It's going to be beautiful. You need light control, and there are several window treatment options for that: wood blinds are a clean look, come in many finishes/colors, provide insulation (when closed) and give you a lot of control just be tweaking the direction of the slats. Solar shades are another option, and with all those windows you might want them on a remote control. I love solar shades because I can still see through them a bit when they're down. There are other options. Anyone out there want to chime in on this beautiful house?

Dear Anne, Thanks so much for the advise. You are right, light control is the key here, and I was thinking that colour would be the important thing. What do you mean by wood blinds? The solid ones, or the ones that go up and down? Here in Cyprus several people use the solid wood on the outside of the windows like on the picture to keep the house cool. Is this what you have in mind, or the ones that fold? Thanks

I'm sorry, When I read your question, I think I just got stuck on the windows and veered off from your topic of color! Hey Houzz readers, please help this fabulous home get some gorgeous exterior color choices! I'm liking the colors shown above in the stone--they'll look cool on those hot days. I like houses to blend in with the surroundings.

Everything white, cream or palest sky blue to reflect the light and feel cool and fresh.

With those kinds of temps, the options are white, white, cream, cream, etc. etc. ANd this is a good thing: one overall tone will unify the various planes. It is possible to use a favorite color on the wall inset seen in photo #3, or go for colored ceilings.

As for exterior window coverings, the wooden shutters are functional -- whatever works best for the locale. There's a reason they're commonplace. But that is where color could be used. Architecture in Greece islands uses a lot of vivid blue tones for doors, shutters, trim, to break up all the white stucco.

One window treatment for the insde that immediately came to mind was translucent curtains on rings and rods that can be shut or opened as desired. Air flow would make them move and ripple, but they reflect heat without closing up the house. Another opportunity for color.

The hot colors are more common in Central and South American architecture. Green is often forgotten and compliments earth tones. A use of both blues and greens in tones that blend and compliment each other would create interest nad help avoid a one-color pallette.

It looks to be a wonderful house!

i too will be in the same dilemma within a few months. i like your plan and here is my advice. i think the entire house should be in white-not off white or cream, just white and to break the white monotony, use the terra cotta stone look to highlight the columns/borders around windows and/or doors. keep the look minimalist like the luis barragan look. what i would be most concerned about is the amount of heat that would be generated from the natural sunlight coming in. i would first make sure that the walls and roof be heavily insulated. i am using an extruded foam like hard material which is waterproof as well and is 2 inches in thickness. this material can be sandwiched between two brick walls. as far as the glass is concerned i would recommend low e glass and/or double glazing, the outer glass being low e and the inner one being regular 6 inch glass with a spacer in between the two glasses to create the vacuum effect. the low e glass will help reflect the heat from the direct sunlight and double glazed effect will help retain the temperature inside the house as well, i.e. effective air conditioning in the summer and the opposite in winters. the double glazing will also keep all the dust and noise coming into the house to a minimum. here are a few pics from my site. note the material in between the walls. good luck, you're going to need it!!!

I was originally going to suggest shades of red, but since your temperature is already hot, I'll suggest medium to dark hues of blue, a cool color. Not what I would consider a typical Mediterranean color, but I think those tones will help psychologically to cool the house (think Greece). Shades of blue with terra cotta tiles (think Mexican).

Hello everyone and thanks for all the answers. They are very much appreciated and have helped me quite a lot.

With regards to the insulation, the house is quite insulated as you can see from the pictures, with double walls and polysterine.

You can see the tile of the inside of the house, as well as a picture of the houses in the area with the local stones.

Should I put some stone on the outside of the house, or simply painting it beige, or creamy white I can get away with it. Also, the inside is a huge dilemma, do the terra cotta colours complement the tiles I chose? (pic2) Should I think about some other colours for the inside of the house, considering these tiles?

Thanks so much in advance.

Pambos

How about a very pale grey on some walls and bright white on some. The ones that get the most sun, grey and the others white.

I am on the exact same page as "inkwitch". Green is forgotten, off shades of white(e.g. Navajo white by Sherwin Williams, beautiful) Terra cotta is expected, yet green is a wow unexpected color.
To maximize your beauty for times your home or entertainment concerns; keep in mind blue greens and violets are most scrumptious in the evening, while reds, oranges, & yellows in early day.
Ironically your home is very similar to a house I designed for a Greek TV producer. We used shades of white, turquoise & greens. As for the window treatment, soft linen e.g.( faded blue) would be smashing to add warmth, used in combination with slider walnut/mahogany shutters!
Gorgeous home!!!
Good luck:)

terra cotta tiles/colors would go perfectly with the tile you have chosen for the outside. and all the color suggestions sound great, although I'd go for the cooler tones considering your weather. You can always add colorful punch with accessories, art, and furniture, etc.

You have a beautiful home. I'd go with a nice white lime plaster finish look (or a white colored stucco). You can highlight the house with varying shades of blues, greens, pale yellows and other natural colors- colors of the sea, sky, earth.

Good luck with the house!

I suggest you make each room in the house a variant of light blue, from lavender to cool. All of the colors should be very very subtle so it's not apparent they are changing. The cool blue with contrast with the hot climate. Outside should be a very soft rose and gray.

Good looking house...good "bones." I too went Mediterranean -- white with very slight grey undertone to avoid any pick-up of dingy yellow light, and to remove stark white -- used colors of the sea (glacier blues, greens, greys and whites) glass backsplash in kitchen, carrera white marble kitchen countetops, flooring Mexican saultile pavers. Walls except for kitchen are a light moonlight grey. The color changes with the natural light -- keeps boredom down as the areas always look different. Colors have a cooling effect, are crisp, clean and refreshing. Ceiling fans in every room, and on all three patios. Bathrooms are the color of rain...white with hint of tourquise, with tumbled travertine flooring. Living in the So California high desert, with temps during the day up to 105*, and swinging to 50* at night, these colors feel good year round. Please post your final pics! Very interested to see how your project turns out.

I think since brightness is the issue, I would go with a muted desert green with a grey undertone. You can see many tones in the general environment to blend with.

Hello everybody,

Thanks so much for the suggestions. You have all been quite helpful, I really appreciate it. If anybody else has any comments, they are welcomed.

just my two cents....i would keep the colors very neutral & soothing. too many pops of colors. i like sherwin williams "shoji white" for exteriors. it's a mix of gray, cream & white.
to keep the interior from being too reflective, try a paint color with more gray tones. pair this with some natural wood tones on the interior & i think you'd have a really good looking & modern style home. the wood will warm the space up & keep it from being too stark.

white or pale beige for the exterior to reflect the Mediterranean sun you can use Pharaonic stone. Also use window shutters to control the sun during summer (shutters could be blue as the Mediterranean style, or dark brown or dark red according to match your interior) as for the inner colors aqua blue, grey, white and orange will look nice and will reflect the shades of the sea and the sky

I just received the Sept. issue of House Beautiful and immediately thought of a color scheme shared by Steven Gambrel which was inspired, by of all things, his Labradoodle's stuffed bird toy! But the colors are lovely and I could see them working fabulously in your lovely home: cantaloupe, mocha, light grey green and cream. The photo is on page 166 if you care to see it.