We used to have natural cedar siding on our old house. I believe we used a product called CWF-UV (Clear Wood Finish-Ultra Violet protection ) in Cedar. I've attached pictures of our old house. Cedar has an orange cast to it, but the CWF brought out the dark reds too. Here's a link to the CWF http://www.acetogo.com/product/19794/finish+wd+cwf+cedar+gal.html Here is a link that might be useful: CWF on Cedar

Whatever you do, DO NOT Paint the copper gutters and downspouts. They are an architectural feature. There are spit opinions on painting brick. If it's an ugly color, paint it. My personal experience was painted brick was the easiest, most durable house covering. It was 25 years before we had to paint our house a second time. We washed the house every year and the paint was incredibly durable. Trim paint is another issue entirely. It took constant upkeep. If the house is stucco, use an elastomeric paint. It's much thicker than regular house paint and designed to expand and contract with the stucco. You can tint it, just like regular paint. Let Lori guide you on color.

I actually like the warmer wood tones. adds a bit of warmth and depth. you could always stain them a darker color if you want. Taupe? why taupe? This?? this is taupe siding. Sorry, I think that's a horrible choice! taupe will meld into that roof color and just look blah. especially if you remove the stone. What would you like to see? How about some contrast? I'd cover the stone w/romabio, and do a composite wood siding over on the far left. then I'd paint the siding a crisp white, do black trim. the cedar posts, it will look great. (but you could also do other shades too. ) what about a dark blue gray siding? as for the stone, since you want to remove them, why not get a small container of the Romabio and wash them to see what you think? (and if you really hate it, it washes off w/in 72 hours. Comes in a bunch of colors. If you get the Masonry Romabio, you can have it tinted any color you like) lime wash is the Classico:

Your house will never look elaborate. But that's ok. Simple is good. Yes, embrace your house for what it is -- a small, simple, neat home. As others have said, trying to make it something it isn't will only backfire on you. Bigger and fancier isn't better; often I see a bloated, overly complex house on this site and think, "Someone actually built that -- and thinks it looks good." You're starting with something solid and basic ... and you can make it a standout house. If this house were painted a nice color and surrounded by lovely trees and plantings, it would look entirely different. What I'd do to your house: - The simple shape is good, but the color is dull. Paint it blue, yellow or sage green ... do not go white or gray; you need a color that'll bring in personality. Your roof color is simple and can support any of these colors. - Avoid shakes, as they are high maintenance and their color will fade over time. - Paint the porch white. - The white front door is kinda invisible ... so choose a color to accent the new house color. - I see two sad brown chairs hiding on your brown porch ... paint them a colorful shade to match the house color (not white, make them stand out from the porch). They look kinda large for the small porch ... consider smaller chairs and a tiny table to hold a cold drink and a pretty plant. But, at every turn, color. - Once the painting is done, reevaluate the shutters ... I'm not sure what to say about them at the moment. One school of thought is to keep them black to match the roof, but (once the color is done), you might opt to remove them or paint them white? Unsure. - Do you have a light on your porch? I can't see it. Add a lantern-style lamp ... most people make their porch lights too small. On a porch this size, you'll probably only have one light, so make it 1/4-1/3 the height of your door. - Finally add your house number above the porch. - Have a landscaper come out and develop a plan with you ... accept that this will take years to "grow into". Treat yourself to some bright, colorful annuals that'll give you an instant pop of color and a hanging basket of colorful flowers on the porch ... but put most of your effort into things that'll last /take little effort over the years: a couple trees, foundation bushes, a row of hostas around your walkway. Include a birdbath. - Add a solar-powered light on a post near the driveway end of the pathway ... this plus the porch light will look welcoming at night. - When Christmas is over and the wreaths come down, keep a seasonal wreath on your door ... but make it a little larger than the one on your door now. The wreaths on your windows are great.