What a charming house?? I like the gold very much but understand if you want a change. I would keep the white trim, paint the body of the house the current door/shutter color, and have fun with the door color. The first thing that comes to mind would be fuchsia!

(no, none of those your mentioned would clash w/your windows. I've linked quite a few articles for you to read. give them a shot first, and then come back if you have questions) Here's a color review on Dorian Gray. she favors Pure White and High Reflective white for the trim. https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/paint-colour-review-sherwin-williams-dorian-gray-sw-7017/ Have you ever read any of Kylies articles on exposure and paint colors? very interesting. here are a few you can peruse https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/exterior-painting-4-things-to-know-before-picking-a-colour/ https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-exterior-paint-colours-why-your-homes-exposure-matters/ scroll down to where she talks about East facing homes. SO, HOW DOES EAST-FACING LIGHT AFFECT PAINT COLOURS ON THE EXTERIOR OF A HOME? East-facing morning light is bright and will make paint colours look MUCH lighter than they will in the afternoon An east-facing afternoon will look an AWFUL lot like a north-facing one in that it gets NO sunshine and no shadows. It’s also similar to a west-facing morning light – flatter than a pancake In the afternoon, east-facing homes can look more shaded – more like they do on the north-facing side (or western morning) With east-facing light being tricky, you’ll want to pay attention to the LRV that you choose. This way, you can land on an LRV that doesn’t wash-out too much in the morning, but also doesn’t look too heavy in the afternoon. https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/paint-colours-and-lrv-the-ultimate-guide-to-choosing-the-right-colour/ https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/how-to-pick-exterior-paint-colours-in-5-easy-steps/ https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/sherwin-williams-best-gray-greige-paint-colours/ this link is all gray paint colors that she talks about. pay attention to the undertones and the LRV https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/page/2/?s=gray+exterior+colors

I am trying to get a modern look on our house without being blinded by the color of the house. Or having the stark black and white. We live in southern California, so the sun is really intense. I wanted something that looked more modern though. Any help is appreciated.

Cute cottagey house! Yeah Im afraid the ship sailed when that bright white vinyl was installed - so do rest of the trim, eaves, railings to match. Actually, what Im seeing here is the stark white looks pretty good with the brick, which to me looks more of a yellowy/beigey-brown than what is usually considered "red" brick. Sometimes bright white can make red brick look kinda dingy in contrast, but I dont see that happening here. What do you mean by "gets grungy" - you mean from algae or mold or something? Where is this, on the masonry or the paint or both? There is mildew-resisitant paint,, and/or you might want to look into masonry cleaners that are "biocides" ie remove mold and algae (D/2 Biological Solution is one) and then use a clear potassium silicate or some other clear, breathable, matte sealer that keeps rain out but allows water vapor to pass in and out. Since taking this approach my 100 yr house has not had the stinky mildew issues it used to have.