A dark grey would add nothing to the curb appeal of this house. It would look like a cave in the woods I`m afraid. Either a soft grey-green with darker grey green on the horizontal timbers or a greyish taupe with white trim would make it WOW. Below is a similar style house that Houzzers helped the owner with paint color and it looks fabulous. 1st pic - Original color 2nd pic - repaint in progress 3rd pic - finished result If you like this look I can get you the colors that were used.

Use a good quality porch/floor paint. I have had good experiences with Glidden. Can be tinted any color.

We eventually decided on Dulux White Duck for our exterior, with the garage door in Basalt, like the guttering. I’m not a huge fan of shutters, but they seem to make the windows bigger, so I left them, as the awning fittings, which will be reused with different fabric, we’re done originally to accomodate the shutters. We’ll box in the hideous columns, which are (far too) white, and then will repaint them. I’m now trying to choose exterior lights. I don’t like coach lights, like the existing lights, but don’t want to get something too modern, which would suit the house, even though I like modern fittings better. So...white? black? Stick to a more modern style of coach light? I’d really appreciate any ideas. Thanks

Thank you, big reader! That finish might be just what we want, especially with an outdoor rug as suggested by Kate. And thank you too, Julie, for the compliment and the decorative suggestion. We have some rectangular planters made from the Linea boards, which I was considering painting white and putting under the section that has the matrix cladding, but those pots are gorgeous so might rethink that. Still have some finishing off to do first, but we’ll get there. Can’t say how much I appreciate everyone’s help, you’re all so kind