Hi Brett about 5 to 10 years ago the trend was if your design style was contemporary your trim colour was the same as the walls and if your design style was classic your trim was a lighter, often white contrast to the wall colour. These days the trend is to the latter regardless of your design style as your builder's designers suggested. However matching your trim colour to the walls is still a good option if you have 8' ceilings. As there is minimal difference (only in the level of sheen) between the skirting boards and wall colour it makes the ceiling look higher. Another option is to do the trim in a similar but lighter tone such as Dulux Grey Pebble quarter. This is a very subtle tone on tone look. Whatever the colour, do you have a choice in the sheen level for your trim? I generally recommend semi gloss enamel on trim unless you are after a more classic look and your woodwork is in very good condition (the higher the sheen level the more any imperfections show up), in which case you could consider full gloss enamel. At the end of the day it's your home so you should do what you'd prefer - after all it's only paint so it's easily changed! All the best with your build.

Hi rachemacdonald Natural white is one of my favourite interior whites. It's not too creamy but still warm and not cold and sterile. Use low sheen on walls. Use half strength on the ceilings in a flat finish. (The ceiling acts as a reflector to bounce light around the room.) The trims - arch, skirts, windows and doors can be half strength in a satin finish. This will modernise the space and make it feel more spacious. Best wishes.

Hi, I agree with you, the salmon is a bit yuk. Personally I don’t see the point changing the garage doors unless you were changing the roof. They talk to each other so leave them. The first thing I’d do is massively prune/clear the garden. It’s a very beautiful garden and well cared for, but it’s doing nothing for the facade of your house. Your house is drowned out by it. Now the trims, that comes down to what you like but I’d go for something dark and rich tones. I like good old woodland grey too, just cause it goes with everything. Best of luck. And please post an after shot :)

Hi Cara, will you be painting your roof also? If so, it opens up a myriad of pairings but if not, I’d choose a deep bottle green for the trim and a very pale sand (not cream, not quite terracotta. Think light sandstone pavers) for the cladding. But I’d also recommend you not take my advice but speak to the colour consultant at a specialist paint store AND do a large spot test in a couple of different places. Also take the time to view the test areas at different times and if possible, different weather conditions. There’s a science to colour but also an art, and like art, if it makes your heart sing, that’s the colour/art for you, with the proviso that you do have a responsibility to your neighbours 😉