Hi Trinity. It is overwhelming. Paint/siding/roof color are not big issues unless you have restrictions in your neigborhood. However, even if you don't have restrictions, I think it is smart to stay within the scheme of the neighborhood.

First, do you have a distintive style of archtecture like Tuscan, Southwest, Colonial, etc? If so, look at examples of that architecture online for some good color schemes.

If you have a style that is not highly stylized, consider the geography. Are you in the north, south, west? Each region's weather sets color "norms." For example, I am in Suth Florida. It is hot here 9 out of 12 months. White roofs are popular because they reflect heat. Everything is done with color to make the structure look cool.

If you are still confused, go for a ride through the most expensive residential areas in your town town. Take digital photos of the houses you think are the best looking. Pick the one you like the best and copy it.

Finally, this is my self-developed cheat sheet:
1. What color is your window trim? Wood, vinyl color, etc. This trim is going to be with you for a long time.
In my opinion the window trim drives the color scheme of the house. If it is a warm tone, you need beiges, creams, browns etc on the roof. If it is a cool tone (eg white) go with a cool tone roof (white, grey, etc).

2. Having chosen your window and roof color, choose the precast stone. Stay in the cool or warm scheme that you set with windows and roof.

3.Finally, choose the paint/siding color. Contrast is great, but stay in your cool or warm palate.

BTW, you have some freedom with your door color, if it is to be painted. Pick a nice accent color. If it is wood, coordinate (not necessary to match) with window trim.

Warning. I am not a pro. This is the guide that I developed for myself after looking at a zillion homes and then asking myself, "why do I like that house?."

Looking forward to seeing your photos later on!

Go to a paint store and get some color samples. Web site colors are meaningless. Ask them for their full sample book, or fan deck. They usually won't hand one out if you don't specifically ask for it. Be sure to mention that you are building a brand new custom home.

Now follow Pamelah's advice.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1446938}}

Pamelah - We are on 10 acres on Trinity Bay in southwest Texas, so we don't have a neighborhood scheme. No distinctive type of architecture. Same as you it is hot and humid here most of the year. Thanks for your suggestions. I'll try to work this out but never knew it would be so hard.
Creek Side: We did get a full sample book from Sherwin Williams for interior and exterior and some fan decks.
I believe picking roof color, window, siding, cultured stone and trim for the house has just overwhelmed me.

We had a terrible time trying to decide on this, then let our designer help. It was worth it to us.

You can look at home plan books too. I need to make the same decisions soon and I'm overwelmed.

OUr plan requires white windows and trim and the roof is a dimensional shingle that is a brownish gray color. I can't change those items, it's mandatory.

I do have neighbors on both sides - one house is dark brown and dark green the other is white, the house across the street is yellow and the other two are gray. I think I am going with a medium tan with darker contracting shakers. As for the stone, I still have to decide on that. I'm leaning towards a tan, black, beige scheme.

Good Luck finding the right colors. It really is difficult since you have to look at it every day !

Trudy Mom: It helps to know that we are not the only ones struggling. Sometimes we feel that everyone else knew what they wanted before they started and we are the only ones floundering out here.
Jeannie01: I'll take my stacks of books out on the patio when Ike (our dog) and I go out for our evening rest. I have stacks (probably like the rest of you) but haven't looked at them in months now. Good idea to look at them again.

You might try picking out the item that that is going to define the look of your house the most and then work from there. If your brick is X color, then only Y or Z rocks will match it. If you're using stucco or siding instead of brick, I'd choose the rock colors first. I'm assuming your roof is going to be a standard color in the brown/gray/black family so it will be easier to pick out after you know which color family you are choosing. I'd pick the paint colors last because that is what tends to go on last anyway.

Another idea would be to find a designer to help with the look.

Good luck!

Thank Adellabedella. Our home will be Hardie siding and we actually had picked out the cultured stone and have a sample here at the house but then we got all caught up in colors and thought maybe we should choose the cultured stone last. One problem we have run into is that we did not want white trim but our doors will be Neuma doors (DH is sold on them due to the locking system) and these french doors only come in white. Or that's what we were told. I'm going on their website now to check it out. We are having vinyl windows and our color choices are white, tan or clay but my DH definitely does not want white windows. DH actually wanted a reddish or coppery color roof but said he is willing to change on the roof.

All kinds of folks know colour. What you want is for everything to "go" together, play well with one another.

Printers, painters, floral designers, department store designers (fliers, etc.), fabric designers, the list could go on and on.

If you don't have a home designer or won't go for one, ask within your circle of workmates, friends and relatives. Surprising what a little asking can turn up.

Personally, I have one lady in one paint store, outwardly looking like just any other paint clerk. But she is magic. Absolute magic. She has never once sent us wrong over multiple interior and exterior schemes.

I keep telling her to go for it but...well, she just can't. Meanwhile, I'm fine as long as she is there for us. Find someone like that.

you really need to know what you want as the primary color of the home, in terms of siding. then, determine what type of siding and go from there. i strongly suggest you get samples of EVERYTHING. once you determine the type of siding and color move on to roofing. i found this the most difficult since price varies tremendously. my husband wasn't sure of my roofing choice since there really is no difference in tone when placed directly next to the siding, but he had to trust me. we have a lot of trim to break it up and i really don't like very dark roof colors. after i pinned down those selects i took BOTH siding and roofing samples to look for stone. since my siding and roof are a light to mid tone gray, i wanted to bring in some deeper gray tones as well as some deeper burgundy and also some highlighted golds. i don't think i don't consider it "difficult" but definitely somewhat frustrating trying to track down everything. also: don't decide on siding material and color without pinning down your roof and stone. my GC wanted me to just go out and select a roof (so he could just slap it up) without having everything else but this is extremely short sighted imho. so... this is what i ended up with:

siding: nichiha/weathered gray

roofing, not the exact product, but similar:

elderado stacked stone in olive grove:

and what we have so far. stone isn't installed yet:
{{gwi:1419331}}

trinitybay - this is a totally random thought, but if I were staying in TX and building on Trinity Bay (I'm assuming wetlands), then I would look to the colors that they use on Hilton Head Island, SC for inspiration. All buildings there, including things like gas stations & McD's are required to be done in earth tones and blend in as much as possible with the natural vegetation. Then, I would have punches of color from plantings since you can get such brilliant hues from oleander, hibiscus, cannas, plumeria, etc.

I know that is coming from out of left field, but if I were living in wetlands, I think it would be so calming to blend in. The link below is for the Hilton Head design guide. Page 15 gives the color schemes, but look at all the pix.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hilton Head, SC Design Guide

I can't begin to tell you all how helpful your posts are to us.
Metaxa - We met with a friend today who helped us immensely. He had painted trim on our house before, stained doors and painted the interior. We just didn't think of him. But in talking we remembered how he saved us from a disaster by painting exterior samples for us and gently steering us away from a color combination that was not complementary. We now are acting on some of his suggestions to get us started.
Kateskouros - I love your windows. They are fantastic! Can't wait to see the complete picture when the stone is on.
DrJoAnn - In our discussions today, we also decided we wanted warm earth tones and wanted to blend in not "stick out". But we hadn't discussed your color from plantings! Now I am really excited. The link is terrific.