Use the same paint and paint colors across houses.

The history with this property is colorful in my family:I have records showing that my grandmother (alive) used to be listed as the trustee of my great-aunt's (deceased) estate (which includes this property).

The Quit Claim deed would give you both the daughter's equitable interest and a colorable claim to title.   

The exterior needs to be as historically accurate as possible (rehab the windows that have the original glass, time period accurate colors and materials) but they do not care about the interior layout or decor.

@Scott Krause, to add some color to this, not only is the property unique and there is appraisal risk, but there is also "lender risk" in that a lot of lenders were never too keen on vacation rentals as a business in the first place, and then add in COVID and travel risks still associated with it. 

The trick is learning that number.I pay:Interior repaint (3 colors): $1.5 - $2Flooring: $1.5 Roofing: $300 (all in materials and labor no deck repair)Windows: $75 per openingHvac: Condenser/a coil = $3k furnace = 3k (high, but I get priority and zero upcharge ever)All new pex $1500That's a basic list, but you get the idea.

I want to be able to keep property information (maintenance, new appliances, paint colors etc), collect rents and have things like late fees automated.   

I was hoping to get some help on what more experienced minds would do with this one as far as interior/exterior colors & features. 

Go over everything with a fine-tooth comb to increase chances of +ve cashflow

Some renters will be winners - like the fixed income, never-going-to-move-again renter, but there will be many losers too - the new tenant moving into town, the renter who would like to move closer to work but can't because they're "locked" in with an artificially low rent, the tenant who is moved out and can't find another affordable place because the economics no longer support a home being a rental and it gets sold to an owner occupant.Consider donating to your local apartment association or other org who is working on "no on 10" campaigning.