You're not the first person I've heard of who's opted for a custom paint over Hardi stock colors. They do not offer that many colors and I think what they do offer is kind of odd. I mean there are a few good ones, standard colors, but overall I think their color palette is in desperate need of an update and a rework. Anyhoo...

It's hard to get a good color read on the colors in your roof, a greige or taupe would definitely have to be based on how well it harmonized with the roof. From SW Sticks and Stones or Foothills might be good chips to snag and see what you think. Both would work with black shutters if that's the route you want to go. SW's Tricorn black is a good, stock black. Looks good satin to hi-gloss.

SW's Duration on pre-primed Hardi is a really good combo of products in my personal opinion.

I could see light yellow. I read somewhere that with a dark gray or black roof, white, blue or yellow looks the best and with a brown roof, green, red and tan look best.

I have seen a LOT of yellow houses with roofs very similar in color to yours.

Black shutters would like nice, or maybe a dark forest green if you like the idea of yellow.

Yes, I'll be using SW's Duration paint over the Hardie. That's the 'gold standard' for a lasting/durable finish from everything I've heard. Hardie's Colorplus colors (other than the white) are strange shades, IMHO. The red is good if you have a barn, but some of the others...they're just kind of 'off' in some way. I couldn't see any of them working on my house, other than the white, which happens to be the same tone as my siding is now.

I'm leaning towards black or dark charcoal shutters (will buy new ones since I only have to replace 3 sets) and am thinking of repainting my front door a nice high gloss deep red. So with those 2 design elements, I think maintaining a white or off-white plank color scheme may be the best thing to do since it's a classic no-fail look. I'll just have to make sure to get my siding powerwashed each year to keep it looking good and bright.

The beautiful lush setting is begging for color! Color is a very personal thing, so I hesitant to recommend specific colors. Besides, I know that light and surfaces influence color so much that there is a 100% chance that a color on my house (or one that IÂve seen on another) will NOT look the same on your house.

But I am never at a loss for words when it comes to places to look for inspiration. So here I goÂ

If ever a house was designed for Pratt & Lambert Williamsburg Historic Palette it is yours.

There are some 184 colors in the Williamsburg Historic collection. I swear, the second I saw the photograph of your home I though of Williamburg, Virginia. I donÂt know if you have ever been to Williamsburg, but the homes there are alive with color, a garden graces every home and landscape as far as the eye can see in every direction is a rich green lush forest.

You can find out a bit more about P&L Williamsburg collection at http://www.prattandlambert.com/color/color-palettes/williamsburg/index.jsp. If you are interested you can call to see if you can get a Williamsburg Historic collection fan deck from them; I know you can order a standard fan deck from them (free), but I'm not sure about the Williamsburg collection. 1-800-289-7728.

If you have not used Pratt & Lambert...all I can say is it is an excellent paint. Donald Kaufman, a color guru extraordinaire, color consultant, and artist uses P&L base to mix his full spectrum paints. The quality of the base is keyÂif the base if full if cheap fillers, the pigments are simply wasted.

P&L makes several bases; their Accolades base produces outstanding color and, more important, it holds the color for years. It is a very silky smooth paint, it has excellent consistency (not too thick and not too runny), great adhesion, and it does not splatter all over the place when you roll it on the wall.

You might get some inspiration about doors on Fine Paints of Europe; your door and shutters are so charming; I think with the right colors they can make your house really pop out. FPE paints are not cheap, but they do sell door paint kits for a somewhat reasonable price.
http://www.finepaintsofeurope.com/dutch_doors.aspx

Thank you so much CalGal! I've been to Williamsburg once, but it was such a quick trip and it was many years ago. I'm glad my house reminded you of *something*, because I've had trouble figuring out the style of my house. I will look at the Williamsburg collection as well as the FPE paints.

Just an update that the color I found that I think will work well on my exterior is a color by Ben Moore: "Winds Breath." It's an off-white with tan/gray undertones that will work with black or charcoal shutters AND a red door ("Cottage Red" by BM). It's still light enough that it won't look too tan on my house but neither will it be bright white either. My house right now is an off-white shade and this color is just a little darker than the current shade.

Should work fine with the James Hardie ColorPlus "Alpine White" trim, mouldings, fascia, soffits as well.

My next task is to get an accurate match from Sherwin Williams, as I intend for my painters to use SW Duration paint on the new hardieplank.