Just saw your post, hope this isn't too late. We're in a similar situation - new construction, narrowing down our appliance selection. We have a while yet, framing is barely underway. Our builder includes a $3500 budget (GE mid-range), not including fridge, and gets some very deep discounts from a local store that has beaten every online price I've seen by at least 15%. We are planning to add $3k - $4k of our own money (pre-tax) and get nice, functional, but not top-of-the-line stuff. Your selections are somewhat similar to ours so far. I've put our price (incl. builder discount) in parentheses. Fridge - Samsung RFG297AA ($1999) Oven - Frigidaire FGET3065KF ($1732) Cooktop - Kitchenaid KFGS366VSS ($907) Rangehood (ducted) - undecided, considering Broan RP230SS or similar, but I'm not sure I like the side intakes. Microwave - undetermined, but it won't be anything fancy. I only use microwaves for reheating non-meat leftovers, or thawing things before cooking them. Dishwasher - GE GDWF160RSS, so far. ($494) We have been planning this house for about 3 years, so I've done a fair bit of research - except for the wall ovens, since until very recently we had planned a single wall oven/micro combo. Selections seem to be pretty solid combos of performance, features and price.

Are you wanting to stick with just siding or are you thinking about introducing another material such as stone or brick? Are you doing vinyl siding or cement board? What sort of colors do YOU guys like? Blues, greens browns? You couldnt go wrong with a medium blue gray as the field color, accenting with possibly shake style gable siding in a color such as brown, and maybe introducing a cream colored limestone veneer on the front bumped out section? Creamy white trim and windows would set it off nicely. Select a nice brown stained mahogany style door. That is just my quick suggestion :)

start with some idea books about what exteriors you like. come back here and show us. Your pictures will allow us to help you speak the language and verbalize what you are trying to achieve. Your current elevation sketch, as noted, isn't southern really at all - it looks like the builder has a book of plans and he's showing the elevation options and asking you to 'pick one'. I suspect that his architect is a designer, and will make minor modifications to existing plans that get built over and over. Find what you like, then compare to where you are now and see if you CAN get to where you want or need to regroup.

Back of home, during construction. There will be another deck between the white siding and sunroom windows. Under the deck will be closed in and made into a shed. We'll need to decide what kind of siding and what colors we'll use for that.