what a great looking house...could you have the dark colour around the front porch, front of the garage and the alfresco walls (where it's shady in the photo) and have the rest of the house white or surfmist?

Hi Irina, I hear you, warm grey can be lovely teamed with antique white, but your kitchen is not particularly spacious, has a lot of corners and no windows to throw a lot of light in. If I were working with you, I would try to persuade you to stay with the existing colour if the finish is still in good nick. Why? Because repainting panelled cabinetry in a high traffic area can be a fiddly, repetitve and expensive task if it is not absolutely necessary. Have you already purchased the benchtop stone for your kitchen yet? If so, what lead you to that choice? Did you compare sample pieces on site next to your existing fittings? If it already purchased and it doesnt go with the cabinets, get lots of little tester pots and try out a few shades with the new stone. Which Caesarstone white are you going for? Pure White or Snow? Pure White goes nicely with Taubman's Bassinette or Cotton Sheet (Bassinette being slightly brighter for a dark area), also with Dulux's Snowy Mountains Quarter or Casper White Quarter. While Snow lends itself to a warmer white, ie. Dulux's Antique White Quarter strength. You also have the sheen level and the light available to contend with in your kitchen. If you can get away what is already there, you could always change the door handles/ knobs over to stylish pewter or nickel which would offer some kind of contrast. Sorry if i just completely confused you!!

Hi Caz Your house has a lot of character. To freshen it up I would look at painting it white. Resene Triple Black White. It's a beautiful soft white but not creamy. The red guttering, which you decided not to touch, I would paint a grey with a green edge. Perhaps look at Resene Half Gravel or Resene Tapa. What I'm trying to do is find a dark colour that blends with your existing roof colour. For all the beautiful fillagree work, (what appears to currently be painted a shade of yellow) and poles, use a paler neutral with a green undertone like Resene Ash/Half Ash. If you want to accentuate the details on the poles or those corner pieces, you can double the strength that is used on the poles i.e. If you used Resene Ash, use Resene Double Ash. Have a play around and decide what colour intensity you like for all the details but don't go too dark, just so you can see a contrast. I think having the beautiful red tiles on the porch is fine and you don't necessarily need to keep the red on the guttering as it is drawing the eye to look at it. That scheme will freshen the house up beautifully. No pictures of front door but a glossy dark grey colour, similar to the colour in the porch tiles will tie it together. It will look beautiful. Would love to see more pictures.

I would keep the paint as it is , at least initially , but like you and Larkspur Lane Design say , concentrate on the accessories and bring in some colour that way . Just one thing -- Linkspur mentioned cushions -- you didn't . I assume the couch is staying , its practical but it needs lifting , so pick your ( or the consensus ) favourite colour , and have fun with cushions -- say 4 or 5 bright yellow ones , and 4 or 5 yellow and white chevron ones ; or purple or green or red or burgundy or . . . . . . . heaps of them , some in solid , some in stripes or 2 tone or polka dot or chevron . The larger wall ( lounge and dining areas ) I'd wallpaper in something in the similar tones as your cushions , toned down a bit ( or contrasting ) . Basically , a feature wall , with a large $200 clock and maybe a couple of small black and white prints . Some art ( I like abstract ) -- a large one on one of the other lounge walls . Maybe a rug too -- subtle or bright , just not clashing . Then you could really double down . 'This end' of the servery I'd do in your chosen yellow or burgundy or whatever , and re-tile the kitchen in similar toned tiles -- the white 'splashback' ones do absolutely nothing style or colourwise IMO . Right now , the plants are the brightest points -- I love plants , but when they are the most noticable thing , that's a worry . Work with the white , beige and grey ( and the plants ) , but use colour to lift everything .