Many thanks to everyone who responded to my last post! What an incredible resource!!

I have some follow up questions:

1. Love the idea of stripping paint on door and staining the wood. What color stain do I use? The door is the original so it is old and I'm not sure of the type of wood. I really don't want to buy a new door. Do you think it would work staining or should I just paint?

A. Suggestions for stain color?
B. If I paint, should I match the grayish tones in the stone or the brown/rust? Suggestions for paint color?
C. Paint square molding a complementary color? Suggestions?
D. Color of trim around door?

2. Want to remove the shutters (fingers crossed that siding underneath isn't a different color)! Should I paint aluminum trim around windows? What kind of maintenance would be required?

3. If I paint the trim around the windows, should I just do the outer square of the big window or also the vertical trim within the frame?

4. There are three steps in the stone. Should I try to place small heavy planters w ivy or something like that?

Thank you in advance!!!