Hi again- I have been looking at Benjamin Moores colors and have chosen a few you might look at. My technique for color choices is to buy several large sheets of MDF from the hardware and several paint samples that I think will work. Grab a plain white sample pot as well and just play with colors; if what you thought looked good in the shop and doesn't look good in reality, just add a bit of the white to lighten it and use the darker tones to deepen. Once you've found the color you like paint it on one of the large MDF sheets and live with it for a day or two and see how it looks morning,night, south side of building,northside of building. If the color that you like is one that you've mixed yourself, just go back to the paintshop as I'm sure B Moore would have the right shade so you can match it. Do you know the color name of the roofing? Is it IRONSTONE or MONUMENT? I'd be tempted to use that same color for the windows. My personal trick for contrast and trims is to take the main color and ask paint shop to make it up in 1/4 strength even lighter if need be. Good luck and post pictures when it's finished.

This is a similar home. Does the architect's response help you? "Yes the soffit is painted ( Resene Bokara ) to make it similar to the cladding. We did it this way in order to emphasis the sculptural form of the house - if it was white it would have broken up the form somewhat. I think it depends on what you want to achieve, if the line of the joinery is at ceiling level then it is good to have the ceiling and the soffit the same colour in terms of how you experience the interior space. If the exterior look is more important then the dark soffit would probably work better."

A difficult dilemma. Unfortunately I cannot help with any other types of products but if you do want that dark and light look my only suggestion is to paint the pine dark to the stain you liked, or matching your garage door. Resene have a "cool colour" system so that dark colours don't absorb the heat. From a distance it will look similar to the stain. I hope you get some other helpful advice. Best of luck.

I would look at colour samples next to actual sample of the schist to be used. Take that to a local paint/render shop and look at them together. Looking at your image, the schist looks to be a golden schist rather than a grey. Is this just the way it has been shown? I would check with the suppliers for the actual colour of stone to be used as there are a lot of possibilities and the colour will affect your colour choice for the plaster. Here are a few websites showing some schist colours: https://www.worldofstone.co.nz/stone-mason/stone-masonry/schist https://wanakastone.co.nz/style/ Also consider the visibility of your mortar and its colour. Keep in mind that depending on your render system, you may be even more restricted in LRV, as some systems require an LRV of no less than 40%.