Hi Erin Both look like they will work. I think your challenge will be to bring some depth to the front of the house . With the colour being uniform its quite flat, so I would suggest adding some awnings to the front windows. These could also be a nice feature on the front of the house adding your personality. http://www.icietla.com.au in Brisbane sell some beautiful stripes. The other option was to have a base and top scheme that helped the building look a little lighter. A great transformation which ever way you go.

wow, your house looks great, love the "prow" shaped balcony and grey and white is always good. Day and night lighting from different directions makes any colour look different from every angle... you could enhance this effect by making the grey darker on different sections eg the blade wall on the left hand side of the garage could be very dark, the wall around the garage door mid grey, the wall down the side to the front door lighter with a burst of colour for the front door (rusty orange?) perhaps an annodised aluminium garage door, stainless steel or black front door handle and light fittings...what's the pergola made out of? could it be steel instead of painted? with steel cables for supporting a vine? best of luck with your new home

I reckon you should go for a bright colour rather than the greys. Greys can look a bit boring after a while. Mainly due to their popularity as every second house I see is grey and just about every house I design the owner wants grey..... A client recently used 'Vanessa May' with Monument roof, facias, etc. and windows. The architraves in white. 'Vanessa May' is a mid violet and I got to say it look's bloody great! It's a similar size cottage as yours as well. My last client is using Dulux 'Pink Poppy' on their renovation and addition! However the job I started today has already been specified with a combination of greys...... That green you have is a great start.

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.