I recently heard a good instructor say that if you have a building in the focal area of a painting there is not much point in hiding it with trees, etc.
I have thought a lot about that because I happen to like things that are half-way hidden! What I liked about the reference photo was the quiet statement the house made amid so much color.
I rediscovered pastels in 2001 and ever since, I've been painting solely in this medium. My preferred subject is landscapes, but on occasion I switch to still life for a short while.