It does look cute. A couple more lighter photos would help.

What a beautiful place! I find metal spindles to be less visually intrusive than wood ones.

Also, vertical spindles seem much safer.

Thank you. Let me look and see what I have that might help.

See if this helps

perhaps a medium gray with hunter green trim

You could put cable railing components in between the decorative rails like it is now to close up the spacing to under 4" without obstructing the view further.

I've seen that combination and it looks nice. I am still leaning towards the reds but keeping an open mind. Maybe its time to "change it up" Thanks!

Thanks Fred. I've thought about that. I know the cables require structural support to keep them from sagging so I wasn't sure how involved that would get. Something I will look into.

I'll look for some photos of the stone in a natural light. Thanks!

Here are the only photos I have of stone in natural light. Thanks

Using the eave pattern on the primary horizontal elements to the stair could do a lot for simple pieces too . . . . your roof is very red brown - so I'd like to see the body of the house come up one shade from being so dark brown . .consider an earthy / mossy / camoflauge green brown . .test this one bm cleveland green - a great camp color, will blend you into surroundings like you are now but more cottage in tone . . sort of a terrific olive outdoors ..

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/clevelandgreen

This time, consider keeping the shutters, sign and fascia board (always do a light eave so you get better natural light bounced in) be the same color when finished - have contrast back to the olive tone - emphasize the chalet cutouts . . here go light on dark

the warm neutral that will feel like soft tan outside - bm crisp khaki (has the right undertones for cleveland) http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/crispkhaki,

Do a rusty pumpkin - pick up the stone here - for a front door - back with a good one try bm glazed pear http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/glazedpear

if you were braver, and it worked with the roof tone which I have to guess at a tad - trim in a bluegreen like bm sioux falls would be darling and you would go to a lighter shade - stratton - for the entry door and eave . .

For the railing, the smartest thing for you is probably to go cedar and eventually let it weather out but even better if you washed it while it was raw with some watered down/ darkest olive tone, you would still have grain /it would fall away to the eye but still feel rustic and in harmony with the house .. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/eveninggrove

If you embrace the gray stone tones, you could try a cool gray green like bm storm cloud gray http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/stormcloudgray which still works with the roof . . - great with weathered cedar decking and railing natural . . but then you'll want more pizzaz in your trim . . maybe take all the trim elements (except the deck railing) copper is a good place to start - the khaki trim would still work but everything would be quieter .. just more updated in tone - with this . . the rails and deck wash - dakota woods green http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/dakotawoodsgreen

Now that I've seen the stone .. the storm cloud gray is my favorite field color .. with some cream and copper elements in your trim to pick up that rusty stone ..

I will be headed to the Benjamin Moore Store to check these out. Thanks.

agree with Fred S about using the wires to keep it unobtrusive

I lost you a little bit on the colors that you recommend with the Storm Cloud Gray and where you would use them. Could you summarize again with the call outs links? That is a big help.

Storm cloud gray would cover your "field," the primary wood siding color / reverse batten or t-11 is what it looks like. The cream / khaki tone would go on the decorative fascia board, eave, shutters, sign, with one of the gingerbread / copper colors on your front door . I'd like to see the dark green color watered down as a stain for new deck railing and the photos of the view side show me you have a lot of stucco / concrete / block foundation that now is cream . .a shade just one tone deeper than Storm cloud - let me look and make a specific recommendation - back soon.

Here you go - more clarity

Siding - bm storm cloud gray (a muted earthy green - lighter than the main color on the house now) This will work with the stone and the brown roof and sort of hide in the landscape better than brown . . especially in winter

Concrete / masonry / stucco foundation wall - bm gloucester sage

wash for deck / deck rails - either get natural cedar and maintain it, or, if you prefer these dark - deepest shade of green - bm dakota woods green (for wood, cut this by 1/3 water and then wash on)

Best light tan for eaves (will appear creamy white outdoors), fascia, shutters, entry sign - bm everlasting has the best undertone for this combo

Best accent color for the front door / exterior - bm warm apple crisp (great with rustoleum hammered copper for secondhand pots on the deck, metal outdoor furniture frames, or cushion tones, umbrellas, etc.) Use this shade for lettering on the camp sign

This will echo your stone and also enhance wood tones inside . . though painting that would make your cabin feel bigger . .. being a guy you might love the wood as is .. if you do paint it out, consider bm muslin - the lighter shade of the everlasting . . would tie it all together ..don't paint the beams . . consider maritime white for the ceiling

Here are the links.

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/stormcloudgray#ce_s=storm clou

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/everlasting

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/warmapplecrisp

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/gloucestersage

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/dakotawoodsgreen

Open them all next to each other in a browser to see them together . .

This is super helpful. Can't wait to get home so I can see it on computer.

I live in Utah and we have an adorable little town called Midway that was settled by Swiss immigrants. They try to keep most of the architecture from those roots. I've attached some pictures. I would suggest painting the main house a light color with the decorative trim in a dark color, adding window boxes to the porch or windows, a wrought iron railing, and even some rock if you can.

The difference between a stucco chalet with timbering, truly tudor in origins and what are often called "storybook cottages" - bungalows with wood siding and detailed trimmings - especially a fascia board with scallops or waves is substantial. Here at the remote mountain locaion, the storybook elements bring lots of charm and embrace even more of a "camp" or "vacation" house aesthetic.

In my area of San Diego, there are entire neighborhoods of small ranch houses where about twice a block the trim has been done in this storybook fashion - they are late 1960's homes with just a little extra charm. They almost always have wood siding (painted in pastels with white trim they are kind of disney scrumptious) ..

This home was built in 1967

Keep sending us pictures mark . . would you like ideas for the inside or do you have too many ideas for that already? will you go up and go out hunting? hiking? fishing? invite friends and family and hang together? are you a fan of the panelled wood cabin inside as is?

You may find our railings too modern for your theme, but they definitely would not look out of place depending on your final paint scheme.

Haven't read all the ideas, but the width between the current rails would probably not meet code today. Typical Swiss chalet railings may block to much of the view. I like twig railings too. I manage vacation rental properties and am currently looking for additional opportunities. If you'd like the house to pay its way when you can be there to enjoy it, I'd be happy to talk with you about helping you market the chalet.

Twig railings could add interest, but be less chalet style

deco you found the cut out railings that are true chalet style above . sort of went searching for those . . so i had to like your photo