We just finished this process, and I think the best thing to do is to take photos of your entrance. If you post them here some photoshoppers could help you by trying various colors out. Or, you could do your own "photoshopping" by coloring in your photos. As for the inside and outside, I don't think they need to be the same. We did ours outside in red and inside in black, and it looks fine. In some homes, it probably works fine to have the same color inside and out, but it certainly doesn't have to be. Have fun with it.

Thanks, squirrelheaven, I am thrilled. Yep, the door was accidentally painted semi gloss white like the trim instead of the artichoke on the shutters. Also, the shutters on the far left of the house as you look at it are too short for the windows. I assumed all the windows except for the new ones on the side were the same size-but the ones on the second story to the left are about 6" taller. Oh well, it can't be that bad if you eagle eyed ladies missed it. Yeah, the weird shutter in the middle-can't really do anything about it except space the gap between the two windows... My neighbor says to leave the door white and just put a big green wreath on the door (if I wasn't planning on selling it that door would be pumpkin tomorrow!!!LOL) I'm thinking in my next house (maybe next year) I want to do a pumpkin colored dining room. My husband says that's fine as long as I hire a guy to paint because I'm the messiest painter *ever*.

Power wash it. Then whitewash it with a diluted (50%) exterior latex paint. An off-white maybe, or a brown like the roof.

You didn't say if the windows are already installed or not. Since painting PVC requires cleaning, sanding, taping and spray primer and finish coats, it makes a big difference where they are. Its usually better to replace existing windows. The best approach is to order new windows in white with the exterior of the sash in black. That may not be available for vinyl windows but it is for most clad wood windows like Marvin and Andersen. The savings from not painting should greatly offset the higher cost of clad wood windows and you won't need to paint them again. All black windows look like black holes. I predict the fad won't last much longer.