That is a setting "to die for" - absolutely gorgeous! This very light creamy yellow would look good:

Adams (1919) · More Info

Nice lake house and lot.

Agree with you about the statues. Habitat for Humanity Restore Stores pick up larger donated items and will likely pick up those lion statues for you.

Not seeing a driveway. Is that large hedge on the right a property line? If so bummer … inconvenient for adding fencing around property line.

Is your garage in front of the hedge in front of the pool not visible in the pics?

If you truly dislike the current house color, you might consider a dark green that would blend in well with rural/lake forested surroundings.

Choose a sturdy chain link fence for visibility so you can see anyone or any pet in the pool area.

You might want to discuss pool safety issues with your neighbors as you get to know them.

There are small child resistant latches for fences well worth the investment.

Is that a rock or a pile of dirt in front of the "bay" window on the left? If dirt or otherwise something removable, you might consider enlarging the tiny deck/stoop in front of that forward facing door on the left and wrapping the deck wrap around the corner to end at the retaining wall, adding a railing on the left and front -- on all but the side of the deck facing towards the front door. Then creating a sidewalk between the larger front entry door on the right and new deck. For curb appeal, whether or not the house's entrances can be seen from the road, this would make the larger and more attractive forward facing door your more obviously your primary entrance from this side of the house.

You might also consider creating larger area at the left front corner of that new deck, left of that left front corner of the house (think octagon gazebo) and adding a roof creating a gazebo/side porch.

When you get ready to do your landscaping, direct arriving traffic to your intended front entry.

Agree with houssaon about the pool fence. Check to see what the requirements are for your city/county/municipality. The pool barrier fence requirements are entirely different than property fence requirements (in my area). The pool barrier fence is a requirement here even if you have a property fence. You don't want to have to buy two fences if you don't have to do so.

Nice lions

codes vary widely. the fact that there is nothing there now.... is that code or poor code enforcement?

black aluminum is the way to go, it really disappears against a green background.

Just fence around the pool area. Aluminum is what we have done and it is great. Agree with ninigret on black visually disappearing. It is an odd layout, so I would try to incorporate the "look" of the house with the pool. It is so odd being in the front like it is. I think a walkway on the level from the front porch, to a round area with a round fountain and then a pathway to an ornamental arbor type gate to the fencing for the pool, would tie the pool and house in a "grand way" rather than the pool just kind of stuck in front. I would also look for pretty umbrellas that would make the pool more inviting with some shaded areas. I will find a photo to help you visualize. But what an interesting house and property. The views in back must be stunning!

Thanks for all your wonderful suggestions. I love both the grey and cream colour schemes.

Provincial regulations require a fence around the pool which cannot be chain-link (which is climbable), however this unfenced pool dates to the 1960s, before those laws were in effect, and is therefore grandfathered. Needless to say, grandfathering doesn't prevent a child or pet from drowning, so one of our first priorities upon closing will be to erect a fence.

To answer questions, and for clarification, the large entry door is not the main entrance to the house, unfortunately. The small door to the left is. The larger door leads to a room with a bar, which is directly under the master bedroom and connected to it with a staircase. We plan to remove the bar and make this area our home gym. The roof is not Spanish clay tile, but rather asphalt shingles in a mottled terra cotta, brownish colour. (The house - a second home for us - in the Laurentian mountains, an hour north of Montreal, so no terra cotta tiles around here!) It is indeed a very awkward layout that will be challenging. There are even weirder features inside, however the location (proximity to our home in Montreal) and large non-motorboat lake are spectacular, so those factors sold us!

Thanks, and will try! It's only chilly in the winter. Summer temps in the 80s and even higher.