Tough ask to get the no visible fixings. Magnesium oxide board (see the INEX brand) would give you the light coloured look, sheet or boarded look. The product can be painted but looks great raw too, has a shiny side and a striated side so you can have a variety of looks. Good luck

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.

The fading black I have seen has been on manufactured plywood type cladding. It does not look good as looks uneven and patchy. When building we changed from the cheaper cladding to solid recycled hardwood shiplap. So glad we did, as it is now greying off beautifully.

I don’t have any practical advice but love the look. If you google images for Porters Paints Palm Beach Black you’ll see some great exterior inspiration.