jejvtr: I like the first link you showed, but the second one did not work. You are right the columns look similar. Perhaps you should leave them afterall, they are growing on me. It has a certain delicacy with the arched roof and you may change you mind also once the trim is painted different than the house color. Which is probably another reason my vote is for a non-white base color--to accentuate your lovely trimwork. I'm glad you are looking at other homes similar to yours for inspiration. When we were remodeling last year, I always kept a digital camera in my car and I would snap pics of features/colors/etc of houses I liked--usually while picking up or dropping off my kids from school or sports practices. I would try to drive a bit in the residential areas. Then when we were finalizing paint, I had my paint swatches with me and I would go up to houses which I liked and compare paint swatches. Once you and your DH find an inspiration pic I think this is helpful to narrow down to an actual color. You will always see things we don't, like lighting and how it works from various angles. What does DH think? Still white/red?

I am not sure how to add copper. I think you can buy banding or inlay to add to a wood hood. Here are a few more links that might help.... (THIS IS MY FAVORITE!!!!) Outwater Plastics Check out the wood hoods that you can convert to your own DIY copper hood http://www.outwatercatalogs.com/lg_display.cfm/catalog/Outwater_Plastics_2011/page/353 Veneer Supplies Copper Aged http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/Golden-Bamboo-Copper-Veneer-36-x-48.html Metal Wall tiles has Copper. Maybe add tiles in a row. http://metalwalltiles.net/coppertile.aspx Metal Design VT. http://www.metaldesignvt.com/gallery/index.php?itemid=133&catid=9 Home Depot Copper molding http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&productId=100664357&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=100664357&cm_mmc=shopping-_-googlebase-_-D23X-_-100664357&locStoreNum=2624 Idea from HGTV Metal by the inch https://www.metalbytheinch.com/t0/c1029/trim_molding_-_copper.html Color Copper co. http://www.colorcopper.com/categories/Copper-Trim-%26--Molding/ Check out daltile they make an aged copper tile that might work for you called Castle tiles. Here are some images of wood hoods, imagine if you could put tile or copper sheets on them. ~boxer ( I found a pic) Copper sheets on a wood hood DIY wood hood Here is a link that might be useful: Utube copper how to ....

You can add a lot of color and brightness through the use of accessories. You can add them all in a single color...as here they focused on the coral... ...or gold ...or any other color, preferably a bright one. Or you can add multiple colors such as aqua, orange and acid green as suggested by this design seed. You can even choose stark white as your accent color. Regardless of color, take a look at the pictures above and notice how much interest is added through texture and pattern. And notice how the window treatments are used to reinforce the color theme. Especially in the first one, notice how important the color in the art is to the room as a whole. Here's a room that is all white, beige and brown, yet notice all the textures that keep the room interesting...pattern on the rug, another on the throw pillows, texture on the white pillows, wood, ceramics, pattern on the window treatments, leather on one chair, velvet on the other texture in the sea shells. So there's a lot you can do with brown to make it bright and keep it interesting...just choose carefully what else you put in the room and the brown will become a neutral background for whatever color story you wish to tell.

Zaz and Beth, I finally have some samples on my floor to look at (from the Tile Shop) and that's helpful, but it's a pain in the b*** to figure out what samples to order and from whom to order them - and expensive too! I could probably order an equal number of interesting samples from Merola/Home Depot, not to mention the additional ideas you've both now given me, but at some point I need to stop. Even though I feel I've 'narrowed' my focus to something with blue and/or patterned-moroccan-style, there are still so many options and resources to look at. I do like all the additional examples you gave me, Beth. Is EliteTile considered a good quality resource? I have felt comfortable having a retail face to consult with (Tile Shop and Home Depot) but if you and Zaz and others with more experience feel it can be ok to order from a place like Wayfair and this brand of tile, then I feel more confident about that. Both Tile Shop and HD have nice options too, but I've been a bit frustrated that I haven't been able to see an actual sample of a large-size cobalt option .... and the nice on sale lantern blue one is beautiful. What a price, too!! Weirdly, as I look more closely at the Wayfair/EliteTile Moroccan tiles, I'm seeing several that are the exact same patterns that Merola/HomeDepot offer. Do either of you know anything about this? I'd kind of like to add pictures of the samples I have from Tile Shop to see what you both think, but it might need to wait until tomorrow since this day is over and I'm beat. (Also, have other things in addition to tile shopping which I'm sure you both can relate to.) I am grateful to have both of you to converse with on this. Feel more comfortable.