What a fantastic architecture. When you do the brick, if you stain it with masonry /concrete stain you won't have the same issues of maintenance as with paint. They will spray it evenly - through you will have to select a deeper color - either taupe (brown-gray) or a straight charcoal. Love your windows and the classic angled railing. I think a dark gray on the siding will make the orange brick jump even more. What bothers me is the white (railing, fascia, eaves) juxtaposed with the earth toned stuff. So I would recommend camel tones - for the siding - something like http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6108-latte/ and the hopsack next darker tone for the garage door. Use the lighter tan for trim that is now white - http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6107-nomadic-desert/ Use the darkest tone if you are painting concrete steps. If you think you will stain your brick charcoal, then the white eaves and trim are probably right, and you may not want to paint it tan now and then go back. If your brick were charcoal, then I would block out the rest in grays and blue grays - leave the white eaves, but take the railing and posts charcoal too. A blue gray door - like sw smoky blue.

It's way too cluttered in there. The first thing I would do is get rid of that small 1/2 wall with the 2 seats, I can;t see how it would be useful at all. If there is a counter in front of that wall get rid of that also then at least the space will open up between the kitchen and I guess thats a little eating area in front of the sliding doors I then would rearrange the living room. Right now it looks like you have a couch that is almost acting like a wall between the living room and eating area. That couch is breaking up the flow pattern and also making the place feel cramped. I would move the TV where that wall that separates the kitchen is (The L shaped stagger wall) Move the large couch where the TV is now and the smaller one opposite where it is now. So now when someone walks in they walk into an open area and it has a nice flow to all three areas. Also get rid of that Pallet table, go with something with a glass top, so while it is functional it's not overwhelming like that way too large pallet table

I have recently brought an older home and stripped the wallpaper as I didnt like it. It is lath and plaster on walls and ideally I would like to be able to paint the walls without wallpaper. A gibstopper said he could do a skim coat to even it up a bit but couldnt guarentee the old plaster cracking down the track. My options are 1. skim coat, prime etc and then paint 2. Put a wallpaper/lining up and paint or 3. Reline walls with GIB so I can get smooth painted finish as desired. What have people done or would recommend???

Add colour . Please add colour haha . Just a thought though , instead of paint ( its a bit hard for me to visualise everything from your description -- I am a visual person ) how about maybe those translucent blue looking tiles ( yes , I know , extra cost ) , you may even 'frame' them in the white tiles to tie in with the shower , or possibly do the blue instead of the white , or even do the shower in them , and have the rest your 'white' walls . And when I say about those tiles , you can get them in square or subway or even long skinny ones , or even long and skinny but with long skinny darker blue and brushed ali ones too -- in other words , have fun and add interest !