But those columns are appropriate for an 1870s Victorian house! Which what it is. And they appear to match the brackets very nicely. (They may be replacements, but if so, they were chosen carefully and are quite stylistically correct.) Don't confuse a "New England Colonial house with a house built when New England was a colony, i.e. prior to 1776, or the early 19th century. NE Colonial is not really an architectural style, it's more realtor-speak. There are "Colonial Revival" houses but they are later around turn of the century (1900) and are not like yours in massing or style. Those turned polychrome (multi-coloured) columns are a perfect, and most likely original, element of your house. Fancier and fatter columns would be funny looking - and look like you were trying to fake-up an earlier period by applying Greek Revival (1820-1860) details. Best of all, you seem to have almost a full set. You can have another one made to match the others on the big porch. The only really odd (visibly altered) element are the shed dormers. I went back and really studied your picture for signs that this house has any 18th- early 19th c details, i.e. "Colonial" (tried to see Federal, or Greek revival) and I just can't see it. It really looks to me like a very nice and surprisingly intact vernacular late-Victorian structure. With nice porch posts! Aside from removing the siding, and considering adding corner boards, the only other things I'd consider would be blinds (shutters) and painting the storm window/door trim so it doesn't flash so much. You might find some opportunities for some fancy brackets (supports) under the bay window if the bay doesn't extend down to the floor. And with the siding off you may find evidence of some trim bands under the roof edges along the gable ends. Having contrasting trim there would serve to weight down the roof line visually and conteract the startled-eye look you have right now. If the trim was paintd the dark grey color, that would do the trick I think. (I expect you'd find evidence of that sort of trim if you take off the vinyl.) L

Thanks awm! Joyce your home looks wonderful ! Please post more pictures - or if you're showing the progress on the Building forum can you give a link? We tried the online viewers but didn't find them very accurate as so much depends on how your monitor is set up. It might give a vague idea but there 's nothing like holding a 4' x 4' section of siding up to your house on all sides, cloudy days & sunny days to get a sens of how it looks in different light. But I will say, there's a seasonal difference, too. If you're in snow country, that changes things and the angle of the light winter to summer makes a difference as does sun being filtered through leaves on tall trees. At some point you have to bite the bullet, though!

Disclaimer: My comments are no holds barred, since this is a magazine spread. I am critiquing professionals' work (normal), rather than critiquing an individual's home (not done). First, the exterior is dull. It looks like a tract home, only oversized. That's a fail. As for the interior, I think we have seen this about a hundred times before. I agree with Tibb on this, the only statement it makes is a bank statement. A client should expect more. Or maybe that is why I have always found designers disappointing? They can certainly make handsome interiors, but they often lack spark, personality, quirk, interest. Maybe that is what the wildly expensive, rarified designers can do. Or the new ones starting out? I know it is tough, because this look is probably what clients want. But you are designer with a decent budget (eg I am assuming those are genuine Barcelona chairs in the foyer, and that is 10k right there for the two of them) who has submitted this to a national magazine. I expect something creative and interesting under such conditions, not a rehash of things we have seen in seemingly every newly built East Coast beach house for the last 20 years. I only saw one thing that looked new to me; the MBA tub. I think it's gorgeous. If I were nitpicking, I am not sure it is a perfect fit, since I think it looks more Manhattan then Montauk (or wherever), and especially since I don't recall similar notes elsewhere in the house. HHIreno, I had to laugh at your pillow comment. In that banquette photo, only the tiniest of tushies could perch. That may just be photo shoot styling overload. The pillow tags may well be taped to the back and it's all heading back to HomeGoods when the shoot is done. Also at the banquette, the table space is totally insufficient for the number of people you can seat there. Unless it is for serving airline peanuts. PS As a reader its interesting to see photos of the HO, but most people I know deride that. A photo of the kids is to me, quite odd. Just sayin'.

We are using Royal - Estate Colonial Beaded. It's 6" and comes in single strips. My second contender was Royals' Board and Batten style, but DH and I couldn't agree on it, so the Colonial Beaded won out. These two sidings are slightly thicker and have a little higher R-value that traditional double or dutch lap siding. I would have used a shingle style if it had gone with the appearance of our house.