apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Cute house! I would first think of what color plantings you're going to have - if you like reds, yellows, etc then the house color shouldn't clash with anything that will be sort of permanent as large bushes or flowering trees.
Personally I think that white looks nice against the green of it all, or else a nice chocolate brown with a saffron yellow door.
If you go to an art store, you can buy big pieces of colored paper that you can stick on the side of the house to get some idea of paint color and it's cheap to test this way.
Good luck!

Is this AP UK, mate?

It would be helpful to know where you live, to get a better idea of the quality of light in your environment, and to know the colors of nearby houses.

Forest Green

I think a cool gray with a brightly coloured door would look great.

Congrats on insulating your house! I've done alot of insulating, inside and with styrofoam on the outside. Make a huge difference, the house's much more comfortable year round. As for colour, what colour are the neighbour's houses? A lighter colour's less heat absorbing.

PS you spelt colour correctly, which means you're Canadian.

If you haven't already done so, check out the Federal Govt site at http://www.ecoaction.gc.ca/ecoenergy-ecoenergie/retrofithomes-renovationmaisons-eng.cfm.

There are links to matching programs in about 5 provinces, BC, Ontario & others.

Neighbour on one side is a reddish brown brick multiplex (two story). The other side is a creamy colour.

The street is really a hodgepodge of houses - across the street is mint green viny, next to that is white stucco, the next down is reddish insul-brick.

I'd base the colour recommendation on what your neighbours are doing. You want the new theme to be in keeping with what the more stylish neighbours are doing, but you do NOT want to copy a nearby house exactly (I hear people can get very upset about this.)

As it is a not-large house, I would stay away from too much contrast, or making it look like a "cute little granny house". Not that there's anything wrong with granny houses.

I think the reverse of how it was would be nice - blue-green, with cream trim. I like gardens, so I see the house as the backdrop to the garden. 2 flower beds along the front would look fantastic and give you an excuse to be outside playing with plants and meeting people. Just not rose bushes, because, again... granny house. :-)

I think I read recently that houses that get a lot of direct sunlight need to be painted a more saturated color so they don't look washed out. I have a small cottage in the most bland shade of taupe with white accents and a red door and it completely disappears in the middle of the day, when it's getting direct sun. I vote for a rusty red or orange to emphasize the cool roof.

http://www.wolman.com/pdf/DuraStainColors20060412.pdf
out of the semi-transparent stain choices, i like olivewood IF it's dark enough to contrast with the roof(which i like). i also like oyster shell in the solid stain...you didn't specify.

http://www.coxpaint.com/store/cart.php?target=category&category_id=334
a color combination(but not available in a stain) i like on this site is: stone 06 for the "foundation" and window trim...stone 05 for the field color, and water 05 or stone 01 for the door.

I would do dark grey-blue. A bit like this but with a bright red door http://www.flickr.com/photos/phrenzee/2103278376/

Or else a more grey-brown, like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/legra/2138783020/ with a bright red door of course...

Lighter grey would look good too.

For the lower foundation something a shade or 2 lighter or darker than whatever you choose. White trim either way. These colors look modern I think. Good luck, post after pics!

Congrats on getting rid of your vinyl siding! Wood feels real. Houses shouldn't be plastic. With all the other changes you're making, you'll have a totally transformed house. How exciting. If you have any money or motivation left when it's all done :) I'd add an updated porch light, mailbox and house numbers to your list.

As for the color/colour, Maude's picks are great and complement the roof.

What a lovely home, i like blues, mild bluegreen, greyish navy.
Also, butter yellow looks cosy.

Do you plan to reclaim some of your yard from the giant driveway post construction?

Also, i like your caged bulb porchlight with the metal roof, i think it gives a bit of industrial edge.

man, i'm jelous! my house looks almost just like your before pic and i am so tired of the stark white siding.
i think any color you pick will look great!