About houses in Constantinopole:
http://www.arkeo3d.com/byzantium1200/zeuxippos.html
Look at the sorroundingas. Besides, from written sources I know, that houses in Byzantium was heavily painted, like thoeodosian walls, in lively and warm colors - mix of yellow, red, cyan and blue patterns. Roofs, especially in capital was painted golden colour, or were red like modern roofs.