Take a clue from the pics....Do it's hard when you're starting and everything needs doing. Find a picture you like and use that as a guide. Do you like the looks of the colors in the two pictures above? Very simple and straight forward with beige/gray bricks and white and black accent colors for shutters and trim.

Photos would help us a lot but mint and grey usually goes well with charred oak.

My kitchen cabinets on the back wall are in Resene Rice Cake. I have wooden benches and an island that I was talked into painting grey. In my mind I wanted Black. It has arrived and looks okay but I should have stuck to my guns and gone with the Black. I am now thinking of having it repainted but what shade of Black? I want a soft dull black that isn't too harsh. Can anyone give me a Black colour shade that has worked for them?

I'd love help picking a couch and rug color for our living room! As much as we would love white, it's a high traffic area with kids so we're leaning toward gray but I'm not sure what color rug would go with that... Also light gray or dark gray? Any help would be appreciated!