Semi-transparent stain generally isn't very durable as deck stain. It's most often used for vertical surfaces. It also isn't very long lasting on sunny surfaces. If you are going to stain the deck, your best bet may be deck stain!

Wow! Thank you for the landscaping ideas Beth! That was thoughtful of you and will help my decisions! I chose a cylinder up/down lighting for the exterior. Austin style house numbers from https://www.modernhousenumbers.com The garage door style ordered is as you recommended The front door is a modern solid slab hemlock with 3 windows. I will need to stain it as I would hate to paint the solid wood. In hindsight, I should have went with a paint grade door saving some $$ along the way but that's oK. The door is beautiful. The last thing I have is interior light selection. I have three pendants in the entry and two hall pendants in the hallway leading to the bedrooms. I would like to keep all five matching since the house is very open design concept to keep symmetry as they will be competing with dining and island lighting. I do have a slight roof pitch change therefore they will need to be pendants on rope or chain as one hallway has a slight roof pitch from 10 ft to 12 ft. I was thinking a simple size appropriate drum. THoughts?

A few things which look “off” in your photos, but because you are not showing us al of the space, it is hard to judge. As is, your chandelier is hung too high and looks too big for the table. (1/2 size of table and around 34” off table top is preferred). The table looks as if it should be turned. The navy chairs are side chairs and not host chairs. Suggest two cane chairs on either side of table and a fabric slope arm chairs for the ends. Window need panels. I would not paint an accent wall. If you want blue, paint above the chair rail. Art for walls:

Thanks all! I now have a massive collection of paint chips and am no further along toward a decision! I'm not sure if the online mockups are all that helpful - when I find images of exteriors with the various paint options, they seem to look very different than the chips or the online mockups. For example, the mock-up and the paint chip makes SW Iron Ore seem very dark - almost black - but this old thread from Houzz shows it painted on a house that looks blue-grey to me. I'll probably try testing some samples once they get the siding up. The problem for me is narrowing it down to 3 or 4 options. I have trouble making decisions in general and this reno has forced me to make about a billion so far. @debvanatl I like Witching Hour as well but a few photos make it look a little "brighter" than I think our little house can bear. @celerygirl I started out wanting just a darker version of our existing color but now I'm tipping over into blue. Still want to keep it dark and grey-toned though. @Tiny J your house is beautiful! Charcoal gray is now in contention. @littlebug zone 5 Missouri & @PPF new gutters and a new portico are part of the plan. And the new windows will be double-hung 6/1, at least a foot taller than the existing windows.