You can research seal failure to learn more about what can cause it. Good window film manufacturers are confident in the quality of the product when properly installed to cover warranties that window manufacturers void when film is installed. I have not seen a $500 deductible from a window film manufacturer warranty but you should always get a warranty in writing. Happy to send you a copy of ours if you send me an email. Many building professionals are uninformed on the latest technology in the window film industry. Millions of windows have film applied each year without incident. I can share horror stories of seal failure in homes less than a year old with no film installed and success stories of window film that has been on windows for 15+ years that still looks new. When the proper film is professionally installed you will be covered under warranty and will drastically improve the performance of your existing windows while keeping your view. Improper applications installed poorly will likely have problems just like a poorly installed roof is likely to leak.

Actually depending on the taupe-charcoal you pick you may not want the lightest colour on the paint chip, maybe 2nd or third lighter so it doesn't look washed out on the siding beside the brick. I really like CIL Midnight Hour, since it's a warm charcoal with taupe undertones which would look nice with the brick. Whiter Shade is the second lightest colour on the same colour list which is a light grey with taupe undertones, Silver Shores is the third colour up an it's a touch darker than whiter shade. Don't be if going dark on the garage door, it'll turn out more interesting than going for a light colour which will look washed out beside the brick

Chairs - you need chairs at the fireplace - armchairs with a big ottoman to go in front of the fire maybe covered in vinyl / pleather so put a tray on top of the ottoman for glasses. Think about a chair that would feel like a reading chair to you. Ikea ektorp chairs with slipcovers are really comfy and slipcovers are terrific when you have kids of a certain age. Take the longest sofa and face it to / center it on the fireplace. When you walk in the doorway, you'll be walking in just in front of the sofa. Lose the loveseat. behind the sofa, try a desk as a sofa table with two lamps straight chairs. On the wall where you have all the furniture lined up, put cube toy storage on the wall and float a big plush rug behind the desk - that can be your toy play zone. Put the kids armchairs under the pretty window. Love the olive. Gray and olive don't work well. Golds, red accents are terrific with greens and lichens.

How about a white with a bluish undertone to it that is just barely there for the walls? Then for the ceiling I would go with a bright white to reflect the light, and make the room bright and cheery: Here are a couple of ideas to get you started: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/graysky http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/silvercloud http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/seattlegray