lazygardens, Thanks for taking th time to answer my question. I have decided to stick with the deep gold color. Off to buy the paint!

The areas between the windows would be excellent places to add tall flowering or evergreen shrubs to soften the squareness of the house. They could help put emphasis /focus on the house, rather than the yard or imperfections elsewhere. So I mean centered between the two windows on the left, and also centred either sides of the large window. Don't plant them too close to the foundation as you want them to have room to grow. I don't know what things grow well in your area (I'm only zone 4B) or what sort of sun exposure this side of the house gets. If you have southern or western exposure anything that enjoys the full sun would be great - tall ish roses, rose of sharon (hibiscus syriacus) are some that come to mind. If the exposure is northern or eastern perhaps rhododendron or tall hydrangeas of your choice. You may want to consult neighbours or the other forums for suggestions of what type of shrubs would grown best in your type of climate and humidity. You could also consider putting a trellis between the two small windows and planting clematis or another type of vine, or a climbing rose. There are loads of climbing roses to choose from that don't need any winter protection even in my zone 4B so you would likely have much more choice in your area. I don't really understand what the fence is for if you are not containing animals or children for a daycare. I imagine who ever put it up had a reason, please tell me what it is and we can discuss it further. Is there something you need to keep off the front yard that is threatening it without a fence? If there isn't - It is very distracting and draws the attention away from the house and anything pretty you put behind it. If it was a short picket fence or something it might be different, but chain link looks so institutional, not welcoming. Used to separate your property from your neighbour is one thing, especially in the back yard, but it's a very different effect in the front yard lining as you drive by. I read "dog kennels" or "institution", not "welcome to our home". If you insist that you need a fence for some logical reason, state it and exactly which sides need it then the options for replacement (type of fence, type of hedge, alternate dividing or screening material etc.) will be more clear, As to the color of the house I see no problem. It's like a classic black dress - it's a great clean canvas. It just needs some accessories in the way of plants. flowering shrubs, perhaps some balls of evergreen suitable for your climate to keep the eye focused on the house. Certainly a small tree as suggested above would also add some warmth and charm.

Thank you for the suggestions @ decoenthusiaste, @ Momofthree Ma and @ Beth H. We are on a limited budget, so we won't be able to replace the siding. Do either of you have suggestions on the best way to add window trim? Will we need to have someone remove part of the siding and re-flash the windows to do this Also, do you have any suggestions for what we could do with the steps? We don't have a budget to build a porch, but could make some minor mods to this structure. We will be adding some landscaping this fall.

Keep the shakes! They lend your house character and texture and are fitting for the style. I think it would be bland without them. However, that doesn't necessarily mean you need to keep them stained. Paint is always an option. White is always a classic choice and never goes out of style, whether you keep the shingles stained or not. Greys have been around for some time now and may begin to look dated sooner than you'd like. One idea that I have been loving a LOT is to go darker. Just an idea! Best of luck!