No pics?

Sorry, still learning how to use this site, this is my first post!

Welcome, you are doing fine. I’m just trying to help you get responses from the pros!

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Have it blend into the scenery.

I agree that white trim would really be a bit harsh. Most of the pictures I found were the same color on all areas. I think as long as your trim is the same color or just a few shades lighter than the house color, any of the options you have could work

Take a good picture of your place from a couple of different angles and use one of those online paint programs (SherwinWilliams or Ben Moore have ones you can upload your own photo) just to play with some of the options. This was really helpful when painting my dad's house to see how it would look.

I like it just like it is. I would not change it.

I love white trim but I ahve lived in the woods and the trim will get gross in no time so I opt for a nice sage green and the trim the same , natural wood deck and railings just a waterproof finish.

Yeah, I'll echo Patricia's white trim warning. We have it on our beach house, and it looks fabulous.... until it doesn't. Which is now. :P

Thanks so much for all of your feedback! The current paint is peeling, so we need to repaint it anyway. The window trim that is showing up as white in the photo I posted is grey primer, the trim was installed when we replaced all the windows.

We do both wish it was unpainted cedar siding, that would be our #1 choice, but that's not really an option as it's been painted.

I'm curious about how long it takes for white trim to start looking grungy, and then what is the solution? Power washing?

Also, I'd like to point out that the roof trim is gingerbread, which I feel has some influence on color choices.

I liked your 4th option, dark red. I think it would look beautiful, and you could do chocolate brown trim.

I also love brown with red trim.

I'm curious about how long it takes for white trim to start looking grungy, and then what is the solution? Power washing?

If you want "white" exterior don't choose a white paint color. It's the rare exterior where a color that technically qualifies as white is the right answer. Believe it or not, colors like the ones below actually show up looking white exterior.

Do you want to see the house as you drive up in the dark or under PNW overcast skies? If so, choose a lighter, brighter color. The red samples shown above make a bold statement. If you want it to blend into the surroundings, choose a forest color.

Another picture I found has red with taupe but there was so much stone (that yours doesn't have) that I wasn't sure if it would have the same effect. Notice the windows are not trimmed in taupe. I think this could work with your roof well though.

Your roof should dictate what siding should be since so much of it is visible. It seems to be a gray/green, and current color harmonizes well. You could choose same color but several shades lighter. One thing to do right now is to match the ornate wood balconies with the darker cedar color of the supports. Definitely no white trim with all that wood and the woodland setting.

So many good insights, thank you all. By white trim, I mean, "white" trim, not straight up White. That table is interesting! Good points all. I really like the taupe trim with the red, that was something I hadn't thought of. The red/white option is meant to evoke Scandinavian country houses though, which may only be a family reference, but it's meaningful to us. Plenty of those in woodland settings.

Apple Pie Order, that's a very helpful way of thinking about it, I think that can help us get closer to a decision, do we want it to stand out or blend in.

Housegal, we don't know if we're staining or painting the balusters yet. When we built them the plan was to paint them, but now my husband is liking the idea of staining them. And yes, I am absolutely thinking about the color of the roof, since as you say, it is so visible, but haven't been sure HOW it will harmonize or not! It is a grey green. The current color of the house is too muddy for my preference, but perhaps something lighter and that reads a more definite green.

A stain in the darker wood color you already have on some of the porch trim would be less work in the long run and enhance your woodland setting. Here's a sage house with light taupe trim that goes well with green/gray roof.

Some reds with and without wood trim. This one has the darker cedar trim:

Color combo

more

I get the look you are trying to go for, but your house looks more like a mountain chalet than the country house you posted. Just notice even on that house the roof was also red and no white on the roof trim. Focus on everything is focus on nothing. If you want those fun balusters to shine, I would choose a solid color for the rest of the house including the trim and windows. If red makes your heart happy go for it. I would strongly encourage using a paint program to see what the colors (or an approximation of them) look like on your house with your roof. Keep us posted.

so what did you choose?