I like the garage door to match the trim around it- so that would be cream in your case. I agree that the garage itself (since its attached and a part of the house) should be the same siding as the house (tan). Are you set on brown for shutter color? You could give it a little more pop with black, and step out of the brown family a bit. So it would be tan house, cream trim & garage door, black shutters and red door. Just an idea.

Be careful of the matchstick type...many of them don't really provide privacy, just a feeling of privacy on the inside, but are very see-thru at night from the outside. Bottoms up might work for you, or you can go with one of the decorative shades that give you something interesting to look at. Here is a link that might be useful: Delia Shades

I wouldn't rush this decision because this is not only very expensive, but will have a huge impact on what your house looks like, not just the exterior, but the interior as well. If you go with the almond windows, what will you do with the interior trim throughout the house? White and almond clash. If you don't care for the white, better to go with driftwood. I've been through a remodel. They will always rush you and tell you you need to decide TODAY, but it is OK to stop work and tell them you need to think about it. Best thing is to drive around your neighborhood and see what similar houses have done. Take your camera along and snap pictures to find your "inspiration" house. You can always repaint your stucco if you want a change. Not so easy to change window color. In my opinion, white is classic, will always be style and will compliment any window trim (both inside and out). But, it's not my house....

I’ve never wanted to throw my opinion in the ring but I guess here goes. I guess some will say that we are building a modern farmhouse based on the items I chose for the exterior. We do have black windows and I will have it painted white and it will also have a huge vegetable garden and a couple horses and a cow or two for us as well on our 60 acres. So it will actually be a working farmhouse but our architect modeled it after the 1800s home that I grew up in that was added on again and again throughout the years. The farmhouse style evokes such feelings of joy of the work that used to go in to every little thing to keep the farm up and running. We have lived all around the country and currently in southwest Florida but inside this little girl from Michigan can’t escape the nostalgic feeling that I get when I think of staring out over the beautiful fields after a long, hard days work from my front porch just like I did on my pa’s lap so many years ago. He’s gone now but the promise that I might get to make those same memories with my grandkids someday is what I’m banking on. I have learned so much from these forums since 2008 but it just seems so negative lately and there’s already so much hate in the world that I just don’t want to contribute, so how about we agree to let people call their homes whatever they want, right or wrong, and just wish everyone a home filled with love because if there’s no love at home there will certainly be less to share. What a blessed group we all are. “Farmhouse-2018”