You can't go wrong with Dulux Natural White, it's the perfect neutral white, (like a milk white?) not warm, not cool, and no dated creamy undertones, looks perfect everytime I've seen it. I like Antique White USA for older homes (it looked great in our old Victorian home), but I sometimes find it too creamy. But consider your flooring too. If you have warm coloured timber floorboards for example a Natural White or warmer would work and would make Lexicon for example look too crisp.

Hi Rochelle. We have Hogs Bristle 1/2 strength on the walls. Vivid white on Windows and skirts. Looks fabulous. It is a very bright room with high skylights. Always looks clean and fresh and very stylish. hogs Bristle has been a favourite in the Deluxe range for many year and I can understand why. Good luck with whatever you go with.

There are so many things to consider, for example the orientation of the house is it a North facing yard which will attract lots of natural sunlight, where South facing is shaded and colours will appear deeper / darker. What colour are the gutters and fascias and roof? Aluminium windows are these pearl white? As you probably know there are many shades of white, that have very different undertones, some throw red, blue or yellow. From the samples you have painted you appear to be drawn to a "greige" combination of grey and beige a smart colour for todays exteriors so certainly on trend. A lovely greige I have just recommend for a client is a Deluxe colour called Calf skin, paired with natural white trims and a grey pebble large garage roller door has come up beautifully. If you are in Sydney happy to assist with a colour consultation. Worth the money

Hi Pottsy99, thanks so much for your thoughtful response! You are perfectly right about that infill panel and the original steps which had been removed - goodness knows what was going through people's heads to do this to an old house. I do intend to reinstate the stairs - and link to the front garden which is north-east facing so will be perfect for an informal edible garden. I'm thinking of finding some original encaustic tiles to do the porch floor. It's a good idea to reinstate the steps in concrete - I was thinking about timber on a steel frame (for costs) however concrete will give a more stable feeling . This old California Bungalow however has an perplexing design in that there appear to be two entrances - apparently this was not that unusual for California Bunglalows. The main hallway runs off the side entrance, whereas these steps which come from the front garden lead straight into the loungeroom, with no hallway. So I intend to keep the main entrance to the side, and make the front entrance relate directly to the front garden, using plants and lighting to direct people to the main entrance. anyhow, in regards to the colour pallette, I love your idea of a burgundy roof, however I'm going to tone it down a bit as there's a lean-to at the back where I can have some fun with colour. For street appeal I'm going to keep it toned down - the setting is an Australian bush garden, and I'm looking at a relaxing pallette of greys which I think will make the red bricks sing as well. I've had the red bricks and mortar colour-matched at the hardware store, and there are red/yellow/black tones in them. So the greys will be warm/ olive-greenish. The light colour will be a lighter hue of the mortar (very light beige). The front door will be bright red, with warm white/very light beige trim. thanks again for your thoughts :-)