Help with siding colors and types?

See attached picture. In the picture the detached garage on the left as been photo-shopped in place. This detached garage is still under construction. When completed I will want detached garage, attached garage and house to complement or match each-other. Once detached garage is built I will be finishing it with siding and also changing the siding and shingles on my house to match. I would like to add more detail, contrast color, textures, or add another element such as specialty siding (cedar shake) or trims to break up all the boring single color siding on my house. I will be changing siding color but I would prefer to keep the siding trim and corners white. I can also change color of front step and railing. Any suggestions? So far, for my main siding color I like dark colors; navy blue, brown or eggplant but I am open to anything, including new trends? My neighbors house is a dark grey so I cannot use that as a primary color. Please help with some suggestions that will update and give my house some street appeal. Thank-you.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/nobjr0caqc...house.jpg?dl=0

 

Try this simple design program.
Siding | CertainTeed
The house looks nice but I'd make some changes to the garages.
Just some ideas:
Remove that gable vent and replace with a matching window like the other garage.
Add a key stone header over the door.
Add Carraige House hardware to the garage doors, they also would look a whole lot less plain with windows in the top panels.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Crown-Met...0011/203233029
Replacing that lap siding on the gable ends with a beauty board (just a band of 1X vinyl lumber), Z molding then half round or Cedar Impression shakes.
Half round or Cedar Impression requires 1" J molding.

 

I like your ideas. The new garage is the one in the set back from the house.

There isn't an attic space in the garage with the vent, but I agree a window would look better.

Keystone header? Are you suggesting just over front door or over garage doors?

I like the idea of cedar shake siding on the gabble ends. Do you think all gabble ends? Or only the three big ones? Just the gabbles in the the dormers or complete front face (and sides?) of dormers? For the gabbles install cedar shake on complete gabble ends or just above windows?

Should cedar shakes be same color as siding or close to it or go with a completely different contrast color. ie: dark blue siding, brown shakes?

Any color schemes you would recommend for shakes and roof to complement dark blue or dark brown siding?

Thanks

 

What look are you going for?
With all those brackets on your house gables it could be almost called Victorian, if that's the look you want then A different style and color siding should be used at the gables.
I'd never suggest using a dark colored siding!
It will fade faster, show the dirt more, and may have more issues with oil canning. (buckling)
When choosing a siding style any with a "profile" will stay laying flatter, EG. Dutch Lap, Beaded, the bends add to the strength.