Take a clue from the pics....Do it's hard when you're starting and everything needs doing. Find a picture you like and use that as a guide. Do you like the looks of the colors in the two pictures above? Very simple and straight forward with beige/gray bricks and white and black accent colors for shutters and trim.

Oops! Your trim looks grayish blue to me. Sorry, didn't see it is charcoal until afterwards...well in that case, I think I would still do gable and wrought iron as mentioned but then try a bright yellow, like SW's BEESWAX is paint color. Are you in the islands? Sorta has "that look". Envy : )

This is why it's always good to have a pro to hold your hand for at least some of the way, (carefully chosen though, check out his/her finished projects, the more varied the styles, the better she/he will be able to understand and adapt to your desires), they can provide the invaluable visual supports too. When it's your own house it's notoriously difficult to see the possibilities, you have it under your eyes the whole time and the defaults shout at you and prevent you being able to see it objectively and envisage the possibilities. you're emotionally involved and emotions always have the upper hand on the brain, so you just keep turning round in circles. Something akin as to why a psy must never attempt therapy on a member of his own family, if you follow me :D As for the façade color, are you sure it needs changing that much ? Once those thick white frames have gone and the new windows nestling more discreetly, correctly positioned and re-proportioned, the aspect will change drastically and be far more streamlined and modern. (the devil is in the detail) I'd also strongly suggest that the wood facing just breaks off around the windows, no framing or finishings. Same thing for all the windows, the small ones too. Entrance : Same as for the windows, that outer frame shouldn't be touching the ceiling, you can try taking that off and painting the door another color before deciding to change it and once again the door could do with setting back a little. You could maybe take that doorstep out while you're at it. Also, i don't know what is happening to the right of the door but i see the concrete steps leaing up and feel it would be good to create another level to make it flush with the bottom of the door if structurally possible. This would tie it all in better and you probably wouldn't need any additional definition to your entrance. Anyhow, as i often quote, i'm a firm believer in " Less is More " , and vice versa of course ^^ Question #4 i can't answer as i haven't really understood the problem And #5 i don't think so, but once the other transformations have been taken care of i think you'll find it speaks for itself. Whatever, it's a very exciting project, the bones are great and i'd love to see photos of progression once you get started.

First of all I would like to say it looks like your parents have brought a lovely looking home. The colouring of the outside of the house it typical for it's age. I would like to suggest that you stick with a light tone for the outside but is the Yellow / Cream isn't working then perhaps consider going for a White with a tiny tint of pale green .... this will blend in nicely with the garden, window joinery and roof but it will not be stark white. Internally I am a bit of a cream on cream kind of a person because I like to add colour through my furnishings, knick-knacks etc but I have to say I did move into a home with a mint green carpet which suits my personality but is not all together practical with pets coming and going and a lounge painted a medium to dark mint and I really love that colour. Originally the hall ways and other room where a butter / cream and just making it a off white really boosted the light and spaciousness of the home. The lounge is still the same minty green and I think I will repaint it a similar colour as it is very relaxing and "natural". So go for something that is restful inside and something clean and almost white outside. Hope that helps.