Please see below advice for colors on Wall and Fencing, the white metal work for gates etc will contrast nicely against the colors advised.

I hope this helps, good luck!

Walls - Cornforth White

Fencing - Plummett Grey

Thankyou for your comments they are greatly appreciated. I feel like i'm getting more confused by the day. here are the colours I have been looking at for the walls, this in under a patio so I guess the darkest area away from direct light. The top is Dune (concerned its maybe too dark and maybe pink?), the next is Shale Grey, which I think is possibly too grey, silver almost (you can see the copper brown looking door frame on the edge), and then the next colour is White Duck Half (concern its too white/bright maybe) and the last is our original colour. I love beach greys but really feel grey will clash a bit as the rest of our home is more the light sandy beach colours including some of our door and window frames being the copper brown type. Wood inside our house is also natural and dark ( exposed ceilings and stairs).

here is some of the paint swatches I've put on the wall outside. I hadn't considered painting white on gutters etc mainly because painting our wooden fence panels white seems like a poor choice as the wood is older and also just maintenance over time. Darker seems a better choice in that regard.

Is it true a darker house looks smaller and any thoughts on what colours are best in hot areas? We live in North Queensland Australia, so its very hot most of the year. I've also heard of maybe making fence 200% of the wall colour, any thoughts on that or just keep the same percentage?

Thankyou greatly for your thoughts and advice, it helps immensely!

I had wondered that too, would be possible but involve removing them and getting done professionally I think as it would be a horrible job to try and do ourselves. Time and $$$ (two young kids in the mix)

I'm somewhat sick of monument and I think with your dark roof tiles, a lighter palette would work best. The light grey and white is better and also yes, fences and gates the same say, light grey would work. As you're in a hot climate - light always looks cooler, I think, and also lightens the house, if that makes sense.

Thanks great comments all round. I'm now thinking go lighter trimmings, some kind of white perhaps as suggested earlier and then the walls and fence maybe in Dune but different strengths, so the render in a lighter strengths, half or quarter and the fence panels in 100 or 200%. Does that sound reasonable?

My previous home had Dune for all trims. Didn't throw any pink tones as you are concerned about. Also had Monument roof, but I agree light roof better in hot zones.

I really like the photo examples 2Find and Design posted. Please let us know what you decided, and post photos. Always love seeing the results!

Second photo was house with lighter colours on the gutters - surfmist and dune I think. I tried a vivid white but it was crazy wrong.

I quite like the Dune and Surfmist. Although I'm a fan of Monument, I agree it's just a bit dark for your purpose.

I also think a light coloured fence will be a good contrast to your landscaping. I'd try to match it to one of the light colours of the house, either Dune or Surfmist (if you go with them).

You're right about stark white not being right - from your picture and taking into account the colour of roof, I think the trim, fences etc should be in what I call "pussy cat" grey - a soft, pale grey that is a distinct grey not a greyish white, sufficient to contract with your white, but still very light.

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. So the lighter maybe doesn't look too bad. I'm just a little worried things will look too washed out if all very light. But very dark doesn't seem to work!

I think as long as you have some variation in light colours, it won't looked washed out. And the red roof is such a nice strong colour. But really, go with your own gut instincts.

Spoke to a wonderful Dulux consultant online tonight. He suggested Pale Tendril or Oyster Linen for Wall Colour and Basalt for the trims. Very similar to you Kerry Bryan Interiors (above)! So time to go and follow your advice :)