How about a light grey. I dont think anything dark would be attractive.

I'd definitely do white trims if you want to lighten the space, then if you want to keep it basic and add colour and style with your decor I'd agree with what you are saying, just an off white that's not cream. You could go a pale grey but you might get sick of it! Also greys can look quite blue or brown (depending on the grey you choose) in different light. We used what the paint shop called builders white which is just a slightly off white, not too stark but definitely not cream:)

I would pick one of the colours out of the bricks. I think lighter rather than darker so the house doesn't look top heavy. When you factor in the whole cost of the extension, paying a colour consultant could be well worth the money. I have added a single story cladded extension to my brick house. The colour consultant was well worth the money. For me, I didn't want it to look like I was pretending the cladding was brick, so went for a colour that complemented the brick rather than blending in. A lot of new houses have cladding bumpouts included in the new build as a feature, I think this is a good look that you could go for. The extension as a feature rather than try to disguise it.

There looks to be a fence or wall to the left of the garage , in a nice stained timber -- see how clean and modern that looks , and compliments the bricks . The problem -- I doubt you can strip and stain the existing balconies timber -- but there does appear to be some doubt as to the timbers condition anyway . So here's my plan of attack -- if the timber is needing some or all replacing , replace it with stained timber uprights ( the white rails may be okay , and/or they may actually be metal supports ) . So go that nice stained timber . But if the timber is okay and you want a change on a budget , just repaint everything currently green , in a charcoal . And no matter what option -- new fabric on the sunshades , or just bin them altogether -- the roof looks like it has an okay overhang , but I assume they were installed ( years ago haha ? ) as they were needed , but they may have been more visual ? Anyway , that's a no-brainer -- do something , almost anything , with them ! And no matter what option , consider changing the garage doors with stained timber ones , the same shade as the fence/wall . A touch of class , and would really tie in if you did the veranda uprights in the same stain , but it would still work with charcoal 'upstairs' , or stainless wires , or smoked glass panels . Just a thought !