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.

Thanks. House completed a while back. Builder did all trim and doors in vivid white. Ceilings in ceiling white. Left it to them.

That’s a good idea, we’re going to go with painter on the first room, once he leaves we can decide whether or not we paint the trims. More work, but playing it safe!

I wouldn't be as harsh as Dr Retro , but I'm not a Pro . In fact , I like gold , I like black chrome , I like silver chrome , I like Victorian white tapware , Dr Retro seems to have focused on matt black , but surely thats limiting yourself ? Personally , I'd just go room by room . If your kitchen was dark marble and gloss charcoal cupboard doors etc , then I'd look at gold/brass , or gloss black , or chrome in whatever style complements ( modern in a modern house or modernised house ; 70's in a 70's house ; classic gold or chrome in a Victorian farmhouse ) . If it was ( shiver , shiver ) white benches and cupboard doors and appliances and walls and ceiling , then again black or gold would look great IMO , chrome not so much , but anyone who does white on white on white lacks something anyway haha . So a kitchen , or dining room , or bedroom , or wherever , that is mainly white , or very colourful , or mainly pink , or black and white , may suit some styles , not others . To go one step further , and have black taps and gold handles mixed in one room would depend on the style of the house and/or each room IMO -- gut instinct is no , but I can think of some combo's that may work -- a Victorian house with solid wooden varnished doors , gold/brass handles , a kitchen with a wooden floor , white marble bench-top and black gloss plumbing would look balanced , for example .