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Thank you! So much great feedback. Sadly, the paint job is a necessity rather than just aesthetics -- paint on the back side is failing pretty badly & peeling off in layers. (After reading up on the paint forum, I think it was just too many layers of latex on top of old oil paint without adequate prep.) Maybe we will keep it close to current color. I'm not sure what color it is, but I'll have to stop by the BM store and pick up a tab for Briarwood. I think those color visualizers are just a bit off, at least on our monitor -- Down Pour is a very smurf-y blue on my screen. Luckily, SW store is right down the street. Of the SW colors, we liked Mineral Deposit -- gray, but not quite so dark. Johnmari, my wife said exactly that about warm trim looking bad with cool gray field color. I just want to get away from the current ultrawhite, just tone down a bit but not too much. Shutters? I think we will someday, after we've finished the essentials. Of course, being picky, I don't want to just screw aluminum shutters that don't match window size on there, so might be a while given that real shutters & hardware are pricey. The suggestion about doing the sash black is good--that could look really sharp and make the windows pop a bit more until we can dress it up a bit more with shutters. Absolutely agreed on the landscaping solutions. Could be more varied and it would add a lot. THANK YOU for all your suggestions, such a helpful group & nice little corner of the internet.

I'm not sure what is specific about Belgard pavers compared to other pavers. I'm in Central Florida, and house faces south we we get lots of direct southern sun. New pool build this year and had pavers installed around the pool. Went with a light paver (cream, orange brown colors). Even in the hottest day (95 degrees) with sun beating down on the pavers they were not hot to walk on. As shown in picture we have a enclosure around the pool, you didn't mention if your pool had an enclosure or not. The enclosure though keeps the pavers a cooler than if they are exposed. I tested the temps, inside the enclosure was 85-87 degrees (warm, but def not uncomfortable to walk on), pavers on outside were 91-93 degrees. The pavers are not rough, the pool plaster texture with exposed aggregate is rougher than the pavers are. Best of luck with your pool

Here’s where you look up your USDA zone USDA If you can answer some of NHBabs’ questions, you will get more suggestions and ideas here. If you can’t find any photos for ideas of patio landscaping you like online, or if the whole thing seems overwhelming, take your photo, and measurements of the patio and area around it, to a local nursery (not a big box store) and tell them you need a low-maintenance mixed shrub planting. Ask if they can help. Some larger nurseries have designers on staff who will create a simple design for you for free or for a small fee, if you are going to buy your plants from them. You can implement the plan over time if the budget doesn’t allow buying all at once. If you’ve never done this before it may seem daunting, but having some life and color around your patio will make it more enjoyable to use and will increase your property value.