Just a thought - Have you tested the existing cladding for asbestos prior to removing? Some of my coastal clients also feel the need to 'fill' the corrugations at the ends prior to capping or butting up to end frames: to dissuade small creatures from also moving in to a nice new home. Colorbond Surfmist will look great and horizontal will help to balance your homes height, however, it also gives ridges where dust and dirt sits and so needs to be hosed down more often - probably a good idea as it removes some of the salt as well. Good luck with the reno, the Architects image looks great.

apennameandthata i don't know... vertical is more shed like style, while we still have a colonial style base and veranda. Dust will be an issue here (although its not so bad in that particular spot on a river, good protection from trees) but pressure wash will be regular practice anyway. Thanks for all your suggestions and I will take all on board, especially sandstone ideas. I don't this I want this house to look pretentious, but how can I describe that, I am after some subtle "wow" factor or something a bit different, but it must look like we knew what we are doing and YES, I want it to look like high quality build and not a transportable house or kit home. The house rectangle is so simple that I worry it may have that boring factor in its looks and that is why I am looking for some ideas. My problem is a tendency to overthink but I hope I will find a balance at some point :) At this stage I think: galvanised tin everywhere (or that zincalum), rusty steel posts, aluminum windows with timber look, sandstone features around main door and sandstone chimney. We had a big flood last year and the spot never goes under water, its on high grounds even though it is only meters from the river.

I don't like drab except as a way of filling in the gaps . Oops , bloody autocorrect , I meant dune . And anything grey . I'd actually go Eucalypt on the walls and roof , 'natural' wood but with a charcoal or green tinge , and Forest Green for the gutters and barge boards around the roof , the windows and also that front veranda roof , just as a bit of contrast . Yes , I know , it will get a bit warmer , but it's 1/20th of the cladding , on 25% of the year , so live with it ! And of course , the nicest bright dark green shade you can get for the front door . Don't want greens ? Go with surfmist as the main , roof and walls , Deep Ocean everywhere I suggested Forest Green , and an almost glowing Royal Blue front door .

My understanding of colours is that all greys either have a red (ie brown/warm) undertone or a blue cool undertone. Have you just chosen two shades of grey with opposing undertones? This will be more obvious if you put something purely red vs pure mid-blue. Try painting the two colours on a piece of A4 paper and holding it up next to different cool or warm colours inside the house under different lighting. I went to the Dulux site and the colour mix for Ito is Colour Values R:102 G:104 B:112 (more Blue) and for Wayward grey it is Colour Values R:63 G:60 B:62 R & B are basically the same. Not sure that helps, but for each colour, Dulux give similar colours that they suggest as pairings. Maybe decide which of the greys you prefer and then go with one of the Dulux compliments???? I think the colours look lovely, but I don't know what effect you are after.