I would suggest not doing the very narrow dutch lap style that seems to be so popular now. It often looks very commercial and sterile, imo. I don't think it would look right on your style of house. Too tight and compact, or flat looking, for the shape and lines of your home. Are there any colors you are already drawn to? What roof color would you prefer to the one you have? This post was edited by snookums2 on Tue, Mar 5, 13 at 6:38

Vinyl siding 'can' be painted. There is special paint now, just for vinyl siding, with special heat reflecting qualities to it. The paint manufacturers claim that this special paint with heat reflecting qualities allows one to paint vinyl siding a darker color than it's original color. The ONE vinyl house I've seen painted with this special paint didn't fare too well. The western exposure side of the house I can see from the street took less than 6 months of sun exposure for all the siding to warp and buckle. It looks like hell. I imagine the southern side looks even worse. Not surprisingly, the northern exposure sides looks okay. If it has to be painted, use the special paint for vinyl, but go with a lighter color than the existing gray. Or, don't paint and save up the cash to have the home resided.

I'm thinking a deep lacquer red. Although you say the front doesn't get much sun, if it's on the Southeast, it will get more sun in the winter time when the Sun stays low in the sky, which means that a black front door would get very hot and your warm climate. Hot doors dry out and Warp. (I am a native Texan LOL.) It's a really beautiful house, and your red front door, with maybe some rocking chairs or wicker furniture on the front and some nice big pots of plants... I'll be right over for some iced tea!

The thing I noticed about snow when I drove by houses, is that white trim or garage doors will not match. The whites really clashed. I went with colonial white and cannot believe what a perfect beautiful creamy white it is. I expected it to be more crisp and stark and its not. However its not yellow either. Happy to say after struggling between snow and colonial that I am very happy I choose colonial. Hope that helps.