Try a light warm gray

I assume you have sailed into your renovations Susan ? The pictures actually look like 2 different houses -- different colours , different styles . I quite like the 'red' ( 2 storey ) side of the house -- even the conservatory and that pattern on the deck railing -- personally I'd paint it in a charcoal , but it's liveable . NOT a fan of the yellow opaque glass , and I'd paint around the outside of your 2 garage doors approx 80-100mm wide white borders to match the rest of the joinery . The other side though -- the roof ( as you said ) would be my first thing -- I'd go a browny/red , very similar to the panels on the other side of the house . The gutters and window sills I'd go a superbright blood red , and even though I agree about the cream veneer bricks and steps -- I'd leave the veneer , and either paint , or preferably tile , the steps in charcoal , and add a couple of 'chunky' stainless rails on the sides . And the base board -- I'd do it in charcoal too . It would not only look better , but make the house look longer and sleeker .

I want to paint the exterior of my house, it is in good condition but i want it a dark colour. But friends warned me that their wooden boards split in months with dark paint. Does 70-s 'weetbix' weatherside do the same? am i safe to paint dark. I am in nelson and the sun can get very host any chance of it is a no no. Thanks

Hey there. Go for a cooler colour palette and draw the eye to a focal point at the end of the hallway, a console table, artwork, a mirror etc. A cooler paint colour helps the small space visually recede. In terms of the doors, going slighter darker will again make the space feel bigger. Go half a shade lighter on the low ceiling than the walls, using the same colour, rather than bright white, which will look dirty in the low light. Good luck!