I would go with a darker color to give the place some contrast. I'd avoid greens so the yard can lend that color to the palette for you. I'd also avoid yellow. Personally I would go with a brick red.

Pale pink! Haha, I know, no one wants a pale pink house but me.

What about keeping it white but painting the doors and trim a color that pops, a color you really like?

I think a navy or slate gray with chunky white trim and that light gray roof, and a door in a poppy red-orange or yellow?

I agree with MHOLTGREIVE. Navy or slate grey would look great with that roof. And you can add a pop of colour with the door and some flowers.

This may defeat the ecological benefits of having a light-colored roof, but, when faced with a similar situation, we painted our home a dark, fudgy brown with eggshell trim. The mailbox was oxidized brass and the house numbers were polished brass. Our house was black with white trim when we bought it, and after living with it for several years, we decided to warm things up and go for a bit of a richer look when we repainted.

I agree with the others about the slate gray or navy. You can add color to the front door or add shutters, too.

I LOVE the idea of a navy on that house! Seconds here on that color!

I'd leave the house as it is, and add some darker shutters to the windows and a pop of colour to the door. Yellow? Red?

I'm not good with exterior paint colors, so I may not be the one to ask. I would go with a darker color, but I would absolutely avoid dark, dark colors. The house appears small. I can't tell how big it is,but a dark color is going to make it appear even smaller, and I think, provide too much contrast with the light roof.

I had my own little house painted several years ago. The tan I chose was a neutral, and a nice, pretty color. Another home in my neighborhood had been painted the same beige, and it looked great. On mine, it was too dark because there's a big oak tree in my front yard, and the area is shaded. Those are the kinds of things you have to look out for.

Do you like greys? I think a soft grey would be nice. You could paint out the window frames and trim, door, and garage door in a slightly darker shade, or white. I had my front porch trim and the garage door painted a soft white, and it perked up my place like you wouldn't believe.

The paint strips have several shades. You can't go wrong by picking a soft light color and then going a little darker or lighter for the trim.

Also, I'd prune those trees. That will open up the front yard and give you a better idea of what the place will look like.

Good luck.

I agree with Fred B. Darker is the way to go. I have a slightly darker gray roof with my dark brown house and white trim. I'm in the north though so dark is fine here. I didn't check the google location of your home but from the landscape you look like south or west and hot and drier then we are here. I'd maybe go with a portobello mushroom color that leans toward the gray and keep the trim white to go with your fence.

Fred's idea of letting the yard handle the greens is solid... also think of what color flowers you have in the beds and pick a color that will show them off. I have lots of pinks and purples and they look fab against the dark brown.

Great little home... a few touches here and there and you could have it looking Craftsman instead of tract.

Another vote for navy or almost-black-grey. Don't add shutters -- you don't have enough wall space available for shutters that will be in scale with your nice, large windows.

Don't denigrate your place as a "50s tract house:" -- it is really cute!

I agree with @ASTICAT, leave it white and paint the doorframe and windowframes a contrasting colour, maybe even black, which would go with the monochrome of the roof. I love the grey roof, it gives a very relaxing feel but I think a dark colour on the house would move away from that. You could then also add one or two items (a bench, a large pot) in a strong colour such as red or royal blue that would again pop against the white and coloured trim.

I'd go with a medium gray/green for the house and a bright white or maybe a bright green trim color. My kids have converted their front yard into a series of raised vegetable garden beds - it's great. My grandchildren can just go out and pick green beans or zucchini and eat them while they are playing. Raw broccoli stalk makes a great teething "ring". Enjoy your new house!

Are you in California? I'd look at California bungalows or California 50s modern for your inspiration.

A grey roof will go with anything - you are lucky.

Play up the geometric accents if you want to go the MidCentury Modern route - the window just left of the front door is calling for an horizontal element - flank the window with a band of siding on each side. The picture window is very square and you should play that geometry up - a wide piece of square trim to accent that window might be fun.

Good luck!

I have a similar color roof and my siding is grey. I went with Navy trim and a bright yellow door. No landscaping yet of note yet, so it gives the house some interest. I think any combo of darkish trim and a bright pop somewhere would look great.

What color does your landscape have? Do those bushes flower? Are you planning a garden? White columns will help ground the house from the roof to the yard. The color of your house is totally up to you. I like Yellow; a bright, dark yellow... like the egg yolk yellow of a farm yard raised chicken but any color will work. Use accent colors that highlight the color most likely to be in the blooms in your yard. It makes that house one with the landscape while still "standing out".

I have the same color roof. Our house is yellow with black shutters and a black front door. I think it looks very nice, but my husband thinks we should go with a corally pink at some point. So Asticat, you're not the only one who wants a pink house!

Exterior house color should be influenced by the colors of the homes around you. You want your home to play well with others. It also depends on the quality of light where you live. But I look at that sunny sky above your home and the white houses next to and behind it, and I think a very deep version of Wedgewood blue with a warm white trim would make your house sing. Then incorporate some dusty gray-blues and purples into your edible garden -- artemisia, rue, dusty miller, artichokes if you can grow them, salvias, lavenders, echinops (globe thistle), monarda (bee balm) and the gorgeous see holly. Add some rich saffron yellow to orange flowers -- leonotis, sunflowers, tagetes, calendula (edible!). And paint your front door a rich saffron or persimmon. That's my vision.

I'd go with a light yolk orange or apricot color, white trim and a cerulean blue door. Play up the Miami/Caribbean colors and use a lot of planters for structure when you remove the lawn.

I really really like your house!
It strikes me as a cute bungalow by the sea where you can hear the ocean roll against the beach while sipping a drink on the front porch.
Not knowing how close or far away from the beach you are but I would play that up and paint the house a bright robins' egg blue, adding Bermuda shutters and plunking down a palm tree in the front yard for shade :o)

http://shuttersandmore.com/shutter_styles/bahama-bermuda-shutters.jpg

I don't see a problem with light coloured roofs; we had one on our first house -- we chose a pink exterior. We had a picket fence, salvaged brick path, and beautiful flower garden with lots of sweet peas and David Austin Roses.

I'd go with medium greys because they are very current and also show off your landscaping to advantage, but many other colours would work too.

I wouldn't go too dark because like another commenter said, it's going to look pretty small. A medium tone to set it off would be great however. Some ideas from Benjamin Moore (only place I bothered to look atm).
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/gothicarch
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/dc-20
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/grayhorse
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/cosmopolitan
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/nordicgray

And if you wanted to test out the darker range:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/anchorgray
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/cityshadow
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/deepcreek

Good luck!

Go here:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/color-your-home-for-curb-appeal

The first two images could very well be your home! I especially LOVE the revere pewter (HC-172) from Benjamin Moore... Keep your window frames a different color than the body of the house and everything will pop more. Post photos when you are done!

I agree that you should go with a darker color, but not too dark. I would avoid anything that could read as black because the roof overhang casts shadows.

Am I the only one who would go with a deep, deep tangerine color?

I do think relatively dark is the way to go. A medium tone will appear plenty dark with that light roof. Too dark and your house will look puny. With the light and the plants in your photo, I would avoid any cool gray or blue. A blue with warm undertones would look great. Or a nice soft brown. In general I do not like overly aggressive paint colors (intense darks, impossible to ignore brights). I get tired of them a lot sooner than I want to pay to repaint them. Also, they tend to be love or hate for your neighbors, and if you get it wrong it will be screaming "mistake" from a block away.

A nice rich taupe with cactus green trim and turquoise accents would be interesting, but also somewhat soft: something like Davenport Tan siding with Agave trim and Thunderbird door (Benjamin Moore) and Thunderbird windows (inside the Agave trim wood).

For a warm blue/gray palette, take a look at West Coast blue siding with Quiet Moments pale gray trim and Mulholland Yellow door.

If you want to do pink or coral or orange-tones, I would say don't do it with that roof color. Or use those only for your trim.

Yet another vote for navy or slate. If you go with navy I think a very saturated poppy color would look great on the door. If you go with slat then a deep teal might be really pretty for the door.

I would trim the shrubs so you can see more of the house from the street. Then I'd stand back, take a look and decide to paint it pale yellow with a white trim.

I think you've got a darling house there! One thought: it's like mine in that it doesn't look "tall." The folks before me had painted the soffits the same contrasting color as the window trim, which made it look even squatter. When I repainted, I painted out the soffits the same as the walls, and it was a big relief to the eyes. I'm saying this b/c I looked at the ben moore page suggested above and while I think the colors are great, that type of paint job really depends on the architectural details - the house in the pictures has a very high facade, with front-facing fascia boards, which your house doesn't have.

If I were in that sunny clime I'd want to take advantage of it and go with a fanciful color that might not work so well in a more somber environment. Recently, in the moneyed part of town (I'm in Portland) where everyone pays architects and designers and high-priced gardeners to make the decisions, I saw a house painted a color that's close to those (kind of awful) marshmallow candies in the shape of peanuts - you might call it a pastel orange. It was a VERY brave move but worked so well I was stunned - clearly, an artist's eye had chosen that color. And the roof was the light gray like you have.

One more thought - your nice picket fence will play a big part in the overall effect. I think you could go several ways with the idea, but just wanted to suggest keeping it in mind in the overall color design! Have fun!

Navy or slate do sound like good ideas. But you just moved in, and I would first paint the trims and doors and see how it looks. You mention that you want to remove the fence and redo the front lawn. How far in the future are you going to make these changes? The house will look very different then.

I'd go with grey a few shades darker than the roof, but add color through the window trims and front door (teal, eggplant, navy, or other)

My roof is that color and my house in navy blue. I love it

Gorgeous house! Nothing to add about the colour choices, just wanted to say how cute it is.

Once again rural and rueful is a smart cookie. Take his/her advice, and be glad that you have a white roof to cut down on your indoor heat.

I agree with mholtgrieve-- I would add that it would be best to match the gray from roof with a color strip and choose a darker medium slate gray from same color family for the siding. Use a clean white for trim and consider a pop of color on front--perhaps a poppy red on door as mholtgrieve suggested, as well. Make sure to consider the colors used on surrounding houses as the colors need to work with each other to get the desired result.

white house with a light roof? reminds me of a very ugly and tacky neighborhood we have in South Florida, can't love it either. Maybe a nice grey fence and a pretty color that contrasts on the rest of this cute house?

Another vote for a medium-to-dark blue/grey leaning towards a peacock with little contrast in intensity for the trim. Pops of colour on the trim will make the house look smaller and cutesy so avoid it. You can however use gloss on the trim and high gloss on the front door. A citron front door and frame would be a modern choice and look great with peacock. Have fun with it above all. Get the neighbours in on it and thereby get to know them.

Lots of good suggestions here, but many are not reflecting your initial comment about your style and plans for the garden. To be honest, I think you should plan your garden first before settling on the house paint. Otherwise, I would suggest, given your 'modern organic' taste, and that you will have much greenery and colour from your edible garden, you may want to keep a neutral palette. A pretty, dove grey on the house, with slender (size-appropriate) black trim or contrast along the windows, and a red door, for example, are very keeping in the modernist colour palette and lines, and the red will surely complement the tomatoes and berries in your future edible garden.

This is Bo from above - forgot to mention this but I'll second someone else's suggestion to line your front walk with roses to hide the nascent or past-their-prime veggies you do not yet have. A coral or pink Knock-Out rose is easy care, always blooming and would look lovely with most greys or neutrals. The big box stores will have them on sale in the fall.

how about this color palette
http://tinyhouseblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/house1.jpg

Sherwin Williams has an exterior color pallete called "Suburban Modern," which might be a really good source of inspiration for your style of home if you want to play up the mid-century cuteness. They even group the colors for you in 2 or three that work together for main, trim and accent colors.

www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-collection/historic-collection/suburban-modern-exterior/

This really depends on which part of the country you live in. If you're in the southwest with hot temperatures..you're going to want a lighter colored roof to reflect the heat to keep your home cool. I personally wouldn't go with a dark colored shingle due to this, you'll also see more pronounced streaking during rains and it will make your house feel shorter. Concentrate on the color of the home as others have suggested. I'd also bring the shrubbery in the yard closer to the ground so your house feels taller and it isn't competeing with that large roof. Going with a grey tone house accented with white seems to be a nice choice.

I used to own a 1950s home very similar to yours, with the exact same roof. I ended up painting the fascia trim and wood sill that was below the windows a very dark blue/grey color, and the "body" of the house was painted a light grey with a tinge of blue in it. The windows were painted white. I also painted *gasp* the red brick planter boxes to white, to tie in the roof. Red front door. For the landscaping I removed the white rocks that were filling the planter beds, along with some halphazardly planted shrubbery and then I planted a dark red leafed japanese maple near the front stoop, and for perennials/flowers I planted red geraniums and pink impatiens. Here's the street view of it... the owners let the yard get away from them, and just sold it recently as a short sale, but the colors are the same: http://goo.gl/maps/Ur9vN And if anybody is wondering what that monstrosity is 2 doors to the left, that would be an Extreme Home Makeover house.

I have a light grey roof like yours. Our house is yellow:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10255449@N00/2839009232/in/set-72157607747178647/

Works well for us!

Since you're stumped on this step, maybe it would better to reverse your plan: take care of the fence and landscaping first and then see if that helps inspire a color choice.

Grey goes with just about anything.

I'd suggest a mid tone color with white trim or a light color with dark trim for a crisp contrast.

Paint the House body a darker gray... gray is trendy right now but it has a timeless quality... I work for a Benjamin Moore paint store and do ext color consults there so the colors i will suggest are BM. Look at these images that show light gray roofs with darker gray bodies for an idea (not your style of house, but you'll get the idea): http://0.tqn.com/d/create/1/0/e/h/2/-/shakehouse.jpg and http://www.katyelliott.com/blog/2010/07/house-colors-gray-white-green-or-black.html (images 4 and 5)
Look at Ben Moore colors a bout 2 shades darker then your roof like: 1483 cos cob stonewall or 1475 gray stone or for bolder hc-167 amhurst gray...
then for the trim you can buck tradition and move more into your mod style with a great earthy yellow green like baby turtle 515 or 2149-40 timothy straw (so fresh!) or the lighter hc-96 richmond gray...
as for the door depends on the style...looks like the storm door is more prominent now so since it is white it will pop off the gray anyhow... but with out seeing it maybe an earthen red tone like 1301 spanish red or 1302 sweet rosey brown... or keep it more simple and opt for a very deep blue-green black like 1652 navy masterpiece or a charcoal 2121-10 aptly named gray...
what ever you choose stay present to your indoor and outdoor spaces so there is a feeling of harmony... Good luck would love to know how you choose and see afters! That's the best part of my job when we go out! :)

Hooray makeovers! Either:

Medium grey (a little darker than the roof and make sure it matches as far as warm/cool) or

Bold! Since we don't have too much of a sense of your personal style, go to your closet and pick your absolute favorite colored shirt/pants/accessory/whatever and then pick out some swatches in the same neighborhood and weed them out based on how they look against the roof. For me this would probably end up a very saturated turquoise/aqua/cyan, but this is your house we're talking about. If you swoon every time you come home then you won't mind if your neighbors hate it! (Or you can pick a few colors, ask -and take- their opinions into consideration, and everyone's happy)

Oh, if you pick something bold I definitely recommend buying a sample size of it, slap it on the house, and live with it in different lights for a week or longer. Those tiny cards are hard to translate to a larger area and you really don't want to have to paint your house twice (or more!)

I say leave it all white and get rid of the storm door. Less is more. It's a darling house live in it awhile before changing anything, there was a reason for it's color and style.

I'd totally paint it red. But that's my answer for everything.

Hi, I'm the owner of the house and just want to thank everyone for their input and support! It's our first home and we're lucky to be only the second owner (but it needs a lot of work).

A note on climate: we're in California, with no A/C, like most modest homes in the area. The front door is currently white, but there's a screen door in front which makes it look dark. The screen door is really needed for cross-ventilation, but it might hide a pop of color on the door.

The big shrub by the front door is a coral-pink rose (so old and huge it's earned its place) and the small tree by the street is a lemon. The other plants will go, eventually.

Since moving here in May, I've been taking "before" photos like a mo-fo. Maybe someday I'll have the "afters" for you! My goal is to be AT house-tour-worthy by 2015. :)

surfer blue

For low-profile, I'd go with sky blue or sage green. For more contrast, I'd pick dark grey or navy blue.

I'd like warmer than a navy, like a royal blue. But I'd suggest quite a light blue to start with and darker as and when you can handle it. If you go dark to start and don't like it, you'll want to rush back to white and it won't be easy. That said, yellow or lilac could also work.

I don't think it's featureless at all. I like most of the color suggestions here, but I agree with Summermarie9; do a little cleaning up with the landscape first so you can see more of the house from the street. That pickett fence; if half or a quarter of it were lopped off, I think it'd look kind of neat. If you've just moved in, take your time; wish AT had a section called 'HomeFront' views of well done house faces we could learn from.

Your gray roof is a light cool color, so the house should be a warm darker color. Keep fascia, eaves, and window trim a crisp white. Adding shutters if you have room for them is a good idea. Paint them a similar color to the roof but a slightly darker shade, that will tie the roof to the rest of the house visually. Then add the pop of contrast color at the entry door.

I tried some of your suggestions and posted here:
http://pinterest.com/chuboola/exterior-paint-ideas/

I like the second picture at pinterest.

They all look pretty good. If you really want modern organic, then medium gray, white and wood is your best bet.

@Kay - You wrote, 'Eventually the fence will be replaced and we'll create a grass-free edible landscape.' I am all for this idea, but have you checked that you can do this to the front yard in your area?

If your area is quite sunny, I suggest:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/comet
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/horizongray
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/mountsaintanne

It's almost like I asked this question. Just moved, light grey roof, 1945 stucco tract home. I would love to know what they finally decided!