Never judge external colours from samples when inside. Take them outside and stick them vertically to the wall. You will find that the sun will make darker colours look much lighter, and your perception of them will change at different times of the day. A Hamptons style paint scheme will not make your house look like a Hamptons style house as there are too many architectural elements that are very un-Hamptons. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls.

Funnily enough , I think the whole house already looks too dark , and I think the bricks and the roof are actually a good base , but again just personally , the windows used to close in the garage I would have liked to do in say surfmist or silver just to lighten things up . Maybe not for good reasons , but the lighter concrete below those windows is the first thing I noticed -- I realise it will presumably get covered or painted , but I noticed it because it is lighter in tone . The green fence doesn't help , and I'd do it in charcoal , which might sound 'silly' with what I said about the windows , but to do just the fence in a lighter silver or white or off-white would look 'weird' -- you want the house to be noticed , the fence less so . So what else ? Maybe a bright front door , or even a natural cedar or lighter -- make it a feature , at present it just blends/blands in . Maybe 2 or 3 large bright orange or yellow 'ali baba' glazed pots with vibrant spikey plants , bamboos , etc positioned right along the front -- large pots at least 60cm x 80cm to get noticed ! Just my thoughts .

It has a sort of Tuscan/ Mediterranian vibe , and I like most of the features ( that chimney design is clever , for example , and the way the paving is wearing is great ! ) . You say about red trim , but to me it looks like a reddy brown , which suits . The bluey greeny board doesn't suit , and doesn't go with the roof either ( I assume the roof is all those charcoal tiles ? ) . Ordinarily , I'd say to lighten the render and go with a darker board -- probably charcoal , but then thats just a continuation of the roof . BUT I like the weathered vibe of the existing render , and I like how the windows etc works with the render too . So here's my 'easy' improvement -- leave it mostly as it is , but change 2 things . The downpipe and collector near the door ( the single story one ) I'd change to genuine copper ( not just paint ) ; and the barge board around the top I'd change to either crisp white ( the safe option ) or a metallic coppery bronze -- that references the downpipe but also ties in and transitions between the render and the tiles . A bit riskier , but IMO worth trying .

When you have an idea of a colour you like, you can go to the Dulux website and see the details of the colour: light reflectance and the ratio of red to green to blue. Then pick some similar colours - I generally go for something slightly darker and something lighter but the same or similar colour. Alternatively you could go for same tone but slightly different colours - cooler or warmer. Order these 3 or 4 in the large A4 swatches and then use blu tack to put them on the walls you plan to paint. It is amazing how different these will look in different areas and at different times of the day. I number each one on the back and keep a record of my preferred colour in north, south, east & west facing spots in morning & afternoon light. The choice then comes down to which colour I picked most often.