one of the important issues to tackle first and foremost: what color the house should be. well, important for me at least. I was thinking maybe grey clapboards with natural grey shingles at the gable ends. and white trim. with yellow accents possibly? but instead of grey paint I'm wondering if grey stain would be more durable and also look good. I hate hate hate brown stain, but grey could be really nice and durable I said! I also like a charcoal grey metal roof.