We used CertainTeed Impressions on our entire house. We get compliments on it all the time. In fact, people will go up and touch it, and then are amazed that it's not real shakes. Originally I was adamant that I did not want to use vinyl siding, but this product was so much better than anything else I looked at. I think what sets it apart from other vinyl shakes is that it appears seamless and the color is not a flat solid color. It has a bit of variation in the color like real cedar shakes, and it has some depth to the color and texture. I looked at Foundry vinyl shakes, and there was no comparison. The house is 5200 sq ft. As a comparison, the cost was $5,000 more than SmartSide. I didn't like the SmartSide because at the time they only had pastels, I thought it was way too shiny, and I didn't like all the seams. I think they've come out with many more attractive colors now. I've attached a picture of the back side of the garage. Not the best picture, but it is the best I have that shows the siding up close. I also agree with another poster that a more substantial trim around the windows makes a big difference.

I'm kinda torn here Misstheatre... * By the time & expense (mainly Advil...!) of scraping/sanding/cleaning the shakes, new ones could be installed!! * Everything would match then, AND you wouldn't have possible lead issues hanging around... * I'd at least get some estimates anyway!! >>> I might suggest using Sikkens Log & Siding on your new shakes!! * There's a house down the street from us (on a manmade lake...~ $400k home...) with Sikkens L & S on it, #078 Natural. I think the place looks stunning! * If new shakes, this requires 2 coats 24 hrs. apart. DO BOTH SIDES OF THE SHAKES!! * It's a sheen-building product. Kind of a Satin appearance. * This helps keep water out from all sides so they'll last longer. * South & West sides will need recoating (maintenance coats every 3 or 4 yrs., with either the same stain; OR the new Cetol-Maintenance...a clear maintenance coat. * A 5-gal. pail runs ~ $360. Let us know your status! Faron

Update: we've decided to keep the siding on the dormer and just repair and paint all the clapboards and trim. I've been testing colors and have found two gray-green shades I like, SW Retreat and SW Link Gray (same level, just one chip apart). The Retreat is almost too bright and clear when I see it in the sun on my South and West exposure, so I'm leaning toward the Link Gray, but I'm still open to suggestions But trim colors are still hard! I think white is too stark with my dark brick and taupe/gray mortar, but I'm not sure what undertones to look for in the trim. I wonder if a pinky beige would work best with the brick while still complimenting the green of the siding. Or vice versa, maybe a green-based beige? The swath of siding on the right is Link Gray, the little piece midway up on the left is Retreat (they look almost the same in this photo). The corner board on the right is Rice Grain (a green based neutral) and the left corner board and some of the window trim is painted Portico, a deeper pinky beige. I think it might be too dark as a trim color, but I can't tell if the undertones work better. The Rice Grain almost reads white, but maybe if it were all over it would have a bit more oomph.

Chris your inspiration house has a large proportion of the natural cedar color to the blue and a lot of what we can see on that house in the photo is in shadow which makes a big difference. You're trying to choose a color for your house without a clean background - the yellow is a player in making colors look different. I took a picture of 2 colors from one of my paint decks for you - put them on a table on our porch that is similar in color to your cedar but when I compare the picture to the paint deck it's horribly off so I hesitate to post it for you. I may email it but just know that it's not representational at all. I'm looking at Benjamin Moore Everard Blue CW-575 and Wetherburn's Blue CW-580. these are from their Williamsburg collection, grayed blues with green in them. Even on the B/M website the colors are off on my computer. I'm not certain these are the *right* colors for your house but it's a slightly different direction that brings your setting into the mix and a place to start. Hale Navy is part of the Historical Color collection from B/M - that collection is a good place to be as well. The colors are dirtier which is good - what you don't want is a bright, clear color on your house. There are different ways to approach trim and house colors - they can be high contrast with crisp definition or lower contrast and more subtle transition. Neither one is better, they are just different looks but your trim will still be differentiated from the house body with less contrast. Are you planning to paint your eves and rake boards like the inspiration house?