Help with exterior paint colour for Mod/Contemp house design (plan, architects)

[Durban]

I live in Durban, South Africa & I needed an opinion about exterior paint colors that would compliment the modern design of my new home. It will be completed by March this year, so I have a little time to decide on exterior colours. I designed this house by myself & I really want to make it look like it was designed & completed by a seasoned architect. The front will have a double volume facade of dark gray glass with a slightly reflective appearance. The interior will be neutrals mostly. I plan to install medium/dark wood garage & entrance doors. Please help.

[chet everett]

Do you like this?






Odd angle on the photo -- I take it portions of concrete will be stucco or some other kind of "parged" surface, correct? Is the reddish brick to remain as is?

Perhaps a very dark gray or even burgundy would off set the brick and dark gray glass...


I personally find the darker wine colors very very interesting -- they "read" as a saturated earth tone and have a very timeless feel. Works on more traditional style homes too:

[findinghope]

i would use a blue / grey color like:
Paint color.... oh how I love to paint! / Benjamin Moore paint in Silver Spring

or a combo of 3 of these:
If money was no object and I had a beach house / Benjamin Moore - Gray paint colors

[luv4horses]

Does it even need to be painted? I like the look just as it is--very natural. After the windows are installed it will look wonderful.

[archineer]

I agree, it's best to leave it as it is. Rendering/painting it will reduce it's character IMO.

[findinghope]

please paint your home...
it does not have character--it looks unfinished.

[archineer]

The only misgiving I have is the mix of grey and red brick. If all the brickwork was uniform it would be ok to leave it, I wouldn't even consider painting it. On the other hand if you render and paint it, it will probably end up looking like a generic modernist house.

A couple of alternatives may be to look into various renders - look at different types of exposed cement for instance, or different cladding systems. How about fibre cement cladding?

[archineer]

Take a look at this:

Brick House (London) « Caruso St John Architects

[archineer]

Here's another:

North London Studio House (London) « Caruso St John Architects

[Durban]

Thanks for your responses. I agree with archineer. If the brickwork was uniform it would be worth leaving it unfinished. Raw, natural finishes are becoming increasingly popular. Unfortunately this finish is not popular in SA & so I would like to be able to sell it easily when I am able.