Be brave

How about a rust/brick red with an antique white trim?

If you don't like white window and door frames and trim, take into account the color stain or paint you're going to put on the deck -- use that color -- or a shade lighter or darker -- for all the trim. You could add some more colorful flower boxes, something less costly to replace than repainting the house and/or trim, to add some bright color where needed.

When you add the front entrance deck to invite your neighbors for coffee or read the morning paper, plant a bed of shrubs and groundcovers and bulbs that combines the group of birches to the deck as part of your outdoor room.

Your dog will love the new spot to sunbathe.

I like a hunter green or forest green, and that would look great with a redwood deck.

How 'bout some turquoise instead of red? I think it looks great with brown tones, and keeps things a bit on the lighter side...

Like the rust red trim idea. DON'T paint or stain cedar. Use a penetrating wood preservative and let it go natural to a silver gray. Otherwise, you will be sanding and restaining for the rest of your life! Don't know what your house color is, but a warm grey/brown to blend with aged cedar would be great with the red/rust trim. Consider the comment above that speaks to connecting your birch or aspen trees to the overall deck/landscape plan. Given your setting, a nice stone patio might also work well and integrate itself well in the front yard with the use of native plants. New front doors opening out onto the patio/deck would add a lot. Don't know about the shutter thing and tricked out garage doors. Maybe a bit to "typical" a look for your rambler. Trim, doors, deck and landscape......focus on those for starters. A few Adirondak chairs in a dark hunter green and some large pots of flowers would add a nice finishing touch.

For the cedar deck you can stain it without worrying about sanding it down the road. Cedar is a soft wood and will soak up a penetrating oil stain in any colour you like. When it gets faded you just add another coat. We have done this successfully with Penofin brand redwood stain with great results, it brings out the natural reddish richness of the cedar.

Wow, thanks all for the great ideas! Mark, I tried the Sherwin Williams color visualizer, but couldn't get the red/rust to cover my light trim.....whatever software you used, it rocks. It's great to be able to visualize what the red looks like on this house. Thanks again everyone!

Yeah, Mark, what software did you use? That looks great, and I'd like to try it on my house!

I use Adobe photoshop. Your welcome steeddog glad I could help you visualize the color you chose. I think it is a very good choice and suits your home and setting perfect.

Lived in Colorado 11 years and I can tell you that if you have it in the budget, put a large gable roof over the front door area with a large porch underneath. If you don't, all of your guests will be coming into your house via the garage because they can't find the front door for the snow that will shed off that roof. I did a house shaped just like yours (I am an architectural designer) and because it looks like a horse barn, I did a large gable roof and cut trees with split arms to hold up the roof. Peeled the bark and sealed them and that was 15 years ago and they are still just as beautiful today. It immediately gives a rustic vibe. Look around your property and see if you have enough stone to lay for the front porch. Natural is always better.

Mark, I appreciate that you took the time to PS this for steeddog. I use PS for visualizing too. You can also quickly create color variations when you save your selections into layers... then tweak them for just the perfect balance. Great job BTW!

Steeddog, also refer to some books on cabins, esp the old Adirondack style. The used red trim and others often.

Thanks Jeff, I'm fairly new to Adobe photoshop so I still have a lot to learn. As I do more "renderings" I discover things all the time but thanks for the info I appreciate it.

Jeff, I like the idea of an overhead shaded area, but if the expense of an addition is too much, consider a trellis, or a traditional picnic table with an umbrella. I LOVE Mark's suggestions for color, shutters, and trim too.

I like the idea of black trim. The front door a high gloss black. The house does need some depth, so like another I would suggest flower boxes,or shutters. Maybe some height with landscape plants

Work with the color consultant at your local paint store to find the perfect shade of rusty red for your trim that will complement your siding color. (I did this at Sherwin Williams, but I'm sure other brands offer similar advice, which was gratis at SW by the way...). Like Momcatvickie, I have reservations about the shutters and garage doors--I prefer not to make garage doors such a focal point. Consider a pergola over part of your deck/patio to create a warm and natural ambiance. Australian timber oil might be a good choice on the deck. It preserves the wood and can be natural or add a little color as you prefer. Once again, get a pro to help with the color choice.

The red trim will be wonderful on your home. Post pix when you're done so we can all see--and have fun with this project!

Argh, I think pergolas look like oversized, inverted dishracks--unless they are covered with flowers and vines. I don't know if I'd go there on a rustic home. (I prefer the shutter idea.) I also think color consultants can be helpful zeroing in on the perfect shade of rusty red, and timber oil sounds like a cool choice for your cedar deck.

got to agree with pagosapammie. There is no baffle on that roof. All the snow will slide off with the first warm spell after a storm. Try not to be standing under it when it happens. Plus the dripping down the back of your neck every time you go in the front door starts to make the winters seem really, really long.

OK, I think you all are beginning to over think this.

Steeddog was just asking for some trim suggestions.

BM apparition for the front door and window trim and BM Boston Brick for the outline trim.

I put in a vote for a dark trim and leave colors for the door and pots. We are in the middle of painting now and picked a black trim with a dark teal house color...looks stunning! I'll get a photo soon the first coat is only on. I used houzz for color inspirations and love the calm of tone on tone and am so over white trim anywhere!