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.

Ryegrass looks like it has more grey in it than the picture you linked (this one?) Unfortunately I don't think it will go with the particular yellow you have in the kitchen, your yellow has more blue undertones and this green I somehow think would come out looking sickly rather than "apple". THe ryegrass linked above might look washed out beside your yellow which is fairly intense... because of the greyness in it. THe apple green also has a grey undertone which I think is the reason my eye says no to it with your kitchen. However you could always paint the kitchen too - either a coordinating or the same color as the family room!

samantha, congrats with your new home. 1, your tv should be moved off the fireplace. it will hurt your neck most do not recommend sectionals they are difficult to work with and often often do not provide as much space as you like. lastly the style really does not match the the setting of your home. if you still feel this is best for you, we will be happy to work around it for you. I just wanted you to think a bout it, because sometimes people think that they want one thing but once they get it, they always feel something is missing. talk soon. remember it should all be fun!

We need to paint brick, but do not want white. Any ideas? Because of proportions, the brick should be the same color as the body.