once you go black..???

Ok, need your help! Tuboo and I are arguing about #2 and #3 (see pic below for number scheme). He wants to paint #3 black but I think it will end up looking to 'piano' like. i like the cream b/c it softens the look (as Debbie also noted) and also makes it all match the rest of the house. What do you think? If we paint #3 black then not sure what to paint #2. Do we paint it olive to blend in (thats what it was before).

#1. don't worry we'll paint this white with black tops to match the stair railings. don't let that distract you.
#2. as you can see currently this small strip of trim is black.
#3. as you can see currently this is cream like the steps (which we decided to paint all cream - didn't keep the white backing - are they called risers? i dunno)






Anyway painting continues the rest of the week and prob won't get done until the weekend.

p.s check out the shrub on the right side of the last pic. Tuboo spent the whole day cutting the shrubs and bushes along the side of the house and out front. 10 bags full!! the way he cuts the shrubs is like how some people pluck their eyebrows. he couldn't really see how much he was plucking whether it was too much or what. good thing i stopped him at one point! the shrubs on the side look very cute now. we now have our very own muffin top shrubs :)