I like Iron Ore the others are too brown IMO. I am a bit concerned with thewalnut mixed in what are the pics of the pale gray for

Those are stained samples of Iron Ore, Seal Skin, and Urbane Bronze. They all came out a lot lighter than I was expecting. For the decks and porch, would a natural cedar go better than a walnut stain?

Looks like a bomb shelter

You F off JD

I vote for Iron Ore, would look nice with walnut.

You know that the stin needs to go on unfinished wood I think you need paint not stain in Iron Ore.

I think it would be easier to go w a color wash paint (ie water down regular paint). You would still see a bit of the wood like you would with stain, but the labor involved would be much less/cheaper.

Thank you. Yes, OP was woodscape solid stain about 10 yesrs ago. Do you know why the Iron Ore and Urbane Bronze samples are showing up light grey and not dark grey like the swatches?

All wood is going to absorb stain differently, so it won’t always look how you thought. Try adding more layers after drying.

OP is doing a solid stain - depending on product there's likely no need to get off every last bit of previous stain. Consider that the exterior concrete- walk ways, walls etc. form a significant part of your overall exterior design and color scheme - what color is that exactly, bare concrete or it actually looks kind of white?

I like the sealskin exactly because it has more brown and relates better /has less contrast with the walnut. I like the wood portions of the house retaining a "woodsy" aspect to better balance out all the concrete. Its still a grayed, and very modern brown. Brown itself is no means an outdated color - just some particularly 1970s shades of it.

However if your roof is a prominent feature from some angles maybe youd want to choose the iron ore because the blue gray of it might relate better to your roof color (while still looking good with the concrete).

Either way, im not sure its dark enough To get a better idea try a much larger area and view from further away so you can get an idea of how it looks against the concrete. Maybe get a big piece of ply you can move around although the color wont be EXACTLY same as how it would look on your 50 yr old already stained wood. Still it would give you a better idea!

What a unique and interesting home! I would test the colours on different sides too. We have a grey home and I was shocked at the difference in colour at different times do day and directions.

The cement walls are light grey. So if I go with Iron Ore on cedar siding, what would your recommend for the decks? dark walnut? Mahogeny? light grey?

Our deck just has a clear stain and you see the cedar through. I really like this look personally. Our soffits are also like this and I think it is a nice balance to the grey colours. Is it an option to keep the decks more natural?

I like Seal Skin. Awesome house!!

Yes, I can stain the decks any color, but you think a semi transparent stain would give more of the nature wood look. The decks are just treated lumber, not cedar like the siding. Since I am leaning towards the Iron Ore, what semi-transparent wood finish would be appropiate? A darker wood stain? orangish cedar look? greyish?

Oh if they are treated lumber then I would not do that. I would go for a lighter grey.