Hi SuzieQ, people use " Dark Blue with the Hampton's Style" all the time. Search 'Dark Blue with the Hampton's Style" and "Dark Blue with the Shaker Style" for inspiration. It's your home to decorate how you like and what you are comfortable with.

Hope this helps, Malcolm.

You need to decorate your home with YOUR style. Do not be dictated to by designers for any , on trend, colour schemes. Have your dark moody rooms or a dark blue kitchen, timber shutters etc. It is your house so your design. Don’t follow the people that do not have their own vision, and just revert to what is trending.

Post a pic of the facade and where you have options and we can offer suggestions. For a start leave off the finial. Go over to Pintrest and search British Colonial Style. That is a look that works with dark plantation shutters and has a more darker vibe. Start collecting inspiration pics there for each room and you’ll be able to pull together a look that suits your taste. You can also search “whimsigoth” there but you may have more luck with “dark boho”. Have a look and see if that’s the feel you’re after.

Hi bigreader, dreamer and Compass Kitchen,

Thank you all for your encouragement and suggestions, I will keep them all in mind, copy the images you posted, and look up British Colonial Style for more inspiration.

I wasn't sure about copyright which is why I hadn't uploaded a picture. It is dated as the design is over 10 years old I believe, but perhaps the brains trust could tell me if I can make it look like a new home rather than an old one (my initial response was to leave off the finial bigreader, so unless someone argues otherwise, that will be the way I go!). When I was looking at the options for the facade, I felt like I was looking at a car yard and I thought oh, that's a roomy back seat in a Camry - a metaphor for: oh that's a nice space under a veranda for a bench outside my window - when I wasn't aware that it was a 94 Camry and therefore not retro in a good way. Did I try to hard to explain that metaphor? I hope not. Here is the facade, it is from an option for a design from GJ Gardners, I don't own the image, they do. I'm thinking of having a lighter grey colorbond roof, like Ironbark and Deep Ocean for the garage door, and white poles and light grey bricks. I chose it because the window slides open for a fresh breeze, AND it wont get in the road for plantation shutters, whereas the other designs had awning windows with winders that would be in the road for shutters. So many considerations. Anyway, thanks for the suggestions that have come in so far. Am I worrying about nothing, it is a good look yes?!

Cheers- SuzieQ

(Suzanne obviously 😉).

Well the good news is that there’s nothing Hamptons about that facade so you’re free of that restriction. Have you picked the brick? I would have a timber garage door and front door, and stained timber posts. The roof, windows, gutters, fascias and down pipes all in the same colour, the darkest your climate will accommodate. I’d pick a brick that has a dark fleck in it. And some statement exterior lighting. That will give you the dark moody look within your facade limitations. Then add some killer landscaping with a feature tree. The landscaping is where you have the opportunity to make the front not so project home. Sliding windows are a good choice all round. Add some dark wicker or wood chairs to the front and you’ll be well on your way to a home that reflects what you want.

Just found this thread while looking for ideas for our own reno and now I am curious how it turned out. We went through something similar when we built with 101 Residential , had a clear vision that started pulling in different directions once selections were locked in. The design team flagged a few clashes early which saved us some regret later, but honestly it is just part of the process when you are mixing styles.

On your specific dilemma, dark broody with Hamptons bones actually works really well if you commit to it fully. Deep navy on the plantation shutters, dark stained timber floors, charcoal accents. The gable and finial just read as architectural detail when everything around them is dark and deliberate. Would love to see how you ended up going with it.