Not wanting to sound rude, but you've certainly made a mistake in working with a designer and then replacing a major element of his design, without consulting with him first and allowing him to provide you with options other than the one you went for. What's more, you'll likely be compromising your relationship with him, even more than you might have already, by looking for and presenting him with color schemes from people on Houzz, pros or not, which is, in my opinion, adding insult to injury. Your reasons for not wanting your designers color choice may well be perfectly valid and should have been discussed with him prior to having the work done. A designer, after all, is there to make sure you get what you want, so good communication with him/her is essential, from the get-go. If I were you, I'd go back to him, eat a little Humble Pie, and see if you can't re-establish some trust and go from there. Asking for multiple opinions from total strangers and trying to do his job for him is probably not the best way to go. ... If all else fails and you find yourself without a designer, come back to Houzz and find another pro to hire. Best of luck. Hope things work out for you !

it's your designer you should be telling this too I feel ! if you start off with 'to err is human, to forgive Devine' you might pull through it ok !! fingers crossed for you !!!

Well said Cozy Casita.

Hello Again,
Firstly apologies for posting essentially the same question / dilemma twice. Each time my phone said unable to post at this time, so I was unaware either had actually posted. However please let me point out... aghast may have been too strong a word with respect to the designers feelings. He was consulted, provided with my reasons for not wanting dark grey and we had a lovely discussion about the options. He was well aware I was going for shale grey before I advised the builder. With respect to timing, I hadnt realise I would need to confirm the colour with the builder so soon.
What I am struggling with now is options to work with the shale grey as I dont like any of the designers new concepts and I dont want a pale monstrosity of a house..... hence why I am thinking it to be a mistake. As he has told me many times - he is not a clour expert and really his job is design and features of the house... NOT colour. So thanks Cozy for your thoughts but I actually have a great relationship with the designer and he asked me to come to him with ideas of what I might like and then he will put them onto the drawing for me.

If anyone can help wth render ideas I would be grateful for your assistance. Picture ttached as I am unsure if it was last post. Please note roof, facia and windows now shale grey not dark grey.

Thanks

"My designer is aghast and says I have compromised the project ... " were the words I was basing my response on. Much less of a problem (no problem with the designer) if the reality is that : "he was well aware that I was going for the shale grey" and "he asked me to come to him with ideas of what I might like " ... Now all you have to do is find that elusive color. :-) Good luck !

Sorry Cozy, aghast was too strong a word, so I undertand your response... In reality he was more like... i undertsand why your doing it, but have no idea what colours will suit that as I am not a colour expert........ I think the bottom can stay the same... just need a darker top colour... sorry for the confusion! i have attached his suggestion which I dont love... he has now asked me to give him some more guidance as to what I think would look good!

juliellen, wow, no words to say what I am feeling here. Just want to say it's your house- do what you like. The designer works for you. Glad you are communicating with him. Love your house! Are you wanting to keep your colors neutral or are you open to anything? Where is your home being built? Setting is important when choosing colors- if you are more rural you have more options then if you have neighbors to consider. No one want to live next door to the pink house ;) What about a gray with a hint of blue?

Roof is not a strong element here for front, so that is helpful. Very modern elevation.

See the color blocking on the rendering? Try a deep green all along the bottom plane, a mid-tone green for the top right, taupe - greige for the front elevation under the highest shed. In this family of green grays - http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6207-retreat/ and up to a mid tone like it has or switch tones a bit for this http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6199-rare-gray/ with greiges to test like http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7043-worldly-gray/

Thanks Kelly :-) I am in Traralgon, which is about 1.5 hours east of Melbourne... its a country city and we are right in the main straight really, opposite a park. Its fairly conservative and to be honest, we are being really out there with this modern design.... so yes I would like to keep the colours faily neutral. I love the grey you put there, but not sure what the swiss coffee would look like with the shale grey... I need to find a samle of the grey to add!

Thanks for the suggestions Libradesigneye... I hadnt seen that website before so might play around with the colours ont he visualiser...

Ok are we talking architectural designer or interior designer? Architects are more about lines and form and they grumble about the interior designers but that's who they hire to do the color boards. Either way you are the client and it's your house. It may be a great color scheme for the design but if you don't like it change it.

Those sample of paint are worth every penny because you need to see more than a little chip. With your asymmetrical design you have room to vary more than the usual field or base color and a contrasting trim. I'd make a tracing of the design and copy a bunch of pages of it to use as a coloring book. (yes use crayolas:-)
Another shade from the same shale grey paint chip and a one more accent color would be a good bet. If you are going subtle neutral, make it 3( not 50) shades of grey and play with where you put the darks and lights. Remember sunlight and shadows will create alot of contrast for even a "pale monochrome houses. (the computer rendering doesn't give you that.)

You could add a pop a smoky teal, plum or coral if you want color as bold as you design. These would just be accents or trim. If shale grey it a really light silver you could make a monochromatic scheme with blue grays and a navy blue door and trim. The tan/beige in the rendering needs a darker grey to work.
I would keep my midtone color on the lower level and a lighter shade on the second level. The top part that pop out could be a bolder accent color withe rest of the upper level almost white.
Lot depends on your roof and window frames and whether you want them to blend in or pop out.
Try a bunch out on paper or one of the computer programs before choosing any changes.

Great points re the light and using Crayolas, kathleen. Computer screens can be, and are, very deceptive.

Will be sektching this weekend... thanks for the idea Kathleen! I have realised I may have used the incorrect terminolgy (sorry new to this)... the designer I am working with is actually my architect!

Picking paint colours are so hard - and I love working with colours! I've just painted my walls what I thought was a pale grey and now they look like a pale blue/mauve old ladies colour! I am in shock and thinking of painting all the walls again. Don't be hard on yourself, take the time to get it right, not rush it like I did x