The house would look more finished with the same color top and bottom, but with contrast trim. Pull a color out of the brick and do the lower section and upper trim in the same shae, perhaps.

I think the lower portion needs to be the darker color. Otherwise, you get the visual impression that the top of the house is heavier than the bottom and that it may all come crashing down because there isn't enough support underneath. I know it won't happen but the mind does funny things with colors. You could use the lemony/grassy green above and the sage below. Then do the cream trim and dark red accents. The door in the red would look great.

Decoenthusiaste—great advice to paint the top lighter than the bottom. Thank you, that makes perfect sense! Miacometlady—they are cedar shakes, though we plan to paint, not stain them, so they'll be part of the overall color scheme.

Tai...that house is adorable!!!

I also like the idea of a darker shade on bottom!

deco hit right on.

Definitely would choose stain over paint for the shingles. There are so many wonderful opaque colors out there, and you don't have to worry about peeling.

I'm unclear on the difference between painting and staining; when I said we are planning to "paint" the shingles that confused the issue, but I simply meant we are going to put a color on them, not leave the cedar bare.

Are there pros and cons to painting or staining? Is this something I should research?

Miacomet, I am not aware of any rules regarding fire retardant paint.

Stain dyes the wood so it won't peel. You have this option because it's never been painted. Definitely check into it- there are fewer color options, but maintenance is easier.