There are many ways you could decolonialize the house, but I'll suggest you have a plan. Changing and adding trim is easy during a reside.

Work with your architect to come up with some ideas.

It's obvious that you HATE the bay window. I get it, but imo, trying to cover it up with a structure that isn't supposed to be placed over a bay window, will just look like a muddied mess. The board and batten and metal roof are more in keeping with the "modern farmhouse", which your home is not. If it were me, I would take the hit and replace the bay with 2 regular windows. I think it's the best long term option and you'll get a proper look for your home. I love the image that PPF, posted above. Everything looks as it should and it still looks colonial to me. The "modern farmhouse" look is going to be quickly "out", and then what?

oooooo that last one from POF. Gives weight to the left and breaks up the line. Your cupola looks good on here!

@PPF. oh my GOODNESS! THANK YOU so much! This is really helpful to see! So amazing! I don't even know what to say - this is such a surprise and so interesting because I did wonder about splitting it up with shingles and lap siding - I have seen that done around here and wondered how it would look on our house. Now the tough question - could this look good with the portico our architect designed because not only do I love that, the plans have already been submitted for the permit, and permit is probably almost obtained for that. This is proceeding maybe not next week, but the week after. (Our contractor told us this when he brought more of the pewter wood roofing over yesterday which I am now wondering if it's too grey now that I see more of it together.) I think we can have the roof phase done and skip the metal over the bay window and just have the roofer put shingles over the bay for now, giving us more time to ponder ripping out the bay and replacing with two windows. Which I can now see DOES look good! It doesn't look like too much. But it MIGHT if it wasn't broken up vertically with the shingles and lap. And my cupola looks good, too! YAY! 1000 times, thank you, @PPF. My favorite is the first rendering, btw!

@Keepthefaith MIGirl thank you so much for weighing in! I love it, too - I forgot to ask @PPF. is the third rendering keeping the bay as it is now, or somehow making it not "bump out" and having it be completely flush with the house instead? This might enable me to keep my plantation shutters and get the great lighting inside, but improve the look outside. Obviously if it still bumps out at all, we need some kind of roof over the top of the bump out. I'm really excited to see that the cupola looks good!

Love PPF's first rendering the best - Love the 2 new windows as it retains really nice symmetry. Love the shakes on the top, horizontal trim and siding below. In his rendering even the cupola works. First photo is a winner. This is your answer.

Like this last one.....but I’m partial to boxed bays (although not a fan of the white metal roof).

I think OP says she does not like boxed bays (or any bays for that matter).

Yes, I understood that.....was just putting my vote in for it anyway :)

@PPF. ooohhhhhh, interesting! This would let in more light, with the three windows, which I like. But I think I still like the first rendering best with the two windows. Not 100% sure on that, though - this gives it a bit more interest as far as breaking up the possible "boring" of so many same windows. Great to see and more to think about. I told my husband I'm leaving it up to him because it's stressing me out so much. This would still be really fun if we were still in the pre-stages of making any moves. Because we have work commencing in less than two weeks, it's become very stressful. I'm very grateful for all the advice and input and think I'm leaning toward rendering 1 from @ppf instead of the architect drawings, though we will use the portico from our architect. THANK YOU! @Design Girl you are right, I did say I don't like boxed bays or any bays - I've never seen one quite like this. It's the least objectionable I've seen lol - still not sure I would want it on the front of my house. And agree with @Nidnay on the color of the metal roof, but maybe we could do black metal roof instead.

I just tried to post this, but it must have timed out, bc I don't see the post. If this is a duplicate, I apologize. I think the roof is getting installed next week, husband thinks this week coming up. We are second guessing the Pewterwood after putting more up to look at. So below shows left to right Certainteed Landmark Pewterwood, Moire Black, Charcoal Black. Siding will probably be mid-dark blue or if I chicken out from that, Pearl Grey or Light Mist. Which of these roof options is best, my all-knowing houzz helpers!? :-) *Note - siding and shutters will remain this way for a year or possibly a bit more until we have the $ to do the siding. (Please excuse the spider.)

Middle or right one. The left one is too light to complement the siding options you’ve been considering. If you’re going to go mid-toned blue when you do the siding, the darkest one would be my choice.

Hi! Just saw this post. Thought some mock ups might help. I used blue for future siding.

For the short term, regardless of roof you choose, I would paint the shutters this blue. I think the middle color shingle would be most flexible but if possible lock in what color you want siding. That is a lot of money so you want roof and siding to work well together.

@Flo Mangan thank you! Just checked houzz for the first time in a while!! So you’re saying we should paint the shutters blue rather than green just for the year until we can afford the siding? I like this blue color - was really hoping to find a Hardie color that would work. Maybe evening blue or derp ocean.

Here’s the new roof - we went with the middle one called moire black. And hubs wanted to proceed with the metal on the portico and over the bay but we couldn’t finalize on the metal yet without committing to a siding color and we aren’t there yet. So we had them just shingle both for now. Gives us time to further ponder ripping out the bay and replacing with two windows.

That roof color is great. Almost ANY color will work with it. And I love the blue Flo showed you.

We still havent picked siding color. heres the house with new portico and roof. i dont mind the bay window anymore. almost seems balanced with the portico somehow. i need color selection help AND front door help - we are getting new front door(s) and i cant decide whether to switch to one with sidelights or stay with two. please help if anyone is still here!

Looks nice. With the portico stick with double doors. The width of portico is proportional to the double doors. With the predominantly black roof and white portico I think white siding with black shutters and deep red doors would look classic and quite grand. If you want more casual then blue gray tone would work. But that portico is screaming traditional classic to me.

Gretchen-it is hard to do a proper mock up with white but I tried the best I could. I would choose a more blue/red door color but a bright red would work too. Kind of personal choice. Just squint your eyes to get a general idea of the beautiful look white would give your home. I posted a few white traditional homes to give you “concept”.

Of course, if you do white siding, black on the shutters is best. It will look amazing!! Like a whole new house. Portico is amazing and changes everything, for the good!

Having had a center hall colonial that was white with black shutters and Fire Engine Red door, I agree with the look that Flo is suggesting. It's classic and elegant.

If your other half opposes white, then a blue can always look elegant on a colonial as well.

@Flo Mangan and @RedRyder thank you! so grateful for the mock up and ideas! i apologize for not saying this again in my post - neighbors on both sides are white with black shutters and such a light grey its almost white. :-( hubs would really love the scheme you both suggest, as would i, but i dont think we should bc of next door neighbors. im so nervous to do evening blue hardie which is a dark blue bc i cant add shutters later if i dont like without since i dont like any color wiith blue. ahhh!

Your house appears to be on a fairly large lot. I would just do a really bright white such as BM Chantilly Lace. I think the house is different enough that it won’t be a big issue. If you could post a photo from across the street we could assess better.

I live in a 1930s home that has always been painted white. For the past 40 years, the shutters have been painted either Charleston Green or Black. Now, since the popularity of the “Modern Farmhouse” look, three of my neighbors have painted their homes white this year. All of them have black shutters. And all of them have red front doors. My front door has been “Williamsburg Blue,” and red, and yellow over the years. But this year I decided to paint it Tricorn Black. At this point…I don’t care what my neighbors have done. Do what YOU want to do!

@Flo Mangan took some pics outside today. Lmk if you think i could do white with black shutters. i just dont know and both our architect and contractor said no but i like what @ptreckel says!

@Flo Mangan i was rushing earlier going into an appt but im SO glad you like the portico! your comment made me so happy! i love it, too, but man I was so nervous about it after this discussion here above! :-) glad we skipped the metal roof on portico and didn't do the more craftsman overhang over the bay. The bay looks less horrible to me now, somehow. lol So grateful for the advice Ive gotten here.

What a beautiful area. I can see your challenge. I wonder if you could do a light gray with white front door. Let me see what I can find.

I love the white for your home. It's such a classic choice. What about gray shutters instead of black. A little bit of a transitional vibe on the black/red combo. I can't get the photos to load, but Google images of white colonial homes with gray shutters. I think it would look great.

I was just going to post that design girl!

I must admit, even though I am trying other options, the white is still my fav. You could do a blue shutter and front door and update landscaping to include a brick like paver walkway to add additional differences in front facade.

Flo Mangan - Haha - I also think white for the body of the house is the best choice. I love gray shutters with a white home. I feel it takes a really classic home and updates it just enough that it doesn't look stodgy. You can do a lighter gray like Benjamin Moore Platinum gray or something a bit darker. I feel the blue could push the home in too modern a direction.

Shutters on a white house can be any color. I don’t think it matters what your neighbors’ houses look like. What about soft olive-grey shutters? Or classic Navy? Stately colonials are often white because it’s elegant, like the style of your house. Or make it a creamy white with French blue shutters.
Some inspiration.

@RedRyder and @Flo Mangan thank you both! i really like white with black shutters but not so much cream, maybe bc our house is currently a creamy kind of yellow so not different enough. And as for a different shutter color with a white house, i really dont like anything as much as black. what aboit pearl gray hardie with black shutters? Seems so boring but i do think pretty. Hubs

wants no shutters so we could try no shutters first.

Stick with white and dark shutters. The neighborhood has trees and large lots. Add some pots at front door that add color. Anything else you will regret. Look at other suppliers to get bright white. 😄

Consider “Charleston Green” shutters for your home if you are still concerned about your neighboring homes with black shutters. They read black in most light, but are actually a VERY VERY dark, dark green. The best of both worlds. AND historically a color that has been used for centuries on white clapboard homes.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/decorating/classic-paint-colors&psig=AOvVaw34vQKyAxE43hnxJ1__z2hg&ust=1633809208995000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAsQjRxqFwoTCPCDwePLu_MCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAI

Great idea ptreckel. Love it.

I had Charleston Green shutters on my colonial home, but it was in the 1990's. I'd do a nice charcoal gray.

Another vote for Charleston Green to be in consideration. My friend did her 1923 Dutch Colonial in soft white with Charleston green shutters and doors for many years. Quite classic. Your house would look GREAT in that color scheme. Convince Hubby that shutters are like clothing for a house. He doesn’t want a naked house does he?

Welp, all that agonizing and I was so sure, initially, I wanted blue siding. And then left the discussion here SURE we were going with white siding. Went with Aged Pewter and a yellow door. LOL! Thank you for all the input! We're living with it with no shutters for now. Hubs says no way to shutters, I still think it looks naked. But I guess I'll get used to it.

Love the gray with the yellow front door. Also like it without the shutters. Your portico is beautiful. The rain chain is charming and practical. Much better than a downspout!

Well done!

@houssaon thank you so much! I have appreciated your advice throughout the process! I am adjusting - seems very dark to me, but there's no going back now. Just need to work on our landscaping once the bank account recovers a bit. :-)

Your home is beautiful and your choices are wonderful. Think of it this way….when you “recover” from the experience and want a “change” (and trust me, you will!)…then you might return to shutters. (Painted “Charleston Green!”). But until that moment comes, ENJOY. You did a fabulous job! Bravo!

The portico is everything! glad you did that no shutters is good looks a lot better

Wow looks wonderful!

@ptreckel - this is exactly why we ended up with a painted door rather than a solid wood door like we originally thought we wanted. This way, when we get the itch, we can change the door color! And YES, I would definitely consider shutters in the future! Thank you!

@Flo Mangan and @kodiac23 - really appreciated your input and help throughout this process. Thank you so much!