of local plants and maybe have them do a small plan or just spend a couple hours offering up some suggestions. For the front walk, as long as the wood retaining wall is still solid, I would just plant it out simply supplementing the local flora. You're on a wooded lot so why make it look like suburbia? I'd skip the retaining wall on the driveway though agree 100% the hillside definitely needs something. There is seemingly good sunlight so I'd plant it out with edibles such as blueberries, raspberries maybe blackberries... it will soften the transition from asphalt to woods, you'll get easy access to picking fresh fruit, and it will increase the bird life visiting your property. Good luck and post some photos when it's done! Always love to see the before and after....