You could use an enamel paint for metal to make it match the walls or trim and secure it with some good brackets and long screws into studs on the walls. 

You will want a field and trim/accent colors for the house.

And that means trim, flooring, widows, kitchen, etc...

With dead dog replacing the subfloor and removing the carpet, Kills to the wall 3 feet and lower, new floor trim and we were good. 

This can be things like exterior trim and paint, sidewalk repair, tree removal, and sewer repairs.

You can find all kinds of Craftsman style trim online and they are relatively easy to copy. 

I'm thinking along the terms of: using less thick countertops, using smaller trim in the bedrooms, not painting the garage, cheaper cabinets, less thick carpet, lower end vanity's, etc?

I would paint the exterior walls grey, the doors black, and trim white. 

Some folks encapsulate baseboards and remove window trim to cut costs.

Routered, sanded, made all the matching trim.