I pholloway, did you decide on a color? I'd love to see the finished project if you've done it!

@Jayme...do you ever sleep? Haha. @nbojanowski...the images Jayme gave are an example of grey, white and red. There is a long tradition of black, white and red (grey being a shade of black). However, there is an Arts&Crafts tradition of red with deep browns and rusts. Looking for an image, but I like it. Also, sage green looks amazingly good with red door...and doesn't look "Christmas-y". If you haven't done the exterior yet, my advice would be cedar shingle siding with a deep brown semi-transparent stain...shingle the pillars/columns, too. Use an even darker brown on the trim and then red door. That's something different. More robust than the above images. When I find some, I'll show you.

First of all a flat roof isn't suppose to be completely flat, it shouldn't pond water. Modified Bitumen Membranes are common for low sloped roofs, applied with a torch or hot mopped. Some come with granules on the surface for UV protection, others have an aluminum or elastomeric coating applied to them. A cheap DIY alternative is 90lb roll roofing but it is just that, cheap, and it won't last very long. As far as insulation there is ISO board in different thicknesses that can be applied to the roof deck with hot asphalt, to which the Modified Bitumen Membrane is applied to it. Using insulation would require a larger, custom made eave flashing to cover the insulation and a portion of the fascia board.

Penny -- good call. That was my impression... that the existing portico is so narrow, the columns appear to be right up next to the brick. A deeper portico would enhance the entry, as well as help keep people dry when they come to the front door. Your home is beautiful and if it needs a new roof -- great! But it truly doesn't need more. Christi, on behalf of Thos. Baker