Any way we can get a bigger image of the entire house? :-D

Definitely not #3.

I lean toward #1 or #2. (Mostly because, on my screen, #4, #5, & #6 all look the same.)

And I might change my mind if I can see the whole facade. ;-)

1 or 5

I like darker than the brick to stand out, but not as dark as #2, so I like #1 and #5. I might like #4 but it's hard to tell because the stain is inconsistent with the knot in there. How many coats did you do on your test? If you only did one, keep in mind that the color will probably deepen / darken with additional coats.

6 so it doesn't compete with that beautiful brick

Thanks everyone! I'm torn between 1, 4 (if it was even) & 6. I'm thinking that 2 may be too dark and 5 has too much red in it.

How can anyone tell with only the photos you've provided? I'm not sure any of them will be harmonious.

We need to see the entire front elevation and to know what the other finishes and trim will be.

From your photo, all one can do is offer a personal opinion as to which stain color is harmonious with the brick color. That's not the way to select trim finishes...

6

Are those the columns?

Do #7

Wait, #2 and #7 aren't the same???

Man, I gotta ask my husband to calibrate my monitor! lol

Do not use the color from the image, use the color from the brick.

Use a color which matches the rest of your trim.

I like #1 and #5 but think going darker (#1) would be the better choice.

I like 5 & 6

I like 1 and 5.

Are the "samples" the same wood as the porch posts? They appear to me to be different.....................

Are the wood columns in the pulled back pic the actual to-be-stained columns? They seem out of scale for the house and should be beefed up some. I like #1 and #6, with the slight edge going to #6 for the extra bit of warmth.

Are those wood posts installed and setting directly on the brick porch? Are they pressure treated? Are there no post bases installed for the posts to sit on?

Wood sitting directly on concrete or brick porches are a prime setting for wood rot over time.

Sorry I was at work today :) Those are not the actual posts.... those are just the current supports for the porch while the others are being developed. The beams are coming from a local mill and will be much more substantial. Thanks for the tip about rot...I will check on that.

Make sure you are testing the stain colors on the same wood that the post will be made out of. Different species of wood take stain differently.

There are a gazillion proper metal post bases for various size posts which are sound structural connectors and raise the base of the post from the concrete or brick surface so that air may circulate beneath the post and keep rot from taking place. Your builder should know all about these...