your link isn't working.

Hmmm. I just tried to copy and paste it and it worked. Maybe because I'm doing it from my computer? As you can tell, I'm computer illiterate.

Okay, let's see if this works.

gail618.shutterfly.com/pictures/9

Since this photo was taken we have replaced the roof with weathered wood architectural shingles and removed the skylights. Any opinions on split shake vinyl siding? I'm thinking a similar color, maybe a bit lighter. Thanks!

here's your link...I can't copy your pic. If you go to your pic and figure out how to copy the html code and paste it here, then your pic will appear. I don't do shutterfly so can't tell you exactly, but maybe try right clicking on it and look for the html code.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gail's house

I think of split shakes on much more traditional beach houses. To me, yours has a more contemporary feel and I think the siding you have looks great!

Yes, I see what you mean. I really don't like the diagonal siding! It's going to have to be replaced soon as it is old and gets a lot of sea air, so I was thinking of vinyl siding of some sort.

Here are two rough mock-ups. Just for grins, I also did board & batten, which seems to be coming back in style.

Wow, thank you so much, awm! I agree with cyn427 that the split shakes are more common on traditional homes, but I wonder if I were to beef up the trim a bit and add corner trim pieces, if maybe I could do the split shakes. I like the board & batten too. Thanks so much for photoshopping it!

I don't know where you live, but here in the PNW shakes are fairly common on contemporary homes, including mine...I like the shakes on your style house and think it would look great.

I am thinking maybe it's a regional thing too. The house is in Virginia Beach where many of the homes like this have put on this type of siding. I got a little nervous though when I read the responses to shorebird's thread because her house is also contemporary and most thought she shouldn't put shakes on it. I'd like to soften the house up a bit if possible. I'll be moving to this house permanently in a year and am trying to think of things I can do to give it a bit more charm. I'm thinking about taking out the hedge and planting Annabelle hydrangeas in its place. It won't look that great during winter but I'm okay with that. I also have a lattice with a climbing rose growing to the right of the garage door and a potted Mandevilla with a lattice placed on the porch to the right of the front door. Maybe I could train the rose to trail over the top of the garage door. I also need to take off the storm door. You can't see it in my pic because it's opened. I'm not sure if I should replace it with a full glass storm door or just take it off and have no storm door. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Your house can swing either way -- contemporary or cottage-y -- depending on the decor & landscaping. Shorebird's is strictly mid-century modern.

Like awnm03 said, Shorebird's house is midcentury modern and wouldn't look right with shakes, but yours would be nice, I think.

I think a trellis to the right of the garage door would be perfect and add interest even in winter. You could think about an evergreen climbing vine, too. I'm not familiar with your climate so can't make a suggestion, but a rose would be wonderful, too. What is behind the hedges? If they are to hide an ugly foundation, then consider that when you rip out the hedge.

Behind the hedge is painted white wood, kind of like lattice but instead of it being a diagonal crossing design, it is vertical strips of wood with spacing between each strip. I think it is nice enough to show, since it is painted and it is a little bit sturdier than lattice. The house is on pilings so there is no foundation. Thanks so much for your responses! I really wanted to make it look more cottage-y but wasn't sure I could.

You mentioned beefing up the trim and adding corner pieces if you go with shakes. By corner pieces, if you mean those vertical trim pieces that wrap the exterior corners of the house, I wouldn't do that. I find shake siding much more charming when the shakes meet at the corners (without trim pieces). But maybe I'm misunderstanding you -- unfortunately I don't know the name of the things I'm talking about (which tells you that you might want to take my advice with a grain of salt. In your case, hopefully with a grain of sea salt). If the vertical pieces are necessary for the siding you're considering, please disregard my suggestion! Pretty house, either way.

Hi lazydaisynot! Yes I do mean those vertical trim pieces. I think the only other alternative when using vinyl is to have corner shakes, which wrap around the corner, but I'm not sure I like them because I don't think such a thing exists when the shakes are actually wood. Are those what you mean? I'll look into that. Thanks!

Ah, I see. I am not familiar with vinyl shakes and am used to seeing shakes here in the northwest without the corner trim pieces. However, now that I look at the mock-ups I notice that the way the siding is pasted leaves a vertical edge that gives the appearance of a vertical trim piece, and it looks just fine. So please ignore my comment since I obviously didn't know what I was talking about! I just hear the words "beach house" and lose all mental acuity. Sigh.

Here's an idea that would work with your house, cottage-y and a little different:

I was also wondering about the trim pieces, lazydaisynot. Next time I'm there I will check out other houses and see how they are done. I agree it would look nice without corner trim. Usually people use white corner trim and I'm not sure that would look good on such a small house.

That is adorable, awm03!