The shingles look to be in pretty bad shape but have you thought of power washing them?

@jck910Yeah, the bottom left part is what I got after power washing them a bit. I immediately stopped as I didn't see any improvement after spending a few minutes, and thought maybe I should use bleach or some chemical. I actually bought some highly rated wood restoring product, but I was too lazy... Thanks for your comment anyways.

bleach the shakes stain them a deep Cedar color put a decorative something in the gable and enlarge the deck

I agree with decoenthusiaste, don't feel so down. I agree with power washing all of it. Then ask around if someone could stain them a color and not paint. I'm totally not an expert but I thought if it was a wood shingle ( as opposed to cement board siding) you can get stain tinted to any paint color. Then you could still to your iron mountain color. Also maybe post a couple more pictures. We could help with landscaping ideas. I'm wondering if you also tackle a little of the landscaping you would feel better. I think it looks like it has a ton of potential. Keep smiling!!!!

Power washing can be very damaging to cedar shingles, so be cautious. You might look into a cedar wash - there are a number of different ones available. Unfortunately, the one I’ve used in the past with success is no longer available, but there are others to try. I think once the shingles are all one color, whether you choose to stain them or just put a preservative on, you’ll be happier. Add in some landscaping and you’ll love your home.

That house is FABULOUS!

If those shakes are in good enough shape, keep them. Replace the few that might be missing. The shakes add personality to your home: clapboard will turn it into plain vanilla.

I'll be that yard can be great, too. It looks like you can make it into a very private retreat.

Is the blue trim in good shape? I would consider painting it. That can be a budget DIY project.

What happens around the front of the house? Is it shakes, too? What does it look like? Prolly decisions for the back should partly be determined by what you have on the front, so it's coherent.

You cannot stain without cleaning the shakes first. Cedar Wash the exterior. You'll be surprised how much better it looks after. You can replace an shakes that are in bad shape. Then you can stain if it's still needed or simply spray on a cedar sealer.

https://washsafe.com/products/cedar-wash?gclid=CjwKCAjwte71BRBCEiwAU_V9h-7g2syPv2UA0rvmuXJN49SgcTaFQyWgtk8vJMVNzRqS456qG0g2RBoCEuIQAvD_BwE

As stated by @pds290 extreme caution is needed when hiring a power washing service. The good ones have an album showing "before and after" photos and are eager to show you their expertise.

Thank you all. You guys are the best!

You might want to check out a product called New Again. We use it to clean the exterior of our log home before applying the stain/preservative that protects are logs. www.newagain-roofdeck.com. Biodegradable, low pressure rinsing, non-bleach, and leaves no streaks between cleaning sections. We are very happy with this product. They are out of Tampa, FL

I find it very normal, this would be the house I would take refuge in, but I think for someone it can be depressing, so a few lighter colors wouldn't hurt. However, if you really deal with depression or ocd (I had it, unfortunately), I recommend a psychiatrist for OCD who helped me a lot. At the beginning, I didn't realize that I had it, and to be honest I wasn't very surprised when I found out. That psychiatrist helped me to deal with it and to pass over it. Now I feel better and I can control my thoughts, and if I have some problems I always contact him.

Hi Jay,

I think after spending some time restoring the exterior bet it'll help bring back the charm of your home! All the above advice seems really helpful and I hope your project has gone well.

I noticed you mentioned wanting to update and invest in the landscaping as well. I think one of our garden fountains would be a lovely way to emphasize the beautiful cottage style! I did a quick mock-up for you with our Caterina Fountain, some greenery, and rhododendron flower bushes added for color. Let me know what you think!

I wish you the best of luck with your project!

-Ashley

High pressure power washing is unlikely to damage the shingles but it can drive water behind the shingles, destroys the water resistance of any house wrap or building paper and gets into the wall cavity. The last time I saw it done there was mold inside the house for 6 months.

How old are the shingles and are they red or white cedar?