…House Color
Thanks for visiting my blog. I would love to help you. I answer questions about your home’s exterior (siding, trim, accent color) for $30 per color dilemma (roof selection is a separate $30 payment). Click on the secure PayPal button below for your convenience. After receiving payment, I will answer your question directly on the blog. Working together, we can save you from costly mistakes and unnecessary trips to the paint store. Let me help you with your color challenges. -Barbara, Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you! Scroll to the bottom of this page and type your question in the box (include a photo link if you can or send a photo to yourcolorcoach@gmail.com). After I receive notification of payment, I will answer your question.
Your Home & Color Coach 
Dear Barbara,
I hope I’m using this website correctly (not much experience). Here is the problem: I live in Europe, while I have a home under construction in the States (Washington State, Olympic Peninsula). I have to choose virtually everything from afar and the exterior paint scheme seems the most difficult. The house is a story-and-a-half style, dormers in front, set amongst a few pines in an open field. The siding will be shingles of fiber cement (James Hardie). We have settled on a two-tone paint scheme, rich cream (primary) and light-medium sagey-grey-green (accent), plus the fascia will be in white along with the vinyl windows. But … what to paint green is the question. We will have a ‘belly band’ about one foot wide around the middle of the house, and are entertaining a few shutters on some of the windows and a couple of the patio doors. Would you stop at painting those accent areas, or paint the front porch (7′ x 10′) green as well? Would you paint any of the trim/casing around the windows as well? I’m attaching the latest (not so good) photo of the partially framed house courtesy of a future neighbor to give you a better feel.
Many, many thanks!
Hi again Michael,
Thanks for sending the photos. They’re very helpful.
Have you considered painting the whole house sagey grey green and using the rich cream as a trim color? Although it’s ideal to have the trim around the windows match the vinyl, it’s not absolutely critical.
I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a ‘belly band’ but I would recommend keeping it the house color to avoid cutting the house in half visually.
As for the front porch, have you considered just staining the wood and keeping the porch natural? It would fit your surroundings, certainly. Just an idea.
If you want to keep the green as a trim color, I would suggest bumping up the cream to more of a tan. That way there won’t be so much contrast between the body of the house and the trim. Darker trim around windows makes them look smaller and I’m a little afraid that the cream body and darker trim might do just that.
Hope that helps a little.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
I just discovered you site as I was looking for decorating ideas. I just purchases my first home and at a loss for what colors to paint it. It is a very small ranch with a finished basement and the only color I currently like is the basement color. The kitchen has a brown laminate(looks granite) with white tile fllor, white cabinets, and white backsplash. I want something that will bring color to the room but don’t want anything too loud or bold. Any suggestions? The living room(which is opposite the kitchen has dark hardwood floors. I am thinking of dark/slate grey microfiber furnitre, but not sure what to use on the walls or for a throw rug. The room is not very bid so I don’t want to make it too dark. Any suggestions. The hallway leads off the kttchen and living room so I would want to bring one of the colors down the hallway.
Very Much Appreciated!!
Hi Julie,
Try Ben Moore’s Buttermilk (919) in the kitchen to warm it up (also down the hallway) and then Gentle Gray (1626) — a soft light blue — in your family room. Both will look good with the dark woods.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello! We are getting ready to get new siding and gutters. We just had a pewter color roof put on and I’m trying to figure out if I should paint siding and gutters same color or a different color. I was wanting to do a greystone color. The house is a ranch mainly a light red brick with some stone. The only part that has siding is above the garage and on the sides of house. My windows are white trimmed. I do have a picture of the house but not sure how to add it on here.
Thanks for your time,
Danyelle
Hi Danyelle,
Thank you for the payment. Just send your photo to my email at bmeglis@yahoo.com. I’ll be sure to see it there and can get you a siding color.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I sent them to you. Thank you. I sent them from my email instead of my husbands. its drsharp instead of mlsharp.
Hi Danyelle,
Since you have both stone and brick, how about making the siding, trim, and gutters all the same color so we unify the house and make the stone facade by the front door stand out as the focal area. Take a look at Ben Moore’s Edgecomb Gray HC-173. It should come right out of your stonework and contrast nicely with the new roof.
See what you think of that idea.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Thanks so much for your opinion. Thats what I was thinking as well! The siding and gutters will already be painted so I was going to go with the grey but its a little darker then the color from Benjamin Moore. Do you think that would still be ok? Thank you so much for your time, its so hard to figure out colors from a little color sample they give you. But it looks like we are thinking the same thing!!
Barbara,
We have just put on a new charcoal gray roof. We have decided on BM Briarwood for the house body and BM Sail Cloth for the trim. Do you have a suggestion for the doors (front center and one on the porch)? How about the porch (and back deck) floors? Thanks. I am emailing a photo of the house before the roof was done.
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
The floors should be gray — that will tie in the roof color. As for the doors, I like Golden Mist 2158-40 — it’s fresh and sunny and inviting. An alternative might be Gossamer Blue 2123-40. A more traditional look would be Country Redwood (exterior). But the lighter colored doors are quite popular now. People are getting tired of black and red. But traditional color schemes never go out of style.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
We ended up with Espresso for the doors. So far we love all the colors. We are still stumped on a deck and porch floor color. You mentioned gray. Do you have any suggestions of specific colors? I am running out in the morning to the paint store yet again.
Thank you.
Debbie
Barbara,
The door color is Espresso Bean (not just Espresso). It’s a dark black/brown. House is Briarwood and trim is Sailcloth.
Hi Debbie,
Not sure if I’m too late, but how about Annapolis Gray (exterior) for the deck?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara–
My husband and I have just about had enough of paint samples and tools on the internet that are suppose to help you pick the “perfect” paint color for your house–We have given up!!! All I can say is thank god I found you–I would love to send you a picture and get your opinion–Because we will take it!! Thanks so much for your time and I will wait to hear from you!! Thanks again we are very, very excited!!!
Hey, Barbara
Me and my husband have just purchased a home! I am not crazy about the color of vinyl siding but for now we are going to work with it till we have to replace it. The vinyl is a light shade of blue. The previous owner never put any shutters on it. Do you have any suggestions on the color of shutters you would use? I have seen a lot of homes around that have white, but I am wanting something that stands out a little bit more than white. Our house sits on 3 acres and is far off the road. What color would you recommend with light blue siding?
Hi Heather,
If you have white trim, black shutters will dress up the house and add some contrast with the light blue siding. Another option is navy blue.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks! It looks great with black shutters
Dear Barbara,
Amazing! I Googled ‘what color with a green roof,’ and there you are! I’m stuck on a color scheme for our 1920 Craftsman one and a half storey bungalow with all the trimmings: corbels, rafter tails, wide window casings, etc. We have a new green shingle roof (and a lot of it-steep sloped) and, the problem child: red brick skirt and chimney and very red at that! I’ve seen advice about pulling out a lighter green color with creamy white trim. But my interior colors are browns, golds, dark green and brown reds. If I pick too neutral a green it will clash with the roof. What about a burnt gold color on the siding? Any help you can give will be much appreciated. I can send photos. Your blog is wonderful!
Hi Kathy,
Think Autumn for your exterior color scheme (sounds like you already have them inside too!). I think a burnt gold will look spectacular with your green roof and brick. Cream trim will tie the whole palette together. You can add more of the red brick color in accent areas (or pull the green down from the roof — either way).
Enjoy!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
My husband and I have a cute one-story bungalow that was rendered not-so-cute by a very pesky tree situation (see picture below). We are currently in the process of renovating the house and are taking the opportunity to add on a front porch. I love the color that our house was prior to the incident and plan on repainting it the same color (I believe it is Anchor Gray, Benjamin Moore). I liked the black shutters as well and we had a red door that I really liked. I’m having a hard time deciding on a brick color for the columns for the new front porch (the design is also on the link below). Do you have any suggestions the would go with my current color scheme? We will also have a chimney that will be the same color brick that we choose. I can’t decide on plain red brick, painted brick, or some other fancy brick color. Any suggestions?
http://picasaweb.google.com/melroseb/House?feat=directlink
Thanks,
Melanie Backer
Hi Melanie,
I checked out http://www.glengerybrick.com for some color ideas and really liked both the burgundy bricks (Merlot Full Range and Danbury) as well as the “white” bricks, some with purple undertones (Staplehill, Devon, Waverly, and Lorraine White). If you have white trim and a red door planned, I think I would opt for one of the burgundy bricks that would tie in the house color and the door color and really look sharp against the white.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, Barbara!
What a great site you have!
I’ve sent you an email picture of my house. Here’s my questions:
We want to repaint our house and are unsure of what colour to choose. As you can see, the brick is tan and we’re having trouble coming up with a colour to go with it. What would you suggest? The roof shingles are green and the ends and the back of the house are white colour-lock siding which we plan to paint the same colour as the front. Also, what colour would you suggest for the front door (now green) and the garage door?
Thanks in advance!
Laura Matheson
Hi Laura,
I suggest sticking to earth tones for the paint on your house to blend in
with the brick a bit more and make the house more unified and bigger.
Right now it’s a bit chopped up. Have a look at the taupes and tans in the
Ben Moore Historical Color section — any of those rich neutrals would
look good on your house. Then you can use a couple of shades lighter or
darker for the trim. (White will also work.)
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I am building a new home and plan to use Hardie Board plank siding. I am leaning towards a traditional look: heathered moss (green type color), white window trim and white alum clad windows.
However, I am drawn to the idea of using dark bronze or black alum clad windows. I don’t think it will look right though to have dark windows, white trim and heathered moss.
You can see the facade here and my dilemma: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/GuSDzD-XJQ9CbvIXwjKfxA?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ6O9dGKqv6WvwE&feat=directlink
Would love your thoughts. THanks,
Garret
Hi Garret,
I love the idea of dark bronze windows on your house. Cream trim (instead of white) would be a nice bridge between the windows and the house color. A little less stark of a contrast. But the bronze tied into the roof and metal colors (lights, etc) would be spectacular! Go for it.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Again, you have great ideas and suggestions maybe you can help me with my “yellow house” dilemma. We just moved back to my childhood home and need to update it. We live in San Diego and the home has a red tile roof and a horrible yellow mustard color all over ! The garage doors are a taupey color with a stamped concrete driveway with a reddish terracotta color along with a brick facade of the same reddish color. I have sent you a picture maybe it would better describe it, I want to get away from the mustard and update my beloved house.
Thank you for any suggestions
Kelly G
Hi Kelly G,
The photo didn’t come through, but I think I get the picture anyway. I would bring your house color down to a sand color to feature the red tile roof and the other red accents. Check out Ben Moore’s Yosemite Sand AC-4 and see if that calms the house down just a touch.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara. I have a contemporary house now stained a rust/brown color. I’m desparate for a change. I finally settled on a sagey green stain with white trim and black doors. I have many shrubs and trees and am concerned that a green house might get lost with all the natural green shrubery, etc. Is is true that I might just blend into the background? Our painter comes next week and now I’m not sure what to do. I’m definitely looking for the house to be noticed from the street….it is set back about 100 feet from the street. I’d appreciate your input. Thanks!
Hi Christine,
You’re instincts are correct. Green is probably not THE best color for making a house stand out among all the greenery of the shrubs and trees. Just about any other color will work, though. You might consider a silvery blue (Ben Moore’s Gentle Gray) which is great with nickel accents, white trim, and a vibrant door color — lemon yellow and orange work). Black doors will also work, as will using the house color for trim.
Lots of options, but I would save green for a house you want to blend into its environment.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I have a 30yr old basic colonial with harvest gold siding. I cannot afford to redo or paint the aluminum the siding at this time but just had the house pressure washed and would like to make a change with shutters and paint the doors. What color shutters and doors (a front door and a side porch door) would you recommend? The trim is white. My roof is new and looks like brownish shake shingles. Thanks!
Hi Pat,
How about Ben Moore’s Gloucester Sage (HC-100)? Or if you’d like something warmer, there’s Georgian Brick (HC-50). See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We just purchased a home built in 1961 that needs updating and I have no sense of color and style! HELP! Could you give me some advice on the outside of the house.
http://www.shorewest.com/vp/ListingServlet?SITE=SHOREW&ScreenID=LISTING_DETAIL_P&EXCEEDLIMIT=null&totalFound=0&cd_MLS=1227681#
Neither my husband nor I like the color of the brick, but we go back and forth on the pros and cons of painting. Do you have any opinions on painting brick?
If we stayed with the brick color would you have any suggestions to help the house not look so drab? I got the feeling from your website that black shutters was best with yellow brick which is what it already has. We do plan on removing the bushes and trees from the front and I’d like to remove the wrought iron. We also will need to be getting a new roof in the next few years – would you suggest staying with a black roof with the yellowish brick? The front doors are currently painted black and need to be replaced, what color would you suggest?
I saw you offer online consultations, do you also do phone consultations? How can I learn more about your fees?
Thank you!
Lauren
Hi Lauren,
I don’t mind your brick color, but it could use some white trim. How about replacing the wrought iron with white square columns. That would really perk up the entryway. Also if the window trim is painted, you could refresh with white trim paint. That again would give the house a fresh feel.
As for the landscaping, a variety of colors and shapes will modernize the foundation plantings. Right now everything is the same height and color. A big pot of flowers on the front step, and you’re good. I don’t mind the black doors although they’re really black up on the porch (in the shadow). Maybe you could leave the black storm door and paint the inner door a warmer color (Georgian Brick might work — Ben Moore).
See what you think.
Yes, I do online consultations — they’re easier than arranging a specific time to be on the phone. But not impossible, of course. Most people prefer to make a donation (through the blog) — but we can discuss via email (off the blog). bmeglis@yahoo.com (the most reliable for photos)
Thanks for your interest. Hope I’ve helped.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you so much Barbara!! One thing I wanted to clarify. If the trim was painted white, would the shutters also be white?
Lauren
Hi Barbara,
I re-painted my guest bedroom (90 sq ft) and bathroom (48 sq ft). The ceiling are 8 ft. There is a private entrance to the bathroom from the guest bedroom. My walls and ceiling have the same medium “knock-down” texture. There is crown moulding in bedroom. All trim is painted in a high gloss white. I painted the bathroom walls and ceiling a taupe color in a satin finish. I painted the bedroom walls the taupe color but left the ceiling with the original paint job. The bedroom ceiling is painted a weathered sandstone flat paint (two shades lighter).
I am doubting my decision regarding the bedroom ceiling color and flat finish choices. I would appreciate your input. Thanks!
Hi Cherrie,
It is perfectly natural to paint the ceiling a flat finish unless there is no light in the room and you need to reflect more from the ceiling. But I think what you’re seeing is the contrast between your newly painted bathroom ceiling (in satin and a darker tone) and the bedroom ceiling (in flat with two tones lighter). You can certainly paint the bedroom ceiling something completely different and match the finish with the bathroom, but it’s okay to use a flat finish on the ceiling in the bedroom. We often use more washable paint finishes in the bathroom anyway so I would leave the bathroom ceiling as is. Not quite sure what else to tell you. It’s just paint so keep at it until you love the finished product.
Good luck. Your color choices are nice!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Long time lurker, first time poster here…
We are prepping our house to sell in a few months, and we are about to start the exterior work. I am trying to find some coordinating colors for everything but the door (we love the navy/blueberry, and since I painted it, I’m biased lol).
My idea is to continue the blue on the shutters (we plan to add shutters to the large front window), use a light creamy yellow for the garage door/wall/eaves/soffits/fascia and white for the window and door trim.
Please help/fix me!
Hi Lisa,
I love your plan. The only slight change I would suggest is painting the window trim on the little paladian window in the front door the same color as the door, that gorgeous blueberry. That way, people will not focus on the little window, but rather on the door itself and the color. That’s it. Good luck selling your house.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you very much for the response! We are in the process of painting it now, and I will send you some after-shots to let you see how it played out.
Interesting that you suggest that about the front door. I originally did paint the entire door blueberry, but my husband insists that the door looks “better” with that white window. He also wants me to go back and paint the edges of the panels white. I think it will make the door fancier than is appropriate for the style of house.
Hi Lisa,
See if you can hold out for the whole door being blue. I see the patchwork quilt paint technique a lot, but I have to tell you, it’s not the most tasteful. Nothing personal to your beloved husband. The idea around the door is to see the whole door and not just the little details. Just too much.
Good luck.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Just moved my questions to the appropriate section. So happy to have found this site! I need some serious help with changing our house color. Unfortunately, I chose a bright blue with a darker blue trim on a Victorian when I was 8 months pregnant (and that was 6 years ago). Our 1880 house has a lovely garden and looks very nice and updated on the inside but the outside is not subtle…especially in our historic neighborhood (ps my husband loves it). We live in Newton, MA and I was hoping you could contact me about setting up and appointment. Thank you very much! Rebecca
Hi Barbara,
I like the idea of buttermilk in the kitchen with the brown and countertops and white everything else. I have know decided against the blue grey furniture in the living room and am leading towards a color called thistel which takes on a light sage color in the light but a tan shade without light. Suggestions for wall colors in the living room?
Thanks,
Julie
Before posting a comment,
+++PLEASE READ LATEST POST+++
AUGUST 29th, for changes to blog
Hey Color Coach,
I will be replacing the roof and painting the siding on a duplex I just purchased and am a little stumped.
I’m trying to go for cute/inviting/homie and would like to go with a roof color that is called “Shasta White” (http://roofing.owenscorning.com/professional/shingles/classic.aspx) because there is a tax credit available for it and because hopefully it can help with the energy efficiency as I’m in Dallas Texas and our summers can get pretty hot. I will also be putting in a front porch with the same shingles on top of that as well.
I found a house nearby that has a nice look to it that I’m thinking about mimicking which has a light grey roof (which I think shasta white could sub in for), and a great color for the trim; but, the grey siding looks a little institutional so I’m trying to find some ideas on a siding color that is more “earthy” and inviting, that also matches with the brick.
I have pictures of both my duplex as well as the “model” duplex at kodak gallery -( http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=666416910310%3A1714884470). The entire building is going to be updated with color, and I’m thinking the inside is going to be light colored (maybe a litte butter color with white trim).
Thanks in advance for your help.
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
I’m giving you four colors from the Ben Moore Historical Collection. Since you have white trim (and a white roof), I tend to lean toward the medium tones like Shelburne Buff (HC-28) and the slightly more khaki Yorkshire Tan (HC-23) to coordinate with your brick and balance the house in terms of color “value.” However, since you live in Dallas, you might rather go with a lighter tone, something like the warmer Monroe Bisque (HC-26) or the cooler, grayer Shaker Beige (HC-45). If you want me to just zero in and pick one, let me know. But I thought you should see a few options — you’ll like some more than others.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara
Im in the process of buying my parents home but can’t move in until the renters move out. So while I have some time on my hands I’ve been trying to come up with some color ideas for the front door and vinyl siding, but I’m stumped. The home is curently part brick and white vinyl siding (see link below). The room that is to the left of the picture used to be a porch that has been closed in. It is painted white. I do not like the color white, so my question to you is what colors would go with the brick. I need a color for the front door and a color for the vinyl siding. Should I paint the enclosed porch or add siding to it also? Thanks in advance for any suggestions you have. I have included a link to a picture of the house and also a close up of the brick color.
Thanks
Tonya
Hi Tonya,
Congratulations on your (almost) new house! The brick is a very pretty burgundy but you’re right, the white just doesn’t help the overall look. You have a couple of options: 1) if you’re painting the vinyl siding, you might consider unifying the house with a red from your brick, something like Ben Moore’s Garrison Red (HC-66). Making the whole house red will make it look less chopped up and bigger. Keep the white trim since you have white storm doors and windows and consider painting the two front doors a dark purpley burgundy like Townsend Harbor Brown (HC-64). That combination, although monochromatic, will look terrific with your roof color.
OR if you plan to put on new vinyl siding, you can go with a taupey gray, almost the color of your grout. I would definitely stick with the dark burgundy for the door color and white for the trim. Although the house will look a little divided still, the warmer medium tone will blend better than the stark white and pull the whole house together. You can certainly use taupe as a paint color for the vinyl instead of the red, but I probably wouldn’t put red vinyl on the house — you’ll never get it to match the brick.
Hope that helps you get started. Good luck with the move-in.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara! I need some help (or assurance) for a few exterior areas and general curb appeal help. I just took some pictures — may I email them to you as attachments?
We live in a 1947 red brick home. I think it’s colonial but not a very traditional kind — I’ve never seen another house the same shape. In my opinion, it has a touch of tudor and a touch of cottage. The brick is a straight red brick without color variation. We need to keep the shingled roof, which is a myriad of colors (red, brown, tan, black and blue-gray flecks). Most of the trim is covered by a gray metal covering, which stays. We have black shutters and a black front storm door (which is mostly a pane of glass).
So my questions are as follows:
1) What color front door? Right now it’s a navy blue. I’m not totally against it, but the problem is in the evening when the sun’s behind the house, it’s impossible to see — just looks like a black hole. So I either need assurance that it actually looks fine, or another idea. 🙂
2) Not all of the trim is covered by the gray metal. There is metal covering the far outer perimeter of the windows, but the windows themselves are still white. Should I leave them white or paint them gray or another color? This also goes for the front door frame. Surrounding the black storm door is old beat-down wood painted white. So should I go with gray or black?
3) What color should I paint the side door and walk-in garage door opposite it (both now creamy white)?
4) I’m about to buy a storm door for the side door. What color?
5) The concrete breezeway connecting the side door and garage is messy looking. I’d like to paint it. Should I go with gray? And also for the front concrete steps — gray or another color?
6) There are decorative wrought-iron pillars on the front porch. Right now they’re rusted and white. Should I go gray or black?
7) What color flowers do you suggest?
8) Do you think the garage doors look ok gray, or should I paint over them?
9) Finally, the lights on either side of the front door are very old and no longer work. I’m not sure what style and color of new lights to buy. Can you suggest any?
10) Do you have any other suggestions that will enhance the curb appeal? I already have a professional landscaping design laid out — but anything else regarding hardware or lighting or window decorations or whatever? We need to rip up the brick path leading to the front door. Any suggestions on what materials to use instead? We’re thinking plain concrete would be easiest.
As you can tell, my husband and I are very lost when it comes to all of this. I also need some interior help, so I’m about to post my questions in another section too!
Thank you so much for your help! If I asked more than I paid for, just let me know!
Take care,
Jo
Hi Jo,
Thanks for your detailed note. I’ll try to answer all the questions and hope I touch on everything.
1) As for your front door, I suggest a dark brick like Ben Moore’s Georgian Brick (HC- 50) which will warm up the entry (instead of the blue) and look very nice with the gray trim and black storm door. There’s just enough separation between the brick and door to make it work.
2) As for the white windows and other areas painted white. I like the contrast, but you might consider a slightly grayer white, like China White, which will look a little softer around the windows and the front door frame. Also there seems to be a band of white along the porch roof line. Is that a gutter (I see the downspout). I would paint that gray like the trim along the fascia.
3, 8) For the side and garage doors, you might paint the side door the Georgian Brick since you cannot see it from the front and there will be no confusion as to which door is the front. The garage door (actually both side and large front garage doors) might be a beefed up version of what’s there now, almost the same as your overall roof color. Have a look at Briarwood (Ben Moore Exterior Color) and see
how that looks with the gray trim. If there’s enough of a difference, it will work. If it looks like it’s trying to match, then forget it. The Briarwood is a warm, taupey gray. Very sophisticated.
4) I would stick with black for your storm door again. Consistency is good.
5,6) As for the concrete breezeway and front steps, I suggest replacing the wrought-iron pillars with square, china white, wooden pillars and do the same over in the breezeway. I noticed a pressure-treated wood railing. That could be replaced with a china white rail as well. (Not sure if you’re planning that much renovation, but wanted to give you that idea anyway.) Replacing the white metal on the front step area will make a HUGE change. Very updated. As for the color of the concrete, it doesn’t bother me at all. I like natural concrete color and it doesn’t peel!
7) For flowers, I suggest whites, creams, yellows, and reds. (actually almost anything except purply pink as you have a lot of orange in your brick)
9) I like the black wrought iron as it goes well with your shutters, but they’re a little small. Even the ones on the garage could stand to be a bit larger. Black/nickel/pewter — or a combination — will look terrific. The style is traditional (not modern or mission).
10) You might consider flagstone instead of concrete (expensive, I know), but it would pick up on the grays in your color scheme and look a little dressier than straight concrete since you have that on your porches already.
If I think of anything else when I’m looking at your next question, I’ll add it there. I think this will get you started.
Thanks, Jo. Good luck with your project! I’ll answer your other question by tomorrow morning. I’ve lost all my natural light!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you SO MUCH Barbara! You can’t imagine how much of a help this is! I’ve been known to repaint areas 3-4 times because I can never get the right color on the first try.
I’m going to run out and get those colors tomorrow and will send you after pics asap.
Also, I just looked up shutters and found that they aren’t as expensive as I thought, so I might be able to replace them. What do you think — stick with the black, or try another color or style?
Thanks again,
jo ellen
Hi Barbara! Here goes my second question:
I’m lost on what to do with our foyer/hallway (please see pics I’m sending to your email). Right now there’s no color coordination at all. We have off white (creamy) walls, mostly white trim – but the moulding on top is a soft blue green color – and a darker blue front door (no lites). The ceiling is white, floors are wide pine boards stained light walnut. The stain is uneven so I’d love to cover it. The closet and bathroom doors are oak colored, but the bedroom door that leads off the hall is white. Then, there’s the stairway: oak treads, with very soft blue rises and balusters, and white stringer. The handrail is painted a dark wood brown color (looks like a blend of mahogany and espresso).
So we definitely need some coordination.
I already sought help from another color consultant. She recommended I either keep the off white walls but paint the trim and front door black and ceiling red, or paint the walls an orange-red with a red ceiling and white trim and door. She didn’t say anything about the stairway. I have experience refinishing floors, so I could refinish the stairway, though I also have a 9-month old son so I’m looking for the easiest fix.
I’m terrified to paint the trim black, and our front door might just look gothic instead of cozy when it’s black. I’m also not so sure of the orange-red (my sister once painted her bedroom this color and my dad called it “orange barf.”)
If you think one of those suggestions would look great, I’ll have the guts to go for it. If you have another more traditional suggestion, I’m all for it! I could also use suggestions on how to decorate the hall. If you think frames, what color? Any ideas for an entryway rug?
Finally, the dining room next to the hall has white trim, sage walls and gray-blue and red accents. Across the way is our living room, which has gray-blue furniture and will be repainted (color tbd).
Thank you again!
jo ellen
Hi Jo Ellen,
Sometimes, it’s good to take a deep breath and just do nothing! Or at least get another opinion. Here’s my advice.
Your wood floors are wonderful. If you spend any money at all, I would focus on the floors and get them in tip-top shape. The front door area looks fine, but I can see what you mean about the uneven staining back by the bedroom door. It’s not terrible though.
Now, as for your walls and trim, I like the light wall color in that foyer/hallway area. Adding too rich a color on the walls will only make it seem like a cave since there’s very little natural light. You can certainly bump up the shade a notch if you’d like a little more warmth, but frankly, I like it the way it is now. But, I would change all your trim, including the crown moulding and the balusters, to white. The light blue just gets lost. Keep the bedroom door white and if you can replace that other door from a hollow-core door to a raised panel (like the bedroom) that will unify the area. Paint that door white too. If the ceiling is a confined space, you can paint the ceiling the same color as the walls. It will look nice with the white crown moulding going along the edge. But a white ceiling bounces available light around the space so there’s nothing wrong with a white ceiling especially in an area with minimal light.
To add color, I suggest painting the back of the front door Georgian Brick (same as the front if that turns out to be the right color). The red door on the inside will be a real focal point and bring you the color you need in that area. Then find a rug for the entryway that has both red and sage and other neutrals in it — not hard to find. That will pull together your dining room and the foyer. (Add some red accents to the living room too!) Add framed artwork or photos to the walls along the hallways, keeping similar colored frames for unity or mixing them all up for a more homey, country feel.
As you can see, my ideas are way more traditional, but I think they will work well for your traditional-looking home. Black trim can work in some houses, but it’s ultra-dramatic and you really have to be ready for the contrast. Not sure it’s best for your more delicate palette. And I would reserve the orange-red for perhaps a small half bath that can take a lot of saturated color in a small space. Anything goes in a guest bathroom…
I hope that helps.
Thank you again for visiting my blog. Let me know if I can help you further.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Great eye, Barbara! I’ve honestly been happier with our house since acting on your advice than I’ve been since we moved in. I love love love the door color! There have been times that I considered a red shade, but then thought it wouldn’t work with our brick. But it works perfectly! My husband is out of town with the camera, so I’ll send pics as soon as I can (and I can’t wait for him to see it!).
Also, as you advised, I used the Georgian Brick on the inside, too, and am delighted. I always liked the idea of a simple off-white wall color in the hall, but was discouraged because I couldn’t figure out what to do with the door. It didn’t seem to work with the walls no matter what color I painted it — but this color does the trick! Now I like the door, the walls, and the staircase is even looking better even though I haven’t touched it yet!
So with all this happiness, and a few things left to do at home, I’m hoping to stick around here a bit longer. Actually, do you offer decorating-related advice? Right now, my family and I are eating everywhere /but/ the dining room. Could you help me identify which wall color, window treatments, and light fixture/s would pull it together (on a budget)? I had a plan, but in the middle of executing it, realized it wouldn’t work.
I have no experience decorating anything and could really use your help! Please let me know if you do this on-line and if so, what you charge. Since this room really pulls the house together, I’m more than willing to pay more to get it right.
Thanks again,
jo ellen
p.s. Did you receive the second payment? It should have gone through long before I posted, but let me know if you didn’t see anything.
Hi Jo,
So glad you like the changes so far! Thanks for the kudos!
I am happy to work with you on a more detailed project and offer my services at a flat rate that includes all the back-and-forth questions that you might have about the room itself and my specific suggestions. I’ll also spend more time looking at your photos and giving you actual paint colors and suggestions for coordinating your room with the rest of the house. I’ll email you so we can make arrangements to continue working together.
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
My husband and I are trying to decide on colors to paint our house and at our wits end. I think our problem is that we aren’t crazy with the yellow/tan brick but we don’t want to paint over it. We are trying to come up with colors for the trim, front door, garage door, shutters, soffit and siding color for the house. Currently the house is painted all one color, dark green, the brick is a yellow/tan and the grout color is gray. Your website seemed very helpful to others! Hopefully you can help us too. Thanks in advance!!
Oh and I have a picture of the front facade that I can send you. Again Thank you,
Hi Theresa,
How about a palette of Revere Pewter HC-172 for all the wood siding as well as the soffits and gutters, China White for the window trim (and trim around front door and window in the entry area), and something like Duxbury Gray HC-163 for the shutters (which should tie in with the green/gray in your roof as well as the landscape).
The neutral pewter color will unify the house and make it less chopped up. As you know, the pine green is a bit dated and there’s just way too much contrast with the brick. The China white trim has a touch of gray in it which will soften the windows and blend them a bit. Right now they look really white. The Duxbury Gray is essentially green (with a lot of gray in it) and it is a nod to your roof color which looks quite green on my screen. If it in fact is a clear medium gray with no green in it, then your options for shutters are more numerous.
As for the front and garage doors, you can either go with the Duxbury Gray if you like it or another warm color, something like Richmond Gold (HC-41), which will pick up the brick color, contrast with the white trim, and be warmer than the Gray.
I also suggest using dark brown pine mulch instead of the red cedar. I think you’ll be really pleased with the color difference and how all the elements begin to blend and coordinate.
Hopefully, that will work for you. See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We just bought our first house and we love the interior and back yard but want to improve the curb appeal.
It’s a two story house with primarly stucco with some vertical wood siding on the front of the 2nd story. We want to replace the siding with horizontal vinyl siding but are having a hard time figuring out a color scheme.
The challenge is finding a color scheme that goes well with the redish orange brick running up both sides of the front of the garage. Others in our area go with cream or beige walls with white trim but we want something a little different.
Also, our shingle roof has orangish/brown specles (almost like the color of rust). Previous owner must have thought it went well with the brick…
I will email you a picture. We’re really having a hard time figuring out the color for the siding, trim, and shutters that will go with the brick.
Thanks for your help!
Hi David,
Have you considered a green for your siding and garage? Something like Ben Moore’s Nantucket Gray HC-111? (There are vinyl shades of green similar to this color.) Then you could do the trim in a cream like Antique White. It’s a soft, earthy look that should go well with the rusts/browns/orangey tones of the brick and roof and get away from the beige/white in the rest of the neighborhood. For the door, you can paint the sidelights cream and the door a brick color, like Georgian brick (HC-50). Instead of putting shutters back up, I suggest beefing up the window trim (which will be painted the Antique White). The style of window doesn’t really call for shutters, but it would be nice to have some trim between wall and window. Make sure you switch out the numbers to iron or bronze so they show up okay.
See what you think.
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Those are great suggestions Barbara! I really like how all the details tie together with the brick and roof…especially with the color choice for the door.
I do have one other question. We are also considering a bigger change by replacing the brick all together with stacked stone but can’t figure out what colors to go with for everything considering the color of the roof (e.g. stone, siding, trim, door).
Thanks!!
Hi David,
Use a mixture of earth tones including brown/rust to tie in the roof and gray
to tie in the concrete walkway and the gray/green of the siding. This is your
opportunity to tie the whole look together with the stone. A mixture of colors
will be best if that’s available in your area. Should be.
Stone is the new brick. I love it! Good luck with your renovation!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We are remodeling our 1945 Cape Cod home in Nashville. Our brick house is currently painted white with black shutters/black shingle roof. I will email an architect plan of our home. The only new addition to our home on the front exterior is the cedar shake and the front stoop. The roof is new, and we were hoping that we would not have to invest money into re-roofing the house because of a color change. However, we feel that the very white/black possibly dates the house, and we are considering a change in tone. I do not like yellow or cream colors as exterior colors. How do you feel about a very slight off-white?
Also, does the interior colors have to coordinate with exterior?? The interior is going to be an espresso wood floor throughout and off-white trim.
Our door is a steel door currently painted black with glass.
What are your thoughts on cedar shake color, roof color, door color, brick color, and trim?? One more thing, our garage will be painted to coordinate with home. What color does the garage door need to be?
Totally clueless!!!
Thanks!
Hi Sherry,
Here are some colors to check out for the painted brick: Revere Pewter (Ben Moore HC-172), Edgecoomb Gray (HC-173), or Stonington Gray (HC-170). Gray is very typical for a cape. Then you could keep the black garage doors, shutters, and roof. Use either China white (with a hint of gray) or White dove (a creamier off-white) for trim including the columns. (Note: you mentioned using an off-white for the brick color — that’s fine too but you’ll have to use a whiter white for the trim in order to have adequate contrast). If you go with one of these grays, you can either stain the cedar shakes a coordinating gray or keep them a natural cedar color with a clear stain. For the front door, you might try Hamilton Blue (Ben Moore exterior color).
See what you think. And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
What a great website!
We are building a new country styled home. It will have a silver metel roof. Question: What color brick would look best with the silver roof? Thanks so much for your help!!!
Hi Barbara,
I am frustrated trying to find the right color of red for our home’s exterior. It is wood siding and was previously stain a very nice redwood color (more cherrywood red than orange) but we are looking to paint it now rather than re-new stain every few years. It has been pressure washed and so far just front of garage painted. We used Dark Rookwood Red by Sherwin Williams first but seems a ittle purpley to me. Looked at Roycroft Copper Red also by Sherwin Williams but seems too orange. Any favorites you could suggest? Trim is white and house has a North Carolina Maritime – Cape Cod style to it overall.
I realize red can be a tough color especially in large amounts but I do like it when it is right!
Thanks for any suggestions!
Hi Beverly,
Try Country Redwood by Benjamin Moore. I think you’ll like it.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks so much! That looks like it will be perfect; looks similar to the Falun Red seen in Scandinavian house photos! What a relief.
One last question about this. Our trim must pretty much stay white due to the white aluminum clad windows; what would you suggest for the front door, either white or black, something else?? The front door is multi-paned glass with wide painted mullions from nearly top to bottom and a brass handle.
Hi Beverly,
Black or even a rich navy blue would look terrific.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
Boy are you a beacon of light for me in the sea of a million colors! I’m so excited and thankful to have found you. Here’s my dilemma (please excuse the long description):
My husband and I are building a new home in the Chicago suburbs. We designed it ourselves and it is under roof. We’re on a 1 acre lot with a fair amount of mature trees, and the look we’re going for is more of a rustic Arts & Crafts Cabin. The inside will have rustic walnut cabinetry and Australian Cypress hardwood floors, as well as knotty pine trim. I am emailing the plans of all 4 sides of the home, as well as a photo of what’s completed to date. The roof is Hickory, which is a brown with shades of black and almost a reddish/orange tint. The windows are white and the trim is cream. The front door is stained mahogany, and we are planning to paint the garage doors a similar color. The stone accent is called Canyon Creek, which has rich colors ranging from chocolate brown, tans and blue/gray tones. The main siding of the home will be Hardie fiber cement board (I’m thinking cedar lap siding on the main and straight edged shingle siding for the gables, but am open to suggestions as to where to put the shingle siding). Originally, I chose Sherwin Williams Craftsman Brown (SW 2835) for the main and Quartersawn Oak (SW 2836) for the gables. But when I got the samples back, I was concerned that it wouldn’t match the roof and that it seemed to bland and even a bit yellowish. Then I started looking at other browns, namely Dutch Boy Canoe (C13-1), Papoose (B9-1), and Nutwood (B8-1), and Behr’s Burnt Terra (UL130-3), Clay Pot (UL130-20), Riviera Clay (UL130-8), Mesa Taupe (UL130-16) and Tribal Pottery (UL130-18). Now I’m really confused. I don’t want the house too dark of a brown on the main. But I really liked the contemporary color scheme on your home page. The chestnut brown was excellent, but then I don’t know how that would look on our house, and if any of the browns I picked looked like it. Or should I stay with a lighter color on the main, like a taupe or a lighter brown of some kind? Now to add more confusion, where do I put the second color? Just on the gables? On the gables of part or all of the garage? On one side of the garage or both(there are 2 gables – 1 over the 2 car garage door and 1 over the single garage door)? How far down the gables do I go? Next, what do I paint the front wraparound porch? The more I think about it, the crazier I get! Help!
Thank you!
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
Sounds like a great project! I’ve got your photo and plans.
More soon.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Pamela,
Since your roof is so prominent, I wouldn’t hesitate to pick a house color that is actually in the roof. A dark, rich color will balance the roof and make it a little less of the focal point. I don’t have the Dutch Boy fan deck so I’ll use Ben Moore to give you some ideas. How about Georgian Brick HC-50 to pick up the roof color and use a taupe for the gable areas, something like either Lenox Tan HC-44 or Tyler Taupe HC-43. The taupe color should really come from your stonework — a darker or lighter version of one of the stone colors. Then with your cream trim outlining the house and separating the roof from the siding colors, you’ve got a very pulled-together look.
If the Georgian Brick is too red (hard to tell on the screen), look at Burnt Sienna 1196.
As far as the gable siding style is concerned, just remember that the roof is very busy visually so it will clash a little bit with the shingle siding in terms of scale. All the more reason to choose a neutral for that treatment and reserve the richer shade for the horizontal siding on the rest of the house.
Let me know what you think about that idea — I have to dash off to buy new ski poles before my son’s race this afternoon — but I will be back and can address your questions about the garage, etc.
Hope this helps you get started.
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
Those are wonderful suggestions! I see your point in putting a more neutral color on the gables. In your opinion, is it too busy using shingle siding on the gables? Would it be better to have them also be lap siding? I am going to check out your color suggestions tomorrow at the store and let you know my thoughts.
What kind of racing does your son do? Hope he did well today with those new poles! We just had a foot of snow here last week and my sons have been in heaven.
Thank you very much for taking the time to look everything over and for your valuable input.
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
I think it’s fine to do shingle siding on the gables. Your style of house can certainly have several textures (and colors) and the stone will be gorgeous too. But I like the neutral color idea for the shingle siding between the roof and the other rich color. That should solve any issues of “busy”-ness.
The race (nordic skate skiing) was cold and we had lots of frostbite and wheezing problems with the kids (high school). No major problems, however, and Grant finished in the top 10. Decent! Thanks for asking!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
Glad to hear your son did well! Hope you’re all thawed out.
I looked at all the Ben Moore’s colors you suggested. The Lenox Tan seems to go very well with the stone – thanks for the suggestion! Now, when my husband and I put both the Georgian Brick and the Burnt Sienna up against our roofing shingle sample, they didn’t match very well. The shingle is definitely more brown. The colors both seemed too red and really didn’t match anything in the shingle. If you have any other color suggestions, that would be great. Thank you so much for all your help!
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
Okay, have a look at Toasted Pecan 1209 and Ten Gallon Hat 1210. What I’m looking for (via my computer screen) is a medium warm brown that will both complement the cool colors in your stone and shingle siding as well as coordinate well with the roof. Picking a rich warm orangey brown color for the siding instead of a light neutral will balance the roof and add stature to your house. A light color may make the roof a little top-heavy. Hopefully one of those browns will be closer to what’s in your roof and not too dark for your taste.
Let me know…
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thank you so much for those color suggestions. I really like them and they go very well with the roof shingle sample! What are your thoughts on brentwood (1223) and coyote trail (1224)? If I’m asking too many questions, just let me know. Thank you again!
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
I like both of those too! A little less red than the other colors we discussed. But whatever seems to work best with both roof and stonework. I think you’ll really like having the rich color on the siding!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
Thank you so much for your color suggestions! We are getting 3 samples of Hardie board siding – Lenox Tan, Brentwood and Coyote Trail. We’re leaning towards Coyote Trail with Lenox Tan – I’m just a little nervous that it could be too dark, but it’s such a beautiful color! Whenever you can, I’d love to get your suggestions on which parts of the house specifically to use the Lenox Tan on, and also what color you suggest we paint the wraparound porch. Also, tell me your thoughts of a little blue-gray in the mix, i.e. a couple of adirondack chairs on the front porch.
By the way, I have a suggestion for you. You should create a Facebook Fan link on your website. I would definitely join and would recommend you to everyone I know!
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
The colors look great on paper (as they say). I hope they look just as terrific on your Hardie board samples!
As for the Lenox Tan, how about up under all the gable peaks (using the small gables as a guide for how deep to make the shingle siding elsewhere)? And how about Lenox Tan on the posts and rails of the wraparound porch? The stone column pillars will be cream (I assume) and the trim around everything else is cream. The porch will blend a little with the stonework but should make the cream/stone columns stand out and that’s what you really want to accent. Blue-gray Adirondack chairs or rocking chairs on the porch will look spectacular! Pull that color from the stonework and maybe pump a little more blue into it for contrast. You might even move toward teal for the chairs. A fantastic color against the warm brown!!
You didn’t mention the porch floor, but you might use Lenox Tan for the stair risers on the steps leading up to the front porch (assuming you have a natural wood –or Trex–porch floor). Painting the risers something other than white/cream makes sense if you have a lot of foot traffic going up and down those stairs. The toe marks show up much less on a darker surface.
You can also use the Lenox Tan on the garage doors if you decide that more brown is too much for that area. The doors will be framed out in cream. Just another opportunity to use that other color.
See what you think. And thank you for the Facebook Fan tip. I will definitely look into that!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
You know, once we’re done with all this, I’m going to miss “talking” to you! : ) Thanks for all the advice on where to put the Lenox Tan! It sounds wonderful. I can’t wait to see it all pull together.
Can you recommend a blue/teal color where I can start looking? Thank you! Also, I should have mentioned that the front porch floor and stairs will be concrete, but we can have it “stamped” and colored to look like wood or bricks or whatever. I’m thinking a wood look would be best. It’s 9 feet wide and will be used quite a bit, so I’d rather not use cream. Do you still recommend the Lenox Tan on the floor and stairs, or more of a natural wood color?
After we’re finished with the house, you’ll have to come in town for a visit! Thanks again.
Pamela
Hi Pamela,
Take a look at Fiji AF-525 from the Ben Moore Affinity Collection or Rendezvous Bay 726 from the Classic Collection. Luscious with rich brown! Love it!
Concrete will be fine for the front steps/porch floor. After you finalize all the other colors, you can think about coloring the concreted. Yes, a natural wood tone would look great, but since you have gray in your stonework, gray wouldn’t look bad either.
And thanks for the kudos!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara: I just bought a sweet cottage style home. Unfortunately, the outside brick has been painted a bluish gray. (more gray undertones though) I intend to replace the wood trim with siding. and I think if I had the right color of siding it might help to break up the monotony. The sides of the house will have larger sections of the siding than the front and back of the house. HELP! What color will bring this sweet place to life – instead of looking so mournful. I could use help also in choosing a paint color for the front door to accent the gray and whatever color you suggest for siding. (By the way the detached garage will be completely done in the siding color and it is very close to the house. Thank you so much. Emily
Paypal Transaction #XXXXXXX2830
Hi Emily,
I think we can really make your house look cheerful, even with the mournful blue-gray, a color I actually like quite a bit. Here’s the plan.
Have a look at Boothbay Blue at this James Hardie link: http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/colorplus-palette.shtml
It’s a medium dusty blue that should blend really well with the painted brick. If you’re using vinyl, pick a gray that is a shade darker or lighter than your brick color. Then use white for your trim (I assume you have white windows anyway). What you’ll end up with is a cottage worthy of a Nantucket beach and how can you beat that!
Then put your yearning for bright colors to work and select a front door color that is warm and bright or soft and soothing, whatever appeals to you. Have a look at yellow (Ben Moore’s Concord Ivory HC-12), orange (Harvest moon 2167-30), coral (Autumn cover 2170-30), and even greens like lime (Dill pickle 2147-40) or the soft and blending Georgian green (HC-115). Use your landscape plantings as a guide or start with the door and pick flowering shrubs to complement. And don’t forget the two Adirondack chairs (painted the same color as the door) for your front yard.
You will end up loving your house!! Guanteed!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
At long last, I’m getting around to trying to spruce up our living room and dining room a bit! They’re basically one continuous rectangle, with a couple of little mini-walls jutting out between them to create some sense of them being separate rooms. Right now the walls are “linen” (almost white) and the ceilings are white. The furnishings and decorations are all blue (indigo) and green with a little red.
I took four pictures of the space (two of the dining area, two of the living room) to show you. I just ordered crown moulding for the room(s), which will change the look a bit — it should be installed in a week or two.
I’ll email the photos to you in a minute.
Talk to you soon!
Lori
Hi Lori,
Here are a couple of ideas to get you started. Since you have a lot of rich color (blues and greens) in the room already and your window treatments are a delicate blue and white small pattern, I suggest you warm up the walls with a candlelit glow from something like either Ben Moore’s Honey Harbour (920) or the less yellow Papaya (957). Either of those colors paired with White Dove semi-gloss trim will accent your new crown moulding and fireplace surround, as well as the wainscoting in the dining area. The colors will also look fantastic with your wood floors.
If you feel like you have just too much yellow (I see the porch as well as the kitchen areas), you might take a look at a light gray-blue, something like Gentle Gray (1626), which will make the white trimwork look fantastic, complement your window treatments, and keep the color palette down to blues and greens with a small hit of red from the pillows.
See what you think. And thank you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I just bought a Victorian house. I am trying to restore it to its original state, but I do not have any old pictures. All I know is that the shutters (broken and stored in the basement) are teal green. I am installing new aluminum clad wood windows and I have the opportunity to select an exterior window color.
As you can see from the e-mailed pictures, the exterior is an orange-ish brick. The roof is gray slate. The gables are gray slate with olive green and pink diamond-shaped slate on both sides of the windows on the top floor (the diamond shaped slate is probably faded). The porch paint is a cream color. There is an addition on the back of the house that has blue-gray vinyl siding.
I have white aluminum trim (gutters, gable trim and flashing). I did not want to have to replace them, since they are in good condition and my budget is limited. When I replace the windows, the wood trim will remain above the window. What color windows should I get if I have to keep the white aluminum trim? What are your exterior color recommendations if I could change (maybe paint) the white trim? What colors will make my house have curb appeal?
Thanks,
Rhonda
Hi Ronda,
Since I assume you are keeping all of those white porch windows and doors, I suggest you keep the white exterior window color throughout. That will allow you to keep the white trim that you already have (gable, gutters, etc.) and there are plenty of Victorian homes with white windows and trim. But, what you can do (hopefully) is paint the porch area above the windows an olive green to pick up the diamonds on the gable and add another color to your Victorian scheme. There’s Sherwin Williams’ Renwick Olive (SW 2815) or perhaps the slightly more taupe Alexandria Beige (Ben Moore HC-77), depending on just how olive/faded olive that area is up on the gable. The green will also contrast with the orange brick and green was definitely a prominent Victorian color. Use that color on the porch area wherever there’s no actual trim or column. Then instead of cream for your columns and windows, I suggest white to really accent the mouldings and other trim, very big on Victorian homes.
I’m not sure what that area is on the second floor (a repair?) but make sure it’s brick or brick colored so it doesn’t stand out.
Another idea is to trim back the bushes on either side of the front step area and add more variety (flowering shrubs) to the beds on either side of the walk. That will lead the eye to the front entry. A couple of large Victorian style pots with oranges and yellow-greens (one pot on each side of the steps) will look great.
I’m not sure you even need shutters, but if you want to put them back up, then use the gray from the gable area. I think that will distribute the color enough to make a really interesting Victorian with as much restored colorwise as possible.
See what you think…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you for your recommendations Barbara! I look forward to working with them.
Rhonda
Greetings! My husband and I have just purchased our new home in Annapolis, MD. We love the neighborhood and the tree-lined streets of our neighborhood, but we really dislike the color scheme of our split-level home. White painted brick face and chimney, yellow siding, forest green shutters and door. Husband and I both design challenged, but we would like something classic and probably fairly neutral (he likes blues, I tend to like browns & grays). Only exception is that I always love those homes that have a bright red door. Don’t know if we could get away with that or not! Would love your recommendations.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78622066@N00/sets/72157623295472154/
Hi Sarah,
Let’s start with the front door color. Since your front steps are an orangey brick, we have to pick a red that will go with that color and not clash horribly, making the entryway a disaster (I see it all the time!). So if you’d like a red door, how about Georgian Brick (Ben Moore HC-50) or maybe Caliente (AF-290) or Dinner Party (AF-300). Once you settle on the front door color, then the rest is easy.
If you cannot paint the siding, then here’s my best suggestion: Paint the white brick the same color as the siding. Look at Ben Moore’s Greenmount Silk HC-3 or Weston Flax HC-5 for starters. You can’t match the siding color (probably) so a shade or two in either direction (darker or lighter) will work. Then with the white trim and black shutters, you have a bigger-looking house from the street and a more unified, traditional curb appeal.
If you CAN paint the siding, then you have a lot more options. There’s blue like the very tasteful medium Hamilton Blue (Ext), which would look great with your gray roof; the light blue-gray of Solitude AF-545; Briarwood (Ext), a taupey gray, again really nice with your roof and crisp white trim/black shutters. The “red” door will still work with all of these.
Bringing out the white moulding around your door will set off the entryway and give your home a much more stately look. See what you think.
And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you so much for your advice, Barbara! I should have mentioned that we CAN paint the siding. I love Hamilton Blue based on what I see online. If we go with this for the siding and the red for the door, would you recommend also painting the brick? If so, should we stick with blue?
Really appreciate your help!
Hi Sarah,
Yes, I would go ahead and paint the whole house blue. You’ll love how it makes the house look bigger and more unified (less chopped up). If you had a modern house design, you could fool around with “color blocking” but it won’t work so well with a 60’s split. Painting the house all one color will really make a difference in your curb appeal.
Good luck with your project.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara
My husband and I purchased our home about 9 months ago knowing that both the interior and exterior would require major updates. To-date, most of our renovations have taken place inside, however, our first project for spring is to paint the exterior and remove or replace the white aluminum shutters.
Our house is surrounded by a number of lovely colonial-style homes in neutral colors, so the green and white color combination sticks out like a sore thumb. I also wanted to point out that we plan to replace all of the windows within the next few years with a more traditional grid pattern and are undecided as to whether or not to replace the shutters or just add some decorative trim once the windows are replaced. We also aren’t in love with the brick color surrounding the large living room window and are undecided as to whether or not to paint this as well.
Your blog is so helpful and I would love to hear any advice you have on how we can get the outside of our home to look as classy as the rest of the neighborhood. I have sent shots of the exterior to you via e-mail.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.
Taryn B.
Hi Taryn,
It sounds like you’re in the middle of quite a traditional neighborhood so here’s an idea for helping your house fit right in. Your roof is brown and sounds like it’s staying. That’s fine. And I don’t really have any problem with your brick in the front as it’s such a limited section and it’s a warm color that seems (on my screen) to go with the roof color. If that’s so, you can keep it. But I suggest Lenox Tan (Ben Moore’s HC-44) for the body of your house with white trim, and black shutters. And most importantly, paint your foundation and your garage doors a light coordinating neutral like Shaker Beige (HC-45) that will blend that lower area into the hardscape surrounding your house.
If you want a slightly warmer tone than the Lenox Tan, there’s also Decatur Buff (HC-38), which has a touch of green in it and would go very well with your front railing and grout color. Putnam Ivory HC-39 would replace the Shaker Beige for the foundation and garage doors. Either way…
Although your house does not have to have shutters, the touch of black will dress up the house and bring it up to those surrounding colonials that undoubtedly have shutters on all their windows. I think your house will feel quite at home in the neighborhood with these changes.
Thanks, Taryn, and good luck with the transformation. You’ll love the end result!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, I currently live in a small ranch style home. It has White trim, with white shutters, pale blue siding and the foundation color is a grayish blue. I desperately need something to brighten it up and make it look newer again. I was thinking maybe a navy blue foundation with navy shutters and white trim but i’m not sure how this would look. Any ideas would be of great help. Thanks
Hi Stephanie,
Keep the white trim, paint the foundation a natural concrete gray, make your white shutters black and paint your front door something like Ben Moore’s Sweet Butter 171, a gorgeous yellow that will perk up your house and maybe even the whole neighborhood.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I live in S. Florida. I have midnight blue Gerard stone-coated tile metal roofing. I have accenting blue shutters. My front step is a light gray tile. My front double doors are white and have gray steel that runs through it for design. My window casing are white around the sides (PGT Winguard). Can you help me figure out the right color paint for the exterior, please? I thought maybe white, and that would match the front door and windows but not tie in the gray step with the blue roof and accent shutters. Right? Gray-blue, maybe? I don’t know. Please help! Thanks.
Hi Lynda,
Go with a gray-blue for your house color. That will tie everything together.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbra, I just made a 20.00 payment through paypayl. I was wanting your advice on what color I should paint the trim/siding and garage doors on my new home. The link below is a front and rear view of the house…I was thinking of maybe a creamy muted white for the trim and possibly a taupe color for the siding…what do you think? The link below should take you to the pics of the house.
Front View
Back View
Thanks
Veronica B
thatch83vb@msn.com
Hi Barbara,
I’m so excited about you site and hoping you can help us with an exterior color for our home. Your payment has already been sent too!
It’s a custom built split level with brick and redwood siding that’s 101′ long and 34′ deep. As you’ll see from the pictures the brick is an orange tone with some brown bricks with a hint of dark purple. The roof, which we want to change, is a light brown with orange. We don’t want to get into the expense of painting the brick so that has to stay. We’re also getting ready, in a week or so, to have the backyard retaining wall and pool deck redone. The retaining wall and brick steps will be bluestone tread with stacked stone riser. The wall will match. The stacked stone is a mix of cream, brown, gold and blue tones. The pool deck pavers we’re leaning toward a mix of natural (light gray) and charcoal.
We are hoping to get advice on what color to paint the exterior of the house which includes the redwood siding, window trim, doors, gutters and soffits. I have been trying samples over the past year and have not liked any of them. My colors to date have been brown (which you’ll see there are 3 shades of brown on the house now), slate blue (which is still by the front door), deep purple and gray. I’m at a loss. Looking forward to you advice and color expertise!
Thanks,
Michele
I made a share site for you on Shutterfly…hopefully you can access it!
http://mdietrichhouse.shutterfly.com/
Hi Michele,
You have been busy trying to figure out which colors are best for your house. Now let me take a stab at it.
Have you tried some of the complex earth tones like Ben Moore’s Alexandria Beige HC-77 for your siding? It’s a color that seems to pick up many of the earth tones in the brick and really make it look spectacular. There’s also Wheeling Neutral HC-92, a tan with some green in it that might coordinate well with your grout. You might put the Alexandria Beige on the siding and the Wheeling Neutral on the soffits and gutters. A darker shade like Davenport Tan HC-76 would look great around the windows (or pick up the dark purple around the windows with Townsend Harbor Brown HC-64 — looks good on my screen!!).
Since you have solid wood doors, you might want to just refinish them with a dark mahogany and use the lighter Wheeling Neutral by the front entry for contrast. But the Alexandria Beige should work there too if the door is dark enough.
See what you think of those colors. I just used your brick — not the new stonework — for the palette since the colors will go right on the house.
Hope that helps. And thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
HI Barbara
I have a tannish house with cream trim and I am about to have it painted. There is some stonework on the house, earthy colors with a little gold. I dislike the tan, but need to keep the cream trim. Can you suggest a deeper cream (not too yellow) that will freshen it up without being fleshy. I have a dark brown -grey sweeping roof and a front porch. I tried blues and sage, do not work with stonework. Want to keep it light and airy. No shutters. Thanks.
karen
Hi Karen,
If you want to lighten up the house color, how about Standish White HC-32? It’s creamy without being too yellow and it’s rich enough to contrast with your trim color (OC-120). I tried Rich Cream 2153-60 also but I didn’t really like it against the trim. The clarity of the cream color (and a little bit of peach) just didn’t do justice to the trim. Another option is Nantucket Gray HC-111 — it goes great with your trim color and your stonework. But it’s not exactly light and airy, like you requested. Thought I’d suggest it, though, as you mentioned sage not going with the stone. The grayed down green in Nantucket Gray is very soothing and goes with just about everything. Works terrific in New England.
If you’d like me to drive over to Lexington for an at-home consultation, just email me. I’d be happy to do that if it would help. But I think one of the colors above will work great.
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We are building a contemporary house on an acreage, lots of huge evergreens surrounding it. The house has 9 low slope roofs and is 2 storey (bungalow with loft). Lots of architectural ‘jogs’ and windows. Exterior window trim is chocolate brown. The front door is beautiful, golden oak with stainless steel. We are going to install a metal roof (tile red) to tie in the house colors with existing red rail fencing. The exterior will be 3 products – stucco, some stonework and wood trim on posts. The stucco color is the problem – I am considering green (Imasco Eucalyptus). What are your thoughts on this – red and green. I don’t know if I need another color for trim. I don’t know what to do about the soffits – should they be red metal like the roof, or am considering wood.
Hi Belva,
I couldn’t find a photo of Eucalyptus online but read that it’s dark green. That color will surely blend with your evergreens surrounding the house and will pop the red roof and fence. (The brown windows will blend in with the dark green, from the road at least). I’m not sure if you want that look for your contemporary house. In essence, what will show up is the roof and the fence, being contrasting colors with the house (green) and surrounding trees. It’s an interesting approach to highlighting the various roof slopes and jogs in the architecture, but here’s another idea.
Since I don’t think you’re trying to hide the house (with the red roof), how about a different shade for the stucco, one that will highlight both the roof and the windows. A lighter yellower green will get away from the Christmasy look and still contrast with the red and brown features. That’s if you still want green.
Another color that will work is gray, either warm or cool. The gray (neutral) will highlight both the roof/fence and windows (lots of contrast) without introducing another color into the palette. That frees you up to pick an accent color that really drives home the contemporary feel of your house. It could be anything from orange to purple to lime green for things like planters, chairs in the yard, pots, flower gardens, you know, the rest of the accessories and details.
My vote would be to pick a neutral for the stucco color. Hope that helps. Send a photo if you can and we can nail down the palette.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We are adding on to the second story of our 1 1/2 story orangey brick house and are going for a tudor or french country look. We will be using James Hardie stucco board siding with batten trim for the new addition. The original brick peak will be removed and made larger and there will be a smaller bump-out across the front of the house externding out from the peak. There will be a band of trim to separate the first floor orignal orange brick and the new second story stucco board. Wondering what colors would look best with and maybe tone down the orangey brick (which I have never liked but my husband refuses to let me paint!)? Need to figure out the stucco board color, batten color and window trim color (exterior). The actual windows on the second story will need to be the same color as the first floor windows (similar to the color of the current front door surround). The current door surround will be going and we are trying to do a stone surround. Front door will be a very dark brown wood tone in a cottage/tudor style. Not sure what we are doing about shutters yet? Window boxes will stay but not sure if they will be painted a new color? Would like to keep them black. Getting 2 new light fixtures on either side of door which will be black and in a cottage/tudor style. Roof will stay dark gray/black. Trying to add as much character/curb appeal as possible and deathly afraid of making a mistake with the exterior colors! Will email you photos. Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Elizabeth,
I like all your ideas! Here are my thoughts:
I suggest picking a color for the stucco that will balance the value of the orange brick (ie, not too light). That way, the addition will look like part of the original house and not an add-on. The orange brick is pretty recognizable so blending it with a similarly valued color above will unify the entire house. So at least on my screen, I like both Woodstock Brown and Timber Bark. I definitely prefer the earth tones to any contrasting colors (like green). The various taupes/browns/tans in the brick will come out if you stick with one of those colors on the addition. Green will cut the house in half.
Then for the batten and window trim color (the same), I would go with either Navajo or Cobblestone, whichever goes better with your cream window color and hopefully picks up some of the colors in the stone surround around the front door.
I like the black metal choice and the black window boxes, but I suggest leaving off the shutters altogether. The batten trim above will interfere with any shutters up there (potentially) and having just one set of shutters on the first floor (on either side of the door) just makes the house look small. Leaving them off everywhere will make the house look bigger and again, more unified.
Having said that, I know you’re going for more of a French Country look and it’s fine to add black shutters if you want to finish out the look, but I don’t think you will need them to make the house look good. And you’ll have lots of detail with the batten trim and the front door area. Bottom line: wait until the whole house is done before deciding whether or not to put on shutters. It may be visual overkill or the finishing touch — too soon to tell.
Hope that helps. And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Barbara –
First, thanks SO MUCH for the lighnting fast response! Wow! Really appreciate it! Your ideas are great!
We spent a good part of a rainy day yesterday trying to figure this all out. The Cobblestone is our pick for the trim but the Timber Bark and Woodstock Brown seem too dark using the Hardie paint samples against the brick. What do you think of Monterey Taupe instead (from what you can tell on the computer screen)? Also – we are having a change of heart on the stucco boards/batten look. Instead may go with the HardieShingle Straight Edge Notched Panel (so, a shingle look). We are thinking the house may be too small and the boards and batten too busy and too “vertical.” So I’m thinking it will be more cottage vs. tudor. With the shingle/cottage idea, do you still recommend the same color scheme? And would you make any other alterations to our exterior plan in general? Thanks again for your coaching!
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth,
I do like your idea to go with more of a cottage look with the shingles instead of stucco. I think that will be perfect for the size of your house.
And Monterey Taupe should be fine too. Just put the three samples, the taupe and the two dark ones, up against the brick and go to the curb and look back at the house. You’ll get a more accurate view of the colors against the brick.
Also just make sure that whatever color you pick is in the brick somewhere. The taupe should be there (although the brick is warm overall).
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I need help on how to paint the exterior shutters and doors and walls of my brick home..Can i email you a photo of my house..and could you help me pick out some colors to brighten up the exterior.
thanks
Hi Wayne,
I’m going to give you two Ben Moore colors to match at any of the stores you mentioned. Especially easy at Sherwin Williams (they want your business) and they probably have a Ben Moore fandeck right under the counter 😉
If you run into trouble, write me back and I’ll pick new colors for a specific paint line.
I suggest Bone White for your carport. That will keep it light and blend in with your grout color.
Then for the doors and shutters, how about a nice warm caramel, like Roxbury Caramel (HC-42) — that color will go really well with your brick and will warm up the entire house.
When the budget allows, you might consider wrapping your poles and making them real columns, either round or square. That will dress up the house. You’ll love the result.
I think that’s it. Hopefully you’ll have no problem matching the colors at your local store. Try Sherwin Williams first — they’re usually really good about that.
And thanks, Wayne.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
I just purchased a home and would like to make changes to the paint on the outside of the house. It has a multicolored roof in the brown tones, light tan stucco, used brink on the lower portion of the house. The house has dark tan shutters, and the windows have a white frame around them. There are double doors in the entry, with columns as you walk up to the entry. My ideas are to bring color to the house, but I don’t know if the door, shutters and columns should be the same color or should the door be a separate color. I would like to attach a photo of the front of the house, but I am unsure how to send you photos, if you could let me know. I appreciate your input.
P.S. I did PayPal yesterday, then my internet went down, so I am just now submitting my question
Thank you Duane
Hi Duane,
You can paste a photo link into this post or you can attach photos to an email and send them to me at bmeglis@yahoo.com. That account has plenty of space for photos.
Looking forward to seeing your house. I’m sure we can add some color to the house!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
I am sending photos of my house to your email. My internet is still down, so I will be using my daughters. Her email is kls60@frontiernet.net
Thank you
Duane
Hi Duane,
I suggest painting the panels beneath the windows the same color as the shutters. The tan is a bit distracting. Then paint the columns the tan siding color as well as the trim around the front door. That will lighten up and feature the entryway. For the front door, you might consider the classic Georgian Brick. It will go great with your beautiful used brick and warm up the entryway as well.
I do like the shutter color. That’s fine as is. Wonderful with the brick and the roof.
Your house just needs a few touch-ups to rearrange the existing colors. Everything else looks great!
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara…Thank you so much for your help in my color selection. Not being in the house as yet I have not be able to test the colors. I think it will be great. Thank you again. Duane
Dear Barbara,
I am writing for help in choosing the color of my house. (I’ll send the pictures from my regular email as can’t seem to do it from this site.) It’s an old farmhouse, with wooden siding, added on to several times by previous owners. It’s always been white but I find that boring. This is probably the last time I’ll have it repainted before I retire in 10 years and I’d really like it to look wonderful.
My late husband wanted white because he thought it was classic and beautiful. My kids agree.
I’d like a color like Valspar Lemon Sorbet — a creamy yellow that will hint at spring and sunshine and just be cheerful (but not too bright) to look at. The house is set at the end of a long winding driveway in the middle of 5 acres of woods and I’ve just always had this vision of the house popping out of the green background and looking friendly and welcoming and happy. My kids say Lemon Sorbet looks tan to them. Also, some friends say yellows will fade.
There’s a big brick chimney on the front of the house: if I do go with yellow, should I paint the chimney white to match the trim? My kids say it will look like an elephant’s snout, especially with the two triangular windows on the second floor as “eyes.” (I tend to agree.) But if I paint it yellow, will it look like a huge yellow chimney??
There’s also a tool shed and carriage house (full sized building currently used for storage) that are now white. I can’t afford to have them repainted right now but when I do, would three yellow buildings be too much? But if I keep them white, will the yellow house look like odd man out?
So — white? yellow? or some other color? Thanks for any advice! With best wishes, Carol, Alexandria VA
Just to add to the pot — some other friends just suggested a light spruce green with cream trim, and a barn red front door. They swear it’s a gorgeous combination. Help! Overwhelmed in VA, Carol 🙂
Hi Carol,
I do like the creamy yellow idea. I picked out Montgomery White (Ext.) from Ben Moore as an option. See how it compares to the Valspar color (I MUST get their fandeck). If you like the Montgomery White, Lowe’s will match all Ben Moore colors so that’s not a problem. For a little more lemony yellow, look at Weston Flax. I have no experience of the yellows fading (they’re light already) but you have to be careful of them looking dirty over time. But they’re so cheerful!!
I suggest leaving the chimneys exactly as they are with the paint peeling and brick exposed. They have all the character of an old farmhouse and I think the elephant effect will go away with the chimey the same as the trim color (white). The white will also tie in your out-buildings. No need to rush into painting them.
You might consider warming up the doors to a terracotta (something like Ben Moore’s Sedona Clay 2174-30). Black metal (lights, etc) will dress everything up. I think you have black already.
See what you think.
And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I sent you an email with my question….and a few pictures. Pleas let me know if you didn’t receive it…
Thanks,
Bethany S
Hi Bethany,
Got it! Thank you.
Since your addition includes your front door, leaving some of the original brick exposed over in the corner area only and out of the focal point, I suggest painting that remaining brick the new camel house color to blend it in with the rest of the house. That will unify the front of the house and allow you to paint the front door and shutters the roof color as you mentioned.
One other suggestion: Since the new addition windows are trimmed in white and the old windows are not, I suggest painting over the white trim in the house color. That will again unify the house by making all the windows match (old and new). You can leave the rest of the trim along the roof line white. That’s fine as is.
Does that help? I think you’re almost there. I do like the camel with the red shades in the roof. Not a problem.
Thanks again, Bethany.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We have a traditional tudor style home. (Pics have been sent to your email address.) We are planning to do a number of projects this year. They include a new roof, garage door, and front door. I am not at all happy with the standard brown and off-white that we currently have and am looking for ideas. We want to start with the roof and find a colour that will work with whatever we decide to do with the garage door, front door and house exterior trimmings.
Please have a look at the pics and let me know what you think in terms of a colour combination that could work instead of the brown and off-white.
Thanks for your help.
Hi Horace,
Here’s an idea: I know you have a traditional tudor, but you’re not crazy about the traditional color scheme. How about painting the stucco Bennington Gray (Ben Moore HC-82), which is a very soft creamy green — not a HUGE departure from the current color — and paint the “sticks” Kingsport Gray (HC-86), an olivey gray-green that would coordinate well with your brick. (Note: if you live in a historic neighborhood where historic color schemes matter, then this won’t work, but if it’s just a Tudor-style home, then it’s okay.)
For the roof, take a look at Weathered Wood (GAF Timberline) for something other than the same old brown — although brown is good with your brick. I know you’re sick of it.
The garage door would be Kingsport Gray too. For the front door, I might stick with brown/solid wood or you can always paint it the Bennington Gray with Kingsport trim.
See what you think of that idea. If it’s too radical for your Tudor, you can paint the stucco and leave the brown wood “sticks” as is for the traditional styling. Then simply paint your garage door and front door Kingsport Gray.
How’s that?
And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello
I will be painting our small cottage in cape Cod and need a body and trim color. Currently it is white. I was thinking of painting it a sky-ish blue color but have no idea what to pick. I really like the blue cottage at the Cottages at Cabot Cove.. which can be seen at http://www.cabotcovecottages.com/the-buzz/photo-gallery/ . The other option is to keep it white. I also like the creamy colored cottage at cabot cove on the same web page. I open to any suggestions and would prefer to use Ben Moore paint. I am going to find a pic of our cottage to email you.
Thank you and look forward to hearing from you.
Amy
Hi Amy,
I was inspired by your party/wedding? photo in the backyard.
How about Riviera Azure 822 (Ben Moore) for the siding with white trim and French Violet 1427 for doors and window boxes?
It’s bold, but it’s a cottage! See what you think.
The white siding idea is okay, but with the gray roof and foundation, it’s a bit dull for a fun cottage. Not sure what your neighbors have, but I’m not sure it matters in this case either. But if everyone else’s cottage is subdued, let me know. I’ll put some more gray in the colors.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara – I live in a straight ranch style home that is red brick halfway up the front (brick has a bit of white in it as well). Roof is a golden cedar color (varigated browns) –
http://www.gaf.com/Roofing/Residential-Roofing/Roofing-Products/Shingles-Styles-Shingle-Colors/3-Tab-Shingles/Marquis-WeatherMax-Shingles/Marquis-WeatherMax-Shingles.asp
I have a golden oak front door with stained glass. Current home color is a cream with tan trim and shutters and garage door.
Getting house painted and not sure to stay with the same colors or you can help me figure out what to change it to.
Thanks.
Hi Sharon,
How about a soft green, something like Ben Moore’s Providence Olive (HC-98) or Nantucket Gray (HC-111) with cream trim? That color scheme will balance the brick a little better than the cream siding and should look spectacular with both the roof color and the golden oak door. The olive is better with red brick than a sage — more earthy.
Nothing wrong with your current color scheme but this is just something different to consider.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I just emailed you pictures of our brick-front house which we will soon have painted. Most colors on the street are very light, and we were looking to go dark. We are assuming the trim stays white since the columns are white and it seems most houses with columns keep to the trim color. Also our roof is white, steps are bluestone. Should the overhang be painted the trim color as well? For the sides and back of the house, we were thinking something of a grey tone, like Ben Moore Old Pewter, or we also like taupe/brownish colors as well. Would you match the shutters to the trim or house color, or just take them off completely? We would appreciate any ideas on colors for: front door, gutters/downspouts, side wooden deck and garage door. Also, is it a good idea to paint the cement foundation? Thanks so much, I’m a first-timer!
Elaine
Hi Elaine,
How about Davenport Tan HC-76 for the shutter color and the siding color on the sides and back. Then keep the white trim for the windows and fascia/soffits (to maximize light) and pick up Litchfield Gray (HC-78) for the garage doors/other doors — something other than white but not the brown.
It’s bold and dark and will be different from the rest of the neighbors on the street. The colors should go very well with your brick!
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I believe Davenport Tan would look beautiful but I would love your ideas on grey tones just to compare. I saw a house stained with Old Pewter. What do you think?
Hi Elaine,
How about Galveston Gray AC-27? I think that would look terrific too.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I recently purchased a ranch-style home with white (cream color) brick. The house was built in the late ’70s. It has terra cotta clay tiles on the roof and also has black wrought iron around the front courtyard. I would like to know two things: 1. what color trim would be best for the wood trim on the house including the garage doors? And 2. What can I do to update the look of the wrought iron?
I am considering adding a curvy red brick walkway that extends from the side of the driveway and that enters through the large opening (would require that wrought iron be removed.) And then adding a row of red brick pavers to create a flower bed across the front of the house.
The first picture is of the main house, then the garage, and then of the courtyard area which is inside the wrought iron gate. I need an email address to send the pictures.
Hi Pat,
You can send the photos to bmeglis@yahoo.com. Sometimes the other email address listed on the blog gets full. The yahoo one is unlimited.
Looking forward to seeing your photos.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Pat,
Thanks for the photos. Very helpful. I’m going to give you three trim options. The first one, Ben Moore’s Charleston Brown (Ext), is the traditional option. Reminiscent of solid wood garage doors and trim — can’t go wrong, really. The second and third ideas are for more contemporary color palettes: Truffle (AF-130) is a tan that would neutralize your garage doors (get away from the peach tone) and allow the terra cotta to take center stage on the house. The other is a little more trendy in that it has gray in it and contrasts with the terra cotta and the brick: Briarwood (Ext). It’s taupe. And those gray tones are in at the moment and offer you a “stone” look that again lets the warm colors pop.
As for the wrought iron, I suggest removing it completely from the large archway leading to the courtyard. That is your opportunity to landscape both in the courtyard and around the outside and really create a fabulous focal point from the street. Hardscape is the key to that area (you mentioned a curvy brick walkway). I suggest a combination of bricks and other natural stone and curves are best — avoid making straight lines — they’re too hard to perfect anyway.
In terms of plantings, I suggest varieties that are native to your area with minimal flowers except in big terra cotta pots scattered around. Dessert plants are best for the environment anyway as they do not require much watering. Plant purple flowers in pots for contrast. A large palm on either side of the archway will help to frame it. Think big scale to avoid a busy look.
The wrought iron on the windows and your gate looks fine — but if you do not need the privacy, you can remove all of it and still have a great look to the house.
How’s that? I’ve always loved your style of house — particularly the courtyard. Enjoy! And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I stumbled upon your blog today and I am eating it up – thank you so much!
We are in the midst of choosing a new siding color for our home and I’m stuck! I’m leaning toward the main color to match the color of the mortar in the brick (‘Pebblestone Clay’), and doing the trim, porch, soffits and fascia in an off-white (we will also be replacing the windows, which will be white – is that okay or should we leave it all just white?).
My big question is whether I can pull off a brick red front door and matching shutters. The color I have picked out is basically the reddest part of the brick, but this is a color combo that will be with us for years and I don’t want to mess it up! If you have other siding color/combo suggestions instead, I’d be thrilled to hear them. We just don’t want to go too dark.
Photo here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31375661@N06/4521706111/
Thank you so much!
Kate
Hi Kate,
The Pebblestone Clay will be fine as long as it’s your mortar color. Good strategy. It’s okay to change the trim to off-white — not perfect, since your windows will be white and there are a lot of them — but I have that same issue on my house and I’m living with it too). The off-white is softer looking.
As for the shutters, I really like the black you have now because it picks up the black in your brick and it dresses up the house. I’m a little afraid you might get tired of the brick red shutters. But you can certainly have a brick red door. It’s dark under the porch roof, but any red will be warm and inviting, even if it’s in the shadows.
Hope that helps with your decisions. And thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Do you think that white all over would be better than off-white? We can go that route, too. I think you’re right about leaving the shutters black. I’ll do the front door red and call it good. Do you think a color lighter than the mortar (but in the same family/tone) for the siding would be better? I’ve been driving around looking at other homes with similar brick and now I’m second guessing myself. This is so much harder than painting a room!
Thanks again, I really, really appreciate this blog!!
Kate
Hi Barbara,
I missed the part where I was supposed to ask for help on the Paypal form. Sorry about that; hope this works, if not please let me know what I can do to contact you as requested.
We’re hoping you can help us with the exterior of our home. We’re going to change everything: paint, roof, gutters. Our primary concern seems to be finding a color that will work with our older brick. We really like the idea of using brown for the main and secondary colors, and are wondering if this would work, and if we should use the darker shade for the main or secondary color. Also wondering how much – if any – white to leave on the house (the vinyl window trim has to stay white), and if brown is used on the house, what color(s) would complement on the roof and gutters. I’ve attached a few pictures for you to look at. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Frank in Kamloops
Hi Frank,
Start by selecting your new roof. One option is Weathered Wood, medium earth-tones, that would go well with a siding color of Texas Leather (AC-3 Ben Moore) and a trim color of Bleeker Beige (HC-80). Those two colors have a bit of green in them but would coordinate well with your earthy bricks. Another roof option is Barkwood with a siding color of Davenport Tan (HC-76) and a trim color of Shaker Beige (HC-45). That palette should pick up the brown in your brick.
You can use either the siding color or the trim color on the garage door and pick another color for the front door (see Dinner Party AF-300).
Although the photos were a little dark, see if either of those palettes will work well with your brick.
The white windows are fine.
And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I have just sent a picture of my home to you. I have also set up payment. I’m wanting to ask what would be a great dark green/blue color that I could paint my shutters if I chose to do something different than black. The roof of the portico is copper painted black. My husband is painting the house, as I write this, white again. He promised to paint the trim a more bright white in a higher gloss.
Do you have any advise/ideas for me?
thanks, Julie
Hi Julie,
How about something like Ben Moore’s Narragansett Green HC-157 (or the lighter Newburg Green HC-158)? Those are wonderful on a white house. Then there’s also Gentleman’s Gray 2062-20, a rich navy, also terrific on a white colonial like yours. You can either keep the same shutter color for your front door, if you like a dark door, or mix it up a bit with something else. (White houses are perfect for adding color.) If you go with navy for the shutters, consider a dark red like Country Redwood for the front door. I know it’s patriotic, but you have a wonderfully traditional white colonial so why not…
Just a thought.
Thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara
Love your site. Have followed it on an off for a few years.
We are repainting our cottage and bunkhouse which is located on a small lake. Our cottage is one of the focal points of this lake since most homes/cottages are either behind trees or up on the hill. We are the closest and most visible from the water.
We are re-roofing and painting and replacing a window with an old classic french door I found. We are struggling with paint colors, body, trim and accents. The only thing we have decided on at this point is a black steel roof which we have ordered.
Here is a link to view the original cottage and some of the colors we have messed with. I am leaning towards classic white or a brighter color.
http://www.twobitpro.com/cottage.asp
Any suggestions would be great!
Thanks
Dave & Becky
Hi Dave,
Wow, you’ve certainly made MY job easy. You are either an architect or a very talented engineer.
I like options 5 (and 11?) and 6 best. The blue body with cream trim and brown accent color is very dramatic and a wonderful combination for a summer cottage. I also like the green combination (with white trim and brown accents). I do know how difficult it is to keep the spider spots off of white trim on a cottage so if that is a consideration, then eliminate the white. But if you spray and have no issue there, then white trim is crisp and appealing for making the colors pop. Some of the other combinations, although trendy, may get old after awhile — I like classic for old cottages.
Although white is certainly an option for your cottage, I think color will decrease the maintenance (see above). But you had a white cottage before… so maybe that’s fine. I do like the white option 4 with the gray trim. Very nice with the black roof.
If you’d like additional combinations, I’m happy to add a couple, but honestly, I think you have winners right here in your list of options. But let me know. You might consider painting the French doors the same brown as the side door to equalize the emphasis. Right now the eye goes to the color on the side door and not the French doors. Making that change on the blue and green options would finish them off, in my opinion.
See what you think.
And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We are getting our house painted in several weeks. We recently got a new roof that is a light brown color. I am thinking of a light beige or tan color, but then I don’t know what color to paint the trim and garage and front door. We just had new windows installed and they have white trim inside the window. My husband doesn’t want to paint that, but there is a trim just outside the window that will need to be painted. What color??? Also we will be replacing the shutters with new ones. Probrably faux wood ones. What color for them???Would black match with the roof?? Dark forest green??? I would like for the house to have some character, but we definitely want to stay with a fairly neutral color. Please, I need some suggestions. HELP!! I am sending photos to your e-mail. Let me know if you get them. Thanks, Karen
Hi Karen,
Have a look at either Springfield Tan AC-5 or Alexandria Beige HC-77 (both Ben Moore) for your siding color. They’re both medium tan/browns with the Alexandria Beige being a touch on the taupey/green side. Then you can try Swiss Coffee OC-45 for the trim — it’s a creamy white — not too chalky. Then for your garage door, pick either the siding color or the next darker color (New Chestnut AC-6) or Davenport Tan HC-76. You can use black for your shutters since your front entrance appears to have a black outer door and your lights are black. That combo should look great with your roof.
If you decide, with your sandy driveway, that you have just way too much brown, then consider an Historic Green, something like Hampshire Gray HC-101, a very nice medium-tone green that would look great with your roof, white trim and black shutters. Keep the garage door the same as the siding in this case.
See what you think of these ideas for your house.
Thanks for visiting the blog, Karen.
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
My wife and I are in the process of building a house and we would like your thoughts on our color scheme so far. I will send you a front view from our architectural plans. The house has a brick first story and sliding on the second. I would like to use a medium to dark red brick with some variation in it (I will attach an example picture too). I would like for the siding to be a medium gray and the roof to be charcoal. My main question is will almond color windows work with this scheme or should we go with a true white? The builder just placed an order for the almond/off-white color. He says that it will go with almost any scheme we choose. Also, what color would you paint the garage doors. I really like dark color doors, but would that be out of the question with these colors? We are open to overall suggestions regarding the entire scheme. Thanks.
Hi Michael,
Yes, the almond/off-white windows (and I assume the rest of the trim) will look terrific with both brick and your medium gray siding if the siding has a touch of green or brown in it. In other words, not a cold battleship gray but a warmer taupey gray. Have a look at Ben Moore’s Chelsea Gray HC-168 — very nice with almond if you like . A cold gray looks better with crisp white.
As for the garage doors, since they are embedded in the brick (with almond trim surrounding them), I suggest the siding color for the doors. Unless you plan to have black shutters — then black is also an option for your garage doors.
But go right ahead with the almond windows. Good luck with your project! And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I am in need of some assistance in choosing colours for my home. We just bought our house last summer and it is in desperate need of a new roof, new windows, eaves etc…. Basically everything outside. I am trying to decide on a colour scheme for the house and am finding it difficult because it is a VERY red/orange brick. Currently everything is white and I would like to change that. I wanted to modernize the look of the home without going over the top and making the house something it’s not. If I had the budget – I would love to get rid of the brick (it’s my least favourite brick colour) but that’s not an option so I am going to have to work with it. I was thinking of going more towards the charcoal grey with the windows but need to make sure I tie everything else in.
I need colours suggestions for :
– Roof
– Windows (do I do the grids in the windows or not)
– Eaves
– soffit / facia
– front door (I am getting a new door – do I do wood?)
– garage doors
– the portico & pillars
We have since removed the portico and pillars (this is an old picture) but we are replacing it with a slightly larger more modern one. It will be higher and have a hanging light in the middle of it and will include our house number/address in scroll along the face of it to give it a more modern feel.
I love to use Benjamine Moore colours.
Looking forward to your suggestions!
Denise
Hi Denise,
First of all, I love your red-orange brick! It’s a very cheerful-looking house! But to cool it down just a little, I suggest a dark charcoal roof, a little darker than you have currently. Then for the trim, you can use China White (Ben Moore) which has a touch of gray in it. If you’re replacing the windows, frankly, I’d stick with white or off-white if that’s close to the China White trim color. You can use an accent color for your windows if you plan to go all the way around the house with them.
For the garage doors, you might consider a gray-green like Ashley Gray HC-87 with a Fairview Taupe HC-85 for the front door. If that’s too green for the doors, look at Revere Pewter (HC-172) for a gray-tan or Stonington Gray (HC-170) which is a little cooler, and use one of those on the garage doors. If it’s in the budget, consider a nice dark mahogany solid-wood door. That would really make a statement at the entryway.
With neutral garage doors, you can paint your front door just about anything to modernize the overall look if you would prefer to paint rather than go with solid wood. But stick with nature’s colors on your stately traditional house style.
And if you’re really craving a more contemporary look, replace the black/bronze lighting with pewter or brushed nickel. Stick with bronze for a more traditional metal.
Hope that helps. Good luck with your new home. And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Pulling down old stucco and replacing bottom lower story with Nova Brick (sable), and have existing sandy beige siding on upper story. Will it be too beige? Wondering what color to change the siding to make the sable Nova Brick pop. Or, if I keep the beige siding, what color brick would be good. House 60 years, new windows with white trim. Garage has the beige siding as well. I was thinking a nice light green siding? What do you think. Thank you.
Yes, I think either a taupey tan (from your brick) or a medium-light olive (see Ben Moore’s Historical colors) would make your Nova Brick pop. But if you keep the beige siding (it’s okay), then just paint your door a contrasting color.
If you find this suggestion helpful and would like the opportunity for follow-up questions, I have provided a payment link below for your convenience.
https://yourcolorcoach.wordpress.com/
Thank you again for visiting my blog.
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara I thought I was going to send you a hard copy photo but I have now enclosed a digital photo attachment.
We just had a new roof installed and are now looking for a siding color and trim color for the house. We presently have a tavern brown but wish to possibly have a red door to bring out the red in the bricks, which with the present color siding/shutters looks more pink. We love the historic colors and are open to your professional advice.
Thanks for your assistance.
Donna
Hi Donna,
Here’s an idea for rearranging the palette on your house. How about putting the trim/shutter color on the siding of the house, balancing the color value with that of the darker brick. Then use the current siding color (light tan) as a trim color around the front door and along the roof line — that dental moulding up there is getting lost. Then instead of the current shutter color (taupe), how about a nice dark taupey green (Fairview Taupe HC-85 by Ben Moore). That will bring out some of the green in both brick and roof. For the front door, I suggest trying Dinner Party (AF-300). It’s red but on the burgundy side, a color that’s very prominent in your brick.
See what you think of that rearrangement. If you really want something completely different for the siding and trim, let me know, but I like the colors with your brick — just not where they are now.
Hope that helps. And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Babara,
This site is a God send. Three trips to BM and spots all over my house………I can’t wait to hear back from you.
We live in S. Florida in a ranch style stucco home. I was leaning toward the soft gold exterior/ black pineapple cut out shutters and red door. Then I found this site and w/ our lite grey roof……..its NOT happening. I have no clue as to what color would look good. Right now the color seems to be in the HC149- previous owners. The house across from us is about the same color trimmed in white. I’d like to go a little bolder and maybe even a different scheme all together but not sure what to do at this point. Our roof is a very light and the house is trimmed in white with double glass front doors.
I really like color and not afraid to mix things up as long as it not too bright. I was thinking something “rich”and the shutters lighter maybe? Our living room is the “traditional yellow” w/ a lt orange accent wall (mexican tile floor) and leading into the kitchen…..is HC146. I love the way the colors add some pop but seem to flow nicely with the floors and our denium sectional.
I’d like to creat a very welcoming atmosphere. More along the lines of beachy.warm, fun, easy going, laid back with some southern charm. Im from Carolina and would like to add a little hospitality too ( ie pineapple cut out shutters).
We’re also putting in white plantation shutters in the windows. NOt sure if that changes things.
I cant wait to hear back from you. Countless hours of driving around- checking out other homes and lots of samples. I ready to get this project taken completed. Thanks so much for you time.
Stephanie Hebard
Hi Stephanie,
The way to tie in your light gray roof is with the shutters and the metal color (lights, etc.). So here’s an idea that I think would look absolutely luscious on your house. Take a look at Golden Lab (178) — it’s yellow with a touch of orange (very sunny but not harsh) and a very nice color with gray. Then you definitely need shutters. The pineapple cut-outs are fine but I like a traditional plantation shutter in White Heron (OC-57). The white plantation shutters would balance the roof/trim and make your house look like it’s right on the beach. If you’ve already installed the inside plantation shutters and you think it will look too busy to have them on the outside of the house, then go with the solid white with pineapple cut-out. That’s okay.
Then as your accent color, pick up the terracotta from your pots (you could use a nice big one by the front door!). Audubon Russet HC-51 is terrific, maybe a little more rusty orange than brown but a great color with the Golden Lab and white.
For your metal, use silver (chrome or brushed nickel) to again tie in the roof and add some sparkle.
That color scheme should lead nicely into your house and get you out of the exterior blues. Your house will have tons of charm and you’ll be ready to invite friends and family over.
See what you think. And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi barbara,
Im sorry I couldnt attach a photo of our FL home. If possible….could I email it to you? We have since put in a flower bed….but we could really use some “curb appeal”.
Thanks again for your time.
Stephanie Hebard
Hi Stephanie,
Sure, you can send the photo to my email at bmeglis@yahoo.com. I’ll get to your question in the morning.
Thanks again for your payment and for posting your question. More soon.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, we are working on the front of our house and I would like advice on colour scheme. I will send reference photos to your eMail address. I’ve been scrolling through all your website and have been impressed with your suggestions. I’m looking foward to hearing advice specific for us. Our home is a post-war, semi-detached 2 storey brick. I would describe the colour as light yellow with browns and the roof is also brown. We are replacing the windows (white with white trim, similar to the left hand side of the house), replacing the front door, repainting the entrance and installing a new roof. Can you advise on a colour scheme? I have the Benjamin Moore colour pallette and would like to be able to use that for reference if you are able to suggest some of their colours. I am partial to the glossy black finish of a Georgian looking front door and black roof however, suspect that the roof will be redone in a similar brown (we have to compromise with the owner of the other half of the house). I also have two other detail questions; what colour is the back of the door /interior side painted and based on the colour scheme, what type of finish do you suggest for the front door hardware? I am finding this an overwhelming project and thank you in advance for your help!
Hi Shannon,
If you get an opportunity to pick your own roof, have a look at GAF Barkwood — very nice with your brick and a good blend with the neighbor’s. Then for your paint trim, use China White. It’s a little bit gray so it should blend with your windows okay. Use the white for the entry area trim. Then fill in the triangle above the door with Sag Harbor Gray (HC-95). Although we usually paint the entire portico trim color, using two tones gives you an opportunity to add a little more color to the entryway instead of all white. Then for the front door, how about Van Buren Brown (HC-70). Using a dark brown will help to give you that dressed up Georgian look while staying in your color palette. Since you have a black wrought iron railing, you can paint the door black, but I prefer the brown door with the black accents.
The inner side of the door can coordinate with your inside color scheme — it does not have to be the outdoor color or the inside trim color.
As for metal, you have wrought iron so black is good. Bronze will also work (you could paint the wrought iron bronze). I notice your bronze planter. Very nice. You could really use a porch light to the left of the front door. That would dress up the house as well. Stick to whichever metal you choose, black or bronze.
Don’t forget to stain your concrete steps. Natural “concrete” color is fine (kind of a gray-tan). But that will even the steps out and make them look a bit more welcoming.
I think that’s it. See what you think. And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
What a great site! I’ve made my donation, and am hoping that you can offer some insight into our current dilemma as we are trying to choose a color for new siding.
I’ve emailed you a picture of the house. As you can see, the house is currently covered with an odd variety of materials (wood, wood siding, cedar shakes, brick). We are planning to replace all of the non-brick materials with cedar-impression siding (http://www.certainteed.com/products/vinyl-siding/shake—shingle-siding/310282), but are having a difficult time deciding what to do with the brick. We’re not sure what color would work with the brick on our house. Or we’re considering removing the brick and replacing it with siding.
One particular ‘trouble spot’ is the large brick area to the left of the front door, which visually seems to break-up the 2nd story from the left side of the house.
We would greatly appreciate any suggestions you might have.
Regards,
Joel
Hi Joel,
With your roof color, I suggest a green like Spruce (from the Certainteed link). I would hesitate to go with some of the other medium toned neutrals because the roof would blend in too much. You’ll need some contrast — the light neutrals like Savannah Wicker will also work. As for the brick, it does have a slightly odd asymmetry to the left of the front door but you could always fix that by planting another large decorative tree in front of it. I would recommend removing the shutters from the front door area and beefing up the trim around the door instead (when you get ready to make your changes). Also, although the shutters look like true shutters in that they would cover the window completely if you closed them, they look a bit large for the size of your house. I would scale them back or remove them completely.
When you do reside, make sure to paint the downspouts the same color as the house — that will make them disappear completely.
In terms of removing brick, you might not have to remove any of it but rather just cover the part that’s under the slanted roof. In other words, you would square-out your main house and cover the remaining brick to the left of the house with siding that would continue on to the garage. There’s nothing wrong with the brick color itself. Does that make some sense? Covering the brick instead of removing it would save tons of money and would eliminate that odd triangle that attracts so much attention.
Feel free to paint the garage doors either a tan like the roof color or the house color. No need to keep white.
See what you think. And thank you again. Sorry for the delay…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, We are trying to totally remodel a 30 yr old home via long distance and are trying to figure out what to do with the exterior to update the look.
Inside, we are going with similar colors to Olympic’s Snowy Mount for trim, Weeping willow, secret passage, silver charm, and Innuendo for the rooms, light hard wood, a light neutral tile, medium dark maple cabinets, with black (or rubbed bronze) plumbing and lighting fixtures as well as door knobs.
I like the new black fixtures and trim and was thinking about going with a black front door with a narrow glass insert but don’t know how to coordinate the outside of the house. I am going to email you some of the old pictures as well as some pictures of the houses in my neighborhood that I really like but don’t know if I could mimick.
The shutters have been removed and not sure what color to go there. I would like to try to go with the brick color and maybe replace the siding with a more current wider hardy board or cedar shingle look but am unsure what color to use. The roof is staying the same but everything else is up for grabs. The replacement windows will be white with no panes.
I do like the look of the houses near me that have painted their existing brick the same color as their siding with white trim, but I don’t know how that would look with this carport and the brick there. Those brick posts wouldn’t look good painted white like posts would they? Thank you so much for helping!
Sincerely,
Meredith
Hi Meredith,
You have a lot of brick so my first choice would be to avoid painting it. Instead, let’s see if we can come up with a color that will coordinate better with it and make the house look more unified. Take a look at Jackson Tan HC-46 for your siding. It should pick up some of the darker tones in your brick and really make the house look terrific. Then you could use a soft white like Ballet White (OC-9) for your trim. Make sure to paint the downspouts the house color to make them go away into the brick.
I do like your black shutters with the black porch light even though the roof color blends with the brick. That’s perfectly fine.
My sense of what you like about the other houses you showed me is that they coordinate well. The roof color goes well with the siding and the trim pops. The brick adds color and texture.
See what you think of the Jackson Tan. I think it will make a huge difference!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Meredith,
Those are Benjamin Moore colors. You can have them matched to Olympic if that’s your paint of choice. No problem.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara, We’ll be using Porter paints (just don’t have a store near me so we’ll match colors with the Olympic) and I looked up the tan and ballet white and do like those and think they blend well with the brick. Does it matter that the top of the house will be darker than brick? The old shutters in the photos were dark chocolate. Do you have another suggestion for shutter color or do you think black will be ok with so much brown? What trim exactly should be white? Thanks so much! Meredith
Hi Meredith,
Having the top part of the house darker than the brick will actually make your house look more updated and I know that’s what you want. And yes, the dark chocolate is fine to keep on the shutters (check out Black Bean Soup — Ben Moore 2130-10). As far as painting the white? Anywhere that’s trim and paintable — soffits, fascia, door trim and doors, window trim.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, We have a 10 year old natural shake home with white trim and white shutters. The roof is textured grays (maybe with a hint of green in the textures). The finish on the shake is not holding up so we are going to paint it a solid body stain (similar to a paint look). The front of the home is one level sprawling ranch look and is very symmetrical since the garage doors are around the side. There are 2 false dormers in the front and the front doors are double glass doors with white trim. The back of the house is huge 2 level with a wrap around porch with white trim since we live on a hill. I hope that gives you a visual. My question is what color to paint. We are leaning towards a darker gray but I’m afraid of it matching the roof too much.
Do you have any ideas? We were planning on repainting the trim white but that can change.
Not sure how to send a photo.
thanks! Cathy
Hi Cathy,
Since you have some green in your roof color, how about a gray-green for the siding? Take a look at Ben Moore’s Louisburg Green HC-113 or Copley Gray HC-104? Another option might be Philipsburg Blue HC-159, a rich gray-blue. Any of those colorw would look spectacular with both the white trim and the gray roof. One more: Try Templeton Gray HC-161 — it’s gray but with green undertones. That too will look great with your roof.
Hope that gives you some options to consider. Thanks again for visiting my site.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
What a great service you offer! We just bought a “fixer-upper” that came with a brand new roof (great!) in a pretty hard to deal with color (not so great). The color is a greyish green with variations among the shingles so there is a patchwork look to it. I am sending you an email with a photo so you can see the color of the roof. Here are the questions:
1. What paint colors do you recommend for the siding, trim, and door for a green roofed house?
2. In the picture, the second story has a green color painted on it and the first story is white. Would you recommend doing two different paint colors to add some interest to the architecture of the house, or going with all one color?
3. And can we get away with doing a colored door that pops, even though the door is located in an odd place?
Thank you!
Vanessa
Hi Vanessa,
Thanks for emailing the photos. Since your house is so big, it can take a richer color on the siding than the light green that’s there currently. How about something like Ben Moore’s Philipsburg Blue (HC-159), a really luscious slate that’s rich and looks terrific with white trim. To tie in the green roof, paint your front door green, either Prescott Green (HC-140) or Wythe Blue (HC-143), more of a blue-green, depending on which goes better with your roof color.
I think the combination would look just great with your green roof.
As for the two-tone, I would paint the whole house one color. You can add interest with your landscaping and porch, but the second color is not necessary on your house.
See what you think. And thank you for visiting my blog!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
My husband I bought a fixer up and want to remodel the exterior of an addition on our house. It is currently ceader siding. We are unsure if we should make it brick or white stucco. Two contractors we had on site recommended stucco due to the age of the brick being very hard to match and the fact that the brick would not be flush to the rest of the house. It would stick out about 2 inches. For that reason, we are leaning towards doing white stucco. We are thinking of doing a earthen red color for the shutters, similar to the color we stained our deck. (I’ll send pictures). Would this combo look ok? We will be purchasing a new garage door and are leaning towards a cariage style door and thinking about painting it the same redish color, but are not sure if that would work? Having a white garage door on the white stucco seems too boring. We also are not sure what colors to paint the two doors on the front of the house? Since we have two, should they be the exact same? I was thinking a red storm door with a white door behind it or vice versa? What do you recommend? Also, we will be needing a new roof in the next few years. It is currently a dark charcol gray, but looks lighter in the pictures due to the rain. What color roof would you recomend? I will attach several pictures. Thank you so much for your help! We have been having a very hard time deciding what to do and any direction or guidance would be greatly appreicated. I also gave a photoshopped picture that my husband did to give a very rough idea of what we were thinking. Thanks so much!
http://s762.photobucket.com/albums/xx265/lsereditch/
I like the white stucco idea and go ahead and paint the new carriage garage door red. It will look terrific with black hardware! I usually don’t recommend so much color on functional areas but with white stucco, color is a must! I think the red looks great — as long as the red is a brown-red that goes with the brick. The front door will be right up next to the brick and it needs to go perfectly. The best way to tell is to paint a test area and go to the street and look back at the house. If the red paint pops out too much to your eye, then it doesn’t match.
I also like your idea of a red storm door and a white inner door for the garage. Then paint the front door completely red. There will be some distinction between the two “front” doors, giving a little more weight to the one guests are supposed to enter.
As for the roof, a darker charcoal would work best to give some contrast with the white. Brown would be okay, but it doesn’t look as good with white. Go for charcoal.
I think that’s it. Hope I’ve sealed the deal for you. Thanks very much for visiting my blog!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara. you were such a big help to me two years ago picking the roof color for my 1956 rambler which is a charcoal gray/black. I am now trying to pick some paint colors for my doors, trim for doors and windows and garage door to create a more updated look. I am emailing you some pics.
This is my plan:
front door: martha Stewarts Ohio Buckeye
side door: MS’s Potters Clay (the lighter) or Squirrel Gray
iron doors: they will remain black
trim around doors: either Squirrel Gray or Potters Clay
garage door: Squirrel Gray or Potters Clay.
It all really depends on whether you prefer the darker over the lighter. The darker, Squirrel Gray would be more contrasting. Both of these colors have a grayish green tint to them and are both wonderful. Potters Clay is amazing but less dramatic.
I am also wondering about painting the cement front and side porch. Any comment on that would be appreciated.
I am looking for some “pop”.
I will appreciate your help and I am open to a whole new plan.
Thanks,
Cathy S
Hi Cathy,
Since your soffits/gutters are white and your windows are white, I suggest keeping the door trim bright white too! The reason is that if you darken the trim elsewhere, the windows and gutters will pop out like the only architectural feature — and you have other things to look at! So why not keep door trim white. I would also keep your front door bright shiny white too so there is maximum contrast with your black iron outer door. That contrast will be striking (it is now!). Then for the garage door and side door, you can paint them a softer color that blends with the brick a bit more. Either the Squirrel Gray or maybe even Ben Moore’s Affinity Collection’s Chambourd AF-645, a rich eggplant purple. The darker colors on the garage will blend with the brick and highlight the white on the front door.
Also, I suggest removing the black shutters altogether (I know I probably told you to paint your shutters black with a pink brick house…). Yours are just a bit big for the scale of your house (it’s a lot of black) especially with the other black elements like the light post and railing/columns on the porch.
See what you think. If you plan to paint windows and other trim/gutters, then write me back and we’ll do Plan B, which would include the Potters Clay around windows/trim/etc and more color on doors. But keeping windows/gutters white, then I would stick with white trim everywhere else too.
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Correction for above post…. My house is pink brick, not charcoal/black. My roof is charcoal/black.
I emailed you some photos.
Just wanted to clarify this for others reading these posts. It seemed a bit confusing.
Thanks,
Cathy
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for your quick response. I just wanted to ask you one other thing. You mentioned that we could paint the main front door under the porch entirely red to differenitate it from the other “front door” near the garage. We were wondering if it would pop more if we painted it entirely white since it is against the brick and under the porch roof? And if so, what color would you then recommend painting the door near the garage? Or do you think the red front door will look better?
Also, what is a good paint sheen to use for the doors and shutters? The stucco is painted a flat white.
Thank you so much for your help!!
Hi Lori,
Let me take another look — I’ll get back to you in the morning.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Lori,
Okay, I’m breaking all my own rules here, but let’s do it anyway. I like your idea of making the front door completely white since there’s not a lot of trim around the door and it’s surrounded by red brick (and in the shadow of the porch). But let’s also make the garage door red since it’s against the new white stucco and will look smashing.
One rule I’m breaking is: Your eye goes to color! It is possible that your guests may be knocking on the red door to your garage instead of the white front door (well, not really because everybody can see which door leads where, but you get my point).
In your case with your house, I like the “color blocking” effect of the sharp red and white contrast since the house is mixed (brick and stucco) anyway. It gives the house kind of a modern feel!
The other rule I’m breaking is: Don’t highlight your garage door! But in your case, since the garage addition is so prominent and it’s balanced by the second story stucco (with red shutters on the window), I think a red garage door works.
Bottom line: I think you’re both on the right track. Your placement of color is working to take an “ordinary” white/brick house and make it special. Keep going!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Lori,
Forgot to mention that the paint sheen should be a semi-gloss to contrast with the flat white of the stucco.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I don’t know where to start! The home is a 1923 craftsman. A major remodel in the late 50s (I’m assuming) resulted in enclosing the covered porch, and adding the planter boxes and brick facade. We can’t decide what to do with it. As you can see in the closeups, the brick is damaged in places, and discolored. There are a few spots where someone tried pressure washing the brick, and it looks to me like the grout has some pink tones. Everything’s on the table here. The planter boxes, the rot iron, the trim, etc. I can’t spend a million on materials, but I’ll be doing the work myself. The file “paintedbrick2.jpg” has an example of something my wife thought might look nice, which is a white-washed brick. We are in our early 30s and our tastes are more clean and modern. We are more fond of black rot iron than white for instance… The window grids could be painted (they’re genuine grids).
Thanks,
Chris and Jenna
Hi Chris and Jenna,
What to do about your brick is a tough question because of how irregular it is. First of all, I might suggest getting a professional in to take a look at the brick itself and get their opinion about either repairing it or… just what they would suggest. I think that painting it as is will only call attention to it and that is not your desired effect. Even whitewashing it is not a great idea because it will call attention to it but more importantly whitewashing it will make your whole house white except for the gable. And with a white roof, that’s not terrific.
Other than the chipped grout and broken bricks, I don’t mind the look of the brick from the street and it might be one idea to just camouflage it by painting the rest of your house a dark brown from the brick. Whitall Brown (Ben Moore’s HC-69) would blend the brick in to the rest of the house and highlight the architecture and windows, the real feature of your house.
Then I would move on to the front steps. I think the red brick facing is a little distracting (I think the color is just not quite right) so addressing that issue would be first. Refacing the steps in a dark neutral flagstone would again blend the front porch area into the rest of the house. Then you can focus on removing white ironwork and replacing it (don’t forget the carport) with a traditional Arts & Crafts style capped post and railing (white). The new railing will add weight to the front steps and give that area the prominence that it deserves.
You’ll also want to replace your porch light with a larger version — again Arts & Crafts style, maybe in oil-rubbed bronze instead of black.
You can also replace the numbers with, again, larger ones in bronze. Even the big boxy numbers might add a touch of modern to your craftsman home.
I hope that gives you a possible solution.
Thanks for visiting my blog!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I have a house that has brick on the bottom level and
old shake siding. I need your help choosing the colors on all items to be redone. Roof, siding, facia, window colors and possible shutters. The entry doors a white I can’t change them.
I don’t have a website so please email me so I can reply with attached pictures. Carol Green greenrentals@
Verizon.net
Okay, Carol.
I emailed you from bmeglis@yahoo.com. Go ahead and send the photos there and I’ll take a look.
Thanks for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thanks again for all your help. I have just one last question to help me clarify the door color choices.
Both of our front doors have a screen door over them.
If we paint the door near the garage red, and the front door against the brick white, what colors should we paint the screen doors over each? Do you recommend painting each screen door the same color as the actual door? Red on red and white on white? Or do you recommend painting them the opposite color, white on red and red on white door? Or should the screen doors be the same color for some unity?
Deciding what to do with the doors has been hard for us since there are two….And we actually wouldnt mind drawing attention to the door nearest to the garage, since it leads into our addition which is actually a nicer entrance since it has cathedral ceilings. Its kinda of a unique layout.
Thanks again for all your help. I really appreciate it!!
Hi Lori,
I vote for matching the screen door to the door behind it for maximum color impact. So you’ll have a red screen with the red door and white screen with the white door. That will be less busy visually as well. And great effect from the curb.
Good luck with your project!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, Barbara
Thanks your advice. I must admit, I had to sit on it for awhile but darn it, you are right! I was just hoping to add some pizazz. But white it is because I am not going to paint the facia and gutters at this time. I have future plans to redo the facade. I just need something to get me by for now.
I’m sure there will be some added lustre because the trim and doors are actually a cream color now which I have never liked next to the white trim. Question…. should I use white semigloss?
I am having a landscape designer draw plans for the landscape. Is this where I should get my color from?
I have considered taking off the shutters. When I do, I will just have more empty space. Any ideas? Big pots? I have struggled with patio furniture. I live in an area where hore pastures are plentiful. In fact, there is one seen from my backyard patio. The black pots in front of main door are filled with purple fountain grass which will grow tall.
Would you also take off the planter boxes? I think they may be a bit small although they will appear larger as the plantings grow.
If the shutters are taken off should I then get larger light fixtures for the porch? I had already considered that for the side entry door.
Thanks,
Cathy S
Hi Cathy S,
You have a lot of color on your house already. The white and black will really bring that color out. All those various shades of pinks and mauves and purples and grays will start to pop with more white. Then, yes, I suggest larger porch lights. You can even consider silver toned metal to add some sparkle instead of black. The landscaping will again make a huge statement. Right now the plantings are all at similar heights, short on the left side and all tall (the bush) on the right side. Mixing that all up will really help the curb appeal. Especially trimming back or taking out the privet hedge under the window on the right.
For the landscaping, make sure they add various shades of green — not all one color — and lots of white as well. Then you can add in burgundy/purple/light pink. But I would focus on a variety of greenery (your tall grasses are great!!).
Add colorful larger pots by the doors. The pots don’t have to be black. Mix it up. It’s okay. Same with the hanging planters. They can be white or a different color if you want them to be featured.
Don’t worry about taking off the shutters. I think you’ll really like the curb appeal when all is done.
Send photos when you’re done!
And thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello,
Its time to paint the house and having trouble decideing the colors for the house. Karen says any thing is aoption but BLUE. the house is a 2 story with a white brick. we sit back from the road a bit and basic live in a oak forest. I an in the process of clearing some trees so you can actually the house now. Please let me know how to upload the pictures.
Thanks
KMccarty
Thanks, Barbara.
I will definitely send you some pictures!
Thanks again for your help!
I would have certainly made a mess of things without you!
Cathy S
Hi Barbara
I need some color suggestions for the exterior of my house. I just moved into our home a year ago and are now ready to update the color to the exterior doors, wrap around deck, and a color scheme for the landscaping. Our house’s siding is cedar shakes painted blue and the roof is a brown mix. I will also send some pictures so that you can get a clearer picture of the current colors. The exterior doors are painted yellow right now but I am unsure whether this is the best color choice.
Kelly B.
Hi Kelly,
Did you send photos to my email (bmeglis@yahoo.com or bmeglis@yourhomeandcolorcoach.com)? I cannot find them (??).
Would love to see the yellow door!! And were you planning to keet the blue on the cedar shakes?
If you’ve already sent photos, I’ll go back through and look again. Sorry about that…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara
I sent it to the yahoo.com account. I only sent 1 picture but can send more if needed. We wanted to keep the color of the blue siding bur wanted to change to door color, decking color and get ideas for landscaping.
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
For some reason, I don’t see the photo. All I got at Yahoo was notification that you paid. Would you mind sending it again? I’m sitting right here and will look for it when it comes through. Sorry about that…
Thank you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara
Let me know if you get them. I sent some to each of your email addresses.
Kelly
Hi Barbara
Update…I tried to send to yourhomeandcolorcoach.com and they keep being returned to me. I did sent them to the yahoo one so hopefully that will work. Let me know if there is still problems.
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Yes, my color coach mailbox gets stuffed but I did receive the photos at Yahoo. Thank you!! I’ll get right on it!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Kelly,
I love the dark blue on your house. Here’s one idea for the trim. How about using Cottage Red (Ext. from Ben Moore) for your door color– if it’s too Americana for your taste, we can go with something different. But I just see a dark red on those doors. Then paint the fascia white instead of current creamy yellow. For your deck, I like the current brown — very natural and keeps the deck from overwhelming the house (that would happen if you painted it a contrasting color). But I suggest painting the deck fascia and pillars the house color if that’s possible or brown like the railing. Then those structural areas won’t stand out as much.
For landscaping, I suggest breaking up the horizontal lines with a variety of shrubs in different colors. Since the house is more of a chalet style than formal, you don’t need symmetry. a mixture of burgundies/rose/pinks and greenery will coordinate with the burgundy red doors (if you go that route). Orange will work as well. So for the landscape, mix the greenery by picking different sizes and shapes and then pick an accent color that will go with your doors. Adding more shrubs will soften the look of the deck and make it look more integrated into the house (hide the stilts in other words…).
Hope that helps.
And thanks for sending the photos. Sorry for the delay!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara. I think I will really like the red doors. I went right out to my local Benjamin Moore paint supplier. They told me though that Cottage Red is recently discontinued. She suggested Chesnut-2082-10. What do you think about this color?
For the deck, would you think I should stay in the same tone of brown or should I go with a darker brown?
Should I put some planters or something near the door and the lower landing at the bottom of the stairs.
I also am getting ready to put patio furniture on the deck and I am just thinking about cushion color. Any thoughts?
Kelly
Hi Kelly,
Gee, thanks for telling me about Cottage Red! I need to check in with Ben Moore and get an update.
Yes the Chestnut will work great — also AF-300 Dinner Party (Ben Moore’s Affinity Collection).
As for the deck, a darker brown will make the deck blend in with the darker blue house color — and that’s not a bad thing. It’s a big deck!
Large planters at the bottom of the stairs would be terrific! White flowers/reds/oranges will work.
The patio furniture can be brown if you’d like it to blend and balance the deck or reds/oranges/whites for a dramatic attention-getter!
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
We are having some trouble picking the paint colors for the exterior of our orangey brick house. We need to use sherwin Williams paint colors, and are tentatively considering wool skein for all the trim and basket beige for the siding elements and garage door. There is a lot of contrast between these two colors, which we like. Currently our house has very little contrast between trim and flats. We would like to do the door and shutters in gale force or inkwell, which are medium or dark navy bluish. The grout is mud colored, roughly the same as basket beige or it’s one shade darker sister, dapper tan on the chip strip. I am not sure if I want basket beige to be so prevalent on the house front…it’s muddy and yellowy. I think it is going on the paneled box surrounding the second floor bedroom window….it might be a little much. Do you have any alternative ideas for a color palette that will give us the contrast we want, but less muddy yellowish tones?
We were also considering reversing the contrast to have darker trim and light siding elements, but we thought the architectural features would be lost in this case, and that might detract from curb appeal. Do you have an opinion on that, too?
Thanks so much for your help…btw, we need to pick paint by the 14th!
Helen
Not sure how to do photo attachment, will email separately
Hi Helen,
How about Weathered Shingle SW 2841 for the body and Kilim Beige SW 6106 for the trim. The beige doesn’t have any yellow in it — so it would be a different look from what you have currently. The Inkwell is fine as it’s very traditional and brings in the roof. You can paint the garage door Weathered Shingle and the front door Inkwell to carry out the look. You might consider removing the shutters from the large Palladian window on the right — although the color is balanced the way it is now, the shutters themselves look a tad odd on that style window.
You have to share the blue that you’re currently using for your shutters and door!! It’s gorgeous! And may I put your before photo on the blog — it’s really quite stunning as it is!
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We recently moved into a ranch house in the mountains. The interior is great, but the exterior is looking worn down and dated. We are planning to build a new larger cedar-frame entry gable towards the right end of the house, and would like to repaint as well. In other posts, I’ve seen you recommend using the mortar color to complement the brick– I’ve emailed you an upclose picture of our bricks and am hoping you can recommend some specific colors, both for the siding and trim. We might also re-roof because we can’t find shingles for the new entry gable that match the existing roof– what color would you suggest? And finally, do you have any suggestions for hardscape materials? We are planning to put in a new patio & path to the new entry, and I’m wondering if it should be brick, or if that would be too much brick?
Thanks for your help!
Kate
Hi Kate,
Have you seen Barkwood for your roof color? Looks terrific online! And for your siding, you might consider Richmond Gold Ben Moore HC-41 with Annapolis Gray (Ext Rm) trim. As for the patio and pay, I would go with something other than brick since you have a lot of that already and your new portico will be brick too. How about gray/tan flagstones or composite patio blocks of various large sizes? Bringing in some gray will cool the brick/house down a bit and tie the whole look together.
Of course, the possibilities are endless so if you’d like to send some photos of several favorite stones in the running, I would be happy to weight in on them.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Thank you so much for your advice! We have been agonizing over this for many days….I like the colors you suggested–I pulled them up on the SW website and tried to do the virtual color visualizer, without success. The main issue is that my neighbor to the left has the very same palette on her brick house. Her home is designed differently, but still has a mixture of brick, siding and trim on front. I would like our house to stand out, but not in an obvious way. My neighbor to the other side also has a brick home and his trim/siding is all one color–an ugly yellow beige about two shades darker than our current color.
Right now we have changed the trim to Softer Tan and kept the Basket Beige on the siding, around the front door and window box and garage door. The Softer Tan is just about the same color that’s currently on the trim, but ever so slightly less yellow. This combination gives some contrast, but it’s not very exciting to basically paint your house the same color it already is…If you have another idea for us, let me know!
You may certainly use our photo on your blog…thanks for the compliment! (And I’m sorry, I don’t know what color our door/shuttters are–it was painted by the builder…)
Thanks again,
Helen
Hi again Helen,
How about Library Pewter SW 0038 for the siding and Craftsman Brown SW 2835 for the trim? Although the white windows will show up more than they do now, the color scheme is more contemporary than it is currently and maybe a shade or two different from your neighbors’.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara!
The painters come today, so we might have to go with what we have….I like the basket beige, but might prefer a creamier off white on the trim versus the softer tan. Do you have a cream/off white shade that you like? There are so many and it’s hard to distinguish among them all..(a lot of them look the same to me!)
Thanks for your help though….
Helen
I need your help for the exterior of my house. As you can see in the pictures, it look very flat and boring. In the front, the width is almost double the height so the house look very short.
I have read many of your articles and come up with some ideas. I write them down here so you can guide me to the right direction.
– Should I paint the top – white triangle part of the front wall ( the gable? ) to a color which blend to the brick wall?
– Should I put more white into the brick wall (columns, shutters, trim, etc.) so that the brick wall will blend to to white gable?
– What kind of front porch will look good in my house?
I also include some porch pictures I found online just hope that you can easily point out which porch is good for my house. I know you often answer questions on color but from reading your articles, I think that you can also help me with porch.
I am not good in design. All the above ideas just came after reading your articles so I am really appreciate any
suggestion from you.
I think your work will worth a lot for my house so I send you another “Donate” just a way to appreciate your help. I hope you accept it.
Thanks,
Pl
Hi Phu Le,
Take a look at Ben Moore’s Hadley Red HC-65 for the siding in the gable of your house. It should go well with the brick and make the house look less chopped in half. Then you can keep the white trim everywhere and add shutters (black) to dress up the house. As for the porch, I like photo “Porch4” as it looks about the right size for your house. The others are a bit big. The main idea is to enlarge what you currently have — making more of a “portico” than a full porch. White pillars will look very nice!
You’ll want to paint your garage too.
Hope that helps. And thank you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi,
I have recently purchased this 1970’s (??style) home and I am stumped as to what to do to update and give better curb appeal to the exterior. The unattractive roof has to stay along with the almond colored vinyl window. I do plan to have a new garage door installed. I would love recommendations on paint colors, garage door style, shutters (yes or no) and if enclosing the front side yard to the front door is a good idea.
Thanks for your help. Photo attached in earlier e-mail.
Ginger
Hi Ginger,
I do like the dark taupe siding color but I would continue it all the way up the front of the house. The current two-toned look just chops the house in half. Then I suggest using the almond window color for a trim color around the garage door and anywhere else there’s trim. The new garage door might include windows along the top to lighten the overall look from the curb. Right now, there’s only one window on the front of the house. The garage door can stay siding color to enlarge the house.
I would not enclose the side yard (unless there’s a privacy or safety issue) but I would add landscaping in the front that will lead visitors along the sidewalk and around the house to the main entrance. Pots and maybe even lighting along the sidewalk will make a big difference.
I don’t mind the roof at all. It does look good with the taupe color. No need to replace on my account…
Hope I’ve helped. Good luck with your project!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for your reply. I do not know the color of paint currently on the house and have not had luck trying to match; either too pink or peachy…..can you recommend an exact color and style for garage door? I like the carriage doors and have also considered a flush door with windows (more contemporary) but not sure what style would suit the house. Also, what is your opinion on shutters (if so, color?) eventhough I would have to cut into the siding.
Thanks,
Ginger
Hi Ginger,
Here’s a link to a garage door option. Take a look at Pismo Dunes AC-32 (Ben Moore) or Mesa Verde Tan AC-33 for your house color. Since you only have one window on the front of the house, I don’t think a set of shutters will make much impact. I would skip them.
http://www.clopaydoor.com/printvis.aspx?savetovis=1&d1=Size:9'7‘;Type:Grand%20Harbor;Model:Design11;Windows:Faux-Square;Hardware:Strap%20Hinge,%20Spade%20Lift%20Handle,%20Spade%20Step%20Plate;Color:Sandtone&doorimage=49400b7a6de044eca79c800c28f39276.jpg&fromdealer=no
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Ginger,
I just put the link to the photo on the blog. Scroll down and find your original reply and mine should be with it. If you can’t find it, I’ll attach it here.
-Barbara Your Home & Color Coach
> New comment on your post “…House Color” > Author : Ginger (IP: 68.231.194.89 , ip68-231-194-89.oc.oc.cox.net) > E-mail : gazar@cox.net > URL : > Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=68.231.194.89
Hi, Barbara,
Sent pictures via e-mail and made a paypal payment.
We have a “Cedar” roof and are trying to pick siding and trim other than the usual cream and yellows.
We would like a light siding and dark trim.
Would a light green siding and dark green trim work? We concerned it may not.
Your help is appreciated.
Hi Linda & Mike,
Green is fine for the siding color, but the trouble with using a dark green for the trim is that your windows are bright white and they will really stick out if you do not have any other white on the house. White trim would blend your windows into the overall scheme and frame the house nicely. Perhaps not exactly what you wanted to hear.
How about a rich historic green, something like Kennebunkport Green HC-123 from Ben Moore? Any medium-toned green would work, even more of an olive.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks for the answer, Barbara
W are disagreeing over the green.
Do you have another suggestion? We would hate to give up and use the usual beige or cream.
Thanks for your help
Hi Barbara,
We are painting our primary residence in Kansas. Three pictures are attached.
The brick is only on the front, except for a chimney on the back.
Not sure what other information would be helpful.
Photo link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaxyd/?savedsettings=4735973320#photo4735973320
Thank you!
Jackson
jaxd1234@aol.com
Hi Jackson,
Thanks for sending the photos. Perfect!
I suggest a color like Ben Moore’s Texas Leather (AC-3) for your siding. It would look spectacular with your beautiful brick. Then use the current tan siding color, which nicely matches your grout, for the trim color. The garage doors can be the Texas Leather too with the tan trim around the doors.
There’s also Alexandria Beige (HC-77) which is a little lighter but would also pick up the variegation in your brick.
See what you think. And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I’m getting ready to paint the exterior of my beach house – this is a vacation rental that I market on the internet so it needs to convey the idea of the renter’s dream beach vacation. The house was a bright pink when I bought it and really cute but has faded to a hot dull pale pink (almost white) with white trim. I don’t see a way to attached photos but I will email them to you – you can also see photos on the website above. The house is called Periwinkle Cottage and I’m considering a periwinkle blue with white trim and possibly some other accent color, or possibly a rich earthy tan with white trim. The cottage has few interesting details – there are 2 sets of French doors in front and the beach side has old-fashioned metal awnings which I would like to repaint or change out to the wooden Bermuda awnings. The large house next to the cottage is a light tan and house on the other side is large, yellow, and white. I’m not sure I should paint the cottage an intense color and make it stand out sharply against the neighboring houses as all three may not look great together. The roof of my cottage is a light gray – almost white. The interior of the cottage is done in blue, yellow and white. The patio bricks in front are a pink color. I want to do another seating area in back and need recommendations on color of stone pavers for that also. Overall the place looks hot and tired. Can you help? Thanks!
Tharon
Hi Tharon,
How about a soothing violet blue like Sherwin Williams’ Solitude SW 6535? With white trim, it would certainly fit the name of your little cottage! If that’s too purple, try Notable Hue SW 6521, more of a medium denim. The cooler tones on the cottage should make it look less “hot.”
I thought of a light lemon like the living room color but your neighbor has that tone so I jumped to blue. But the light yellow would also work (not as cool-looking though…).
See what you think.
And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We live in a 50’s ranch home with the old asbestos siding which gives it a certain old fashioned look that we love. However, we are updating the property and want the look to be pulled together. We are also installing new landscaping.
You should also know that we are living in a wooded suburban area, so our neighborhood has lots of natural trees and shrubs-very green. So we are seeking a paint scheme reminiscent of the past in some ways when many people has this siding and more up to date in others (retro and yet modern). Also, the north side of our house tends to grow greenish mold/moss? which would be quickly visible on a white or beige color scheme.
Our givens-we have a tan asphalt shingle roof and all our windows are wrapped in white vinyl.
Here are our questions:
What color would you paint the siding to coordinate with those two existing colors?
We also want to put stone facing in two areas and will be constructing a paver walkway to the drive. We would like suggestions for stone facing and sidewalk paver colors.
Two last questions-what colors do you recommend in the garden plantings and if we install canvas awnings, what color should those be? Thanks Jane and Bob
We’ll send picture via email
Hi Jane and Bob,
Since your roof is quite prominent on the house, my suggestion is to blend the house color with the roof. The result will be that the house will look taller — not quite as long and flat as it does now with the tan roof/white siding sharp contrast. Have a look at Ben Moore’s Maryville Brown HC-75. It’s a rich medium brown tone that should coordinate with the orangier tan of the roof. Davenpport Tan HC-76 is not as gold — that will work too. Then the white trim will provide the contrast and the separation between the roof and siding colors.
As for stone, I would get a mix of tans/rusts/grays for the stone on the house. The grays will tie in the white windows and trim and cool the house down a bit. Grays should work well for the driveway/walkway pavers.
As for landscaping, the burning bushes are pretty but they’re a bit overpowering. I would thin them out to a large bush on either side of the porch and then put in a variety of other species, including white (azaleas or white perennials) again to contrast with the rich autumn house colors. Warm pinks and purples will also work with white during the summer but not overlapping the burning bush in the fall. Stick with dark purple and reds for autumn.
The only color you don’t need more of is orange since the roof provides a big dose of that. Creams/whites with accents of purple/pink/lime green (hosta) in the summer and reds/rusts/purple in the fall should do it. Just provide a variety and you’ll update the landscaping instantly. We’ve gotten away from the massive hedge look in favor of more of an English garden look with variety.
For the awnings, I suggest keeping them fairly neutral (or neutral stripe) to avoid overpowering the house.
Hope that helps. And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I’m so overwhelmed! We’re replacing the siding on our house, but not the roof, gutters, fascia, or soffit, so I’m trying to figure out what color siding and trim, as well as garage door and shutters, will go best with the existing reddish brown. I know you recommend paint colors, but if I can’t match your recommended paint shade to an existing siding shade, I can order a custom color.
My favorites siding colors are the dark, rich colors, but my primary concern is that the house looks nice overall. Perhaps I should be go with a light or neutral color for the siding and then paint the garage door and shutters a darker color? But right now, the garage door seems like the most prominent (and least lovely) feature. I’m really lost here! Especially since none of the siding colors seems to have the right tone to match the roof.
Here are pictures of the house as is as well as some of the color options with the siding: http://picasaweb.google.com/catedean/NewSidingChoices?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ6m8qjvgdX2Rw&feat=directlink
The manufacturer has the siding colors here: http://www.mastic.com/products/Siding/Carvedwood%E2%80%A244%E2%84%A2.aspx (Click See Available Colors for Double 4″ Woodgrain, Double 5″ Woodgrain, or Triple 3″ Smooth.)
– The roof, fascia, soffit, and gutters will remain brown.
– The downspouts for the gutters are currently brown but are being replaced so they can be changed to match the new siding or be another color.
– The windows frames will remain white but the window trim, which is currently white, can be changed.
1 What color siding would you recommend?
2 Should the cornerposts, trim around the garage door, and downspouts for the gutters match or contrast the siding?
3 Should the shutters, garage door, and front door match each other? Any color suggestions? Should the garage door be more neutral and the shutter color more prominent?
Thanks so much!
Caitlin
Hi Caitlin,
Well, I narrowed the siding colors down to two: Rugged Canyon and Pebblestone Clay. They’re hard to distinguish on-screen, but either should complement the roof. The Montanna Suede was a little dark, and I thought the other green/blue/gray tones accented the roof color too much. This way the roof and siding will blend and not call attention to the roof. Then use the same siding color for the house cornerposts, but I suggest white around the garage door. For the door itself you can pick a paint color a shade darker, lighter, or even the same as the house color. Again, we’re not trying to call attention to the garage door. The downspouts should match the siding.
White window trim is fine. I suggest black for the shutters and maybe even the door to go with the black lighting. That will also neutralize the warm colors on the rest of the house. You can pick up the red roof colors with your plantings, but I probably would not introduce a different door color on your home as there’s a lot of color already. The black will dress up the entryway.
See what you think. And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Wow, thanks so much, Barbara!
I am shocked by the recommendation of black shutters and black front door with all the brown. I’ve been so focused on the roof color that I forgot about those black fixtures. Would it be better to replace them in a different color? If not, I’ll definitely try the black to dress it up as you suggested, as the entryway is really bland. Painting the door and shutters is easy; It’s the siding that I really don’t want to make the color mistake on!
On the siding, is it better to err on the side of dark (Rugged Canyon) or light (Pebblestone Clay)?
Thanks again!
Cait
Hi Caitlin,
I think black will be fine but if you feel like replacing the lighting, oil-rubbed bronze will work and so will nickel/pewter. If you do replace the lighting, write me back and we’ll rethink the shutter color.
As for the siding, it really boils down to which color looks best with the roof. If you can get a large sample to prop up next to the roof (much like you held the smaller ones), and stand back and take a look, you’ll be better able to visualize. Wish I were there to see the undertones, etc. But I tend to like the richer colors (myself) so if you asked me to pick one, I might go with the darker one. The roof will be less of a feature if it’s blended in with the house color more than it is currently. (Not that it’s bad — but it does stand out as the feature you see first when you look at the house — with a darker house color, that won’t happen.)
One final note: make sure you check with the dealer about fading. That might influence you one way or the other.
Hope that helps a little more.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I contacted you in April about this house. I have removed all of the black wrought iron. Put in a curved walkway with sedona pavers (gray and terra cotta) and the table mesa brown rock edging. The pavers pick up the color of the tile roof and the Briarwood taupe that I painted the garage doors. I also repainted the front door red. I put in small palms on either side of the archway. As you see, I have not painted the trim on the house yet. Also, note that the windows are the dark brown aluminum.
The trim is still the light peachy color. To me, things still look blah. You suggested the Briarwood for the trim. Do you still think that is good? Would love to get your ideas now that some changes have taken place. I will send pictures to your yahoo email. Thanks.
Hi Pat,
I love the curved front walkway to your arched entry! And I think the Briarwood garage doors blend nicely. Now, as you say, we need some pop. I really like what I see around the front door. It looks like white and it really makes the brick look creamy and the tile roof look great! So instead of staying earth-neutral with the rest of the trim, how about white? I think that will create the contrast that’s needed now that the ironwork is gone.
Other suggestions: Two giant pots, one on either side of the small palms, with color and greenery would really draw the eye to the arched entry. The small palms are fine where they are, but another 3 feet of color/greenery on either side of them would frame out that doorway more dramatically. If not pots (and they would need to be big!), then a flowering shrub on either side with a variety of other plantings.
Now that you have the walkway, you can begin to fill in on either side with additional color and greenery. You also might consider something tall in your front yard (I know palms are expensive but one would look terrific on the street side of the walkway). It’s quite an expanse of grass at the moment. One final suggestion is to replace the lighting with larger fixtures in oil-rubbed bronze (without the yellow clear glass this time). Larger lights again will help to frame out that entryway and make it look more dramatic.
I hope that helps. See what you think. We’re moving away from Mexican style and moving a little more toward Mediterranean — okay with you? I think it works!
And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Please explain to me how to attach a picture to my question
Hi Bill,
You can put a link to a photo album in this reply box or attach a photo to an email and send to bmeglis@yahoo.com. My color coach email gets bogged down so the yahoo account is a sure thing.
Thank you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, I e-mailed you a lengthy, confusing cry for help concerning the exterior of my house. I have reached the Point of No Return (29 stain colors and counting!) and desperately need your expert advice. Pictures are also attached.
Thanks so much for your help,
Amy
Hi Amy,
Actually I do love the color of your house (very similar to my own) but I understand how you can get tired of it after awhile.
How about picking up some of the more sophisticated grayer tones in your stone? Take a look at Ben Moore’s Shenandoah Taupe AC-36, a medium taupe that would look terrific with both the stone and the cream trim, and Equestrian Gray 1553, a greener taupe that might give a little more contrast with your windows. Hard to tell exactly on the screen.
Either way, I suggest moving toward the cooler tones for your home. They will accent the wonderful cream trim as well as the warmer tones in the stonework and make the house look freshly updated and new.
Hope that gets you started.
Again, so sorry for the long delay. Jet lag…
And thanks for visiting my website. Good luck with your project.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I have a brick house and am trying to decide on a new front door color. We have already decided on the type of door (link included) but have to decide on a stain. On the recommendation of the painter/door company we are choosing a Minwax Gel Stain. We are trying to decide between 1)Mahogany, 2)Red Elm, 3) Brazilian Rosewood, and 4)Chestnut. We want a darker color but not too dark or too red. We also will be putting new shutters on (link below). The door is fiberglass (Thermatru) but the goal is to make it look as much like a wood door as possible.
Thanks Frank
Gel Colors
http://www.minwax.com/products/stains/gel_stain.html#Colors
House:
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kT07z4nR7rN-rv_djqeXlA?feat=directlink
Old Door: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QfpV_e0R95QnInJLw3svVQ?feat=directlink
New Door (for style)
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/JuL5MGmD_7n83uqfqt8a8g?feat=directlink
New Shutters
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1TjfMb7Dcz6oMCClSPGdIA?feat=directlink
Hi Frank,
The one I can eliminate right away is the Chestnut — I think it will be too orange for your brick. The Rosewood tends to be quite intense — very burgundy — but would probably work. The Red Elm looks like a sure thing, and everyone seems to love the Mahogany stain because it just looks rich!
So I’m not sure I’ve helped. What I suggest is that you at least take scrap wood (I know it’s not the same as your fiberglass door, but it will give you an idea of what the stain can look like) and do a sample of the three I mentioned. Or maybe you can narrow it down to two based on my description. Then put the sample up agains the brick, not against the green door because that color is going away. It’s the brick you need to be concerned about and the trim color will be fine too. Prop the sample against the brick and then walk to the street and look back. Even though it’s a small sample, you’ll be able to tell instantly which color you prefer with your brick.
Although the color on the fiberglass will be different because of the base material, the overall color that comes through will be the same. It’s a good test and you’ll save the time and trouble of staining the whole door and not liking it!
Hope that seems reasonable.
And again, sorry for the long delay!
Good luck.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I wanted to your professional opinion regarding house color. Our house is a lovely mustard color (yuck) that I absolutely despise. We live in San Diego, CA and wanted to bring light to the house. I wanted to paint the stucco a beige/creamy color, the part that confuses me is that we have stucco, wood and brick. The garage doors are beige, we aren’t opposed to painting them but if we could get away with it I would love to use brown tones and no greens or blues, that seems everyone suggests to go with beigey color.
Also if you could recommend a color for the cement pillars and the cinderblock wall around and the cement around the pool area.
Hi Kelly,
Yes, your current house is hot — especially for San Diego! I like your idea of cooling it down with a nice neutral siding color (same for both stucco and wood) to counterbalance the warmth of the brick and the back pool tile area.
Have a look at Ben Moore’s Antique Parchment 959 as a possibility — it’s a creamy tan without being too yellow (Ocean Beach also works). And I would definitely use dark brown as your trim color, again to cool the brick down. (Greens and blues will only make the brick look warmer so no need to worry about going in that direction.)
Another idea is to REALLY cool the house down with a gray-tan like Ashen Tan 996. No yellow in that color at all but the only possibility is that it might take on the pink tones in your brick (taupes tend to do that) and you might not like that. But it’s worth a try as it’s quite a sophisticated color and would contrast nicely with your warm tones. White trim would be best for that color but you could still use the dark bronze for your ironwork. There’s enough brown in the brick for that to work.
Either way (cream/brown or gray-tan/white), your house will be transformed with the paint job. You will be shocked and pleased at the end result.
As for your pool area, I strongly suggest a neutral tan/gray (either one) for the hardscape around the pool to contrast with the reds/oranges of the beautiful tile.
Providing some cool contrast to your brick and tile will make your house a real knock-out! Good luck with the project!
Thanks for visiting my blog — and again, so sorry you had to wait so long for a response.
All the best,
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi
Glad to have found you. I’m going for the ugliest house in the neighborhood. It’s orange!! ok, peach with a yellow cream trim. Please pick us colors. We’ve already paid a stager and they came up with battleship gray.
I have commented under each picture at ladesign.shutterfly.com . I did not mean to make a website but, oh well, whatever works.
My favorite is the first picture of Paris you have on your site. Something I’ve always wanted. And I saw a garage door with a stain over the paint with the pretend iron hinges.
We have been debating on painting the brick since it’s only prominent on one wall but the vast majority of the neighborhood is brick. We are in Georgia with mostly traditional houses.
Ours is the only one with so much siding on the front unless it’s a total siding house. We’ve even considered cedar instead of siding but can’t find any examples. We’re lost.
Got a painter picked out and he wants to use Porter Paints. ?? would like a comment on that paint company and sheen too for each color.
House: red/orange mixed brick with brown and dark gray, yellowish cream trim/windows/garage, aluminum storm windows, natural wood front door, covered by the ugly brown storm door.
The sad note, we want to sell the house but want to be happy and proud of it while we’re here.
Payment was from Ray Young but please use my email.
can’t wait to make this beautiful
Lee Ann
Hi Lee Ann,
I too love the subtleties of the soft creams, but I think with your brick and the prominent blue-gray roof, the creams might get overpowered. See what you think of this idea: Consider Lenox Tan (Ben Moore HC-44) for the siding color. It’s a neutral — certainly not as peachy as what you have currently. Then for the trim, you could use almost any cream but Sail Cloth (Ext) works well. Not too yellow.
The shutters are the real challenge. You can certainly go with black, but the roof is very blue. We can either play off of that with dark blue-gray shutters (Abyss 2128-20) for a blended look or use an additional accent color like Caponata (AF-650), a dark eggplant that would look spectacular with your brick as well as the front door brown and the siding. Something a little different from your neighbors, perhaps.
See what you think.
And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
My husband and I have been searching for the right color to paint our house. It is a traditional style colonial home. Last year, we replaced our old cedar roof with an architectual roof in the brown family to try to create the same cedar look without the maintanence.
After reading many of your comments, we realize that we have to paint our house brown, tan, green, yellow or red to coordinate with the new roof. The house is currently a light taupe which doesn’t really pop-out. The trim work is currently painted white to match the window encasements/grids. The door is currently a deep red. The old fasioned shutters are black.
We are not committed to anything but the new brown roof and the white trim due to the existing windows. Since it is a tradtional flat front home, the color scheme needs to be pulled together and be distinct. What color scheme would your recommend? Is red too much on this size house? Are there any helpful websites which you would also recommend that may give visuals for the color scheme?
Please advise us if you wish us to forward to you a picture of our house. If so, please notify us of the proper email address for the possible photograph.
We would appreciate any direction which you can offer to us. Thank you!
Hi Marissa,
I would love to see a photo of your house with the new brown roof. You can forward a photo to me at bmeglis@yahoo.com and I’ll get right back to you with some color palette options.
Thanks for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Marissa,
Take a look at Jackson Tan HC-46 (Ben Moore) — a rich cocoa that should coordinate beautifully with your roof and really pop off the white trim. For greens, look at Wethersfield Moss HC-10 — an earthy medium olivey green that again should work well with the new roof color. Both of those colors also should work with the rustic siding texture that you have. We’ll want to blend a little with the roof and not stand out too much.
The black shutters are classic, but if you’re planning to replace them in the near future, a narrow version would be preferable so the shutters do not touch. Black is still good for a true New England look.
See what you think of those colors. And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello, my name is Sandra and I live in Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada. We purchased a house about 11years ago and had to do a lot of renos to it inside. It is about 55 years old (the same age as me, haha). It has many beautiful warm features about it with big windows and the layout is welcoming and flows from one room to another nicely.
Unfortunately, last winter we had a severe storm on New Years Day. Part of our roof blue off (lost hundreds of shingles, right down to the bear boards) along with a lot of water damge to our living room and upstairs guest room.
We recently had the roof patched up until we decide what colour we want.
Our house’s siding is a very faded blue/gray in colour. The siding colour has lightened alot of the past 10 years (it was not a colour we would have chose, but it was almost new on the house when we bought it).
I would love to put a deep red roof on it because we have red brick fireplace. It currently has white shutters and a WHITE steel front door (with sidelights and oval middle cut class/with brass handles, etc.) I would also love to change the front door colour (perhaps to match the deep red roof?) How would that look with the light blue/gray siding and white shutters?
Thank you for your help in this matter.
Hi Sandra,
Thanks for sending the photos — they helped a lot. Your house truly is on the gray side of blue and although I understand how you’d like to coordinate the roof color with your red brick chimney, I’m afraid the red roof might overpower your more delicate blue-gray palette on the house. Red is a very dominant color and red roofs really make a huge statement. They are best paired with completely neutral, creamy siding colors so the roof is allowed to take center stage. That’s not to say you cannot use brick red as an accent color and I love the idea of painting the front door a brick color like Ben Moore’s Boston Brick 2092-30 or even the redder Maple Leaf Red 2084-20. Either of those colors would look terrific on your blue-gray house.
As for roof alternatives, take a look at Pewter Gray from GAF Timberline Natural Shadow Shingles. I think it would look smashing with your house color and would make the house look bigger too. Also, keeping the roof in the same color family as the house color will allow you to take full advantage of your accent color (brick red) without overpowering the overall look of the house. You can have brick red doors, lawn furniture, flowers without becoming chained to a brick red roof for the next 20 years.
The foundation color is fine with your house. No need to change.
Special note: If you do go with a brick red door, you’ll want to change out the pink annuals for white/orange/yellow/purple/red next summer. That’s a pretty easy fix.
Hope that helps you with your roof color decisions. And thank you again for your nice note.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We are looking for paint colors for our split level home. The brick has a lot of orange tones in it and I’m not sure how to match the siding color. I’ve been looking at taupe or a tan with olive tone but need some guidance. Thank you and I look forward to your advice.
Hi Joni,
Have you looked at blending the brick and siding to make the house look bigger? Check out Ben Moore’s Tuscany 1208, Nugget AC-9 and Butte Rock AC-8 and and see if one of those is a good fit with the terra cotta tones in your brick. Then you could pull in the roof by using Kendall Charcoal HC-166 for the shutters and front door. Add some cream and dark purple to your landscaping (white hydrangeas in front would be luscious with dark purple pansies for your annuals).
See what you think. And thank you for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, thanks so much for your suggestions. I tried out the 3 siding colors and liked Butte Rock the best. I am less sure about the Kendall Charcoal for the shutters – it looks like it has green in it? But I’m no decorator! I like a dark grey or black for the shutters but is there another darker grey that might look good? Tell me what you think, or if you think Kendall charcoal would be the best choice. thanks so much for your help, it’s great. Joni
Hi Joni,
Glad you liked the Butte Rock — it looks great with your brick. Yes, the Kendall Charcoal has green undertones so have a look at Raccoon Fur 2126-20. That one looks like a deep charcoal gray — should go with your roof as well as the brick and dress up the house nicely. Any charcoal (just on the gray side of black — black is too harsh for your delicate roof color) should work.
Thanks for letting me know that you reposted. I scroll through but do not get notices. Thank you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, I posted last August about house paint color, and love your suggestions for Butte Rock and Kendall Charcoal for the shutters. We are just starting to paint and I’m excited to get the new colors up. I wanted to ask about the front door – with my house, is it best to stick with the same color as the shutters, or is there another color I could choose that would be a good complement? What about a color like Onondaga Clay? Also, I can resend the photo of the house if it no longer shows up on your blog. thanks so much for your help, it’s been great.
Hi!
I’m having my house painted and need some professional help! We have chosen BM Gloucester Sage for the body, as I wanted a deep, rich color for my old weather home. I’m having second thoughts, however, it’s too late to change my mind, so I’m just going to run with it. Maybe I’m just adjusting to going from red to this gray/brown/green that we have chosen.
I’m looking for advice on trim color that would liven things up a bit. We’re looking at BM Monterey White for trim, as it has some yellow tones that I thought might make things brighter, but I’m not sure if that’s the way to go.
I may add shutters, and don’t know if the shutters should coordinate with the trim, or if I should use that opportunity to bring in some color? I’m leaning towards a barely off white foundation.
We will be painting the front porch, should that be the trim color? And what about the house wall within the porch? I’m thinking something lighter then the body of the house, but what? And the porch and basement door! Help!
Hope you can help soon, as the painters will be getting to work as soon as is safe to (it’s raining right now).
I will attempt to post a picture, hope it works! If not, maybe I can email it?
Thank you ever so much!
Amy
Hi Amy,
Yes, I would love to see a photo if you can email it to me at bmeglis@yahoo.com. I couldn’t get into your photobucket account. Sorry about that.
You’re right, there is that initial shock of changing the color from a hot red to a cool gray-green, but don’t panic. I’m sure it will be fine as soon as the whole house is painted. I do like the idea of warming up the trim color, but have a look at Bone White with your Gloucester Sage. The Bone White is a very soft neutral and not as yellow so the overall look is well coordinated with less sharp contrast.
Although I wouldn’t necessarily recommend painting the inside wall of the porch a different color — I’ll take a look at your photo — if you feel the sage is just way too dark, move to Clarksville Gray HC-102 for the porch wall. Yes, the porch trim should be the trim color.
You didn’t mention your window color, but I assume they’re white? The bone will be fine around the windows.
As for doors, wait until the whole house is painted, then decide on the door color. You might want to go with a Georgian Brick HC-50 — that would be really nice! — or something like Shelburne Buff HC-28.
See if that gets you started. And thank you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara, I have emailed a house photo. It’s not a very large photo, but hopefully it will give you an idea of what I’m working with. Any further tweeks on your color suggestions for porch wall, trim, shutters (and recommendations of where to put shutters if at all) would be terrific! I forgot that I should consider the color of the retaining wall!
PS I really like the Georgian Brick suggestion!
Thanks again,
Amy
Hi,
I am looking for a color for my 1930’s colonial…my roof is light grey. Right now the house is a blue grey with back shutters. I do not know the color grey….I am considering keeping the house grey/blue but am having a hard time picking the grey?
I did find a green house with white trim/black shutters that is louisburg green hc 113..but that house had a black roof??…would that color work with a light grey roof?
Thanks for any help you can provide
Hi Mary,
Just emailed you back with a couple of ideas. You can certainly stay with the blue-grey but I thought you might like a change. The taupes, Briarwood (Ext) and Berkshire Beige (AC-2), would work with your light gray roof but would add some warmth to the house. Either would also go with your stone wall in the front as well as the white trim and black accents. The Louisburg Green does look better with either a dark charcoal or brown roof, but take a look at Brewster Gray HC-162. It’s gray with a little bit of green– a very nice combo with your roof.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi,
I hope you received the donation.
I have a 50’s vintage natural cedar sided home. The cedar tone ranges from
orange to dark brown. The trim is a medium-dark, somewhat bright green.
Recently we replaced the garage doors. I had intended to paint the doors
green like before, but my wife really liked the stock white color of the
doors. I admit I like the color too. Further, the old door was a simple
panel and stile frame door, while the new door has a carriage house look. I
think changes are needed to integrate this new look into the rest of the
house. I want to replace the front door but have realized that the style
and finish of the door I choose is dependent on resolving the color scheme
of the house. Your help it that regard would be greatly appreciated.
Some further background. The garage door is the most visible aspect of the
house from the street. The front door is not visible from the street,
obscured by a hedge and large tree. The door is visible from the driveway
which is where the gate entrance is located. The timber-frame style fence
and gate should also be considered in these choices. Our far northern
location means snow cover for six months out of the year with long hours of
darkness and twilight; therefore colors should take that into
consideration. The house seems to me a mix of rustic timber-frame and
English country cottage.
For trim, I had thought to paint the windows white and leave the trim
green. Other options might be to replace the brick mold with cedar trim for
a more rustic look. I’m not sure I like the idea of replacing the green
trim with white, but that is a possibility. The windows are sash style. We
have dividers and they look great, but are a maintenance hassle and break
the view, so we removed them.
For the front door, we are leaning towards a ¼ window style or retain the
current small peep hole stained glass eight panel colonial molded door
style. We like the craftsman style door with art deco window, but not sure
the style would work. The simple recessed panel style would probably go
with the exterior siding but may clash with our existing six panel colonial
molded interior doors and trim. Not sure if art deco stained glass works
with the divider windows on the garage.
Another option is to go with ¼ window style and three panel colonial (goes
with interior) with either art deco glass or six pane dividers. The six
pane dividers would tie in well with the garage door and move us more into
an English country cottage look, especially if we painted the windows and
door white… and put the accursed window dividers back up. However the glass
is transparent and we are not sure if we like the loss of privacy. Further
the white could be a little monotonous through our long winters.
A slightly interesting option is a rustic vertical panel door with no
window. It would accent the rustic look, be weather-efficient, and I think
go with the exterior, but would clash with the interior and not provide a
peep window or light.
The final option I know of is to stick with our current door style. It is
weather efficient, provides privacy and ability to see someone at the door,
lets a little light in and seems to go with anything. However it is a
little boring and makes no real statement about the house.
The door color choices I know of are white, green, or stained wood. My
artist friend suggested a red orange color in which my wife and I both like
the idea of.
We are open to ideas and would appreciate some suggestions to help us make
some decisions. I can send photos if helpful.
Thanks
Hi Dennis,
I know exactly what kind of garage door you have, but I would love to see a photo of your house. If you could drop a link into this reply box or attach a photo to an email and send to bmeglis@yahoo.com, I’ll be sure to take a look. I’m sure we can incorporate the white garage door into the overall scheme but would love to see a photo before giving you a suggestion.
Thanks, Dennis!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Love your website. I paid thru PayPal. Also submitted 2 photos of my house to your email address. We need help in selecting paint colors for our 1968 ranch style house. We have white vinyl windows and light gray roof. The previous owner painted the house a beige which has a lot of pink undertones. From reading your blog we liked the Nantucket gray/Elephant Tusk combo with Sedona clay door. Don’t know if that would work for this house though. White, light blue, grey, or yellow are all pleasing colors but we just can’t out it all together! Thank you for any ideas you can provide us!!
Gerry
Hi Gerry,
With your gray roof, the Nantucket Gray will work, but frankly I’d rather see you use a gray like Coventry Gray HC-169 which will look spectacular with your roof and white trim. White Heron OC-57 would be nice for the trim as long as it goes okay with your white vinyl windows. Then how about a sunny yellow like York Harbor Yellow 2154-40 for the front door and accents? A fabulous combination!!
Hope that helps get you started.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We have a brick house with a white front door and white garage door. I have e-mailed pictures and made a donation. I would like to paint the front door and garage door, leaving the white trim. The roof is Barkwood (dark brown), and the bricks multi-colored. I am attaching a picture of the house and a close-up of the bricks. I am open to painting the front door and garage door a different color. I am thinking maybe a burgandy for the front door and a lighter color for the garage door, but am not sure.
Andy
Hi Andy,
One option would be to use Yosemite Sand AC-4 for your garage door, picking up on the sandy tones in your brick, and then a richer version, New Chestnut AC-6, for your front door. It ties in with the roof color but adds a little more body to that entry area. I like the white trim.
Another idea is to go a little less conventional/predictable and pick a light warm gray for your garage door (Revere Pewter HC-172)– that color cools the house down while picking up on the grout color. Then you could still use a warm brown for the front door, the same light gray, or a cool taupey brown like Berkshire Beige AC-2 (a little more sophisticated palette, perhaps).
Since your brick is so orange and I don’t see any burgundy in it (could be my screen), I would not use a burgundy or dark purple for your front door. But if there is burgundy in the brick, try Townsend Harbor Brown HC-64 for your door color. It’s a nice rich shade that usually goes quite well with multi-colored brick.
See what you think. And thanks again.
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Babarba,
I just paid the donation and have a question for you regarding my house. I have had trouble selling the house and feel it’s due to curb appeal. I had the house painted a “chocolate” brown as it had been in the past and the painters walked away and never did any of the trim. I am left then with the house painted brown but with no trim. I need ideas on trim choices as well of anything else you might think of that will help me to grab a buyers attention. I have beautiful flower gardens and a gold fish pond off to one side of the house. This house sits at the top of the hill as you drive into our subdivision and has ~ 1 acre of lawn as you come up the hill. 1/2 mine and 1/2 neighbors who plan on leaving it lawn. I am comfortable in re inventing the deck on the front or the back of the house. I just don’t have any more thoughts. I live 45 minutes from my work place and am going back to school for my DNP otherwise I wouldn’t even think of selling the house. Thanks so much in advance for your wonderful help. please forward me an email as to where you would like the pics sent.
Hi Carol,
Right now you have a massive expanse of dark brown and the blue door is a little too cool as well. I think the brown is overwhelming the house and the buyers. Have a look at these colors as possible trim colors for your house. Trimming out the house in one of these dark but warm colors will add back the architectural detail to your house (it will also blend better with the colonials around you) and will make the house more inviting from the road.
Georgian Brick (Ben Moore HC-50)
Copper Mountain (AC-12)
A third color is a possibility for accent although it provides a lot more contrast than the other two so you might not want it for all the trim: Springfield Tan AC-5
Test them out first — you’ll see a huge difference in the house with another color added. Use the brick foundation as your palette to test out the colors. Must go with that.
Another suggestion is to add more landscaping. The house looks a bit bare with the small plantings in front of the wall and deck. Several taller shrubs will break up the wall of brown and add interest. I know it’s late in the season but those gorgeous white/cream hydrangeas would be really nice in front of your house. Creams will provide the biggest dramatic impact because of the contrast. Also some lime green hostas (if you have any shade??) would be a great contrasting color. Especially with the white/cream shrubs. Then plant some evergreens that will keep their color all year.
Adding a warm color to your house palette and a few well-placed plantings especially along that front wall will help the curb appeal.
I didn’t notice a walkway to the front door. That might be a bit “off-putting” as well. Flagstones or even a pea-gravel walkway will at least show prospective buyers where the front door is. Plantings, of course, on either side will help lead the way.
And that’s it. The house looks like it’s in excellent condition and it shouldn’t be a hard sell at all. Just some cosmetic additions and you’re good to go!
Hope that helps. And thank you again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
My wife and I are looking for some exterior color advice for a 1900 Victorian farmhouse (Queen Anne inspired) we are restoring here in New England. We’ve been challenged by choosing colors that would ‘work’ best with those that we really like.
As you can see from the pictures, the lower front section is covered with slate (which used to be on the roof?) and the roof is now a dark gray shingle (it has light grey and brown flecks up close). I’m not fond of the slate on the front, but due to the number of projects we have going on, it is going to stay for now. In addition, the original clapboard on the lower sections of the house have been covered by cedar shingles, which removes a lot of trim work that should be there for color accents (and to visually ‘break’ it up).
We are hoping to find a color scheme that remains true to the historical properties of the house/region, one that will tie everything together, and, of course, one we really like!
*All early signs have pointed to gray/blue, but my wife is hoping there are other options!
http://s983.photobucket.com/albums/ae320/hollo93/
We look forward to your comments!
Regards,
Brian and Jessica Holloway
Hi Brian and Jessica,
I noticed that your neighbors one one side have a green house and the ones on the other side have a gray house. So, with that in mind, I’ve taken a look at the slate on the front of your house, the brick steps, and the roof. And in true Victorian fashion, I’ve come up with a couple of different color palettes that include about five colors each. I know some of your detail has been removed, but I still see corbels and other architectural embellishments along the roof line and on your front porch. Plus you have the carriage house as well with different siding materials there. I’m not sure if you want to paint your windows since some of them look new (along the sunporch?) but that may also be an option for adding color.
You’re right, blue is a great color with your blue-green slate but I would go darker and richer with Ben Moore’s Philipsburg Blue HC-159. Then for your possible accent colors, how about brick (Georgian Brick HC-50 or Audubon Russet HC-51), Bone White (in place of your current white), Springfield Tan (AC-5 or Yosemite Sand AC-4), and the current slate-like color on the porch bannister.
Another palette might include a rich camel/tan for the body (Butte Rock AC-8) and a slate green (Duxbury Gray) for trim as well as Georgian Brick and even the eggplant Caponata (AF-650) for accent colors. With this combo, you could leave windows white.
Distributing the color around the house and carriage house, varying the color with each change in materials will create a very interesting and historic-looking house.
See what you think. The color combos are endless, of course, but use what’s there and not going anywhere (your roof, slate, brick and grout) as the foundation for your color scheme. As long as the colors in your palette are either in those materials or complement/accent them (the blue/white), then the palette will work.
Hope that helps. And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Help!! I have a few days to decide on our exterior colors. We have a 1978 two-story “colonial”. The front bottom half is brick, and the rest is siding. We’re getting new white vinyl windows, gutters, soffits, garage door, and we’re trying to pick siding, shutters, and roof colors to match. Our roof choices are from the IKO, Cambridge selection, and our siding choices are from the Mastic/Quest3 series. We live in Downingtown, Chester county. Our property is shaded, and the front of our house faces South/Southeast.
The shutter and door colors I like are deep, brick red or a “Hazelwood” green (not hunter green or olive green, but a grey-undertoned green). Our neighbors on both sides have black shutters, which look great, but I’d like to be different. I’ve been trying to match the siding to the brick and mortar, as well as deciding what shutters would look great. Sometimes it’s a matter of blending the shutters with the siding (like “pebblestone clay” with darker shutters) or making the shutters “pop” (like “Desert Sand” or “Sandtone” with darker shutters) The “Wicker” siding looks good with the brick, but it has a green undertone, and I don’t know if I could also go with the green shutters with that. Ahhh! I’m open to any suggestions. I took pictures, and I’m trying to figure out how to send them. Thank you so very much for having this site, and for helping me.
Stacey
Hi Stacey,
I like Wicker siding with your brick — the green undertones really bring out the depth in your brick colors. For your roofing choices, frankly I like the dark charcoal of the dual black. The other choices, browns/grays/weathered wood are not just right with your brick colors — at least on my screen. You can’t really go wrong with a dark charcoal — there’s a nice contrast between that and the siding and trim. Having said that, if the weathered wood works with your brick, I do like the medium tones for making a house look updated. But if you go with a medium tone like weathered wood, you’d need to lighten the siding color to maintain a contrast. White trim will work for either color scheme.
As for the shutters, I would wait until the roof is on and the siding is on before deciding about the door and shutters. I do like the dark brick red as long as it goes with your brick. If you paint, Boston Brick (Ben Moore) might work. For vinyl, be sure to check the reds against your brick. And remember there are lots of shutters so you would have to love the red. Any color in your brick (the darker gray-green shades) should be fine. I’m not sure if any of the vinyl colors work. I would opt for paint so you can be sure of a good match.
Hope this helps. Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I sent my pictures to your email. Thank you.
stacey
Me again…just to clarify, we’re getting everything new. The brick is the only thing staying, so I can work with any color combinations.
Hi Barbara,
I am so glad I found your website because I need your help. We are trying to pick a color to paint the outside of our house. We are in the process of getting all of our windows replaced with white vinyl windows. You will see in the picture(I will email to your address above) that all of them are done except the front box window. That will be completed later this week. Our roof is rustic cedar in color. We have a small amount of brick on either side of our front door. Looking forward to your suggestions.
Thanks, Janine
Hi Janine,
With your rustic cedar roof, how about Yosemite Sand AC-4 for the body with the unexpected Chambourd AF-645 (an eggplant color) for shutters. White dove will work for trim since you have white windows. You could use the same Chambourd for the doors.
See what you think of that color combination.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Those colors are which brand of paint? I would love to take a look but don’t know where to go to get samples
-Janine
Hi Janine,
Both colors are Benjamin Moore, the AF is the Affinity Collection, and the AC is the America’s Colors Collection. They should have both at a Ben Moore store or even online.
Hope that clarifies.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I like the idea of a tan for the siding and the white trim. I bought a quart of the Yosemite tan and it seems too pink toned for me when I put a larger sample out on the house. We have looked at Crewel Tan (more green in that one) Any other ideas for tans? I will send another picture to you.
Hi Janine,
If the Yesemite Sand has too much of a pink tone, try either Manchester Tan HC-81 or Monroe Bisque HC-26. The Manchester has a little more gray in it — no pink — so it will contrast with your roof. The Bisque has a touch more yellow in it — still tan. One of those will work perfectly. Thanks for checking back in!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We are doing a new roof first and new exterior paint.We like SW 6187 rosemary or SW 6208 pewter green.What color roof would you suggest? I was thinking a grey.We will be doing a white trim for windows. We need a new front door and garage door also.We live in California and our house has very clean lines we would like to do a teak or natural stained fence also.I would love your thoughts.
Donna
Hi Donna,
Check out Certainteed’s Driftwood for your roof color. Weathered wood might also work especially if you’re using a teak fence. Both of these colors have a touch of brown in them. For, gray there’s Georgetown Gray. It will work but it’s a little cool for the gray-green house color. I do like the idea of using teak for your wood color — it will warm up the house.
See what you think of those choices.
And thank you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Donna,
Can you get Mountain Timber in your area? I plugged in your zip code and it did pop up. That might work just as well as Driftwood. Check it out…
Weathered Wood will definitely go too.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Certainteed no longer has a driftwood,is there a similar color to it that Certainteed has?We do like the Weathered wood.Thanks so much for your input.The roofer was here tonight and we were able to tell him the samples we were interested in.
Donna
Greetings Barbara,
We are writing to see if you have any suggestions for a roof and house color combination. We live in the south, so we would like a lighter roof and we are thinking a true light gray for the house color. We have white trim, and would like to keep that crispness. Our close neighbors have a light green house, another has a blue gray house. We are open for suggestions and would like a tried and true combination. Attempting to find a unique (not 100% bland) combination but one that has curb appeal since we plan to move in 7-8 years. We are picking from the GAF Timberline 30 year Architectural shingles. There is a tax deduction for white shingles but these may be too light for our taste. We are getting the roof done then will paint sometime after.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Robert & Reba
Hi Robert & Reba,
With a Fox Hollow Gray roof, you could go with a Stonington Gray HC-170 (Ben Moore) house color and maintain that crispness with the white trim. But have you considered a warm yellow with your light gray roof? Something like Hawthorne Yellow HC-4? With new nickel lighting/metal everywhere, the combo would be fresh yet traditional and would certainly appeal to buyers in the future. Also, a warm color between your two neighbors will definitely attract attention!
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I’ve been a long time lurker and am excited to finally be able to ask questions about the exterior of our reno.
We’ll be moving in soon and want to get rid of the jail-like look to the exterior. We’ve got a peach and tan color brick 60’s ranch. We’ve added a dormer and larger porch overhang to break up some of the flatness of the house.
We’re looking for help with the trim, garage doors, front door, siding, gutters, and down spout colors to tone down the brick. The house is very long, so the brick kind of overpowers everything. We thought of adding shudders and landscaping to compliment and contrast it, but are kind of out of our league here.
We installed a new dark roof. I wish I had saw the blog sooner now after reading posts where you suggest not to have multi color shingles on multi-color brick, because it can look too busy. I hope the pictures I emailed you don’t give you a migraine. 😦
Let me know if you’d like to see any other angles, or materials planned. Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Sheed and Bran,
First of all your roof is just fine. No problem with that investment at all. But, I think I know why you are struggling with curb appeal from the street. At least on my screen, the arrangement of bricks creates a zig-zag effect that is a touch dizzying and it has nothing at all to do with the roof. So, although you clearly stated that painting is not an option at this time (and I do understand it is a big commitment), I am very positive that you should paint at your earliest convenience. A wonderful Ashley Gray HC-87 with white trim would look spectacular with your roof. Or a Rockport Gray HC-105. Both have just a touch of green so there’s also the taupey Mt. Rushmore Rock AC-39 or Mesa Verde Tan (AC-33). Either of those would also work well with your roof. Blending a bit with the roof color will make your house look more grand and less horizontal.
Having said that, if you are truly not able to paint anytime soon, focus on creating lots of opportunities to use trim and use it liberally. Sounds like you’re doing that with the enhanced entry and gable. Very nice. Bone White (if you can paint what is currently white) will blend in with the brick a bit and then the gray tone of Mt. Rushmore Rock AC-39 on the gable and garage door should tone the brick down. The idea is to blend the brick in with the rest of the house. Try a little sample of that or the other taupe and see if you like the effect of blending the taupe with the orange brick.
See what you think. The landscaping, of course, will make a huge difference as will your accessories. But first, the siding…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We are currently updating this tri-level home and want a soft contemporary look. The roof has been replaced with a “weathered wood” color architectural shingle (I think it should have been Barkwood, but…too late now) since this photo was taken. The double front doors are being replaced with a centered, single, 36″ door flanked by 20″ sidelights, both door and sidelights will be glass top to bottom with just the trim color showing. My question(s):
What color should we paint the siding?
What color should we use for the door and window trim (this will be done in stages, for now all lower level windows and front door, others next spring).
Should we paint the orange brick too?
We are using Marvin windows and I love their “Bronze” cladding for windows, but do you think “Pebble Gray” would be better since it’s neutral?
We are planning to change the wrought iron on the front porch to square columns. Landscaping will also be rehabilitated this fall and next spring.
Thank you for your help!!!
Wendy O
Hi there! I am so glad to have found your site. We are looking to purchase a 1978 home that is desperated need of a makeover inside and out, but we first want to focus on the exterior.
It is half brick and half aluminum. The brick is white, pink and red. We have been told that we should be able to powerwash the brick to it’s original red color. I think that would be better that what it is now, but we are not sure if it needs to be painted.
The upper half of the house is aluminum and is a faded off white/yellowish color. Shutters are faded red. Front door is white, as is the garage door.
The porch is merely a stoop with white skinny beams. The exterior of the home is just faded and tired and we are hoping to get some ideas from you.
Thank you for your help.
Kim
I am attaching the zillow website where the house is listed, please let me know if you are unable to see the picture. Thanks again.
Hi Kim,
Here’s an idea if you end up keeping the brick the current variegated color. Since your roof is kind of a red brown, how about balancing the heat with a cool Edgecomb Gray siding color. It’s Ben Moore HC-173. You can keep whatever your window color is for the rest of the trim (since it looks like you have a white front door — white trim will work) or paint it all light gray. Then for your garage door and front door, take a look at AF-650 Caponata, a wonderful eggplant that would coordinate well with the pink in your brick but add a little dose of the unexpected. Replace the storm door with a full-view storm at your earliest convenience. And beef up the two columns under the portico for more stature. You’re right, they’re a bit wimpy as they stand now.
See what you think. You can always paint the brick since it looks like it’s already partially painted anyway, but the warm gray/eggplant scheme should work with what’s there now.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I went by the house today and strongly dislike the various brick colors. We are thinking we should paint it to really update it. What would you recommend now that we are ready to paint?
What color scheme would really make the house pop? I would love to know your thoughts on a total exterior makeover? Brick Color,Siding Color, Shutters? Doors? The home has such great potential, but really needs a complete facelift.
Excited to hear your thoughts.
Thanks,
Kim
Hi Kim,
Okay, total makeover from the top down.
GAF Timberline Barkwood roof, either Ben Moore’s Briarwood (Ext) or Lenox Tan (HC-44) for the siding including brick, Dune White 968 trim, new columns (round wood-like painted trim color), full-view door in white, garage door siding color, and front door/shutters in AF-650 Caponata (a dark eggplant — still like it even with these new paint colors).
Then new landscaping: lilac bushes and irises, white hydrangeas, and lime green hostas (if there’s enough shade from the pine tree).
The driveway could use a skim coat too.
How’s that?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello! I am trying to come up with an exterior color scheme for my newly remodeled historic southern cottage. There are various other colors on the street, my neighbors are yellow on one side, salmon on the other, and white across the street. My roof is Owens Corning Estate Gray. My initial thought was a greyed white color with some brighter color (blue or green?) on the future shutters and 2 sets of french door on the front. This would be very similar though, to my across the street neighbor. The local paint store recommended Ben Moore Briarwood, which looks nice, but now sure of it with my roof color. He says it looks very rich, but just now sure about the roof. I had also seen some lighter greens in magazines which appealed to me (Ben Moore Tree Moss), but just not sure how it would look. The color has to be somewhat traditional for the local historic board. So, safe white or some other more interesting color? Help!
I can send you a picture to help!
Hi Elizabeth,
I would love a photo! You can attach one to an email and send it to bmeglis@yahoo.com or insert a link to a photo site right here in the blog.
I’m sure we can come up with a suitable color for your southern cottage. Can’t wait to see it!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Elizabeth,
It looks from your photo that you sent via email that you have brick on your front porch. Is that right? There seems to be quite a lot of pink in that area…. If that’s going to be covered up, let me know, but I will assume that it’s brick. With that in mind, we need to incorporate the warmer tones from the porch into the siding color. So I would stay on the neutral side. I agree with the paint store person that Briarwood is a rich taupe that would tie in the porch tones and also look fine with the roof. Just about anything goes with Estate Gray so you made an excellent choice there. Also since your neighbors have warm colors (yellow on one side and salmon on the other), it would be nice to offer a cool alternative.
So one choice is definitely the Briarwood. And then because you mentioned green, have a look at Nantucket Gray. It too will coordinate with the porch warm tones and will offer more of a color to the siding than the neutral Briarwood. The gray roof should be fine too.
White trim and columns, right? And what about your shutters? Want to go with traditional black (or dark charcoal)?
One thing for certain, Elizabeth. Do not go with white siding since your neighbor across the street already picked that one. We can do better! See what you think of the green and reconsider the Briarwood. Plus write back if I’m only seeing pink on your porch. If it’s wood or something else, let me know. There are other color possibilities if that’s the case!!
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We own a 25 year old home of a somewhat transitional style. We are looking to replace the roof at this time and are considering GAF Timberline 30 Year shingles. The current roof color is a brown with overtones of orange to it. It worked well with the brick and old cedar siding.
The house is a two-story with a warm yellowy reclaimed brick on the first floor. The brick grout colour is a concrete gray color. The upper story has two gables, so looks unique from the bottom story and is clad in “moutain blue” siding made by Royal.Siding Company. The front door is a deep blue-gray wedgewood color as are the sidelights. The sidelights and front window have antique nickel leading giving the entry landing, a subdued look.
The driveway is long and prominent and done with brick pavingstones. The perimeter is done in a dark charcoal pavers and the body of the drive and walkway are pavers with a mix base color of buff and charcoal clay.
The windows are PVC and white trimmed. The attached garage door-prominent- is an almond colored steel, intended to blend with the warm brick on either side of it.
So now our dilemma is, what color should we do the shingle in? We are considering GAF Timberline 30 year shingles. I have four colors that are in the running. Two are brown base and two are dark grays. I am not partial to brown and was never “in love” with the current brown shingles, though it did work with cedar siding before it was replaced by the blue. Weatherwood and Mission Brown are the two contenders from the brown family. Slate and Pewter Gray are the gray family choices.
I feel that the browns may not “ground” the house and leave the blue upper level appear to be just floating and unrelated to the lower level. However I am not sure how roofing color is determined. Can one choose based upon the upper level alone, or do we need to find a compromise between the two level color families? Warm and cool colors, what do we do
There is no doubt that the blue and the buff work together, though a grayer blue would have suited me better. If we use a gray roof, will that tend to make the blue seem bluer or more subdued?
Please offer your advice and opinion ongray or brown roofing Barbara. I have spent mush time debating and researching this and have come to no clear decision, only a preference for the dark gray.
Thank-you for your help. It is much appreciated!
Sincerely,
Pippi
Hi Pippi,
With all the grays in your prominent driveway and the blue upper story, I suggest a blue-gray roof like Charcoal or Pewter (whichever has a clearly blue undertone in the GAF line — get big samples if you can). Certainteed has a Pewter that definitely has a blue undertone to it but with the GAF line, the subtle differences between the grays are harder to distinguish on the screen. But using a dark blue-toned charcoal roof should blend the blue a bit and allow the yellow in the brick to pop forward (brown would blend with the yellow and pop the blue). So gray is the way to go! Besides, yellow and gray make a classic combination anyway. You should be all set.
Hope that helps!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, I had my roof re-done and selected Cinnamon Sunset color which is a reddish tone color. I now need to paint my house and I am stressing out trying to determine the right color. Since the roof is so colorful my plan was to pull a color from the roof and paint the house that color to balance it out. For example the roof has this tan tone in it and bits of charcoal. I have been looking for tan or cream colors to offset the roof and then paint the door a similar color to the roof. (reddish tone) Therefore, the only other color to the house if I did it in tan or cream color would be the door in red. I have check several sites and I too have played around with the paint colors on different sites but I am still now sure. I saw some pictures of red roof and folks have use “Sage green’ colors. I didn’t think I wanted anymore color because the roof is colorful enough but if it will look okay I will go with a color other the tans or creams. Please help. Also I need help with trim colors, and the door. Thank you
Pam
Hi Pam,
Have a look at Yosemite Sand AC-4 (Ben Moore) and see what you think of that color with something like Townsend Harbor Brown HC-64 for your door. If the Sand is still too warm with the roof, you can cool it down with Shaker Beige HC-45 or Edgecomb Gray HC-173. One of those will work perfectly.
I would use a crisp white for your trim, again to cool things down a bit (I do love the roof!), and either a very dark Tudor Brown or dark charcoal for the shutters, whichever dark neutral is in your roof.
Switch out the light fixtures accordingly and you might want to add some desert-loving succulents (or spikey plants) to your landscape to round out the house’s new warm personality.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
First, I love perusing your blog – thanks for making this advice accessible to the more colour-challenged among us!
I have attached a link to photos of my home in Ontario, Canada. We just updated the vinyl siding on the addition, and now need to update the paint a bit on the garage door and around the deck/sunroom, but are completely stumped as to colour.
There is a bit more info in the captions when you look at the pictures. We are also going to have the frames around the garage door and the entry door capped in white aluminum shortly.
I look forward to any insight you may have as to potential paint colours for the garage door and the other areas (deck/sunroom) that are currently the same shade of ‘navajo red’!
Thanks so much
Allison
Hi Allison,
Take a look at Georgian Brick (Ben Moore HC-50) for your garage door and the area around your deck/sunroom. It has more brown in it than your current navajo red so it will both blend in with the brick and coordinate with your new siding. I think you’ll find it just as warm and welcoming but a little less “red.” See what you think.
White trim will be fine!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the speedy reply on a long weekend – much appreciated. Off to the paint store right now to check it out!
Cheers
Allison
Hi,
We are painting the exterior of our home. Our greatest challenge is our roof is a hunter green with white and gray speckled in and it does not need to be replaced. Our house is about 100 years old and we would like to stay with a historical color but it is not necessary. We need a color scheme for the house, trim, porch and cedar shakes near the roof top. We are thinking of green/gray tones but do not want anything minty or army green. We would like the columns to be white but there are so many whites – I am not sure where to begin. I hope the link below works. The painter started to scrap the loose flakes so the picture looks terrible.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jhqqH6eJ0u1bKennwYtozw?feat=directlink
Thank you so much for your time.
Dina
Hi Dina,
Have a look at Vale Mist Ben Moore 1494 for the siding color with Audubon Russet HC-51 (or the darker Georgian Brick HC-50) for your cedar shakes in the gables and possibly (if you’re feeling adventuresome) the actual windows. Using a brick color will coordinate the chimney, complement the green, and add warmth to the house.
Then paint the window trim, house trim, columns and porch railing China White (it looks like an aged white — perfect for your 100-yr-old house). You can use a darker version of the green or russet for some architectural highlighting as well. That’s one idea. With the detail on your house, you have room for yet another color as well (fascia boards, corbels under the eaves, etc.). How about a warm grape like Chambourd AF-645?
See if that gets you started.
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Thank you so much for your suggestions and for taking time during the holiday weekend to get back to me. I like the green you selected and warm grape idea. Is the grape a Ben Moore color? The China White is perfect as well.
I am sure you will hear from me again I look forward to referring you to my friends and clients 🙂
Dina
Hi Dina,
Thank you! And yes, the grape is a Ben Moore color (see the Affinity Collection) — there’s Chambourd which I mentioned (AF-645) and Caponata AF-650, which I love! More of an eggplant but very rich!
Good luck on your project and stop back by again!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello, Barbara,
What a wonderful service you provide! So glad to have found your site before I possibly make a huge mistake. I am residing my 1200 sf, 1 1/2 story house in James Hardie products. It is kind of a chalet cottage in a wooded neighborhood of eclectic homes near a lake in Michigan. I will try to send some photos to you at bmeglis@yahoo.com. The roof, which is newer, is of Art-Loc shingles in “Char Brown”. The old wood siding is dark brown, as are the windows, gutters and downspouts. There is a small front cedar deck in a natural cedar stain.
The colors inside my home are golds, greens, browns and creams. I am attracted by the Hardie siding color of “Mountain Sage”, with window trim in “Navajo Beige” and corners, horizontal boards across the front and bottom, and soffitt/fascia in “Khaki Brown”. Most siding would be horizontal lap, except on the front wall and around the front door. I was planning to use board and batten on the bottom in front, with shakes above and also shakes around the front door. The color of the front door now is BM “Sherwood Green”, but that could be changed, possibly to a dark red. Not sure what to do with the dark brown gutters; just hoping they won’t show up so much against the Khaki Brown.
After reading through your blog, I’m now wondering whether I am making this too complicated and even whether the sage green is a mistake. I do have a lot of green in the landscape. Please tell me what you think. Thank you so, so much.
Hi Melissa,
I think you’re on the right track. By highlighting the architectural features of your home with the different colors (sage, khaki, and beige) your house will stand out from the backdrop of green trees. If you wanted to do the entire house in sage, I might try and talk you out of that because the house would simply disappear into the woods. You might, however, use a little more beige in outlining the house (do more than simply the window trim) so that again the darker green/brown will not make the house melt into the background. The roof color helps a lot and so will the front door. I would definitely pick a color that ties in the roof — a dark rusty red would be perfect.
The only element that really pops now and doesn’t quite fit into the palette (I know it was raining) is the front steps. They appear really orangey yellow on my screen and you might consider pulling in a warmer neutral (the Autumn Tan perhaps instead of the Khaki Brown) to blend those steps a little so the door will stand out and not the walkway. Just a thought.
But the earthy combination is the way to go in your environment. Blues will stick out too much and you’ve had a pretty heavy dose of cool brown already. So the sage/tan/beige combination or sage/khaki/beige combination should work fine.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Oops — the roof color is “Char Blend” and can be viewed at http://www.SherriffGoslin.com.
Melissa
Thanks so much, Barbara. I believe you are right about the Autumn Tan vs. Khaki Brown. It’s just a little darker than the Navajo Beige, but not dark. Just to clarify then, the color scheme will work best with beige trim everywhere but on the soffitt and fascia boards, which would be tan? Should the 8″ horizontal boards around the base of the house be beige as well? What about the 8″ board across the front that will divide the top (shakes) from the bottom (board and batten)? Beige, tan or sage like the body color? Or no board at all? I believe I read somewhere on the blog that you’re not a fan of bisecting house fronts with contrasting colors … . Sorry to be so neurotic about this, but I am terrified of making a mistake.
Your friend for life,
Melissa
Hello,
As a new pastor to a church in Colorado, I’ve encouraged our congregation to freshen up a tired facade (building and landscape). The challenge is that the facility, built in 1964, is all red brick and when our church purchased the property 15 years ago they opted to go with a matching metal roof. Practically EVERYTHING is brick red.
The place needs repainting, and I figure we’d pick a cream color (that compliments the creamy-gray mortar), but I’m not sure what color we should paint the cross and doors.
Appreciate your advice!
Hi Pastor Don,
I’ve been studying your photos — I know what you mean about the dominance of the red roof. But given that the church has an abundance of color, I think it needs some balance. I suggest Ben Moore Tudor Brown (Ext) doors, which will calm the red and add stature to the facade. Then add some large stone pots at the entry with greenery and white flowers if appropriate to the season. Here’s your opportunity to add church-season color to the entryway… purples for around Easter, greens/whites/golds for Advent, etc. I like your rose bush idea as long as they are easy maintenance but you might want to add a bit of height on the cross side of the church. Just vary the shrubbery a bit along that wall.
As for the cross wall, we’re looking for maximum impact and I really like how the interior cross pops off the white wall. If you’re considering a paint job on the yellow brick, consider a warm white (something like Ben Moore’s Vanilla Milkshake OC-59) for that wall. Then paint the cross Tudor Brown, and it will pop. Maximum effect from the curb.
Since your windows are white, you can go with the white elsewhere as well instead of the grout color. You’ll get a really fresh look and I think that’s what you want.
Hope so.
Thanks again for posting and good luck with your new congregation!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I would like to paint the exterior of my home, but given the endless selection of colors, I feel quite overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. I’ve always liked yellow houses – they are warm, cheerful, and cozy. My painter, however, said that he can’t picture my house being yellow. Instead, he recommended a brown. Should I listen to him? In a nearby neighborhood, I saw a house painted Cameo by Dunn Edwards with a white trim and light green door. Very cute. Someone else had also suggested Belgian Waffle by Olympic, which is also a shade of creamy yellow. Could you picture either color on my house? Or any other suggestions? What about black or dark green shutters (Essex Green by Benjamin Moore)? And white trim and a red door? Please help!! Thank you!!
Hi Huong Na,
I don’t see any particular reason why you can’t have a yellow house — just pick a yellow that complements the brown in your roof and the various brick colors. Check out Ben Moore’s Montgomery White (Ext) a rich creamy yellow — not too lemony or to deep. Then you can have your White Dove trim (include columns) and a red door that comes from your brick color. Check out the burgundy side of red (New London Burgundy HC-61) and the rusty-orange side (Georgian Brick HC-50). With your brick, you really can’t have a tomato red door. That will make both door and brick look not so great…
As for shutters, since they take up so much of your house (and the upstairs window is skewed to the right), I suggest a mellower shutter color than you asked about. How about your painter’s Springfield Tan (AC-5). The reason for a medium brown for the shutters is to blend them into the house and particularly the roof more than if you used a black or Essex Green. Doing a dark contrasting shutter will call attention to the placement of the windows/shutters and I don’t think you want that. Blending, in your case, is best.
See what you think. Save the shutter decision until after the house is painted. That will help you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Barbara,
Thank you so much for your prompt response. I truly appreciate your guidance throughout this daunting task. Before I head out to the paint store to pick up some samples of the colors you suggested, I just have a question about Montgomery White. Is it a yellow color, or as the name suggests, a creamy off white similar to what I have on my house now? I saw an image with this color online and it appeared to me to be more off white than yellow?? Also, would you recommend any other color combinations that might work well for my house? As you can tell, I’m quite indecisive and would like to explore other options as well. Thank you for all your insight. I will head out to the paint store later this week!!
Hi Huong,
The Montgomery White, yes, is a light creamy hue. Perhaps you want a little more yellow. Look at Weston Flax (HC-5). Definitely yellow but not as rich as Hawthorne Yellow HC-4 although either will work with your brick. I would still use White Dove trim. And if you want more color on the shutters, try Cushing Green HC-125. Just enough “brown” in it to coordinate with the brown roof but still be green. Quite a departure from your current neutral, but if you’re looking for warm and cozy, this will do it for you!
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We recently re-did the exterior of our house and are at a loss as to what color would look best with our stone…. a natural stone, creamy/gray limestone (Fond du lac).
Initially I saw this beautiful deep gray color w/ivory trim and black shutters on a home that I thought was absolutely striking, however their stone had more golds and browns to it. I have painted several samples of this gray color on my house but it just doesn’t seem quite right ….I’m wondering if it’s b/c of the stone? (You can see a sample board standing on it’s end on the front entry way stone section) I’ve even tried a couple of lighter shades of gray but they end up looking more green that I want. The darker gray actually has some green hints to it depending on the light. I am at a loss and just don’t know if the dark gray or any gray for that matter goes with the house.
I’ve then gone to the next extreme and thought of painting the house a light cream color with the ivory trim for windows, fascia & bay but, although sweet, it seems a bit washed out.
Help! My contractor is knocking at my door to get this done. I would be so grateful for your help.
Thanks so much,
Becky
Hi Becky,
Thanks for all the background material. Very helpful!
I know what you mean about the new construction homes — very Cape Cod! But here’s my suggestion for your home.
Take a look at Briarwood (Ben Moore Exterior) — a taupe that picks up the warmer tones in your stone and offers some contrast that you like without being too cold. I think the color looks very good with your roof as well. Then you could use either crisp white for the trim or a creamy tone that will again pick up the warmth of your stone but still offer contrast against both siding color and roof. You could use White Dove (aged white), Linen White (soft cream), China White (slightly grayer), or even Bone White for maximum contrast. For a warm gray trim option (a more blended, softer look than the crisp new construction houses), look at Edgecomb Gray HC-173. Just depends on what you like!
Then for the shutters (you’ll notice that the new construction is using extra wide window trim in place of shutters but that’s okay… ), you might consider using the Sherwin Williams paint that you sampled, the Tram. It’s dark enough to contrast with the house color and stone and still go with the roof.
What do you think? See if we’ve found a compromise that works.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thanks so much for your previous advice. We had decided to go with Rugged Canyon for the siding, white trim around the garage door and windows, downspouts to match the siding, and black shutters and front door. We also planned to paint the garage door the same shade as Rugged Canyon.
However, prior to replacing siding, I found that I need to replace the gutters, soffit and fascia as well. (Unfortunately we are not replacing that reddish roof!)
What color would you recommend for the gutters, soffit and fascia, which currently match the roof? Would this additional flexibility change your prior recommendation for Rugged Canyon?
We are not locked into Rugged Canyon yet so the only colors we are stuck with are the roof and the white window frames. Even the light fixtures and screen door can be replaced.
Looking forward to your recommendation and then finally starting the project!
Thanks! Cait
http://picasaweb.google.com/catedean/NewSidingChoices?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ6m8qjvgdX2Rw&feat=directlink#5487956371944902466
http://picasaweb.google.com/catedean/NewSidingChoices?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ6m8qjvgdX2Rw&feat=directlink#5487956796032679186
http://picasaweb.google.com/catedean/NewSidingChoices?authkey=Gv1sRgCJ6m8qjvgdX2Rw&feat=directlink
Hi Cait,
I suggest white for the gutters, soffit and fascia. The white will not only coordinate well with your white windows, it will also create a nice contrast between roof and siding and slightly diminish the overall effect of the roof. Your eye will trace the outline of the house and windows and not notice the red roof so much. (nothing wrong with red really as long as you have the right siding and trim colors to go with it)
The white trim is also especially nice for a colonial like yours. Kind of traditional…
Hope that clears up the question. Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara! It’s been nearly a year, but the siding is finally done. We went with Rugged Canyon for the siding; white gutters, soffit and fascia; Rugged Canyon for downspouts and the garage door; and black shutters and front door. I’m so pleased with it and would have never gotten this combination myself. Thanks so much!! Here’s a link with the before & after. Cait
https://picasaweb.google.com/116458270664276167519/NewSidingChoices?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJ6m8qjvgdX2Rw&feat=directlink
NICE Caitlin!! Thank you for sharing with us!! It looks much warmer!
Enjoy.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
After visiting your wonderful site I am convinced you can help us. We are renovating the exterior of our home. Changing windows and adding an addition. The house is of Normand Style with arts and crafts style brick. I will send you the pictures via e-mail). The metal roof will be darker – charcoal and the window colors will be Gentek black – no trim but rather brick molding of the same color.
Part of the addition is wood siding – color Bronze Window (Gentek 415) It actually looks like the olive green that was used in the Tudor style home on your blog. The garage will be same brick as original house. I am also sending you a picture of what it may look like.
We would love to have your color suggestions for:
Door, garage door, the brown moldings (cornices? – on the roof and where the 2 lucarns are), the foundation and the flower boxes.
Thank-you Barbara…2 pictures to follow by e-mail
Hi Sarah,
Sorry for the delay… I suggest going with the same green for your garage door as you’re using for your addition’s siding. Unless you want to invest in a wood door — very appropriate for your house, of course. As for the front door, I also like a solid wood door, maybe a little warmer stain than what you have now. Again, the mahogany door is classic for your house style. But if you do want to paint the door, Richmond Gold (Ben Moore) would work with your brick and would create a warm, welcoming entry.
As for the foundation, I would go with something like Chelsea Gray HC-168 — you don’t want to call attention to the foundation. But for the window boxes, again the warm Richmond Gold would coordinate with the brick and contrast with the grays/greens elsewhere.
Back to finish with your lucarnes and moldings in a little while.
Wanted to get you started anyway…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Sarah,
I suggest using the green again for the siding on the lucarnes — a great way to tie the addition color onto the old part of the house. I’m not exactly sure what moulding you were referring to on the lucarnes, but I think I may have just covered that area. I know that sometimes the lucarnes are covered in roofing material, but I would treat them more like a traditional dormer and add house color.
The more I look at your house, the more I like the idea of a solid wood (warm dark) door. I know I mentioned Richmond Gold in the previous post, but the brick is calling out for the richness of dark wood — no surprise that you had that before. It looks great!
See what you think of those color additions to your palette.
Hope they help.
And thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
Thank-you for your advice. I am loving it! Concerning the garage door…we recuperated the old cedar door on the old garage. We sanded it. I can always stain it again as well as the door but I don’t really like the mohagony! I will look into the paint color you gave me. If I don’t want to draw attention to the garage door…do I stain it green like the extension or go for the same warmer wood color that we could possibly une on the door. In which case, do you have a suggestion for a warmer woodstain for the door? I hope this makes sense.
Thank-you soo soo very much!
Sarah
Hi Sarah,
If you want to blend the garage door, I suggest staining it the same as the extension color. That will move the eye away from the garage door itself. Staining it the same as the front door would only call attention to the garage. As for the front door color, have you looked at the rich eggplant family? Makes an excellent door color — great brick, siding, and roof and a little bit unexpected. Works best if the sun shines on it at some point during the day so you can see its magnificent richness. Check out AF-650 Caponata. (It’s a paint, not a stain, but comes in an Exterior finish.)
See what you think of that for your house.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara. Thanks so much for having such a helpful website and service to others. It can be so difficult updating the exterior of a house.
We just purchased this tri-level house. It has a fabulous floor plan and is in a great location, but lacks curb appeal. The house is currently painted grey with white trim, has brick that is primarily orange and an older cedar shake roof. We live in the Midwest and the house is facing west so very hot in the summer.
My husband and I are very traditional, usually selecting colonials or cape cods and I must confess we are unsure how to treat this architecture. The home feels chopped up to me with no unity. Regarding colors, we usually prefer the siding to be a more neutral shade (beige, tan, taupe, brown), but are not particular about the depth of the shade. In the past, we have selected glossy black shutters and either a black or red front door. My husband tends to be adverse to green, blue and orange paint which is somewhat humorous since our brick is very orange. (So, he will definitely want to repaint the front door:)
Questions:
1) Should we keep the brick natural or paint the entire home (including brick) one color for unity?
2) What colors would you suggest that we paint?
Here is a link to my the photos of our house.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54188897@N07/
We have already begun making some changes to the house such as removing the pitchforks from the posts and moving one post so that they are symmetrical around the front door. Additionally, we have made the posts larger square columns and picture frame moulded them out. Lastly, we added wooden front porch railings to better define the porch. I will post photos showing the new column wraps and the railings asap. My thought is that the posts and porch railings would be painted the same color as the trim and windows.
I am considering some shutters around the large window and a window box. Maybe also some window boxes on the second floor windows. Would this help provide some needed charm/character?
Thanks in advance for your help in making this house our new “home”.
Melissa
(Note: Before I knew how to post I sent you this same message as an email. Sorry)
Hi Melissa,
You’re definitely on the right track. I like where you’re headed with the
house. Take a look at Shaker Beige HC-45 (Ben Moore) for your siding. It’s
a taupe that should go well with your brick as well as the roof. It will
offer a little more color than the gray that’s there now. Another option
is the warmer Lenox Tan (HC-44), a richer shade, not in your brick but
certainly neutral enough to complement it.
Then for your shutters, I suggest Davenport Tan HC-76, a brown with a lot
of gray in it that should again complement your brick and also go with the
roof and everything else.
The garage door can be either color.
I would only put shutters on the small double-hung windows — not the big
bay. The new siding color will be all that’s necessary there.
I think your brick is fine to keep if you don’t mind a bit of nostalgic
design (the split). Painting the whole house is, of course, an option.
Then the sky’s the limit. But consider modifying just the siding and
shutters to start and see if that look will be sufficient. You can use
black metal as your accent. And keep the white trim.
The front door can be the shutter color as there’s not enough trim around
the doors to paint them brick. Black is too stark.
See what you think of those choices.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara. I appreciate your help.
Update: We finished the new columns and railings yesterday. And, we painted a sample of the Lenox Tan you recommended (along with a few suggestions from the paint store). All of the paints seem to drastically alter once painted on the house. For example, the Lenox Tan looks very gold, the Tavern Taupe green and the Weimeraner pink. Our surprise was that Wenge which is a deep eggplant actually looks much darker almost black. The BM Davenport Tan (actually one of my usual favorites and the color of my last home) turned an odd golden chestnut color. This may be the lighting, the brick or even the existing paint color, but it is making selection difficult. I will take another photo this afternoon when PM west sun is shining out front.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/54188897@N07/?saved=1
What do you think about the Lenox Tan? Is it deep enough? My husband likes the Weimeraner the best, but I think we still haven’t found the best neutral. I think we are looking for more of a taupe that doesn’t turn green, yellow or pink. Also, my husband tends to select the deeper colors (usually in the mid to low section of a chip). Do you think they are too dark for the house? Also, we were thinking about a much darker brown shade for the shutters and maybe even the front door.
Regarding the white, my husband would like to start painting the columns, railing and some windows. Would you stick with the current bright white or select a creamier white (like bm mayonnaise, bm mascarpone, sw westhighland white etc.)?
Thanks for all of your help.
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
Have you looked at Briarwood (Ext)? With a Caponata front door (AF-650)? Not as dark as Wenge but still eggplant. A terrific color!!
The Briarwood is a great taupe — not too green, not too yellow or pink. Looks great with a really dark shutter and white trim. How about the Wenge for the shutters?
See what you think. I didn’t see the Lenox Tan painted on the house but from your description, it sounds too yellow for your taste. Not taupe at all.
Hope this helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks for the suggestion of Briarwood. I took a close look and compared it to the colors that I’ve tried. It seems very close to Weimeraner from the Affinity line. My concern is that it is not deep enough. Those colors tend to turn lighter on my house to almost a beige. My husband tends to select the deeper colors (usually in the lower section of a chip). Do you think they are too dark for the house? I played around with some of the samples I’ve already tried and mixed a few darker taupe shades. They are pictured at the below link. What do you think about the darker shades?
We are considering the Wenge for the shutters but also very much like very dark rich brown shades. Do you think a very dark expresso brown (softer than but almost black) would work for the shutters.
You said in your original recommendation that we should stick with white for the trim color. Regarding the white, my husband would like to start painting the columns, railing and some windows. Would you stick with the current ultra white or select a creamier white (like bm mayonnaise, bm mascarpone, sw westhighland white etc.)?
My pics http://www.flickr.com/photos/54188897@N07/
Thanks:)
NOTE: The reason I’m being very careful about the color selection for this house (way more so than normal) is that we have to get the color right the first time because my husband doesn’t believe that our older cedar roof can handle much walking on. He’s going to have to be very careful not to break any shingles and doesn’t want to have to paint the upper areas twice.
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
Understood. We don’t like doing things twice… that’s for sure.
I rolled out the Sherwin Williams fandeck to throw a couple more options into the mix. I do like the very darkest of the taupe options you painted on the front. But here’s another one: Folkstone SW 6005. It’s a really nice dark gray-brown (taupe) and it appears to look nice with your brick. I’m not sure, value-wise, how it compares to the color you sampled on the front (the darkest one), but it is substantially darker than Briarwood.
Then also look at Black Swan SW 6279 for your shutters/doors. It’s almost black but has a hint of grape. Really nice again with your brick.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara. We are going to paint the darker taupe that you liked, but plan to wait until finished to decide on the trim color. It will either be the very deep eggplant or high gloss black.
I’m going today to purchase the paint, but realized that we didn’t decided on a trim color. What do you think about BM Mayonnaise? Is this white creamy enough to warm up the front without looking too tan?
Thanks,
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
Yes I think the Mayonnaise will look great with the darker taupe. Nice contrast between warm and cool. Proceed!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Paypal donation just submitted. We purchased our Victorian Home from a foreclosure. The home has blue siding and the porch flooring is rotten and needs replaced. We are looking at changing the exterior color scheme. Here are the options we are weighing:
1) White siding with black shutters — Red brick stairway to porch – porch made of white composite materials- Paint the porch trellis white (porch trellis being the criss-cross design under the porch)
2) White siding with black shutters – Red brick stairway to porch – change the porch trellis to a red brick – porch made of gray composite materials (the brick look on the porch trellis can be achieved fairly inexpensively by using “thin bricks” on a wood backing using the proper installation techniques — the only issue we are still researching is whether this technique would allow enough ventilation under the porch – I also read that you typically want to pant the trellis the same color as the house so that the focal point remains the house and not the trellis – Any insight on this would be appreciated –
3) Gray siding – Outline windows in white trim – gray porch – keep porch trellis criss-crossed or install a “stone” look along the bottom
4) Keep blue siding – outline windows in white trim – add white porch railings around wrap-around porch— After researching various Victorian styles, we do see why the original owners used the blue, as it is the most true to the original era, but we are not big fans of it —-
The home is not a true period Victorian – It is a replica built in 1990 – Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated –
Stephanie
Hi Stephanie,
Any of the colors (white, gray, or blue) would work for your Victorian-styled home — it kind of depends on a) what you like best; and b) what you already have in your neighborhood. Try to pick a different color from the others around you. I do like white trim and black shutters. The trellis would be either the house color (if gray or blue) or the porch color (if the house is white). I do like the idea of a gray porch since it will be the easiest to maintain. Actually, anything except white (as in your #1 option). And railings added to the wrap-around porch are always a nice architectural addition.
I would not hesitate to make your stairway the same material as the porch floor. Very easy to maintain. But a red brick walkway would look terrific.
Since you don’t want to call attention to the foundation area, I would not replace the existing trellis with any kind of brick or stone treatment. You’ll probably end up planting foundation shrubs in front of that area so the focus will be on the landscape anyway.
Does that help get you started?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Stephanie,
Just saw the photo after I posted my recommendations. Let me change a
couple of things.
I agree — the current blue is not that attractive. I like the idea of a
blue-gray (Eclipse 2132-40) or even a medium blue like Phillipsburg Blue
HC-159 (Ben Moore). Tate Olive HC-112 would look good with your roof. Any
of those would be preferable to the current blue.
Your house really calls out for color — I think it’s too big for plain
white.
I would stick with white trim.
And the trellis really ought to be the house color or gray porch color to
avoid calling attention to that area. The plantings are still small so the
background needs to be neutral and camouflaged.
Does that help? Sorry I didn’t look sooner for a photo. Nice purchase!
Congratulations!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We have just shingled our roof in GAF Timberline Prestique
in Shakewood. The problem is we have brick facade on the bottom story of the front of our two store house.
From the street frequently the brick and the roof look to be the same color.
We also have some reddish tones and cream colors in the brick.
Is there a way I can email you a picture of the house.
We have to choose the color for the new hardy plank, gutters, shingles and doors “now.”
We are also having all of the landscaping removed and replaced with large beds and “better scaled” plantings.
Help.
thank you,
Toni
Here is a photo of the house with the new Shakewood Shingles (GAF – Prestique).
The new hardy plank shingles are on the back of the house, but haven’t made it to the front yet.
Thank you for any help.
-Toni
Hi Toni,
You mentioned that the new hardy plank shingles are on the back of the house (not seen in the photo). What have you chosen already for the shingle color? Are you looking for shutter/gutter/trim colors only or did I misunderstand and you’re looking for hardy plank siding color as well?
I need a touch more info.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We are having the siding replaced with primed hardy plank siding.
We need to choose house color, trim/gutter/shutter and front door color…in less than 3 hours.
The workers haven’t made it to the front of the house yet.
They have finished the back and one side, and believe they will be finished in 2 – 3 days.
Thank you for your time and attention.
-Toni
Also, we are restricted to using Sherwin-Williams Duration Paint.
I don’t know if the paint colors are different for different companies.
Thank you.
-Toni
Hi again Toni,
How about Ivoire SW 6127 for the siding, Downing Earth SW 2820 for the shutters and garage door, white for trim/gutters/fascia/soffits, and Rookwood Dark Red SW 2801 for the front door?
See what you think of that palette.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Thank you for all of your advice.
The painters and I came up with 3 body colors (I should have waited for your reply) they are:
SW 7719, SW 7723 and SW 7722.
Do you have a preference?
If we were to choose one of these colors, what would be your suggestion for the shutters, garage door,
fascia & gutters. We don’t want to pay the extra for the soffits to be painted a different color.
We will be purchasing factory painted 5″ gutters, and my husband doesn’t want to have the gutters painted.
It seems as if there are many gutter colors available.
Thank you for your time.
-Toni
Hi Toni,
I like SW 7723 best (Colony Buff). It’s warmer than what you have currently without going too yellow. For shutters and garage door, I still do like brown but have moved to Rookwood Dark Brown SW 2808 from the slightly greener offering of last night. Since your brick has lots of color in it, I would rather not introduce yet another accent color for shutters and garage. But if you like the Rookwood Dark Red SW 2801 suggested for a possible door option, that would work for shutter color (if you do that, then paint the garage the same as the house).
Other possible front door options: Fireweed SW6328, Brandywine SW 7710, and Rosemary SW 6187. A very autumnal palette.
As for gutters, we usually want to disguise them into the trim color. Your windows are white so it makes some sense to stick with white trim/gutters. But siding color would be fine too since it’s cream.
Good luck with the painters!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi,
I need some help picking house colors for an american foursquare built in 1924. It is presently 2 toned with green shakes on the top and white wood on the bottom.. I do not want those colors anymore, however, I would like to stay with 2 colors for the body of the house and perhaps 1 or 2 additional colors for trim and accents. We are replacing the roof as well ( leaning toward green or brown) There are pillars made of reddish orange brick. We replaced the windows with vinyl so we won’t be painting the sashes but I do want to paint the moldings around them. We replaced the front door which I need to paint and need help with the porch deck and railings. Thanks for any help you can give me. Marilou
http://www.flickr.com/
Hi Marilou,
How about Heather Blend for your roof (Certainteed) or even Burnt Sienna? Then an earthy Texas Leather AC-3 for the top shakes and Tyler Taupe HC-43 for the bottom siding. You could pick up the brick around the windows with Fresh Clay 2093-20 or Boston Brick 2092-30. Keep white for the columns/gutters/side pieces or move to cream, but you’ll still have white for the windows so staying white pulls the whole house together.
The leather would go on the porch floor and railing.
See what you think of that palette!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
We are renovating an old farmhouse in the Piemonte region of Italy. We’ve come to the major decision of exterior color, color of the shutter and the window frames.
Really soon we need to order the window frames and shutter and we are rather confused. Both the shutters and the windows will come already painted from the factory so we need to have an idea before putting the order in.
We are leaning towards the tradional yellow for the external of the house and that is where we are. Using the Sigma color codes: The color we like is in the range of S05040-Y10R and S0530-Y10R, I am not sure if these numbers are standard everywhere?
Other tradional external colors for country homes around us include earth tones and some shades of red or pink. We do not want pink.
The windows frames can be painted pretty much any RAL color and so could the external shutters.
Our house is east facing and is in the shade pretty much from 1pm on, therefore we wouldlike to have a color that will stay warm. Many whites and cool colors turn gray.
don’t know how to adda photo here?
I suppose I can email some to your address,
any thoughts?
your help is appreciated,
Canan
Hi Canan,
I tried to Google the color range you mentioned under the Sigma color code but came up empty. I did find a link to the Sigma Color Network and have included it here so I have some reference point for you. Under the yellows, there’s a CNC-3205, a soft warm yellow, not too lemony, that would work well with a shutter in the gray-brown family, something like RAL 1019 (link included as well). The combination is warm and soothing and seems to fit well in your Italian countryside. Of course, if you want to bump up the colors to bolder shades, that would work too.
As long as there’s a little orange in the yellow, the color is pleasing. If there’s too much green in the yellow, it becomes acidic and extremely unpleasant. So moving from yellow toward peach/orange is my suggestion, regardless of the “value” of the shade you choose.
I would paint the windows the same taupe as the shutters. Taupey tans/grays/browns resemble sun-faded wood, again very appropriate for European styling. The idea with the shutters is to make them look a bit aged, nothing too shiny. The patina of an old country home is the look I encourage you to retain. Nothing too shiny and slick. Hope I’ve helped. Good luck with your project and thank you for posting!
Click to access 77700029%20brochure%20marine%20color%20network.pdf
http://www.ralcolor.com/ral.html
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for the suggestions. May I ask if the color you’ve suggested for the window frames would look too dark on the inside of the house? I guess it wouldn’t be darker than if the frames were kept dark stained wood, right?
Look forward to your thoughts on this one,
Thanks again,
Canan
Hi Canan,
Since you’ll be painting the window frames, it’s perfectly fine to have one color on the outside and another on the inside. Frequently people around here have painted wood on the exterior and stained wood on the interior. You certainly do not have to use the gray tone on your interior. White, cream, natural wood… whatever you like.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, Barbara:
I bought my first home this year–a small brick ranch. I need some of the fascia boards replaced on the sides and front and the windowsills need to be sanded and painted. This means I will need to take the gutters down and paint.
The brick on the house is a mottled-type brick–colors are rust, brown, tan, and peach. The roof is brown, the shutters are brown (a slightly reddish/pinkish brown), the garage door is white and the front door is white. The house has white vinyl replacement windows and currently the window sills are painted a peach color. There is siding around the garage which is painted the same peach color as the windowsills. There is siding on the sides of the house but it is painted beige! I will have to replace the gutters because of the fascia board repair but I’m not sure what color of those to get (I am thinking white).
I have always loved brick houses with cream, green, and red but I have no clue what combination of colors to use on my house! I was thinking green shutters and maybe a green door but leaving the windowsills painted white. I don’t have any idea what to paint the siding on the front or sides of the house.
The house is set back somewhat from the street but not too far. There are lots of pine trees and other trees in the front.
What do you think? Can you please help?
Hi Amy,
Very nice brick! But the peach throws the house out of balance. I suggest using a rich camel for your siding which will include the garage. Look at either Lenox Tan HC-44 (Ben Moore) or Boardwalk 1102. Then try something like Texas Leather AC-3 for the shutters and maybe the garage door and front door. I would keep the white around the garage door and the front door and paint the window sills white as well. Whatever is peach around the windows can be the current fascia color — if that is too close to the new siding color, then switch the fascia/trim color to Cameo White.
Your roof has a lot of red in it and there’s a lot of red in the brick so I would not add more red/paprika to the house. Reserve the paprika for your accent color — lawn furniture, cushions, pots, etc.
See what you think of that color scheme.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello! We are doing a major addition of a basement, first floor and second floor. We have matched the existing and new brick pretty well and are doing this on the first floor only. The second floor will be hardee board and painted with any Cabot colors. The windows will be very similiar to the existing windows with brown moulding and off-white trim. (this can easily be repainted if we so choose) The entire roof is being replaced so that can change too. (and I’d like options for that too! My first guess would be to match the color of the dormers, that puke brown. (It’s the safest) but I would love some other options or your opinion! Needs to be Cabot.
Here are the images:
[IMG]http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp22/kbissing/Second%20Street%20Home/002.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp22/kbissing/Second%20Street%20Home/061.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp22/kbissing/Second%20Street%20Home/062.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp22/kbissing/Second%20Street%20Home/063.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp22/kbissing/Second%20Street%20Home/064.jpg[/IMG]
I have the schematic drawing of the addition I just emailed to you! I need to make a decision soon!
Kim
Hi Kim,
Sorry for the delay… Halloween!
Your brick has a lot of great colors in it — how about pulling out the green for the siding with either Sagebrush or Sycamore (both Cabot solid stains). Keep the existing cream trim and follow up with a Gaf Timberline Weathered Wood roof. Since your brick is quite busy, I would avoid a “Maximum Definition” roof because it too will be busy. But moderate color variety will be okay.
Color the dormers the same as the siding and the front door can either be siding color or an accent color like Chestnut Brown or one of the other brick colors.
See what you think. Another roof option, of course, is the brown that your had before — something like Barkwood. That will work just as well as the current roof. But I would still color your gables the siding color, just for a little variety.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We bought our ranch style home a year and a half ago, and it is in need of a new paint job. Our painters use only Dunn-Edwards paint, so we are restricted to those colors. The house is currently yellow with white trim, green plastic shutters, and a maroon door. We need/want to keep the trim white. The roof is blackish/brown. So we are looking to you for suggestions for body color(our thoughts have been something neutral, like some shade of tan?), and suggestion on door color (the maroon is so dark and the door is on the side of the small porch so it all but disappears). Also an even bigger question for you is what do we do about the shutters??? We hate the green plastic. Do shutters increase curb appeal for this house? If we should keep/replace them, then what color? Finally, any other suggestions for increasing curb appeal for our home would be greatly appreciated. We do plan to hire a landscaper post paint job, I know that should help too. I’ll send you some photos to your e-mail address.
Thank you so much!!
– Coleen
Hi Coleen,
First of all, feel free to remove the plastic shutters and toss them in a dumpster. Your house does not need them. Shutters will dress up ordinary windows and homes with no particular architectural features (and colonials all look better with shutters) but your ranch has enough to look at without the distraction of shutters.
Then, you mentioned tan for your house color. Take a look at Ben Moore’s Butte Rock AC-8. (I will order Dunn-Edwards color materials as you’re not the first to request that brand, but I was unable — on this computer at least — to pull up their palette so I will give you Ben Moore colors and your painter can have them matched. No problem with that.)
So looking at your front walkway, I suggest the sandy tones of tan, like the Butte Rock, with something like Copper Mountain AC-12 for your front door. Another option is to use the Copper Mountain on the body of the house (a little bolder) with Yosemite Sand AC-4 on the front door. Yes, it’s lighter, but you are in kind of an alcove where a light door will stand out better than dark. Then you could pick up the brown with oil-rubbed bronze light fixtures, etc. You have perfect grass and actually quite nice landscaping at the moment so I would not add any green to your house. The contrast of the sandy tans/rusty coppers will work well with your yard and the crisp white trim will really make the nice windows stand out as a terrific feature of your house.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thank you so much for your advice, and the service you provide! We are happy that we can take down the shutters :). I went out yesterday to find the Ben Moore colors, it was hard to see them right on my computer screen. We like the sandy tans that you suggested(AC4-9). But I’m not totally excited about the rusty copper mountain. Would a different combo work using AC- 10 or 11, or something from the next card AC 13-15? Or is there another color altogether that we could consider with the sandy tans for the body? I know you said don’t add more green, what about blues or reds? I agree with making the door a lighter color, think it will definitely stand out better than dark. The door itself is original to the home and has some nice brass hardware that needs to be polished up.
Thanks again for any further thoughts!
Best regards,
Coleen
Hi Coleen,
Glad you like the America’s Colors collection. There are some nice colors in there. If the Copper Mountain is a little orange, the Colorado Clay (AC-15) will tend toward terracotta with a soft pink undertone. Very nice for your door with the brass hardware. I also like Mountain Laurel (AC-20) a sophisticated blue-green that would work for your door because it’s not right next to your bright green grass. Up in the alcove, you can get away with a lot more for the door color. It doesn’t have to “match” anything really.
See what you think. Red will work, of course, but it’s been done.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi,
I need help fast. I live in New England and currently have a greenish taupe 1950 Colonial house – I think it was California Paints Stone Lion, but it is no longer available. My house is getting renovated and the builder wants to use Benjamin Moore Paints. I wanted a deep cream house but have a few issues. I showed the painter a house I liked and he suggested Sag Harbor Gray and Linen White Trim (I currently do not have a different trim color). I bought the wallpaper and thought it looked nice, but when the painter put a sample on the house yesterday the Sag Harbor looked more brownish. Also, I realized it was much too close to my next store neighbor’s house (we have 1/4 acre plots). Also, I am getting new white Anderson windows and the Linen White was too different, so the painter is looking to have the trim match the windows.
I am busy with work and have trouble getting to the store and now I need to decide by tomorrow!
The neighbor’s colors are as follows: on one side a silver gray Cape with darker silver shutters, the other a beige with black shutters. On the other side is a deep sand and boring gray (this house is a ranch) and a pretty dark gray with a porch. Most of the houses on street are neutrals (a number of sands), gray or light yellow. There are no houses with a gray/blue tint on the street.
The colors I thought looked nice are Gray Horse, Rockport Gray, Boothbay Gray (would it to too blue?), Stonington Gray, Nantucket Gray and Sandy Hook Gray. My house is not that big so I don’t want a color that will make it look small. Also, the front gets a lot of sun, it is Southern exposure.
My sister, who is great at design, thinks gray is a great color for my house and not to worry about the neighbors, but I really want it to fit in nice. The greenish taupe was nice since it was coordinating, but I have had it for 10 years and something different would be nice.
Thanks for your help! I have a picture that I can email but I could not figure out how to put it on this summary.
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
How about Briarwood (Ext) — a rich taupe which is a little different from your neighborhood’s gray — and Caponata AF-650 for the shutters and door? Since your roof is not black, you have some leeway to pick a shutter color other than black. Even though that’s typical New England (I know). Or since no neighbors have green, you could easily go with Nantucket Gray HC-111 with a traditional Dinner Party red (AF- 300) door and Wenge AF-180 shutters.
See what you think of those options! I’m not crazy about blue for your house — your roof is not quite the right color (at least on my screen) for the best combo.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hey Barbara-
I emailed this to you with photos attached. Not sure exactly where to post this. Hopefully you’re seeing this!
I have a 1931 brick home that is begging for some attention. It’s has two types of red brick (a foundation brick at the bottom around the house that is big and then the smaller brick used for the house) and a golden cedar asphalt shingle roof (only a few years old so changing it is not a realistic option). The trim is a combination – some parts brown, other parts cream.
We’re seriously considering a low maintenance whitewash for the brick. We think it could soften the look while playing off of its architectural style (pared-down version of earlier English Country style, with some Tudoresque details).
Would you have any reco’s on anything we should try? We’re open to ideas for trim colors, whitewash, no whitewash, etc. We just really want to freshen up the curb appeal. Heck, we even looked into painting the roof. it can be done but that brings up a world of new concerns for us. My wife is very sold on the idea of the whitewash but no materials have been purchased. Hoping to do that soon though!
Here’s a photo of the house during Halloween:
We’d consider leaving the brick as is if we could figure out the right trim color or colors, including the front door and the porch. As I said, we’re considering everything. This is our first home so we’re very excited but we’re also pretty intimidated by all of this.
Thanks so much. I look forward to your response!
Matt
Hi Matt,
One issue with your house, as you know, is the lack of contrast between the roof, the trim, and the brick. Since all are the same color “value” everything seems to get blended together and kind of washed out. The other issue is the panel above the garage. Not sure what that is but because it’s painted a cream trim color, we really focus on it.
So one option is to simply paint all the trim that cream color which would outline your house and windows/doors and make the architecture stand out more than it does currently. If that option does not appeal, then whitewashing is the next idea. You’ve researched whitewashing so you know that it is a durable option for altering the brick. My two reservations are: the roof (it’s new and will make the “old” look of whitewashing less convincing than if the roof were dark charcoal) and the neighborhood (the whitewashed effect will create quite a stir in your “sided” neighborhood but that’s of minor concern, of course).
I suggest doing a test area somewhere in the back where you can see the whitewash next to the current brick color. Cream is still a good option for trim color, but you may even like your current brown so I would leave that until after the brick is done.
One more comment about curb appeal. The combination of the huge succulent and the tall shrubs behind it and across the walkway from it are a bit overpowering for your house. The succulent is huge and quite a focal point. But the other shrubs/plants don’t “speak” to it — maybe either more desert-friendly plants and shrubs or a move toward an English garden look. Either direction but not necessarily both. Not sure if I’m clear on that idea but… focus on the house first. The rest will follow naturally.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hey Barbara-
Thanks for your response. To answer your question, the large panel over the garage is actually wood that’s covering a wonderful porch. It was once outdoor but the owner “closed” it in to give them more space inside. We’ve already talked to window companies about replacing the large pieces of cream wood with windows that will open. So, imagine that area as mostly glass.
When that cream color goes, do you still recommend that color for the trim? Or does that change everything?
Thanks again.
Hi Matt,
Glad to see you’re removing the panels in favor of glass. That will really help the curb appeal. You can send me a photo of the whitewashed house and we’ll pick a trim color. You may like what’s already there.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
We are currently building a house and had to change our brick color after the roof was already going on. We have a Decra metal roof – canyon brown color. The brick is a deep red with black bricks mixed in. In choosing the brick, I took the sample of the roof in and the canyon brown color roof actually matched the soft black bricks that was mixed with the deep red bricks. It didn’t look like the typical brown color roof in comparison. What I didn’t take into consideration was what it would look like in natural sunlight, and when in natural sunlight at certain times of the day, it does look brown.
I am having problems trying to figure out what color shutters and door colors (front door, garage doors, back doors) to go with this considering the windows, trim and grout are clay color.
I’m really regretting that we didn’t go with a black roof. I hope your insight can help us with this.
I have photos but I’m not sure how to post them on here. I will try to locate your email and send them that way.
Thanks for you help,
Amy
Hi Amy,
I love your brown roof color! It’s fine! Have a look at something like Whitall Brown HC-69 (Ben Moore) for your garage doors. And then I know you have a one-piece front door unit, but I might paint the sidelights the trim color and the front door an accent color, something like AF-650 Caponata (dark eggplant). You could consider that color for your shutters too. Any side doors could be the Whitall Brown reserving the accent color for your front door only. Less confusing but not a big deal. (Really applies to houses with multiple doors on the front of the house. When you paint them all red, which one is the guest door?) Anyway, you have only one door on the front so you’re all set.
Brown is your neutral now — with the roof color — so I would stick with browns for metal color, etc. Black will look harsh.
See what you think. The brown will also work for shutter color but I thought you might like something a little different.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Thank you! You have been tremendous help! I really like your suggestions and will be discussing with my husband.
With brown being the neutral, do I completely ignore the black in the brick. Tentatively, the outdoor light and fan fixtures are black. Should I change those to a brown based as well?
Thanks,
Amy
Hi Amy,
Yes, even thought there’s black in the brick, I would focus on the brown roof to dictate your metal color. Brown oil-rubbed bronze will
look spectacular.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
I don’t know if you are able to assist color-challenged folk on the California coast and before I paypal’d you thought I’d ask.
Last year we bought the ugliest house in Morro Bay, Ca … but it has a terrific view and strong bones (under all the deferred maintenance!)
We just signed contract for front yard redo … includes terraced steps (5-8feet wide) on the left (as your facing house) … the upstairs deck will be replaced with ?? sometime in near future.
Have a painter lined up for exterior and he wants us to pick colors this weekend (yikes!)
Would LOVE your advice for exterior house colors .. please let me know if you work at this much of a distance!
Thank you,
Donna
Hi Donna,
I would love to help you with your house! As long as the photos come through, it doesn’t matter where the house is. I’ve worked on houses as far away as New Zealand and India so far!
Shall I go ahead and take a look at the photos?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Donna,
Here are a couple of colors that I pulled out of your stonework. Take a look at Texas Leather AC-3 (Ben Moore) and Jackson Tan HC-46. Depending on your neighbors’ houses (hard to see in the photo), either one would work on your house. Then you could use a tan like Yosemite Sand AC-4 or another sandy neutral from your stonework for the trim, soffits, fascia, and windows. If you decide to keep the deck, I suggest painting it the trim color so it blends in with the house a bit more. A new deck that takes into account the asymmetry of the house can be painted or stained a real accent color if you want the deck to be a design feature. But right now I would blend.
Hope that helps. I didn’t get a feel for your view but I bet it’s spectacular. Hope I’ve helped. Good luck with the project.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Donna,
Thanks for sending the inspiration house. With that in mind, how about Ben Moore’s Adams Gold HC-18 (gold with a definite green undertone) paired with the warm, rich brown of Ten Gallon Hat 1210 or slightly darker Arizona Canyon 1211? The combination is fresh and a little bit unexpected.
See if that’s a little closer to your dream home.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara…My husband and I have decided that we need to use vinyl siding on our home as we are both “up there in age” and my husband no longer wants to deal with upkeep. The front of the house is wood clapboard and the rear and side of the house is MASONITE. The old siding will be ripped off the body of the house before the house is newly sided. I really do not like the look of the same size siding on the entire house. Do not think that will look good on my house. We are thinking of the double 5 inch Certainteed on the front but don’t know about the sides and back. Hopefully you can weigh in on a siding decision. We do like the colors on the house but unsure if they can or should be duplicated with vinyl siding. Currently, the house is a taupe color with a darker trim. The windows were replaced a few years ago and are not white vinyl but a beige vinyl. The wood shingles on the roof are the weathered grey architectural shingles. Not sure if we should keep the same color scheme…The closest color Certainteed has to what we currently have is SavannahWicker for the body and Natural Clay for the Trim. Not sure if we should go darker body and lighter trim? With what color should we wrap the windows ? Also, the door color is a C2 color called Poundstone. It is a beautiful green but wondering if you could weigh in on that as well. The area we live in has all custom built homes that date back to the mid-70’s. The area has very mature greenery. Sorry this is so long. I did send you some pictures to your yahoo e-mail account…….thank you so much, Vicky
Hi Vicky,
Since your house at the moment looks quite monochromatic, how about lightening up the siding color to something like Light Maple. Then you could use Natural Clay for the trim/window casing/garage door color. The Natural Clay seems to work well with your roof color. Then switch out the door color to something that ties in the rear deck color — how about C2’s Spanish Tile 1336? Creating a little more contrast between the different elements of your house will add some interest. Although the monochromatic look helps to make the house bigger, you do need contrast somewhere.
As for changing out the siding style between the front and the rest, that may be a question best answered by your neighborhood. Your classic ranch style home usually has horizontal siding although occasionally we see board-and-batten vertical siding. I’m not a big fan of mixing the two unless you have some unique architectural features, like a large gable, to highlight. Then we see shingle style, fish scale, rock/brick, all kinds of variation on that focal point. But I suggest keeping your whole house horizontal and focusing on the beautiful landscaping/walkway and other features. Then the siding will not be the main attraction.
Hope that helps.
Thanks again for your patience.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank You Barbara………..So, basically you would keep the same color scheme as well as keeping the house body color lighter than the trim? This is what I was struggling with. Some houses have darker bodies and lighter trim. Also, the deck looks red in the pictures but it is actually a chestnut brown with darker brown spindles. Also, the roof color is either the Driftwood or Weatheredwood but frankly, they seem very similar. I don’t like the board and batten. I was thinking about trying to do the double 5 inch in the front and larger horizontal exposure on the sides and back?………I know I am getting nitpicy but once you commit to vinyl there is not going back. Have a nice Christmas………..Vicky
Hi Vicky,
Yes, I would keep the trim darker than the siding on your house. I think it makes the house look bigger. Make sure the garage doors don’t clash with the front door (kind of off right now). It wouldn’t hurt to pick a completely different color for your front door. Again pulling in the warmth of the deck color would be a good option. And the shutters are a little too black although they go with your lamp post and railing. It’s just that the roof is so light in comparison to the shutters that the shutters stand out as a feature. They should simply complement the house color. Like Caponata AF-650. As for changing the siding style as you move around the house, I’m not a big fan of that idea unless you’re highlighting a particular feature, like a gable or some other architectural element. Changing the lap siding as you go from front to side is something I can’t say I’ve seen before. Make sure you see a sample house before making a commitment.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
I hope you can help us pick our colors! My husband and I are having a Craftsman 1 1/2 story house built and we cannot decide on an exterior color scheme. Attached is a picture of the style home only our home will have side lights with the front door and one large garage door instead of 2 doors.
We would really like to have a stained front door with stained columns over stone on the porch. The siding will be Hardie Board and maybe a Hardie Shake on the top. The base of the house and steps will be brick. We both like the Iron Grey siding but need help in picking out roof, shake and, stain and brick colors. Our second choice would be to use the color Timber Bark instead of Iron Grey.
You can find the siding colors at the website JamesHardie.com .
Thanks for your help!
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
Well here’s one option for you using the Iron Grey siding: Consider Canyon Springs brick which looks like it combines grays/browns/tans/creams altogether. I like the Natural stone colors with your siding choice instead of red because the red/grey combo seems really dark. See what you think. Then for the shake siding in the gables, how about Khaki Brown with Cobble Stone Trim?
Here’s the brick link:
http://www.brick.com/cgi-bin/viewPanel.pl?filename=elp347&blendname=Canyon+Springs&catalog=&language=undefined&plantname=Elgin+Plant
For a stain, you can pick something like a Cordovan Brown (not too red but a rich brown) for the door/columns.
The roof choice needs to come after these other color decisions because you can go in the gray direction with Charcoal or a gray/brown mix.
See what you think… If you want red brick, the color combination will still work but I would go with a lighter trim, something like sail cloth, to lighten up the overall effect and maybe pick up on the grout color. Plus with red brick there’s always the very lovely Mountain Sage with cream trim.
Hope I haven’t confused the issue more. The biggest decision that you have to make first is the brick/stonework on the porch and columns. The siding colors will come out of that decision. Then after you make the siding choice, choose the trim and roof colors. In that order (if your builder can wait!).
Good luck!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
PS. Are you able to view the photo below?
/Users/catherinesherwood/Library/Mail Downloads/photo-8.jpg
You can find the picture on Facebook.com under Catherine Sherwood posted on 1.23.11
Hi Barbara,
First let me say that I am so happy I found your site. My husband and I are revamping the exterior of our home. We are slowly replacing our windows with white trimmed vinyl windows. We have some red brick on the porch and sides of the garage doors. The front porch is accented with a white railing. The roof is new and is a medium to dark brown color. We will be replacing the exterior with hardy board siding. That’s where I need your help, what color to paint the siding? My husband and I love the outdoors and the autumnal colors are what we’ve used in the interior of our house. I’ve thought about a dark green exterior paint, red door, not sure if we should add shutters. Our neighborhood hardware store has an amazing sale on Benjamin Moore paint. If possible I’d like to try and use one of their colors. Please let me know your thoughts. I can’t wait to hear from you. Here are two pictures of the exterior:
http://www.photoshop.com/users/midwestmarinemom/assets/71d4fd1c521e4cdeacd8d90e89a92cd2
http://www.photoshop.com/users/midwestmarinemom/assets/e14fc1038af444c3a8cf699b783e2a37
Thanks,
Mary Jones
Hi Mary,
Since you have already had a red door, would you consider a different color to go with the new green siding? How about a siding color of Ben Moore’s Boreal Forest AF-480 with a front door color of Richmond Gold HC-41? That combo will give you a different look to your house and will go well with the brown roof and trim. Then you could paint your rocking chairs a nice rich brick red like Dinner Party AF-300 (or whatever the color is on your current door).
Another option is to go with the Mountain Sage Hardie Plank (pre-painted). Just another option.
Do you plan to move all the trim to white including the gutters or keep the cream/white combo? As for the soffits/garage doors, I suggest keeping them the siding color so they are not the focal point. Save the accent colors for the front door area.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
I’ve been told Benjamin Moore can match any paint color, so I guess that doesn’t limit us. Also, I meant to say hunter green, not necessarily dark green. We are on a cul de sac of beige colored homes. What do you think? Also hubby asked me to ask you for your suggestions for soffits and garage doors as we will replace those this spring. Thanks, for letting me add this,,,,and can’t wait to hear your suggestions.
Mary
I have a Contemporary House with large black roof and black trim and black railings, it is green parody board, beige brown stucco in areas and beige brick but you cannot see it as the black trim is everywhere. There is some red trim also which we hate. We want to soften the look. What color could we do the trim it overpowers the house the black.
Hi Cheryl,
Since your house is contemporary, you can blend all that black trim into the house by painting it either a shade lighter or darker than the house color. That will take all those black lines away from the house, make it look bigger, and let you start over. You can paint out the red trim the same way. Reserve the pop of color for the front door.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I posted all of this somewhere else on your website – I don’t follow directions well evidently. 🙂
http://beachhouse46.shutterfly.com/
Here is the link to my little beach bungalow project. I have done nothing to the outside – and am ready to paint, add vinyl soffits and fasica and maybe vinyl gables. The house is cement with the stone accents. I also may add a large column by the front door with some stone accents on the lower half (I would love your suggestions).
I am trying to make it have lots of curb appeal, so I am open to any color suggestions. Recently I put in white plantation shutters all around, which are easily viewed from outside because of the large windows. This seems to be working against me with the brown tones, so I hope it wasn’t a mistake. I am going for a very contemporary look on the inside (some pics are also on the website).
Please make any suggestions that I could do without too much investment – I am willing to spend up to $3500 to spruce up the outside (that includes the soffits and fascia which desperately need work).
Thanks – and I’m so glad you are out there for us do-it-yourselfers!
Rita
Ormond Beach, Fl
Hi Rita,
Nice job on the inside! Wow you’ve been busy!
Now for the outside, how about taking the grout color from your stacked stone accent and painting the cement brick (currently yellow). Have a look at Ben Moore’s Decatur Buff HC-38 — or a comparable neutral that approximates your grout color. That will unify the house and make the stone accent look more intentional. Then for the gable, you can consider an accent color pulled from the stacked stone, something like Audubon Russet HC-51. If that’s too much of a statement then, paint the gable the same color as the rest of the house — that will make the house look bigger.
Now for the trim, I would go to white since you have white shutters showing at the windows and it’s a beach bungalow. White soffits, fascia, and gutters. Just that change alone will make the house look more like a cottage.
For the front entry, I suggest camouflaging your new white downspout with a larger white column (non-peeling, non-wood material — glorified plastic but has the appearance of wood!). You can certainly add stone to the column but I think that’s fairly expensive. But worth looking into anyway just to get a price and make decisions from there. Then paint your door either the Audubon Russet HC-51 or another sunny hue taken from your stacked stone (dare I suggest Eye of the Tiger 188?? — bold!).
If you’d prefer a white door, that’s okay as long as it’s pristine white and shiny clean! You have a lot of color elsewhere.
If you go for a white door, then I suggest painting the porch furniture one of the suggested colors.
How about big silver-toned (brushed nickel) numbers on the front of the house (very modern and large) next to the garage door? Then if the budget allows, switch out the mailbox and porch light to nickel as well.
Those changes should update the house and make it quite a splash on your block. Hope so!
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I LOVE your ideas and hope to be able to carry them through. I do have a few questions though:
1) The grout is actually a grayish color…would that still be a go to paint the house with it?
2) I have 3 gables – should I paint the ones on the ends white or the same as the house?
3) I like the idea of painting the front gable the Audubon Russet color – and I have a friend who has offered to change the look to fish scales there. Would that be worth the work or would it be going away from the contemporary look?
4) Would a wood fence look nice or should I save up for the white vinyl look?
5) I love your idea for just the large white square column out front – and eventually I would like to add some stone or brick to the entryway floor. I had thought about a gray slate look. Any ideas?
Thank you again – can’t wait to get started!
Hi again Rita,
Regarding your follow-up questions:
1) Check out the lighter Shaker Beige HC-45 and Revere Pewter HC-172 and see if one of those is perfect with your gray grout. The house color should really blend well with the grout so that the warm stone pops out. That’s why maybe one of the lighter colors will work a little better than the darker Decatur Buff. I could be happy with any of them on your house.
2) I would paint the accent color on the front gable only. The other two will be the house color. That puts all the attention on the front of the house. BUT on the sides, you can add orange/yellow flowers, etc to tie the whole house together.
3) Since there’s no stonework on the front gable side of the house, I think it would be great to have some texture up there in the gable. We would be getting away from “modern” but moving more toward “cottage” and I think that’s fine for your beach house. Either way, the house will look updated, bright and cheerful and therefore “contemporary” — just not “modern.”
4) In general, I’m not a big fan of fences out front unless you need one for practical purposes like keeping in the dog or the children and then mainly for the backyard. A visual barrier between the street and the yard is okay as long as it’s attractive and does not block the view of the house. Ideally, a stone wall would fit into your scheme a little better than a fence. Or some garden beds with a variety of shrubs going along in front by the street. If you really do want and need a fence out front by the street, get a material that is as close to wood as you can get and still have the minimal upkeep.
A note about vinyl: You can’t beat it for maintenance, of course, but the shiny vinyl fences look pretty plasticky (is that a word?). Get a vinyl that has a matte finish on it that approximates the look of painted wood. Same for your column on the porch. Wood is best, but it will rot and require upkeep. Look around before purchasing “vinyl” as there are lots of options out there.
5) Gray slate would be perfect for your front entryway floor. Stone will be better than brick — less busy — and it will complement your stonework and not compete with it.
Hope that helps! Enjoy!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
My partner I need help selecting our exterior house colors we haven’t a clue.We will be replacing the existing roof ( due to a leak) with a GAF Timberline Barkwood or a Shakewood shingle ( I’m partial to the lighter color shakewood although i’ve been told it’s too much gold).There is stone work on the front with gray mortar I’d like to paint the mortar but I don’t know how it will come out.The deck needs staining ( I’ve seen a glossy rich deep color medium dark stain people have been using lately and we love it but are too afraid to ask total strangers where they got it.) As for the siding we would like something warm.Color for trim around the windows (just recently installed) what do you think about white? we also need color ideas for gutters and trim.Also should we paint the garage doors they are new a factory white and made of some sort of metal.I also want to add board and batten shutters i was thinking of staining them the same color as the deck.I have attached pictures. Thanks so much for ur help.
Hi Randy,
Here are some of ideas that might incorporate the stone work on the front without getting into the messy job of trying to hide it. For one idea, I know you said you would like a warm color for the siding, but if you pick up on the gray mortar color with something like Ben Moore’s Revere Pewter (HC-172), that will actually blend in some of the grays from the stone and let the warmer gold and brown tones pop out. Then you could use the darker brown (Barkwood) for the roof to add contrast and pick that color up again with the deck stain — dark brown should pop off the gray stone quite nicely. Yes, you can use white for the trim, but a gray white like China White or even a light gray like Intense White OC-51 to bridge the gray mortar/white window contrast.
For the garage doors, you could use the dark brown again or the siding color. The dark brown will attract attention. The siding color will allow the black hardware to show up better. The shutters can be brown as well.
What we’ve done is camouflaged the rustic nature of the stone by using a more contemporary color scheme. A warm color on the siding (something like Jackson Tan HC-46 or even a Richmond Gold HC-41) is another option, of course, but the effect of that will be to highlight that stone work area — the grays of the stone and grout will pop right off the front of the house. Terrific if you decide to embrace the stone. But if you’re the least bit hesitant about it, I would opt for blending the grout and stone grays into the house as much as possible.
The gold in the stone is a fabulous accent color. And a dark version of that could be used for the shutters and deck railing if you want to make a huge statement. But the dark brown is a safe but tasteful option if you’d rather not draw too much attention to the house. The gold could be used in the landscape, deck chairs and other accessories.
Hope that helps.
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello!
My husband and I bought a great house that desperately needs curb-appeal. It is a bi-level house with nice wood siding that has been painted a peach color and nice wood shutters painted brown….Peach and brown. Ugh. The garage door is painted white. I’m just thankful everything is wood and can be painted. We were thinking of painting it a burnt red color (we’ve just always wanted a burnt red house), but were unsure what color to paint the shutters or garage door.
I wish I could get a photo to you, but I’m not quite sure how to do that…
Hi Kate,
Is that brick on the first floor by the garage? Sounds like you plan to paint the entire house. If you go with a burnt red, you may not even need shutters. You really only have two windows on the second floor that might like shutters and those windows are not the same size. Since all the windows are different shapes and sizes, I suggest leaving off the shutters completely. You will have enough color and contrast with the red siding and white trim (I would paint the sidelights on either side of the front door the same trim color and maybe invest in a full-view storm door — that will help a lot too!). The garage door can pick up on the roof color — something neutral and earthy like a Ben Moore Tyler Taupe HC-43. See what you think of those changes!
Thanks for posting.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Sounds lovely! I didn’t even think about leaving off the shutters completely. Would definitely give it a more contemporary look. And yes, that is a small brick facade by the front door, which we think we’ll just paint along with the house. (Personally, I’d like to take a sledge hammer to the brick, but…). I love the neutral taupe for the garage as well. Would go well with burnt red.
Found a way to leave a link. The photo is blurry–so sorry. I think you’ll see our problem…
http://www2.snapfish.com/snapfish/slideshow/AlbumID=6018632009/PictureID=304687383009/a=27133739_27133739/otsc=SHR/otsi=SPIClink/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/
Hi Barbara ! Im glad I found your site as I was looking for appropriate colors for our house. Our house roof is color red to red-orange and we cant find a color match for the exterior and really we are at loss for what colors to paint it. Can you also suggest for interior colors.
Hope you can help us.
Thank you.
Pearl
Hi Pearl,
A red roof makes a definite statement. You might like to go with a neutral on the siding so that the house is not TOO colorful… (hard for a color person to say that, for sure!) but you know what I mean. Look at the neutral tans like Ben Moore’s Lenox Tan.
As for the interior colors, I would be happy to help you. Either you can post photos on the blog (the donate button is along the margin if you scroll up — I charge $20/room) or you can email me the photos at bmeglis@yahoo.com and we’ll go from there. Either way…
Hope that gets you started. Thanks again for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
I have an old flat roof house that has been used as a rental for some time. As you can see from the photo it is looking tired and dreary. I need to paint this year and I’m having trouble deciding on a paint color and the color for the front door.
Right now I’m leading toward a soft pale green with white trim, door color?
The house is located in the pacific northwest and I would like to have it feel like a garden cottage. Most of the plantings are red, pink, purple and white.
Help me take this from looking like a shack
to a garden cottage. I’m open to any suggestions.
Thank you,
Alisa
Hi Alisa,
Here are a couple of cottagey ideas:
Ben Moore’s Kittery Point Green HC-119 with white trim and an Audubon Russet door HC-51. An alternative for the front door is a rich purple like Chambourd AF-645. Very nice with your purple and white plantings.
Another idea is a Jamestown Blue HC-148 with a warm yellow door like Golden Lab 178. With white trim, that’s a great combination.
I suggest painting all the accessories (mailbox, etc) white. And use the door color for your house numbers and other accents like pots on the front step. Crisp white is the key ingredient for using bright clear colors. Fresh, summery, and uplifting.
Hope that helps!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Please take a look at my DC house above and let me know what you think. I was thinking of repainting all of the hardie plank siding and brick on the far left a dark gray – like sherman williams gibraltar or web gray. (the painters are using sherman williams duration products) the stone in the front is mainly brown but does also have gray that i’m trying to match. assuming i keep the trim white. should i paint the garage gray or leave it white? also what about the front door? i don’t care for red.
also what about the brick in the front of house and wall?
i appreciate your suggestions. thanks in advance.
kara
Hi Kara,
The colors you mentioned will work although your roof looks like it has a bit of a green undertone to that gray so consider a green-gray too, something like Night Owl SW 7061. (The other two colors you mentioned are quite blue.)
Then since you have an updated garage that would be nice to highlight, pick a coordinating color from your stonework. Take a look at Rookwood Clay SW 2833 or one of the other warm tones from the stone. Use that on both garage door and front door.
The brick on the far end of the house should be house color — as it is now. The brick wall/walkway can stay as is. If you go with the green-gray, there is some of that color in your brick wall. You’ll be all set!
Hope that works for you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I have been checking your site for a couple of years and I think all your suggestions are right on. I am getting ready to paint the exterior of my house and I want to email a picture to you but I am not sure how to do that. I see the place to make the donation and am delighted to do that but I am not getting how this process works! Thank you. Chris
Hi Chris,
I would be happy to help you. Just send a photo via email to bmeglis@yahoo.com or you can insert a photo link right into the Blog Reply box. The process is a little klunky since I’m working via a blog and not a commercial vendor site. But it’s okay.
I will look for your photo and question and thank you in advance for your payment.
Kind regards,
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Chris,
I think in your case, since the garage doors are so prominent, that it would be a good idea to darken them up. That way they will “ground” the house, coordinate with the roof, and kind of break up that garage-door wall.
Take a look at something like Ben Moore’s Berkshire Beige AC-2 or Texas Leather AC-3. One of those just might work.
I do like the idea of adding lights. That will help too! But I think darkening the doors will give you the facade you want. Just make sure the color is in your brick (a little hard to tell).
Hope that helps!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
It is time for a new paint/stain for our East TN home. This little rancher is situated in a lake/mountain community and is used year round.
Although it doesn’t show in the pic, the roof is black. There is a dark brown/black vinyl trim to the windows. It actually looks like oil rubbed bronze, but definitely isn’t.
I’m at a loss as to what to do with the color, trim and everything that goes along with it. I’m not a fan of the lattice work in front and back. And I’m a hater of the massive white foundation and retainer wall.
What suggestions do you have to spruce this place up?
Thanking you in advance.
Hi Patricia,
I suggest that you first take a look at concrete stain options and colors. Choose one that’s either in the light gray family or light beige to simulate a natural-stone kind of look. Then once you’ve chosen either gray or beige, go up a few shades for your house stain color. Here are a couple of examples. Take a look at Ben Moores’ Equestrian Gray 1553 for a house color (it’s a darkish gray green kind of like what you have now) and then go three shades lighter for Cumulus Cloud 1550 (a green-gray) for the concrete. Or Look at Edgewood Rocks 1056 (a maple brown) for the siding and Sierra Hills 1053 for the concrete stain. By using a lighter (but still natural) version of the siding color, you blend all that concrete and make the house look bigger without “painting” the concrete a color that just looks odd.
Stay natural with your palette and this will work. But blues and reds are out.
Then paint your latticwork the house color like it is in the front so it will go away too. What you’re left with is the white trim along the porch/deck, the cream around the windows, and your gorgeous flowers and white chairs for your accents.
See what you think of that idea.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We’re back again after a successful exterior paint job thanks to you.
Now for the interior walls (see Flickr url). Currently have wallpaper, but want to paint.
Unfortunately, the walls underneath the paper are coated with varnish over spray from the wainscoat. It would be very difficult to sand or remove without damaging the sheetrock.
So, wondering what colors and technique (i.e. faux) would you recommend.
Thanks so much.
Jackson
Hi Jackson,
I’ve emailed you…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Jackson,
It is possible… (kind of as a last ditch effort)… to paint wallpaper IF it’s in good condition (not peeling or separating at the seams). The trick there is to use a REALLY good primer over the paper. And don’t ever plan to take it down…
If you’ve already started to take the paper down and are just concerned about the walls underneath and not getting a smooth surface, then a faux finish is in order. I recommend ragging as opposed to sponging or other techniques as it looks the most natural when you’re done. Natural for a faux finish, that is. Add a bit of glaze to the paint to extend the drying time and give you more time to mess around with the rag on the wall before the paint dries. Paint the base coat (say Bone White) and then rag on the top coat, Putnam Ivory HC-39 or Powell Buff HC-35 (something not too removed in hue from the base coat), and then go back over the wall lightly at the end with the base coat color to soften the hard edges and really make the wall look professionally painted.
Stick with neutral colors for the wall since the focus is really on your woodwork. Pick two colors that blend well and are of the same color family. That will give you the best result. The colors I mentioned above would definitely work in your room. Also something like Ben Moore’s Abington Putty HC-99 and Clarksville Gray HC-102.
Does that help? Oh, and I love how your house turned out!! Very nice!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We need to paint our house this year and we plan to leave the red brick which is only on the front of the house, and the dark charcoal roof which is new. But the trim, garage doors and front door need to be painted. What do you think about shutters on our house? I do not like white, but I do like off whites, tans, browns, taupes, and greens. I want our house to look warm and inviting and less formal. We would appreciate your suggestions.
I will send a picture on a separate e-mail.
Thanks,
Gail Luce
Hi Gail,
Here’s one palette for you. How about painting the front door either Ben Moore’s New London Burgundy HC-61 or Dinner Party AF-300. Either one of those should show off your terrific brick colors. Then for the shutters, you can pick up the roof color as well as the brick with Ebony Slate 2118-30 or Toucan Black 2118-20. Each of those has a touch of dark eggplant as an undertone. For the garage doors and the rest of the house, you’ve got lots of options. Check out Litchfield Gray HC-78 as one alternative — it’s a gray-beige. Not too exciting but you have a lot of color in the brick and the roof (even) so a neutral is a good idea. Any other hue like green will give you a rainbow effect. The idea behind the HC-78 was to coordinate with your key stones and the grout in your brick. Any sandy color will work, however, so you can move toward the warmer tans or the cooler gray-beiges and still have a great look.
The house siding and the garage doors do not have to match. You can go a shade or two darker with either one. But I would stick to related neutrals since your brick is so colorful.
Does that help?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
The Litchfield Gray matches our grout and key stones perfectly! It may not be an exciting color, but I really like neutrals.
What would you think about using the color Ebony Slate for the door instead of one of the red tones? I thought that would look nice and it seems like there is enough red in the brick.
What color would you chose for the shutters if we went with the black door? It seems like the windows need shutters to show up better.
I really appreciate your help. This can be very stressful.
Thanks,
Gail
Hi Gail,
You can certainly use the Ebony Slate on the door instead of the red. As for the shutters, they too can be Ebony Slate. That would look great on the rest of the house unless you were planning to shutter only the front. The slate picks up the roof and the darker tones in the brick. I’m not crazy about light shutter colors unless they’re on a cottage or a French country home. For your brick, black is the convention… and the Ebony Slate warms up the “black” somewhat.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, I just sent you an e-mail about roof choices and siding. I made a mistake on the roof color by owens-corning. It is called summer harvest not harvest blend. oops, Thanks, Marilou
Hi! My husband and I are in our fifties and building a home for the first time. We have never really paid a lot of attention to what goes into a house until now, and we are completely overwhelmed and exhausted! We both work and our building’s location is over an hour away! We are in need of major help for exterior materials and colors which have to be chosen asap as framing is nearly finished. Ahhhh!
Our house is a two story, contemporary lake home. We are working with three colors. We had thought to do the bottom half in a vertical steel metal siding (Dark red) and the upper half in an acrylic stucco. Some of the colors we are considering are Bejamin Moore’s pashmina, thunder, sandy hook gray, meditation or coastal path. Do you think any of these would work with the red?
We are also thinking about doing the chimney stack in a charcoal metal, along with the stone firepalce, fascia, soffiting, and windows which will be frameless. Or do you think we should do the window casements in black??? Do the soffits and fascia have to be the same color? What would you suggest here? Would you do the roof in a charcoal color as well?
We are thinking about a blue door but that decision does not need to be made yet. Thank goodness!!
We are working without a designer, although I really really wish we could afford one. So glad to have come across this site. Wish we had discovered it earlier.
Looking forward to your advice,
Desperate in Alberta…
Hi Darcy,
I like the Coastal Path AF-380 option for the stucco. It’s warmer than the others with the green/gray undertones and will contrast nicely with your grays from the chimney stack, gray roof (yes, that’s okay) and stonework. As for the fascia and soffits, you might continue with the coastal path up to the roof line. Or you can use the coastal path for the soffits and gray for the fascia.
The windows will look good in black — they’ll contrast with the body color and coordinate with the roof grays. But another option would be a lighter version of the coastal path if you’re concerned at all about the “eyeliner-around-the-window” look that happens if the windows are on the small side.
As for the door, leave that color choice blank for as long as possible to see the total effect of your other color decisions first. You can certainly take your time with the door color.
I am happy to help you as you go along. Send photos once you have a structure and we can proceed through the process together.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara!
Wow! Thanks for such a quick reply. This is great! I will be getting stucco samples from our builder at the end of the week so will be able to see what this color actually looks like. I like the idea of using this color for the soffiting as well.
As for the window encasements, we have to finalize our order tomorrow morning… We have some large windows but also some small ones. I was afraid of black being too dark looking, maybe because of that eyeliner effect. Since we do not as yet have the stucco colors (coastal path) to work with, I was thinking of using dark gray on the windows? Would this work as well???
Could you please comment on the colors and materials we are using? Do you think it will all work? I know it would be helpful to have a drawing, but I don’t know how to that and my husband is away. Will try to send you one later.
Very scared of all this!
Darcy
Also was wondering…we have to delete some of our windows as we are over budget. We have large windows with transoms on the front of the house and smaller windows on the side. We thought maybe we could delete the transoms on the side windows to save money but keep the height. Would deleting the side transoms look odd if there are other windows in the same room that have them???
Hi Darcy,
The gray windows will work as long as a) you have gray elsewhere (the roof/chimney/stonework); and b) you want the windows to pop off the siding color. The dark gray will not blend — it will still pop. If that’s okay, then go for the charcoal. If you’re concerned about the windows attracting too much attention on the house, then it would be better to pick a color that will coordinate/blend a little better with the house color. But for a contemporary style, it’s very appropriate to have the windows featured as part of the design and therefore colored to contrast with the rest of the siding. So if you feel comfortable with that approach, the dark gray will be perfect! Hope that helps you.
As for the transoms, I think it will be okay to have the transoms on the front only as long as the windows are different sizes (between the front and sides). You mentioned they were all going to be the same height but I assume the width will be different. You can fudge the lack of transom by having different but coordinating window treatments on the interior. If you treat the windows differently on the inside, all will look intentional and not a money-saving decision. For example, you might put stationary panels beside your tall front windows and Roman shades over the side windows. To be determined later…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you so much for all this! I am still a bit confused. I actually thought the charcoal would be less contrasting than the black. But it sounds like they are about equal.
Would the windows pop on both materials (stucco and dark red siding) so the top and bottom are balanced? We have large windows on both floors.
Could you perhaps suggest another color that will blend? Pressured for time and hoping it will all tie together.
Thanks so much…
Hesitant & unsure
Hi Darcy,
Not to worry… the charcoal will be less contrasting than the black and will really only pop a little more on the stucco. If you go too light with the windows, the opposite effect will happen on the red siding. So go ahead with the charcoal. You cannot go wrong because you have charcoal elsewhere on the house.
Would love to see a sketch of your house style. ?? Sounds very creative!!
Just trying to help you through the thought process so you’re sure of all your decisions along the way…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Babara
Thanks so much for your input and encouragement. I can see using your guidance a lot through this process.
We are really under the wire here and still very uncertain. We saw the house yesterday… it looks beautiful… but I think I am afraid of ruining it with bad color choices. Ahhhh! Framing is done, roof on so they do need our windows, roof and soffiting colors NOW.
Windows go into production today, so the window people said I had until today to decide on the color of the encasements. I am still wavering between black and dark gray. Problem is I can’t find an example of dark gray anywhere in the neighborhood to compare to.
Would black windows look GREAT??? or would we be introducing yet another color to the mix? I just don’t know which is the best choice here. I do like how black makes the windows pop and we do have a few big windows.
And I am wondering if the dark grey really goes with the Coastal Path color??? We will be using the gray for soffits and fascia as we haven’t had time to find any other color. As you can see, I have absolutely no confidence here….
So, I guess my question is.
What looks best…
1. Charcoal gray, Red siding, Coastal path stucco with black windows; OR
2. Charcoal gray, red siding, coastal path stucco with dark gray windows???
3. Or are there other exterior colors we should be using.
By the way, there is a belt around the middle of the house that is there to separate the two materials I guess. It would also be charcoal.
Thanks! Somehow, I think this has been the most difficult decision so far in this process. I hope it gets easier.
Stuck in Alberta!
Darcy
Hi Darcy,
Had a hectic day today and just saw your time-sensitive post asking for window approval. Although you probably had to go ahead today, I just want to reassure you that either charcoal or black will work. The charcoal is probably best since you have other charcoal going on the house. But black will work as well. You can always add more black accents both on the house (lighting) and around the house (furniture, pots, etc) to tie the windows into the overall scheme. The Coastal Path should go with either one. It’s a very sophisticated color combination. The green will blend with the surroundings; the red will pop; and the windows will be nicely featured. NOT TO WORRY!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks for geting back to me, Barbara. I really appreciate this online assistance. We did go with the black but can change other elements of our exterior if we have to. I definitely do not want a dark-looking house. Hoping to achieve something beautiful and cheerful with a touch of fun as it is at the lake.
We would like to keep the red siding and the charcoal chimney as they seem to go well together. As for the Coastal Path, I’m not sure if we’re talking about the same stucco color. The coastal path we have is an odd sort of a greeny-yellow (in the sun anyway), not a greeny-grey, and I’m not sure if it goes with the charcoal. I like it with the red siding though. Might you have been referring to another color or do you still think this color would work? When stucco is applied to a large surface does it get lighter or darker? Do you have any other suggestions for the stucco? Any other suggestions for soffits and fascia, or is charcoal still appropriate here.
Our roofing order has to go in tonight. Here is what we have… Harmony’s Twilight Grey (has a little bit of a blue hue) or Slate Black. Just not sure if the latter is too dark. Or might this be a way to pull in the black windows??
Can’t wait til this is done and we can move on to other things. Next is the plumbing and fixtures.
Cheers,
Darcy
Hi Coach,
Here are some links to our late 60’s tract masterpiece –
As you can see, our exterior is in need of a refresh. Our roof is a reddish brown color composite shingle, not planning on changing that for another 10+ years, but you can’t really see it anyway…may not matter? Also, the windows must stay the same, white. The siding is stucco and the texture is something only the late 60’s could have given us. We are also going to add trim to the windows/garage/front door – do you think wood or foam would fit better? Also, with the chimney we can ‘refresh’ to make red & white pop again or just stucco it.
So, what colors for:
exterior house walls, gates (we can change these wood, vinyl etc.), eves, new & roof trim, iron railing on balcony (we will probably match new exterior lanterns to this color), garage door?
Anyway I can get the colors in dunn-edwards language? Our paint guy only uses their stuff.
Thanks for the help – just paypal’d.
Dom
Hi Dom,
One idea would be to paint the stucco a taupe like Wooden Peg DE6215 with a trim like Swiss Coffee DEW341 around the windows and fascia/soffits. Then because your garage is so prominent and we can’t see the front door from the street, how about Weathered Saddle DE5187 for the accent color on garage door and front door. You could also use that color around the back on the pergolas with the Swiss Coffee on the awnings.
The clay red should coordinate with the brick and other terra cotta around the house as well as your beach roses and other red flowering shrubs in the front.
For a dose of modern update, how about replacing the wrought iron railing with a silver-toned aluminum alternative in a tubular design (or something equally streamlined — a cable railing might be an option).
Then you could use silver-colored metal (polished nickel) for your new modern light fixtures. The gates could be wooden– painted the house color to camouflage them.
Embracing the mid-century styling of the house by replacing wrought iron (the more traditional Southern California material) with its modern alternatives will really bring out the home’s architecture and put the house in its most positive light. Whoever the gardener is in your family will kill me for suggesting this, but if you do move more toward modern in your mini-renovation, the topiaries on either side of the garage will look out of place. They are calling for a more traditional European-style home — perhaps a little too ornate for your clean lines. Replacing those sculpted shrubs with your new large modern garage lights on either side of the door will make a huge difference. My apologies to the gardener — the topiaries are truly a work of art!!
How’s that for starters??
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
front door too!
Hi Barbara,
Very much like your site and hoping you can help us with a color scheme for our house. I emailed a link to photos on your yahoo address earlier today.
Here’s some detail and background info…we’re planning to use Sherwin Williams but if you have a better feel for other brands that’s fine, from comments above it sounds like not a big deal to match.
We took off the shutters. There’s one photo there of the house in cream siding with dark green shutters on. Would like your opinion on whether or not to put the shutters back up.
The house siding is cedar shakes except on the front below the small 2nd floor windows, a horizontal board separates the shakes from smaller boards that run parallel up to the roof. (not sure if the photos show this detail) There are similar vertical boards on the ends. We’ve experimented using the color visualizer softwares on highlighting these detail/elements with multiple colors (me). Also more traditional looks (my wife)…but don’t seem to be able to come up with something that we both like.
I should share that several of my color schemes were sent back to the drawing board in search of something that “pops” and has a cottage look and feel…hope that helps give some direction for your recommendation.
thanks!
Hi Dave,
First of all, it’s okay to leave the shutters off the house. With your irregularly sized windows, the shutters are a bit of a challenge. I like the house as is.
Have you thought of a blue for the house like Needlepoint Navy SW0032? With white trim and a Birdseye Maple SW2834 door? Or what about Colonial Revival Green Stone SW2826 with white trim and a Cajun Red SW0008 door? Either of those combinations will give you a cottage “pop.”
Then I definitely would paint the stairs and the deck a dark wood brown just to blend in with the other stairs on the back and the hilly landscape. You want the focus to be on the house and its accessories and not on the stairs/deck color. What a view!!
Honestly, in terms of painting detail on the house, I would paint everything wall color except for the window and door trim. I think with the interesting windows and your landscaping, that you have enough to look at. Highlighting all the wood trim might make the house too busy. It conjures up an old colonial — I think it IS an old colonial — and the simpler the better.
Does that help?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara! Oops! I guess I had to submit another donation. Sorry about that. To update you since the last note…
We were able to change our windows to dark grey. We went with the Harmony’s Slate Black roof so hoping this is not too dark. We really wanted a charcoal color but had few choices here. Fascia and soffiting are charcoal grey. Siding is dark red. We still need more suggestions for the stucco color. We can have a few more samples made. My husband is meeting with the stucco guy tomorrow so I’m hoping for a reply soon. My emails seem to always be one day too late…
Look forward to hearing from you.
Darcy
Hi Darcy,
Thank you for the payment. I was not waiting for it — just late replying to your last post. But thank you anyway. I’m very glad you went with the dark grey for the windows. The Slate Black roof should be fine. And since all the trim is charcoal and the siding is red, let me get you some other stucco choices. Back in a few minutes!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Darcy,
Since this is a summer house, how about something like Safari AF-335 or Soleil AF-330? The grey is your neutral and the grey and red are rich dark shades. How about some contrast with a creamy yellow?? There’s also the neutral tan Hush AF-95. Or the slight beigey peach Jicama AF-315?
Any of those would look spectacular with your grey trim and the red bottom layer. The greens with the greys are a tad “military” looking. I’m liking the warmer lighter tones…
Hope one of those works!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you! I’ll give those a try. By the way, it doesn’t have to be a color from Benjamen Moore so… If you think of any others, let me know:^)
Hi Barbara,
I am now wondering about the doors. There are 5…street entry (main entrance), side entrance, back balcony, front garden doors, and front balcony garden doors. Given the type of home we have would you choose smooth or wood grain? Would you do the same on all five entries? What about colors? I had thought to do blue???? Or something different…could maybe pull in the element of fun here but I’m afraid of having too many colors. Any suggestions? Would you do all the doors the same? Should we be using trim color here?
We also have to choose hinges aand lock systems. Really not sure what to use. Black maybe? I’ve been advised to just go with a generic chrome as it goes with anything. What do you think? The entry doors don’t need to have the same hardware as the interior doors, do they?
Thanks for your help!
Darcy
PS: How do we upload a picture to send you?
Hi Darcy,
Sorry for the delay… traveling over the weekend.
Would love to see a photo since you have a unique home style. Could go either way with multiple door colors, one different color for the main entrance only, or all the same. For now, you can email me a photo at bmeglis@yahoo.com. Unfortunately because this is a blog, there is no upload function — at least at the moment! The blog is under construction — I am trying to fix little annoyances like that for my bloggers. But for now, it’s email.
Back later.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Need help with exterior color scheme for cedar shake, trim, garage and front doors. Have considered staying with red shake and changing the trim to a dark gray. Not sure then how to stain the front door and garage doors.
Hi Linda,
I love your cedar shake color. And to be honest, I love the garage and front door colors as well. I know it’s all brown — various shades — but the garage doors still have a nice contrast against the shakes and trim and the front door is a welcoming golden shade that conjures up a highly varnished mahogany boat! Gorgeous. Having said that, you might consider moving away from the cream trim (also quite nice but it’s been done) and going with something like Ben Moore’s Edgecomb Gray, a warm light gray that would pull out the gray tones in your stonework and still contrast with the cedar and dark brown doors/shutters. The house would cool down a bit, but I think the gray would highlight the cedar shakes even more.
A dark gray may be a little too dark — not enough contrast against the shakes. And I would make sure that the color you choose is in the roof (looks like a gray-brown) so that the trim, roof, and cedar do not compete for attention.
Let me know if you simply cannot stand to keep those other elements the way they are — and you have to change more than just the trim. Then I’ll take another look. But you have a winning combo right now so it’s a stretch to even change the trim — quite frankly!
A lovely house!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I emailed a photo of our home currently under construction. I am very conservative and neutral in my color likes.
In case you cannot tell, the brick is a varied brown with white and a white mortar.
The roof is GAF Timberline Barkwood (brown but not weathered wood).
We have chosen Sherwin Williams’ Divine White for trim, posts to best tie in the stark white vinyl windows.
There is an area on the front of the house that will be covered by a vinyl piece that is a “shake” siding accent.
Could you help with the body color, shake color, door, and shutter colors? I must also consider the color of the iron porch railing and exterior
light fixtures and hardware.
At my wit’s end!
Thank you.
Hi Dawn,
If your photo bounces back from my email, please direct it to
bmeglis@yahoo.com
It’s a bigger mailbox for large photos. Sorry for the inconvenience.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Dawn,
How about Ben Moore’s Lenox Tan HC-44 for your siding color with a vinyl shake color of Cypress (http://exteriorportfolio.com/EP/products/portsmouthshake/perfectionshake/color_overview.aspx)?
That combination should look great with your Barkwood roof and white trim as well as the brick. You might consider the same Cypress for your front door (the color can be matched) and a Tudor Brown (Ben Moore Exterior) for your shutters. Oil-rubbed bronze should work for your metal accent color.
Hope that palette is what you envision!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara, the Lenox Tan is nice, however I don’t really like greens and the Cypress looks green to me. I already have the vinyl shake in white so that it can be painted easily. I’m leaning toward painting the shake the same color or a shade lighter or darker than the siding. What would be your second choice for the door?
Hi again Dawn,
Oh, I get it! Thought you needed to pick out a vinyl shake (pre-colored). In that case, you might consider Tyler Taupe HC-43 for that gable area — a shade or two darker than the Lenox Tan. Then for the front door, you can pick a warm color like Georgian Brick HC-50 or Audubon Russet HC-51. Another option would be a dark eggplant like either Chambourd AF-645 or Caponata AF-650.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I think I have found your website in the nick of time. We recently purchased a small 50’s ranch house and it needs to get painted asap and I need help with house colors. the house just looks outdated and not to my taste. My problem is picking a color to go with the yellow/orange roof shingles. Would love to change it but not right now. Currently the staggered shakes are painted something similar to BM Annapolis Gray (found the can in the house – may just have been for touching up before the sale but it is very close). I think the color is too pinky for me? The house has some red brick in the front and maroon shutters. Front door is a bright red.
At the moment I have 3 samples – BM HC-95, 102, 108. We’re thinking maybe the Clarksville Gray HC-102. My husband doesn’t want shutters that need painting so, so far, I’m thinking black shutters. also thinking of changing the door to maybe onandaga clay BM 1204.
Questions: are we going too green? Will black shutters be too strong?
When I find your email address I will send pictures. Thanks, looking forward to your help!
Hi Michele,
Since your roof is so warm, I would opt for the grayest of the greens you have sampled there — Sandy Hook Gray HC-108. That will help to cool the house down overall.
Then since your shutters will really stand out against the house (the roof being so brown), I recommend leaving them off completely. You really will not miss them on your house style
and leaving them off will make the house feel a bit more contemporary.
Hope that is a welcomed relief to your husband!
Good luck with your painting project and enjoy the weekend!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara – I am negotiating the color of my cape-style house with my HOA. I adore vibrant color, the colores fuertes of Mexico adorn my kitchen. I live in central NC but grew up around gorgeous Victorians in upstate NY and lived in the San Francisco area, home of beautiful painted ladies. I’d like to bring some intensity and creativity to the color scheme to reflect these parts of my own history and aesthetic. I submitted a deep green–Lafayette Green (BM-HC 135) (siding; our roof is a darkish brown with lots of copper-y flecks); white (BM-HC 27)for trim on porch portico and railing with deep orange for accents (BM-HC50 Georgian Brick)like triangles in the dormers and portico; and black for the shutters (this is the one I’m most unsure of). HOA rejected the color scheme suggesting it was “too dark” as seen from the street. Any suggestions for me? THANK YOU!
Hi Barbara – Just figured out I hadn’t paid yet–apologies! Please refer to my above post. I have since painted a small section of the house with the green (BM-HC 135) and the suggested trim color in that palette (Philadelphia cream, HC-30). The cream is way too yellow for me and I am not sure how it will work with the accent in the palette (Audubon Russett HC-51). I am still a bit stuck when it comes to the shutters. I do like the green, and HOA says ok. Many thanks!
Kaaren
Hi Kaaren,
The Lafayette Green is a bit of a tough one for shutters because it is quite dark. Even darker shutters, like black, simply won’t work. Do you have to have shutters?? I often like to see dark houses with a light trim only. In your case, since the HC-30 is too yellow, have a look at Cameo White. It’s creamy without being too yellow. As for the door/accent, the HC-51 would be fine. I don’t know the palette in your neighborhood, but here’s a completely different idea you might consider:
Take a look at Sherwood Green HC-118 or even the lighter Kittery Point Green HC-119 with white trim and Audubon Russet accents. Since the roof is brown, you might consider a Tudor Brown shutter. The lighter siding color will give appropriate contrast to the darker shutters without having the house look too dark from the street.
See what you think…
If you are committed to the Lafayette Green, then go with a medium neutral for the shutters, something lik Powell Buff HC-35, with more of a white trim like your original Monterey White Hc-27.
Hopefully one of those scenarios will work for you!
Thanks for posting!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks, Barbara. I have since looked at the Lafayette Green I painted on the siding (3 coats,as this will likely be the thickness) and it is very dark–almost losing the green if you look at it in the shade. My contractor suggested a “half recipe” of Lafayette green. I am now completely thrown. I really like the tone of the green (more tropical plant-like than an olive or brown-green) but I think it’s too dark. I don’t think the Victorian-inspired accent with Audubon russet will make the architectural features “pop” like I’d like it to. Other colors in the palette include Bleeker Beige (HC-80); Alexandria Beige (HC-77) and Middlebury Brown (HC-68). I hadn’t planned on the shutters being green (since I had hoped for green siding), and each has raised panels that I would like to accent a la Victorian homes.I love this palette grouping (in BM historical homes brochure). ANY suggestions (including changing the siding color) would be welcome.
Thanks!
Kaaren
Hi Karen,
Send a photo and I’ll get you a lighter siding color!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Please advise on the suggested color for the small building next to the bigger barn. You suggested BM “country redwood” for the red part of the barn which we love. We would appreciate a response as soon as possible. Thank you.
Hi Linda,
Frankly, I love the natural stained wood color of the small building as it is now. Do you need to paint it? Would restaining it be an option — the same dark stain? If you do need to paint, how about Tudor Brown (Ben Moore Exterior)? It will keep the dark brown color of the building which looks terrific next to the red barn! The only thing that will be missing is the variegation of the wood siding colors — what you get with a semi-transparent stain but lose with paint. But either way, stay brown. Love it!!
Thanks for writing back!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We have recently moved to our home and are now looking to paint the exterior. It is currently an oyster-beige color with a blue trim. There is also a lot of brick along the outside above the garage. My husband and I have gone back and forth on colors and have realized that the brick really limits us. We are considering white for the house (swiss coffee from kelley moore) with black accents (like switching the lighting to black lanterns, etc). We also considered adding shutters to the front upstairs window–.. the big question is: what trim do you do with a white house? Black just seems to dramatic–
2) Do you think a red door would work?
3) Would you consider any other color combo’s? I love that greyish/sage color with the creamy white trim–but I dont think it will go with the brick.. what do you think?
Hi Gabriella,
I like your idea of going with a grey-sage color and I think a creamy white (like Swiss Coffee) would look terrific for trim. Greens go well with brick especially if the greens are muted tones. Then you could do black shutters to go with your other black accessories.
White houses often have either white, off-white, or gray trim. Black is getting popular, but it is quite severe.
Either will support a red door but a red that comes directly from your brick — so probably a brown tone, not too cherry!! Be careful with that red as it can really clash with the brick if you pick the wrong one. Send a photo if you’d like me to take a quick look at the brick and help you with the door color.
Hope that gets you started. Getting rid of the blue trim on your house will truly transform the place!! You’ll see.
And thanks again!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Getting ready to repaint this 1960 single story ranch home with a grey roof (bits of green and blue too) that has a flat basic red orangish brick (one I don’t like much). Everything wood is painted white, but the guttering is grey. The grout looks to be a grayish putty color. My wife and I were not happy with the white when we bought the house a year ago and planned to paint but are so confused as to what color would go with the brick and the roof. We have thought about warm grayish beiges but they seem to not go well with the roof, but cool grays look depressing. We have driven all around to find examples of homes with this color of brick with any color other than white and can’t find one. Our neighborhood has a copy of this house in it that is also white, that we’d like to set ourselves apart from. Any ideas on siding color, trim, shutters, and doors? We would like to avoid having to paint the gutters, but this may be unavoidable. We plan to sell the home in the next few years so want it to be marketable, but also want a fresh updated look that we enjoy. Also, what color should storm windows be, they are currently bare metal? Thanks so much for any help you could provide. This site has been really helpful so far, but could not find a similar situation to mine.
http://s824.photobucket.com/albums/zz166/plazashoestore/
THANKS,
Garon
Hi Garon,
How about using the grout color for your siding — something like Putnam Ivory HC-39 (Ben Moore) — and then pulling in the roof with either a gray-green shutter (something like Amherst Gray HC-167) or a gray taupe (Briarwood – exterior). Trim stays white because your windows are white. The gray guttering can stay as it goes with the roof. But I would not paint your trim gray. Too cold.
As for the door, you would have the beige in the entry area already (the siding) so you could use either of those shutter colors. The idea is to take your pool of small rocks by the entry and pull the color palette of that. Any of those rock colors will work for both siding and shutters/door. Any will go with the roof but using a gray undertone (the gray-green or the gray-taupe) will make the house look more pulled together. And that’s what we want.
See what you think!
And thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Sorry for the delay in payment. I just received confirmation from paypal that it has gone through. We have just moved (several months ago) to our new home and would like to paint the exterior. We are having a very hard time choosing a paint color for the exterior that doesnt look awful with the brick. What’s hard is that the brick is placed above and around the garage and the garage is the first thing you see as you drive up. I am a big fan of the traditional style homes and was wondering where this house fit? We were originally looking at a green-gray color Sherwin William’s-SW6184 (Austere Gray) with a cream or white trim but realized that it was much too light and looked almost silvery. We then tried Kelley Moore’s Wood Moss (197) with the trim in Frost (14). I love the trim but am afraid the Wood Moss color is too dark. What do you suggest? We welcome any suggestions for color and even design. What do you think about color for the door?
Here is a link to where you can see the house photos. I have also included the back because I wanted you to see the porch. We were thinking of painting that in the trim color.
Thanks,
Gabby
https://picasaweb.google.com/103372823770021101578/HelpWithExteriorColors?authkey=Gv1sRgCIiL6NXMq-PdIg#
Hi – We are building a timberframe lake home on a very remote lake in northern MN. Due to forest fire, there are almost no mature trees around the site. Its a larger home – 68 feet wide plus 25 foot screen porch plus 30 foot garage -about 120 feet across. I was concerned about its “size” appearance. The home is two story, using 4 foot knee walls and dormers plus 4 foot overhangs to pull it down in height. The architect has also suggests a horizontal siding band to lower it and I can find no examples of this on the internet other than some prairie school stuff which is slightly different. We are debating whether the band should be colored. Here is more info to help:
The first 3 feet up will be fieldstone. The next 6 or so will be alternating wide and narrow strip siding maybe 10 inch/2 inch – can’t quite tell from sketch. The next 3-4 feet would be the colored? band – narrow width siding. It basically covers the same heights is as the kneewalls. Above this, up into the gables, would be standard width siding – looks like maybe 6 inch. All the siding would be a tan color or slightly darker, except the center band, which would be red. (dark, not fire engine). The red would match to the Marvin window cladding/mullions wineberry color. The band runs above the front door top up to the eaves. There is red in the design above the band, in the window trim on second floor. Front door would also be red. The timberframe elements of the structure would likely be wood color or brown like the siding. Vertical trim pieces do cut across the color band – they tie to the timber frame elements above. The siding would be Certainteed which is like Hardieboard but has a better red color to our thinking.
Concerns are whether the colored band will lower the house or cut it in half and leave it disconnected from itself. Also, whether there is another concern we are missing. Also concerned that I literally can find no examples out there – kinda scary to be that unique!
The windows could also be clad in a cream color to make them look brighter and larger, but not white (too stark).
Any insights are appreciated!
Hi John,
Is this what you’re talking about but instead of trim color the band would be another color altogether?? I do like trim-colored band around the house — especially nice if you’re using separate materials or textures (separating the gable material from the siding below). And yes the band does chop the house in half, but on a very large house, that’s a good thing. The only time the band really doesn’t work is on a small house…
I do like the red accents you mentioned. I love the wineberry windows. A bit trendy, perhaps, but very nice! (If you’re very concerned about the red windows, then go with cream and use the red for paint accents only. Easy to switch out! But I do like the look of the colored windows! Just a matter of taste — cream is classic, red is more current.
Does that help? I would love to see a photo of your plans or a sketch of the front elevation. So glad you are concerned about making sure your house fits into the environment. Some people aren’t concerned at all.
Hope that helps!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images.coolhouseplans.com/chp/ddi01/106-205-ddi/elev.jpg&imgrefurl=http://factoidz.com/knowing-the-architectural-styles-for-remodeling-a-home/&usg=__cBxECmFp4rXEb3yGobPbZB2ZLwE=&h=375&w=600&sz=73&hl=en&start=165&zoom=1&tbnid=o7c4Jhn7wM5DpM:&tbnh=127&tbnw=203&ei=UQIATqaONdDpgQfmwuXhDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dprairie%2Bstyle%2Bpaint%2Bscheme%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us%26rlz%3D1I7ADRA_en%26biw%3D1061%26bih%3D805%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=126&vpy=292&dur=484&hovh=177&hovw=284&tx=199&ty=109&page=10&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:165&biw=1061&bih=805
Hi Barbara – Just got back into town and wondering whether you received my pictures. Thanks!
Kaaren
Hi Barbara- I sent the photos to the address you suggested last time, so maybe they’ve gone to your spam folder? Looking forward to hearing from you!
Best,
Kaaren
Found them Kaaren! Oops!
See comments on email!
Barbara,
We are located in upstate SC and are planning to replace the vinyl siding and windows and wrap the trim. I have played around in photoshop and think I have the colors, but would like a second opinion and some tips on accessories.
Our house is brick on the bottom and the garage door is fairly new. That makes the almondish color of the garage door and the brick a given. Here is a link to pictures: http://rmltierney.shutterfly.com/pictures/8
I was hoping to visually unite the top and the bottom some.
The colors I am thinking about are:
siding: mastic rugged canyon or hardiboard timber bark.
trim: (wrapped) mastic almond
Shutters: blackwatch green
I have included 2 pictures of our neighborhood to show the nature of our street. I would like the house to look as nice as it can without it looking like it is trying to be something it’s not.
I am working on the following accessories:
new front storm door in colonial style in almond
new front porch column (classic style) with the gutter moved to the other side
front porch railing replace or get rid of ???
window headers or mantels – should we try that on the window with a peak over it or would that look dumb with only one?? Or put it on the lower windows too? (not sure if that can be done on brick.)
gable vent – should we put one in the peak on the front? If so, siding color or trim color?
Thanks so much!
Mary L
Hi Mary Lee,
I definitely like the darker version of the siding for your house in your neighborhood. Looks fabulous! (photo said Montanna with blackwatch)
Then use the almond for trim. I like the storm door style in almond but I’m not crazy about the medium-toned green front door. It looks like a Georgian Brick (Ben Moore HC-50) would warm up that entry and show better from behind the almond door.
I like the idea of a new front p9orch column with the gutter moved to the other side (that can be done even without replacing the column)
If you can get rid of the porch railing (code?) then I would go ahead. It’s not necessary visually and it looks a little bit like it’s in the way.
Not sure you will need any window headers or mantels if you put in a gable vent. I think the brick offers enough interest. But having said that, if you decide to add window embellishments, I would treat all windows in the front the same way, not just the window in the gable area.
I love gable vents! In trim color.
Does that help? You’ve done a fabulous job with your photoshop!! Thank you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello —
We recently bought a small box of a house in the virginia countryside. It sits on a hill surrounded by a small orchard. We live in the city and will use it on the weekends, and consequently want it to be fun. The tin roof is red, and every one in the family wants the exterior of the house to be yellow. But yellow, I have learned in my searching, is very broad category of color. the painter arrives in aday and still progress on the our selection. I looked at Benjamin Moore’s hawthorne yellow, but it was bit too intense. I also am considering BM vellum or BM HC weston flax. I want to avoid the sea of taupes and tan houses we see driving out to the country, but also dont want a yellow so intense that it may give our neighbors a headache. I also looked at BM Powell Buff which may be too nondescript. In any event, please let me know your recommendation for a soft, cheery but not too overwhelming benjamin moore yellow for a little country house.
Thanks you so much,
eliza
Hi Eliza,
Take a look at Cornsilk 198. It has a touch more peach in it than both Hawthorne Yellow and Weston Flax so it is not as intense on the house (the peach softens the yellow whereas a green undertone will make the yellow sharper — not always a bad thing but now what you’re looking for).
The lighter America’s Heartland 197 should also work. Velum is moving up a couple of notches to more or a gold color. Approaching some of the tans in your neighborhood, perhaps.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We just had our home stripped and pressure washed and the cedar is now down to bear wood again. Now we need to decide on what color for the house and trim. SInce we live in a wooded area and on an estuary we want to stay with natural looking cedar siding. Windows are a cream color. Trim has been cream to match windows in the past as you can see from the photos. We’re considering brown trim to match the roof or stay with the cream but do either brown or cream trim elsewhere. You can go to our website (www.thebayhouse.net) and see photos of the house before it was stripped this week. Any ideas suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks Barbara!
Hi Rita,
I do like cream around the windows but check out Ben Moore’s Sail Cloth — a little less yellow. Then since your roof is a soft gray-brown (at least on my screen), see what you think of a taupier brown for possible trim. See Pismo Dunes AC-32. That won’t work if you go with a yellow-brown cedar stain. But if the wood is finished with softer gray-brown, then the taupe will work.
If you have a photo of the cedar as it stands now — stripped — I’ll take another look at the palette.
But see what you think. I like the idea of pulling the roof in more as well as the stonework and giving the house a little more definition (as opposed to having the trim and siding match).
Beautiful location!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
My wife and I are in the middle of a home renovation project and could really use your help. We’ve already completed the roof and purchased new windows. Now we’re at the stage where we’re ready to pick the siding and trim color, but are stuck on what to do with the front of the house. All pictures of the home as it sits today, as well as some photoshopped versions can be found at the following link, http://s519.photobucket.com/albums/u352/dheerdt. The colors aren’t exact, but at least it’s something to give you an idea.
Initially, we were just going to have the house freshened to maintain the tudor style, which is how we ended up with the roof and window color we have. However, the maintenance involved with painting and caulking the stucco and trim boards is not very appealing to us. Furthermore, finding an installer in our area has proven to be difficult. As a result, we’ve been entertaining some of the vinyl products that are out there. The problem is that our house has such a strange shape in the front that we’re afraid we might make it look too plain. Below are the main options we’re considering and would love to hear your point of view:
Roof – Already complete in GAF/Elk Timberline shingles, Barkwood color, Musket Brown Drip Edge.
Windows – Marvin Integrity, Bronze Exterior. These have been purchased but not installed.
Front of house – Certainteed Cedar Impression Perfection Shingles in Timberblend, Mountain Cedar, or Hearthstone. The remainder of the house would be done in Double 4 of the same color
OR
Vinyl siding around entire house – Certainteed, Double 4 in Timber Blend, Mountain Cedar, or Hearthstone. Or maybe even Mastic, Double 4 in Pebblestone Clay.
Soffits, Fascia, & Gutters – Musket Brown to match the drip edge unless you have another suggestion.
Front Door, Garage Door, Trim, & Accessories – ???
Some of the things that have stumped us are:
Brick Molding – If we did brick molding around the windows, should it be musket brown or bronze? We’re kind of stuck with the Musket Brown for the trim because of the drip edge on the roof, but the windows are bronze.
Shutters – If we did shutters, should they be musket brown, bronze, or some other color? Is it okay to put shutters on 3 lite windows? It doesn’t look right to me, but I know that it’s quite common as a design accent.
Window Mantels or Headers – What do you think of arched mantels or arched headers above the 3 lite windows to accentuate the arch in the porch?
Gable Vent – Whether it is functional or not, we were thinking it might help to highlight the arch in porch. If so, what color?
Design Accent – Should we add some sort of accent in the peak, like half rounds in another color?
I also have to add that the Mountain Cedar color intrigues me the most. I think it has the most potential for that wow factor with the existing brick, the musket brown trim, and the roof. Some of the granules in the roofing shingles are actually the exact same color. However, as good as it looks in my mind, I’m still scared to side my house something so close to orange….
Lastly, I want to address the grout color in the brick. It’s like a dark gray with a hint of brown in it. Somewhere between the Certainteed Timberblend color and the Mastic Montana Suede color.
Sorry for the long post but we’re really having trouble with this. The more we think about it, the more confused we get. Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
Doug
Hi Doug,
I think the Mountain Cedar may be a tad too much orange since your brick has a lot of that color in it as well. I think the orange in the brick is a fabulous accent color but it will show up much better if you use a cooler siding color. I like both the Timber Blend and the Hearthstone. I do like the look of shingles on the front of the house — creating a nice cottage look and getting away from the Tudor style completely. Since you have brick already, I suggest keeping it fairly simple (no half rounds in the gable) but you can use shingles on the front and lap around the rest of the house or shingles all the way around (cost??).
I love the idea of an arched header (slide #5) and would bag the shutter idea. You’re right. Your windows are not really the shutter type and the arched headers will show much more creativity. If you’re going for a cottagey look, then use a creamy trim to provide contrast between windows and siding (and see below for fascia, etc). but if you like the dark lodge look, then stick with the dark brown as a continuation of the bronze windows.
You do not have to match the drip edge for the fascia/soffits/gutters if you’d like to provide some contrast between the dark brown roof color and the medium toned siding. Also you’ll get more light reflection off of the lighter soffits. But that’s not a huge deal… Definitely the cottage look. For the lodge look, stick with the Musket Brown for fascia/soffits/gutters.
I see the grout color in the photos. A slight pink undertone on my screen, but I’m hoping that the cool siding color will help to make the grout part of the brick palette. I don’t see a problem there at all.
The front door can be an accent color (similar to the Cedar “orange” or something completely different. It’s behind a storm door so it should be something visible. As for the garage door, you might paint that a shade of the siding color (darker or lighter depending on which siding color you choose). I would not recommend painting the garage door an accent color. Unless you plan to get a new “carriage style” door that will be a feature.
If you decide to use a light trim (cottage) then you can certainly put in a Gable Vent. But if you stick with a dark trim, I wouldn’t bother. I don’t think the vent (always trim color) would show up much if it’s dark.
Let me know if you think that plan offers the house enough embellishment. You can reference Adirondack cottages and lodges for some additional ideas. A far cry from Tudor… but that’s okay!!
Hope I’ve helped.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
I have spent a minimum of two solid days trying to make what should be a few simple decisions, but have just managed to make myself (and my fiance) crazy. I have scoured the internet looking for advice and at 5:00 am, found you.
We purchased our home back in October and it is a ranch-style home with an attached 2-car garage. The front of the house is a multi-colored brick (with some almost black-looking bricks) with the exception of the garage; however, the rest of the house (including the back) is a wood siding painted a creamy yellow (my fiance calls it a very unappealing term, but likens it to the 80’s and not in the good way). Until recently, the roof had slate-colored shingles; however, due to storm damage, the entire roof has been changed and it is now a darker, rich brown color (up close it appears rusty, but from a distance it doesn’t).
Currently, the garage door and trim around the door, is white, the windows are white (and all vertically rectangular–no big picture windows), the door and storm door are currently white, the shutters are white, and the rail around the front porch is white.
Also visible is the foundation of the house, because we have a fully finished basement…but the foundation is visible all the way around, including the front porch which the actual “floor” of the porch is concrete thus the same color. (I realize that landscaping will make this go away, but that’s also part of the problem).
Oh, and let’s not forget that we have a 12×12 shed in the back (which is partly visible from the road) which is the same creamy yellow with white trim and white double-doors (almost cottage-style doors).
Now that you can “visualize” my mess, here are my current thoughts:
We are having the wood siding painted to save up money to later replace it with vinyl; however, even when we replace it with vinyl we are intending to keep the same color. Currently we are planning to change the creamy mustard color to a color that according to Sherwin Williams is called “russet” (sort of a dark tan??). However, we are buying a new front door and a new storm door.
The front door will have a nice oblong oval etched glass window running down the middle of it and the storm door will be solid glass mostly. Currently, I’m torn because I was going to make the front door white and the storm door “cranberry” (according to Lowes) with a rusty brushed brass color (it appears almost cranberry / brown itself). But, much of what I read doesn’t seem to follow this thought.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated… even if you totally change my thoughts, I’m okay with that also… keep in mind we’re planning to do some landscaping out front, but I’m only looking to ADD things to the front with a few flowering plants and bushes, not taking anything away (I already took a giant bush down).
Thanks!
James
Hi James,
I looked for Russet online and it came up a stain color. (??) And quite a dark bricky red. Is that the same Russet? Your description or a dark tan is much more like what I envision for your house. The siding color should be a cool taupey tan medium tone in order to balance the heat of both the bricks and the roof. Then you could use black for shutters since you have black in your bricks and keep all the trim white.
As for the door, you might consider a white storm door since the trim is white and use either the siding color for your front door or black. (Brick red will not show up very well although that is an option too.)
You will find that painting the siding a cool taupe will transform the house!! Nice roof color!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you Barbara!
I love the suggestions! However, I wanted to include a picture of what I was looking at when I said “Russet”.
Personally, there are so many variations of taupe that I’m not sure which is right…several of them are somewhat purple or grey in hue…can you provide a little more, perhaps a few names you suggest?
Also, if we go with the black door, would silver or a brushed nickle be acceptable for replacing the doorknobs and deadbolts for both doors and for outside accents? (front porch light and light post in front yard).
Thanks again! I am so pleased with this that I am going to bring you into my kitchen next!!! You’re the greatest!
James
I sent $20 via Paypal and tried sending a picture to accompany this note to your email but it was undeliverable because the mailbox is full. Please let me know what address I can send an email to so you can see our house.
We would like to paint the trim something other than white, and are looking for a few colors to add some color without it looking ‘bright’. We were thinking of a warm cream for the railings, with also sage green (for a teeny trim band on the columns and windows?) and maybe a deep plum (for the porch ceiling and soffits?) but are not sure because we want something that would look good with the red brick. It has also been a challenge to get a good cream color without it reading as yellow. Would you either have specific colors for that scheme, or suggest something else? Maybe cream, sage green, and yellow? We want it to look classic. Specifics would be great in terms of colors and what would go where–thanks!
The side note is that we’re going to be living abroad for a year and would like to only paint the porch area as a phase one (to save on expenses and time)–how could we do this without it looking terrible? I’m thinking we could paint the porch floor, steps, railing, ceiling, and columns, but leave all eaves and windows white until phase two so it doesn’t look as obviously half-done. Is that an awful idea? I just don’t want to leave it primer-white for a year…
Again, let me know a working email address and I’ll get a picture right to you…Thanks!
Hi Annie,
I suggest starting with the porch floor and front steps. Since you mentioned a deep plum how about Chambourd AF-645 (Ben Moore) for both porch floor and steps? I would rather see that deep color on the floor area (to ground it) than above on the ceiling. Up there, you might paint a lighter version, something like Sanctuary AF-620 (also Ben Moore). Those purple tones look terrific with brick. See what you think.
For your green accent color, look at Meditation AF-395. A very soft sage.
Then for the rest of the trim, try Dove Wing OC-18 (Ben Moore) and see if it’s the right tone of cream. It’s definitely not too yellow but see if you like it. I think I would leave most of the trim as is until you return but the porch floor, ceiling, and column accents could easily work with the existing white. You might even like it!
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you so much Barbara! I do have a few more questions if it’s not too much to ask.
Do you think that painting the garage door and the surrounding trim musket brown, is too much? It feels strange to me to introduce a new color for just the door.
There’s also one last option we had considered, but did not mention. There are a lot of homes in our area that have the same shape/layout as the front of our house. They’re almost always done in either stucco or cedar (board & batten). I know they offer the board & batten in vinyl as well, what are your thoughts on that? I added a picture to the link above, of a house similar to ours that has this look. I’m thinking that the arches would be out and we would just do a traditional brick mould?
Sorry for all the uncertainty, but I guess we’re just afraid of compromising the feel of the house by making too many changes that don’t really suit the architecture. Do you think our plan is a good one or should we stick with the traditional styling of other homes in our area and go back to the tudor or board and batten look?
Thanks again for all your help!
Doug
Hello!
I have a colonial in CT that is about to be resided. The roof is weathered wood, the garage door and storm door are white, and those are the only things that we are keeping (along with the roof). So, we plan on updating the siding, trim, front door and shutters.
I have been leaning towards savannah wicker, and after reading some of your blog entries, I suspect that might still be the way to go. Here’s my dilemma….I want a house with pizzaz!! Sometimes it seems like everyone who doesn’t know what to do just puts on beige siding, and so many houses look beige and “blah”. Yet, with the weathered wood, I keep coming back to beige. Do you agree that savannah wicker is our best bet? If so, can you recommend trim (I was leaning towards white), shutters and door combos that will really give the house some personality? Is there another siding color you think we should consider?
Thanks for the help! I’ve enjoyed browsing your blog and I’m already a big fan of many of the colors that seem to be your “go-to” choices. In fact, I almost put Georgian Brick in my dining room last week but went with Warmed Cognac instead. Love them both!
Trying flickr for the first time so I’m hoping this works for you. If not, let me know….
Jamie
Hi Jamie,
Savannah Wicker will work okay but look at your chimney/brickwork for your color palette. I think the Savannah Wicker might be a little too green. Have you considered Natural Clay or even the really nice Sable Brown? (I know siding has come a long way in terms of fade resistance — not vouching for darker colors, however). But the Sable Brown would give maximum contrast to your white trim (yes, I would use white everywhere) and would also contrast nicely with your roof.
As for shutters, if you went with the darker brown, you could put the current dark red door color on your shutters. I don’t always put a lot of color on the shutters (especially in New England — we’re all so used to basic black), but the brown/red combo is quite stunning and the red on the shutters would definitely jazz up the house.
I suggest taking the color swatches around to the side of your house and propping them up against the chimney. Go for as medium-dark a shade as you can that will still go with the roof. Since the roof is rather light, I think a light tone of siding will just wash out the house. You need a bit of oomph!~
See what you think. You can certainly use the same strategy for accent color with the Natural Clay as well. Again, I like to pick colors from the environment unless you’re talking about just the front door. But with all the colors in your brick, I would not bring in a new accent color — at least not before picking the siding.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Happy to have found you. I am in the final stages of building a new home. The hardest decision by far has been the exterior colors. I live in Oregon in the country. Oak trees are in the back drop and an open grass pasture is surrounding the drive and entrance to the house. I don’t have to compete with neighbors. My windows are almond and I wanted to start by matching the trim to my windowns. Softer Tan by SherwinWilliams is a good match. My painter uses SW paints. I have black shingles (black/walnut by certainteed) with a touch of brown which adds warmth and breaks up the black roof. I know I don’t want a yellow or blue house. I think I want something warm without being a boring beige and I don’t want to “blend” in either. I would like some contrast on the dormers and painted shakes from the body of the house. I love rich colors. I was thinking of a rich brown with almost a red undertone for the dormers and shakes, then a warm tan or subtle sage (not yellow or green) for the body then Softer Tan for the trim. Not sure about the door. My painter said my roof may look orange if I go that direction. I will try to e-mail a couple pictures of my house. I also have a symmetry problem with the curb side of the house. In the photos the porch posts haven’t been wrapped yet, so that should help with the balance. I could be way off with my ideas, but I saw something similar to this scheme online. Please help. My other idea was using Status Bronze on the painted shakes, but unsure of body color. Be honest.
Hi Barb,
I like the Status Bronze for your painted shakes. How about something on the taupe side, like SW6172 Hardware for the siding with your Softer Tan trim and perhaps SW7591 Red Barn for your doors? Just an idea. The rich taupe will cool down the roof/browns and balance the house. Also very nice with nickel hardware. And if you have any stonework going in (front columns?), then the combination is spectacular as it will “speak” to all the different stone colors.
See what you think!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Whoops! I think I should have added the link in the text.
http://s1109.photobucket.com/albums/h431/barbkj/
Hello! I would love suggestions (specific brand/colors welcome) on what to do with the colors on this house. Please note the light tan is vinyl siding which we would hope not to have to paint – the entire back of the house has this siding as well. The downspouts are brown plastic as well. I really feel this color combo does not bring out the best aspects of this house and at the very least want to change the front door. We need to paint the shutters and porch posts as well as the trim around the windows (which are the same dark brown as the doors) and the window inset panel wood molding (also that same brown – old style pella windows.)
The brick is an orange with a light color mortar. I am afraid the house really should have been done in lighter colors but would like to try to rectify it somehow without painting the vinyl — I’m not sure what colors to go with. Please note that on the back of the house, the molding for the windows is actually metal (instead of wood like the front) and the same dark brown so can’t be painted.
Thanks!
photo link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/64893195@N08/6010137179/
Hi Holly,
Try either Sail Cloth (Ben Moore Exterior paint) or Elmira White (Ben Moore HC-84) for all the paintable trim. That will lighten up the house and balance out all that other brown that cannot be changed. Did you mention the garage door? It’s okay to stay brown… just asking. But you can usually paint that too even though it’s metal.
For the front door, try something like Caponata (Ben Moore’s AF-650 — a dark eggplant that will contrast with the brick and go well with the brown too). You can use the eggplant for the shutters too if you like it. Otherwise stick with the brown. As long as the windows are lightened up, the brown shutters will be fine.
See what you think…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi,
We have a ranch that we want to paint. The roof is brown with little tints of reddish-brown. The gutters and window trim are dark brown. The garage door is cream. We’ve added some cream accent pieces to the front. The cedar siding is currently stained a taupe color we want to change. It doesn’t look quite right. We have access to the Behr Exterior Wood Stain Colors. 2 questions:
1. What color do you recommend from Behr for the siding?
2. Should we leave the 2 cream accent pieces (one on front porch & one at the front of the house where the roof comes together?…If you recommend a change, what color should we use from Behr Exterior Wood Stain Colors instead?
I’ll attempt sending my pictures next.
Thanks!
Hi Pam,
Thanks for waiting! I’m back…
The taupe is a tad pink, perhaps, for the brick color. How about something with a little more gray in it like Sierra Madre ECC-46-1? That would cool down the house a bit and still contrast nicely with both brick colors and the brown trim.
Then the trim embellishment looks a little like an add-on to the ranch. A touch of Victorian… I’m not sure it works at least in cream. If you want to keep the trim, I suggest painting it either the house color or a dark burgundy from your brick. It will still stand out against the dark trim but it will not be quite as much of a feature set apart from the rest of the house in terms of style.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thank you. These suggestions sound great. Is there a color like the Sierra Madre that you’d recommend in the Behr Exterior Wood Stain Colors Collection? Those stain colors all start with a “DP” and they are solid color stains. The cedar siding currently has stain on it (versus paint) and we’ve been told stain would work best on the cedar siding.
Thank you!
Pam
Hi,
I would like to change the color of our shutters and front door, but am not sure about what to do. Our roof is “bark wood” and the siding is “wicker”. I am not sure that I made the right decision with the bark wood color roof, but what is done is done. I would be open to painting the garage door a color matching the shutters, if that helps to unify things. I have always liked the idea of having the front door a different color, but am not sure that would work here. Thanks, Gina
Hi Gina,
I noticed that you have a black storm door. Although you have black bricks (and that’s probably what inspired the black storm door), the roof is now brown so the black seems a little heavy. Is there any opportunity to replace the storm door? Here’s one scenario:
Paint the sidelights on either side of the front door the same color as the trim (the paint version of “Wicker”). That will brighten up the whole entry area. Then if you need to keep the black storm door, then keep the black shutters too. It’s okay to paint the front door a brick red to warm it up and grab attention (something like Ben Moore’s Chestnut perhaps. The garage door can be painted wicker as well.
Another option is to replace the storm door with an almond version, paint the front door chestnut, the sidelights almond, and the shutters a dark brown like Branchport Brown HC-72. The brown will tie in the roof color (you can still use black for your metal — lights, etc.). The garage door would then either be brown or wicker — the darker it is, the more it will blend into the brick.
The biggest issue really is the painting of the sidelights to frame out and lighten up the front door. Right now it’s just too dark in there.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello!
We are getting ready to paint our house that we built about 13 years ago. I have loved the colors I painted it originally but am now tired of the dark colors and want something lighter and more playful. I really want more of a dollhouse look this time around, as opposed to the Santa’s Gingerbread House that the neighborhood children have dubbed it. : )
You can see from the photo that my roof is a dark red, but not a true red. This color is limiting me quite a bit in my color choices. The first time around I chose colors from the historical collection by Sherwin Williams. The link to see a photo of my house is here
Right now I am leaning towards painting the body of the house a pale gray. The color is Sherwin Williams 6260. Shutters SW 6576. Hearts on shutters and fascia (hard to see in photo) SW 6586. Stars on dormers and fascia (also hard to see in photo) SW 6677. I want to do the stripes in perhaps coral, peach and pink but haven’t been able to choose which shades… looking at SW 6604, SW 6611, SW 6625 and SW 6639. I would like advice on what color you think would look best on the stripes (there are six stripes, but I don’t have to have six colors) and whether I should do the one row in the middle a contrasting color, to make the polka dots there stand out? Also, above the stripes I previously had painted the house the darker color of the trim. Should I paint it the body color this time or accent it again?I also have some running trim above the porch that right now is painted terra cotta, and the panels on the front porch by the door are painted the same color. Have no idea what to do with those. Last question is what color to put around the windows. I was thinking perhaps a purple color, like SW 6551 or SW 6824… even SW 6817 is pretty with the gray. I am adding more running trim on the garage front, and spires on the dormer and the garage. I have not chosen a white for the porch and accent gingerbread. I did not have this much trouble choosing colors the first time around but this time I am just floundering. Any help you can give me would be appreciated. Thank you.
Hi Cynthiane,
What a fun house to paint! I like the base color of Unique Gray SW 6260 — what a change from the forest green! Then how about a darker purple for fascia and shutters — something like Purple Passion SW 6551 (the other purples were a little too clear). Then because your roof is red, I would NOT use purpley pinks like SW 6576 and 6586. I think they really will clash with the roof. But the orangey pinks/peaches/corals are fine. You could throw in a lime green for an accent color like the hearts, window trim, door trim, and scallop along the roof line. Look at Dancing Green SW 6716. You might want to make one of the stripes green just for that contrast you were mentioning — to show off the dots.
Hope that helps. Like I said, the orange-red roof dictates that palette — just eliminate the purple-pinks and you’ll be all set.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you for your reply!
I appreciate your advice. I laughed when I looked up your purple color choice because my original choice had been SW6550 but I had discarded it and second guessed my decision. Sometimes it really does take a fresh pair of eyes!
Your choice of the lime green is wonderful, I would not have chosen it myself but it is perfect.
I’ll post a photo for you when the painting is complete. Thank you again, I really appreciate this wonderful service you provide.
Hi! What a wonderful and helpful site!
We are deciding on a color scheme for painting the exterior of our house. I put 3 photos on Flickr (see below for the link). One is of the house, one a close-up of the brick (which has a bit of gold tones and some grey tones in it) and main paint color – trim is a light creamy white, and a third that is a brochure from Benjamin Moore.
The roof is new and a dark charcoal gray. Current paint color is Sherwin Williams 7633 Taupe Tone. That color seems a bit on the green side. We are considering one of the following 3 options:
1) Paint with Sherwin Williams (SW) 7501 Threshold Taupe (less green) and a white shade for trim and gutters.
2) Paint 2 shades of a taupe grey: SW 6073 Perfect Greige for the main color and SW 6072 Versatile Gray for the trim or perhaps a lighter grey for the trim.
3) Paint similar to the brochure using Benjamin Moore 990 Hampshire Taupe for the siding and their 1607 Englewood Cliffs for the trim. This would put a charcoal trim color next to the charcoal roof. One consideration is that we have windows with white grills so not sure how that will work with the trim color for the windows.
Thanks so much!
Sharon
Barabara,
We are in the process of replacing the siding and roof of our house (a 1978 Center Hall Colonial) with Hardie Siding and Certainteed Landmark shingles. At this point, we have narrowed the siding color to either Montery Taupe or Autumn Tan. The house is located in a wooded lot (lots of trees surrounding the house), and we will be keeping the black shutters. Also, we recently replaced the entry door with a Mahogany colored door and sidelights. We would like to get your opinion on which of these two colors is more appropriate for our style of house (or if you would recommend other colors) and which color of Landmark shingles would match best with both of these colors. I will email you a picture of the house.
Thanks,
SK
Hello! I hope I’m doing this right…
Alright, we just recently moved. The living room and dinning room have the same color trim. The previous owners left behind the paint samples and the trim is Sherwin WIlliams R-11 Lexington Court (however, i haven’t been able to find this at the SW store)
Fortunately, I like the color …. and I desperately do NOT want to paint the trim in addition to the walls. As of now the walls are varying shades of white. I’m looking to switch to something to warm up the walls, but keep it looking spacious. In the past I have picked colors that made the rooms look smaller. I have been looking in the taupe family, but haven’t been successful.
The two colors I have tried are Sherwin Williams 7549-Studio Taupe (too dark) and Laura Ashley 609-Taupe 3 (too fleshy).
My thought is to carry the color in the living room into the kitchen. Do you think thats okay? NOTE: the red and white check wallpaper in the kitchen will soon be removed and painted a warm apple red.
PLEASE help! exact paint colors are appreciated…i’ve already dumped $10 into BAD paint samples.
oops…forgot to post the link to the pictures…
Hi there!
I am looking for help to the question of “what colors to use on my house” when it is a bungalow type/style house with a green roof. And YES! I like the green roof, btw, I just don’t know what sorta colors to put with it? We are getting new siding, windows, porch posts, everything this fall, so I’d like a pro opinion.
Am I reading this right? $20 for your help ?
If so . . .I’ll send a pic soon! 🙂
Great!!
Hi Genet,
Yes, $20 (just hit the PayPal button). You can send a photo to my larger email site: bmeglis@yahoo.com and I will be sure to see it there. The other site (as people are discovering) gets filled up with large photos. Sometimes they bounce back. Yahoo works all the time!
Thanks and I look forward to working with you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, how can I send you the picture? Our garrison colonial is currently beige and cream as most of houses in the neighborhood. We are thinking of doing something different and painting it BM jojoba green. Is this a mistake? The home is set down with trees in front and all around. The painters are priming, help!
Hi Rosa,
Back in a few minutes… I know you’re in a hurry!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Rosa,
Looking at your roof color, I think the jojoba will be just fine. It’s rich and clear (as most of the Affinity colors are). If you feel that it’s a little bright on the house, move over to the Historic Colors (Kennebunkport Green HC-123 is a little lighter but still gives you a rich green on the house).
Stick with the cream and black and then add some more color (pinks) to the foundation planting area. I love the pink bush by the garage!! That will look gorgeous with a darker green on both house and garage door.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
H there! Me again! I just sent you pics to your yahoo account. I hope you can tell something from them. If not, tell me, I’ll find some more. 🙂
This is a “Sear’s Catalog” type home from the 20’s and we have done a lot of work inside and are now moving to the outside! We will be getting new siding, trim, guttering, windows, doors, etc. Now the green roof? It stays! 🙂
Anyway, what other colors do you suggest ? The foundation/porch is concrete/stone grey. There is NO BRICK. We are not “flashy” types but would like it to stand out, yet look like it “fits” an older home.
The only thing I know to do is white with green trim on the windows. ???? Shutters would be nice, but I don’t know if we could swing it . . . .
We may add landscaping and fencing later . . .but that is some other time 🙂
What do you think ?
Hi Dennis,
I didn’t see color availability on the Nichiha site so I assume you can paint the siding anything. I’ll give you a couple of Ben Moore palettes and we’ll go from there. For the red brick (sample) you could use Heather Blend (Certainteed Landmark) for the roof choice with Natural “wood” shakes, Bone White trim (ext), Lenox Tan HC-44 siding and Blue Note 2129-30 shutters to pick up the blue in the brick.
For the maroon brick choice, you could use Weathered Wood for the roof, Texas Leather AC-3 for the siding and shakes, Sting Ray 1528 for the trim, and Caponata AF-650 for shutters and accents. The dark eggplant picks up the purple and maroon in the brick.
Let me know if there are specific shake/siding colors that I missed. At least you have a couple of sample palettes to get you started.
Thanks for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I need advice on what color to paint the exterior of my house. It’s a late 50’s ranch with Andersen Terratone windows and Weathered Wood shingles. Currently, it is painted a horrible teal color. Our neighbors to the left have an evergreen house with dark brown trim and the neighbors to the right have a navy blue house with white trim. I’ve been thinking about reds, blues or browns, but would love to get your opinion. Here’s a link to a couple photos I posted on Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2206136684515.118896.1580343376&l=ea9fef9ab7&type=1
Thanks,
Maggie
Hi Maggie,
How about Bradstreet Beige HC-48 (Benjamin Moore) to contrast with your Terratone windows and roof color. Then you might paint your front door Georgian Brick HC-50 to pull in the chimney and warm up the entry.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I live in a 1905 FourSquare. With the help of an architect my husband and I built an addition on the house last year. It’s a very small home. We went with a Bronze brown standing seam metal roof. Original house also had metal roof. Went with Bronze to get the energy tax credit or I would have chosen black.
I live in a small town in West Va.(town of Bath or Berkeley Springs) so I’m not out in the mountains surrounded by trees, but I do have Leland Cypress creating natural walls down both sides of my home. We were going to stucco the new part of the house but have decided against it due to all the maintenance and painting over time that will be required. We are going with Georgia Pacific cedar shingle looking siding. Crazy as is sounds with the Bronze roof I am in love with gray homes that have saturated color. Not the light gray. Benjamin Moore is my favorite paint and I love the HC palette. I do think gray and browns can be lovely together.
The siding colors I like are pewter and wedgewood. The wedgewood may have more blue in it than I like but I’m obviously open to suggestions. My dream color for the house on the original wood planks has always been Knoxville Gray but since deciding to go with the siding instead of stucco I no longer think I can match up an appropriate siding to that color. My husband is also thinking the back of the house should maybe have a darker color than the front, so the siding will really determine the color we pick. I’m not so sure the back or the house needs to be darker than the front?
Today I am loving the Granite 1602 with the Pewter siding. Do you have a preference for the white I plan on using for the window frames? Do you think my color choices are totally inappropriate? My fence on the one side of the house is a Cabot color called peppercorn. Very neutral so that it will go with almost any color. The neighbors house is blue and the business beside us is creamy beige fake stucco with bright red standing seam metal roof.
Sorry such long post. I do welcome your reply.
Best Regards,
Monique Garfinkel
Hi Monique,
The best strategy for mixing materials, siding and paint, is to avoid trying to match them. It rarely works. My suggestion is to start with your dream paint, Knoxville Gray HC-160 and then pick a coordinating vinyl, something that will go with your roof, like Briarwood. It’s okay to have two different colors on the house. You just tie them together by bringing some of that Briarwood color over to the old part of the house — perhaps as shutters or other accessories. Send a photo if I can help you coordinate the two colors on the house. It works quite well.
If you prefer to keep all one house, then simply take a sample of the Pewter or Wedgewood to the paint dealer and have him go two shades darker or lighter for the rest of the house. Again, don’t try to match the hue value perfectly.
Does that help? As for whites, a China White (Ben Moore off-the-shelf) should work nicely with the color scheme.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
I sent you a detailed email to your yahoo address last night with photos with my problem — that the color that’s being painted on the exterior of my house as I write this isn’t the right one! BM Crownsville Gray looks good in the shadows but too yellowish green in the full sun. Please help! PS. I paid my PayPal last night. Thanks so much!
Hi Barbara,
This is such a great service that you provide. I have a few questions about a house my wife and I recently purchased. The home was built in the early 70’s, is located in the woods and needs a little updating. We’ve remodeled the interior, now it’s time to spruce up the exterior. We have some landscaping planned for next spring, but before we do that, we’d like to repaint the house and make it look a little more current. I sent a few photos to your yahoo email account.
So, here are the questions:
1. The house is currently all one color, a faded blue-gray. We were thinking of going with a darker, slightly deeper blue (less gray) for the siding. The roof was replaced a couple of years ago and it is gray with blue tones. So, we need something to match the roof and the brick accent wall (which we are not painting). We also were thinking of painting the vertical corner trim, fascia, gutters and possibly the soffits a white color. It would be the same color of white currently on the trim around the windows (that is all new trim from when we replaced the windows a few months ago). So, would a darker blue siding look good in this situation and if so, which particular shade (or specific color if you have one)? Or, we are open to a completely different color that will still match the roof and brick, if you have other options.
2. We will paint the trim white (vertical corner trim, fascia, gutters). Should the soffit also be painted white to match the fascia or should it be painted the color of the siding? Also, there is a horizontal piece of 3″ trim at the top of the siding that abuts the soffit…should that be the color of the siding or should it be white?
3. The garage doors are currently white. Should they be painted another color or should we stick with white for them?
4. Finally, should the “ceiling” of the little overhang over the front door be painted white or siding color? It currently is the color of the siding. (By the way, we will be replacing the front door with a new wood one down the road.)
Thanks much for your help and I look forward to hearing from you.
Ryan
Hi Barbara,
One additional thought we had about the color is this… what if we paint the garage doors, the trim around the garage doors and all the vertical corner trim around the house the same color as the siding? Then, only the fascia and trim around the windows would be white. Would this be less busy and help the house blend into the woods better?
Thanks again!
Ryan
Hi Ryan,
Blue is not a color I would pick to go with your brick although a lot of people like the contrast. So if you’d like to go bluer, take a look at Ben Moore’s Philipsburg Blue HC-159. That’s about the only blue I would use on your house. Having said that, my preference would be to use more of a neutral that pulls out the earth tones in your brick. Something like Shenandoah Taupe AC-36, which ties in the gray of the roof but pulls out the more subtle tones in your brick. Another option is the slightly greener Alexandria Beige HC-77. Both of those taupes will update your house and help it fit more into the surroundings. Picking an earth tone from the brick will also make the house look bigger. Right now the contrast cuts the house in half.
As for the trim, white is fine as your windows are bright white. Yes, paint the fascia and soffits the same white as well as the window trim and the ceiling of the front door area. The gutters should be white, but the downspouts would be best painted the house color since they run down the siding and are quite prominent.
Keeping the corner posts the same as the siding color will help to make the house bigger and also less busy. You’re right about that. Great idea.
As for the garage, you can paint it the same color as the siding (including the trim) as you suggested in the later post. That too will camouflage the doors and help with blending into the surroundings. Another option is to go with a two-shade darker color for the garage doors. That tends to “ground” them but it’s not critical.
I know I didn’t answer your questions in order (it’s a Monday), but I think I covered everything. Hope so.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara – I need serious color help. Our home is a 20 year old transitional with gray siding and all white trim (see photos sent separately). After storm damage in May our roof was replaced. We love the new darker color and the dimensional-multicolored shingles that pick up the gray in the siding. Then (also due to storm damage) the siding was replaced. Our insurance would only replace the existing color (which was a faded gray) so I didn’t have the luxury of selecting a deeper color or even returning it to the original gray. The new gray siding is a bit warmer than the old – it is a very close match to BMoore Harbor Gray (AC-25). We also just added a medium walnut stained door (the original was a slate blue gray to match the shutters). The door is very warm and brings out the cherry color in our brick and the new warm tone of the siding – but now we’ve got a lot going on and are mxing browns and grays.
I know we need a darker shutter color and I was even considering painting the trim a darker color (gray) instead of the lighter white – but I’m not sure. Based on your previous posts I think we should paint the garage door and the bay window (which are white) to match the siding color. Is there a taupe grey/beige color that can marry all these colors together? Should I get rid of the brown influence and paint my new door to match the new shutter color and give up my beautiful walnut?
I need your expert color recommendations on painting the garage door, bay window, shutters and trim (and door?).
Thanks so much for all of your help.
Hi Debbie,
Have a look at Knoxville Gray Ben Moore HC-160 as a possibility for both garage door and shutters. It’s a sophisticated gray-blue-green that should pick up some of the cool colors in your brick and coordinate well with the roof and siding. I don’t think you have to switch out all that white trim. It’s okay. I think that the garage door painted a richer hue will balance the brick and roof and pull the whole house together.
Keep the walnut door. It’s fine.
See what yout think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara-
Hi I just did my paypal so here we go! I need an answer asap – my painter decided to come a week early but i am not ready! I live in a small cape – first floor is your basic 5 room – bath — Kitchen and dining room (which is like one room we took down the half wall) — den – living room which continues up the stairs to the second floor with small hall way – when standing in the kitchen you basically see all the rooms – so my question is should I paint all the rooms except the bathroom one color to make the house look bigger? Window are standard size for a small cape and the lighting in the house isnt great (except in LR where we did recess lighting but still not to bright – you get the point — and the wood work is linen white – should I keep that – the kitchen cabinets are Amaretto (off white) granite is Imperial Cafe (dark brown) floors in kitchen med oak and all other floors are light oak – bathroom has bisque tolite – sink – tile floor soft beige with brown like veins going through it and same granite as kitchen – left over piece figured use it — I eas looking at BM Manchester Tan — but would like your input — not sure if that is ok?? I like for accents earth tones – greens – golds – orange – kind of the tuscan look – I like dark brown or black frames – lights are the brown metals – off white 2 inch blinds – could also use suggestion on valances — Again so sorry for rushing – I never expected him to come a week early –
Thank you!!
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Hope you get this in time. Manchester Tan is a great color for painting the downstairs public rooms. It works with many different accent colors and woods. I often use Manchester Tan for staging homes for sale as it is a universally liked color that works with many decors. From what you’ve described, the Manchester Tan should unify your whole downstairs area making it feel bigger. Then you can pull in accents in each room and mix-and-match throughout. Keeping the same palette of colors with the tan as the base will coordinate your whole house and give it a finished look.
Linen White will add warmth to the tan and will be a very nice combination.
Go for it
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara
Thank you so much for the quick response – I will be out first thing in the morning to get the paint – I forgot to ask would you do like the den for instance a little darker color for a cozy feeling – the room is like 11 x 11 or keep it light also cause it is small?? and you said to pull the accent in with my earthy tones of green orange gold?? So does that mean the valances would be an accent color or would the valances stary a netural color also like a bronze or a soft brown or dark taupe ???
Thank you once again
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Have a look at Bennington Gray HC-82 for your den. It is richer (darker) than the Manchester Tan but should look great with your earth tones and browns. I used it for a cozy “Man Cave” (photo is on the blog if you’re interested) with a dark brown sofa, creams, oranges, and dark eggplant purples.
See what you think. The window treatments should probably blend (a light neutral) with the wall color so you maximize visual space in the room. Use pillows and art for your punches of color.
Hope that helps. I’ll scroll up to your kitchen question now.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara
The Painter stopped by after my last post he had some Manchester Tan and wanted me to try on the wall today so he can start tomorrow – it looks good in the kitchen – dining room and the hall that goes to the bathroom and den BUT in the Living Room it looks pure white!! So I guess the lighting in there is changing it – can you suggest something to go in that room and up the stairs to the second floor that will blend with the MT but not to dark because the lighting still is not so good. Also the fireplace in the LR is panted an awful color so will that be the same color as the room or should it be painted a ligher or darker color. Sorry I should of put this all in one but when you on have one day its hard but thank you so much for saving the day!!!!
Cindy
Hi again Cindy,
How about Shaker Beige HC-45 in the Living Room? It is a nice neutral that’s richer than the Manchester Tan but not too dark. And it allows you to bring other colors into the room without making the room feel smaller or disconnected from the rest of the house. If you want “flow” from room to room in your public areas, the colors need to relate to each other without interrupting your eye, Again, add punches of color with your art and accessories. In the LR, you can use some contrast in your window treatments since the room is bigger and more of a focal area. Oranges, browns, purples, and greens look great with the neutral Shaker Beige.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara
It sounds good – but does the Shaker Beige have a pinkish undertone?? I thought I read that — I love your suggestions but the fireplace is an eyesore – its painted a soft terra cotta so I need to change it – its a basic brick fire place with the thick slate mantle and hearth at the bottom – all painted terra cotta – I know the original was red brick and grey slate –
Cindy
Hi Cindy,
Shaker Beige is a taupe that tends to change depending on the light in the room. What I see is mainly a green undertone, not pink. ??
But get a sample and see if you like it in your space.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara
Sorry for some reason I did paypal again to ask another question but it didnt go through – this time it did — so can you look at the last two post – I didnt realize I was suppost to put it all in one – so color suggestion for den and valances and Living Room problem – painter is her now so he is getting started with the MT in Kitchn and Dining Room and I will get him the LR paint later today or in the morning – thank you so much for all your help – this is a wonderful service!
Thanks
Cincy
Barbara
The post you are looking for is about my Living Room and is dated Oct 10th at 349pm
Thanks
Cindy
Hi Barbara,
I recently purchased a house and I wish to change the color of the front stucco exterior. Currently, it is painted a light gray. I want to change the color to Gloucester Sage (BM) with a white trim. I read some previous posts that mentioned painting the trim cream but I wonder if white would work as well? My biggest issue is what color to paint the door. I thought of leaving it white but I wonder if there are other choices that may work. In this particular neighborhood, I noticed most of the houses have white vinyl siding with brick/stone work, stucco painted with tan, brown colors and (2) complete brick houses. Would my choice of Gloucester Sage work in such a neighborhood? I read somewhere the importance of blending into the neighborhood. Also, do I have to paint the garage doors? I prefer to paint leave the garage doors white. I provided a link since I haven’t taken puctures yet. I would appreciate any help.
Thanks
Tim
http://tour.circlepix.com/tour.htm?id=904640
Hi Tim,
The Gloucester Sage should fit nicely into your neighborhood of tans/bricks/browns. And the White Dove is fine to use as a trim color especially if you prefer to leave the garage doors white. They won’t stick out as much if the trim color is the same as the doors. As for the front double doors, you can consider a coordinating color like Bennington Gray HC-82 (a light gray-green) since your doors are big and prominent and there’s no way we’re going to miss them. Or you can really make a big statement with a complementary color like Georgian Brick HC-50 that will tie in any brick on the house (chimney??) and not look Christmasy (like a redder color might).
Does that help?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara
Would you be able to recommend an entire independent color scheme that uses la lighter color than the Gloucester Sage? My wife doesn not want dark colors, so I am stuck in a dilemma. I also, failed to mention there is no brick on the house and in the neighborhood, there are many more houses painted white then any other color. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Tim
Hi Tim,
Okay, taking into account your roof color as well as the prominent foundation showing in the front, how about Coventry Gray HC-169 for the siding, White Dove trim so you can keep the white garage door, and Philadelphia Cream HC-30 for the front door? The colors are taken from your rock wall palette. The yellow can be picked up in plantings and annuals out front. The palette is fresh but not one you see very often.
See if your wife likes that combination better than the dark green.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thank goodness I found your site! I’ve been wanting to paint the exterior of our home since we bought it 4 years ago. It’s currently yellow with blue shutters and a blue front door. I think it looks a little “French county” – not at all my style. I’d like the outside to match the inside. We’ve updated the inside with contemporary colors (for example, the front room is a great coco color, ICI – American Eagle No. 515, and much of the rest of the house is ICI – Stonington Beige No. 614) as well as a new kitchen and bathrooms.
My plan has been to paint the house grey (specifically Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray) with white trim (the windows are white vinyl and there’s a lot of white vinyl around that bay window) with black shutters and a black front door. For the garage I was planning to outline the rectangles in it white so it doesn’t just look flat grey. But I’m concerned that the brown-ish roof won’t look right with grey. Also not sure if Chelsea Grey, which I love – not too brown and not too blue, will be too dark to have black shutters and door. Can you please share thoughts and/or suggestions?
PS #1: I live is Seattle and there are a lot of trees around our house. With the rain and the trees, the yellow gets very dirty so I’d like to go darker rather than lighter.
PS #2: Always wanted a red door but there are numerous red doors on our block. Also, the little covered porch also has large greenish tiles so I’m concerned with clashing colors.
*I will send a photo to your email address.
Thank you so much!
Molly
Hi Molly,
I think the Chelsea Gray will be fine for your house even with the black shutters. The Chelsea Gray is a very complex color with greens and browns in it so it should be fine with your roof color. The house will look a lot bigger actually. The white trim will break up all the earthy color and accentuate the architecture — which looks like it’s been updated. As for the door, take a look at Georgian Brick HC-50 (a brick-brown) that will tie in your chimney and look welcoming without going too red. Black is okay for your front door but since you have a portico, the door is in the shadows a bit and the black will look even darker under there.
It’s okay to try painting out all the trim on your garage door, but I would step back and look at the effect before going all the way with it. The little boxes popping off the garage door may just look too busy. But maybe not. I’m not a big fan of highlighting the garage doors unless you have a brand new carriage style door with hinges, etc.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I have a small, cottagey style home that used to be a darker brown color. I am hoping to paint it to make it seem a bit lighter and bigger and also provide a warm, welcoming feel. The house has a med/dark gray roof, and a stone chimney that is a light putty/beige color.
My first thought was to replicate a picture you posted of the pale yellow house (also with a gray roof) and the deep blue door, but unfortunately I have zero support for yellow. Second, I thought a sand color with off-white trim, and a deep blue door might work with this house, but now that the house has been power-washed the stone chimney is much lighter so we’re concerned that color would be too light and wouldn’t highlight the architecture of the home. The other thought was a darker regatta blue with sand trim but I am concerned that will be too dark and won’t achieve the lighter, welcoming feel. So basically, we’re lost. It’d be great to know what colors you think would really work for the body, trim, and door. We’re planning to use Behr paint from Home Depot so if you have the actual colors (who knew there were so many sand colors?) that would be tremendously helpful, even if the actual colors are from other paints (SW, KM, and Valspar are all available in our area too).
Thanks so much,
Deanna
https://picasaweb.google.com/115571992992151939437/HomeExteriorHelpNeeded?authkey=Gv1sRgCK_u9_vx_MmEcw#5663553771220080786
Hi Barbara,
It has come time to paint the concrete trim on the bottom of our home. I was going to paint it a dark brown to match the garage door, but I’m not sure that is the correct color. Right now the concrete trim is a rosy brown. Eventually the downspouts and siding need to be replaced or painted and I’m not sure what color to use to go with the brick. The rail around the front porch is new, we tried to match it with the trim that was there, but now not sure we chose the correct color but we can’t re-do that. The stucco trimmed with siding on the front of the house looks a little out of place. Should we leave that the color it is? With all the colors in the brick it is hard to decide on a trim color. If we are in the house long enough we will replace the roof and would need a color choice for that. I would like to replace the front door and would like an accent color idea for that. As you can see by the pictures we have a lot of brown going on at the house. Our outside light fixtures are black and we painted the chain link fence that goes around our property black also. Thanks for helping to make our house look nice and giving me the confidence that I’m making the correct color choices!
Carolyn
https://picasaweb.google.com/rusnakc/HousePhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCKLW5anwrMaXQg
Hi Carolyn,
Take a look at Ben Moore’s Bleeker Beige HC-80 for foundation color as well as garage door. That will tie in the “concrete-looking” trim on the front windows. Then use Alexandria Beige HC-77 for siding above garage door and on back of house. Whitall Brown HC-69 is a better brown for your brick. You can use the brown in place of the current brown on trim/gutters.
You’re right, the foundation color is a bit too rosy for your brick. Bringing the color back closer to concrete will help the front door area too. We can pick the roof later when you’re ready to replace the current on.
I do like your front step railing. That’s fine. The front door looks like a storm door. That should match the brown windows. But you could pull out an eggplant purple like Caponata AF-650 if you want to paint an inside door.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I wish I had a photo but it is night time here and I must figure out the exterior colors of our home tomorrow! Yikes! We have a 3 story (1 story underground) home in the mountains of colorado. All the homes in our neighborhood are brown, grey , and dark green. Our home being long overdue for paint gave me the opportunity to break the trend. Our home has modern architecture with wood siding and floor to ceiling windows. My goal was to give the exterior a look of a modern farmhouse. I chose Cameo White (by BM). Today we finally finished the siding and I had planned on us doing the trim white. I tested white dove , cloud white, and super white. Super white seemed too white but I was afraid white dove and cloud white would get lost next to the cameo. So this afternoon we started doing super white and it seems way too white – esp in the front of the house where it is all windows (2 story floor to ceiling windows), a 9 foot deep porch, high – high ceilings and no siding with cameo to break up all the super white. Now, I am not sure what to do. Before we did the super white today, the painters did the front porch and overhang and windows in the cameo so I could see what it would be like. With every thing painted cameo, I felt like I was walking into a cream tunnel. It wasn’t good. Perhaps I should have just painted the celing of of the entry porch(how you walk to the front door, and directly above is another 9 foot deep by 20 feet long porch) white and left the windows cameo and not bothered with white trim? Is a whole houe in camoe too much? Our trim on our house is inconsistent so the painter was cautioning us on painting the trim a different color. We also wanted to do a black in-lay in the original plan – just to ground the house (esp with all the snow we get here!) What do you suggest we do? What color white trim would you suggest to go with Cameo? What colro whould we paint the garage door? There are also two other single doors with glass in teh middle and wood all around that need to be painted (I think?). Currently they are Cameo white.
I did a pretty bad job explaining, I am so sorry. I will try and send a picture tomorrow.
Thanks for the help!
Mary
Hi Mary,
How about Cloud Cover OC-25 for the trim? It’s soft — with a touch of gray — so it doesn’t like chaulk. Then you can try an inlay of Alexandria Beige HC-77 with doors/garage in Davenport Tan HC-76. Those two colors seem to go really well with your roof and I love the combination with the creamy Cameo.
See what you think. Try the Alexandria Beige inlay before you rush off to buy the new white trim paint. The inlay may be just enough to dampen the white effect. If the white is still too bold, then try the Cloud Cover and see if that blends the windows in a bit more. I see what you’re saying about the front of the house with all the windows. A little gray in the white also helps the paint to age gracefully as well. Sometimes the super white paint just looks dirty faster.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi again Barbara,
Thank you so much for your quick response. My husband and I are at our wits end and I feel like I really messed up choosing Cameo as the color of our siding. I have seen it look so lovely and smart at some homes in nearby in Aspen but as my husband pointed out, our home is not a cute little Victorian. Is the Cameo as bad as we are beginning to think? Should we have chosen a siding color more like cedar key or Alexandria beige?
I had a sample of white cloud so I put that on some of the windows today and it helped but it concerned us that it would blend too much with the Cameo. I never would have picked out Cloud Clover so thank you for the input and I look forward to trying it. The super white does indeed look chalky and it also highlights how our trim on all the windows except on the floor to ceiling windows is a rough sewn cedar only 3″ wide. Nothing too amazing! Yet we have amazing windows in the front of the house that deserve to be shown off. This house is such a challenge. So many angles and such huge windows and such poor trim work.
Earlier tonight my husband and I were debating (AGAIN) inlay colors and were considering Texas leather or Wrought iron or Night shade. But it sounds like you think a black inlay is too severe, and the colors I just mentioned are pretty dark as well and are too dark? I will try the inlay colors you suggested. One of the problems that I am realizing is that with a light color like Cameo a dark inlay is helpful but our trim work on our windows is so funky; think ski town carpentry in 1968, that the inlay just highlights the less than desireable trim and carpentry. But perhaps at a distance, it will give the desired effect.
Just to make sure I understand your suggestions, you think painting the trim a white is a good idea (we were also debating just doing the inlay and no trim) and then use on Alexandria beige inlay and Davenport tan for the garage. Our roof is a wood shingle roof with flashing close to davenport tan and texas leather so perhaps your colors will help tie the roof in.
What color do you suggest painting the soffit and fascia? How about the vertical posts and deck railings. Our current plan is to stain the deck a medium brown stain (it’s called Bark by Cabbot).
Ohhhhh! I wish I had found your website and YOU 2 weeks ago. I feel like I really messed this one up.
Thank you for all your help,
Mary Courtney
Thank you Barbara for all your help. After considering re-painting the house and starting over we are going to try your recommendations.
To confirm: all the window trim should be painted Cloud Cover and then Alexandria beige on the inlay of all the windows except the windows on the side of the garage. Those will just have Cloud Cover trim. Soffits and fascia will be Cameo.
My last 3 questions are what color do you recommend the verical posts be that come down from the soffits and onto the porch and what color do you recommend the railings of the porches be. Last but not least what color should the “roof” of the front porch be (cloud cover, or cameo or something else)? I will send you a better picture of this area over email.
Thank you so much for being there especially over a weekend. We were in complete panic mode and are calming down now that we have your recomendations. We feel so much more comfortable with how to proceed now that we have your assistance! I think our home is going to end up looking beautiful.
Thank you!!
Hi Mary,
Okay, for a true New England farmhouse look, you need white posts (Cloud Cover), white railing, and white fascia/soffits. Sometimes we use a light blue porch ceiling. BUT, since you’re in the mountains and have a mountain style home, you have another option. You can keep the fascia/soffits/porch ceiling Cameo as well as the vertical posts. Then paint the windows white. And paint the porch railing Alexandria Beige. What that does is highlight the porch railing giving it that mountain home look. And if you paint the railing Alexandria Beige, I would NOT paint the inlays the same color. It will be way too busy. The accent color has to be used sparingly for it to work. So one or the other: Alex inlay with white railings or Alex railing and no inlay.
It’s late and I’m not sure how coherent I am at the moment. I say go ahead with the trim/siding colors and wait to do the inlay until the porch railing is absolutely decided. Again that should be last after the rest of the trim is done on the house. Keeping the railings brown (essentially) is what you had before and it’s more rustic and it shows off the railings more. White railings are crisp and New England-like but you told me the wood was rustic. So we’re kind of mixing styles here but don’t worry too much about that. From the road it will look great either way — nobody will see the wood.
Hope that clarifies.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
So glad I found your blog. I have sent the paypal donation because I am in desperate need of some guidance.
We are in the process of rebuilding after a house fire destroyed most of our home and now in the rebuilding process I have become stumped as to what colors I would like to have on our “new” home.
We are looking for some assistance in choosing the exterior siding color as well as the coordinating colors for the soffit, fascia, and the architectural details we are contemplating: shutters, vinyl scallop trim or vinyl shakes in the gable ends and the doors- front and garage.
Our home was originally a 100 year old farmhouse. It sits on 10 acres and is surrounded by several huge oak trees, so concern of neighbors’ house style or their color choices is not an issue in our particular case, but there is a new roof already on the house that will dictate our choices.
The shingles are timberline, architectural shingles in hunter green and the color can be seen here: http://www.gaf.com/Roofing/Residential/Products/Shingles/Swatch.aspx?id=115
As far as siding colors, the company that we are using for vinyl siding and trim is under the line Oak Harbor and the various available colors can be found here http://www.rmcsiding.com/11619.cfm bottom left of screen.
I have considered doing the • White Birch • Providence Yellow
• Summer Wheat and even the Vintage Sage that you see listed, but I am having difficulty deciding and can’t visualize any trim color other than white.
I have attempted to insert pics but will also email them. They show where we are now in the build with the hunter green shingles in place and how the house is ready for siding, but they are just waiting on me to decide on the colors.
I appreciate any guidance on the siding color, trim colors and the advice on adding the trim to the gable end and the color if we do, and finally the front and garage door color/color.
Front view:
Side of house with side porch and garage. This also shows the two gable ends on this side:
Side with garage up close
House from a distance:
Other side of house:
Hi Dawn,
Well, a couple of ideas in keeping with the original 1900 farmhouse style would be 1) use the White Birch for the siding color with something like (if you’re using paint) Narragansett Green (Ben Moore HC-157) for the trim keeping the soffit white for maximum reflection. (If you’re using vinyl trim, then Vintage Sage.) For the gables, stick with White Birch but use the scalloped treatment. Very traditional. And no shutters. OR 2) White Birch for the siding, White Birch for all trim, and Rookwood Shutter Green for the shutters (SW 2809). With this option, you could use the Vintage Sage for the scallops in the gables.
Either of those options would maintain the historic look of the house. As a nod to a more contemporary entry, paint the doors a warm color like Roycroft Copper Red (SW 2839) or Ben Moore’s Country Redwood (exter).
Of course another obvious alternative is the Providence Yellow siding with yellow scallops, White trim, and dark green shutters and doors. Another classic look for this kind of house.
See what you think…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thank you so much Barbara for such a prompt response and wonderful recommendations..Decisions..decisions.
You have given me some ideas and combinations that I had not considered, but I just wanted to clarify a few things if I may.
In my mind when using the scalloped treatment I had thought it would need to be a different color than the house to stand out and be seen, but I noticed that in two of the options you have it the same as the body color. Would it look choppy or out of place to have the scalloped pieces the same color as the trim for example in the Providence yellow siding, use white scallops, white trim and then green shutters and door? I ask because I didn’t know the rule of thumb here and didn’t know if it mattered or would look off somehow and wanted to understand the train of thought. I also should mention that the vinyl installers said they normally would trim out under the gabled scallop where there is no roof line. This is done by them using a wide piece of plank trim running horizontally under the scallop edge for transition to the siding. This would be done only be done on that long side under the gable because the other gables have roof line with shingles under them. I hope that is making sense and may be common practice but I wanted to clarification what category I would place that piece under. Should that piece be the same color as all other trim, the house, the scalloped pieces or would it depend on which color scheme I went with in this case?
Also, I wanted to get your opinion on this combination as well: Summer Wheat, which reads as a tan but peachy or warm in tone on the sample I have, but pairing that with either white but incorporating that vintage sage somehow. I don’t know if it would be shutters, trim, scalloped pieces but those three elements. Or will those colors be the wrong balance or take away from the house? I guess I had that in my head too and just need to rule it out..:)
Given the choices you gave is there one that stands out as a better way to go in terms of classic style or is it just my preference?
Thanks again and do you do cabinet stains matched with surfaces for kitchens too? That is my next decision making step.
All the best,
Dawn
Hi Dawn,
Not sure if this will come over, but here is a link to a treatment that uses the same siding color in the gables. (Also shows the addition of other colors in both gable scallops and trim.) What it does is offer texture instead of highlighting the gable peak. The result is that the house looks less chopped up. Now having said that, you have a Victorian reconstruction (kind of) so you can have two different colors if you’d like to. But I would stay away from using anything peach with the green. That is a color scheme that is currently out of favor (could come back in at any time) but the best thing to do with green is to use a neutral and add color with items that can be switched out, like flowers, door color, wreaths, furniture, etc.
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=hardiplank+gable+scallop%5B&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&rlz=1I7ADRA_en&biw=1146&bih=501&tbm=isch&tbnid=fFVzNyc-l5a-yM:&imgrefurl=http://www.chesapeakeroofing.com/services/siding.aspx&docid=7dAeMVIavGkckM&imgurl=http://www.chesapeakeroofing.com/img/siding/vinyl-carpentry-samples.jpg&w=320&h=395&ei=Rc-yTsrrDOHs0gGT3oHDBA&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=111&sig=106045593974643938268&page=4&tbnh=128&tbnw=104&start=35&ndsp=13&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:35&tx=75&ty=60
Although I like the dark green for window trim and fascia, I’m not sure if you have that option if you’re using vinyl. If the colors you listed are all the choices, then stick with white for trim all around and use a dark green for the shutters. Pick a neutral for the siding color (or sage) and then decide if you want just texture or a different color in the gable. The sage is a good option for up there as it will call attention to the gable without chopping up the house further.
And it’s fine to use white for the columns regardless of the overall trim color because you have white windows. The porch is an excellent area to highlight.
Does that help?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Sorry, Barbara I also forgot to ask in the options you gave would all the porch columns, I think it is like 13 total, would those default to the “trim” color or always white? I’m trying to visualize the various scenarios and since vinyl isn’t as easy as painting I want to get it right the first time.
Is there a website or program you recommend for visualizing the colors on a person’s style house?
Maybe the pics links will show this way..
Front view of house:
Right side of house when facing the front: http://i42.tinypic.com/dp7p55.jpg
Front of house from a distance:
Side of house showing garage and two of the gable ends on that side:
closeup of garage area:
And I forgot to add the image of the detail options in the gable ends:
Hi Barbara,
Thank you for the feedback. It does help me rule out some options that I had in my mind and after reflection I definitely see where a stark contrast in the gable can chop the house up.
After viewing the image you linked above I noticed how they transitioned some of the house color into the gable and then added two additional colors for some contrasting colors in the gable. However, those colors were picked up in the trim, which we will not be able to do, unless the contrasting color is white, because of how our vinyl will be placed.
Based on your comments and the vinyl options I have come up with these options:
1) House -white birch 02, trim white birch, transition white into gables with several rows of white birch scallop pieces and then have Vintage Sage 55 as a second color in the upper half of the gable. Would the fact that it was only two colors throw off the balance since our trim is white too? I guess I was feeling like I may need a third color but that may be able to be added by the door (I liked the rust/red color you linked to earlier)or in flowers and other items like you said before, but the even number of colors seemed off somehow.
Then green shutters. I was unsure if the shutters should be the vintage sage or if I could go dark in this case.
2) House- Classic Sand 11..transition it like in the pic you linked but do classic sand about half way up and then, white birch as the second color, and then sage the final color at the peak up against the roof line.
All the trim would be white birch as well. Shutters again green but don’t know if those should match the sage or be darker?
3) House-White Birch, gable white birch and the shutters a dark green and the door a dark green.
Can you see any pros or cons in going with either of the three options? Or which option do you see fitting the house best? Also, would you go with a copper toned hardware for lights outside, or what do you suggest?
Many thanks,
Dawn
Hi Dawn,
Here’s a link that looks a lot like your Option 3. White siding, white gables, white trim, but in your case Dark Green shutters. I would suggest a bright red or orange front door. Actually any warm color will do. That combo leaves you all kinds of options for landscaping, yard furniture, and other color. You can even change the shutters down the road as well as the front door color and not have to stick to a more extensive color palette. I like Victorian painted ladies for all their color, but honestly, I think some houses are a bit over done. It locks you into a style and palette that you might regret later. I have a client with a huge Victorian-style (20 years old) house and a green roof. Unfortunately for them, they painted the whole house peach. (this was back when it was popular). Now they’re stuck with it. My vote is to keep it simple. But you have to be happy with the end result (either of the other two options will work just fine).
This photo of Wauconda is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I am renovating my 1978 multi-colored red brick (colors – red, orangy, black and white) hip roof ranch-house style home. The front porch was removed and the livingroom extended out five feet with three new window installed. A gable was built over the livingroom addition to enhance the hip roof. The new roof is charcoal in color. I needed some suggestions for materials to use for the 7-pitch gable and front of the extended house. I don’t want the brick to stand out. I was considering using cedar siding as the siding. (need other choices) I don’t know if I can use the cedar siding and stain it to blend with the multi-colored brick. A deck was built on to the back of the house which is painted cape cod red. I didn’t know if I had to use that colored to incorporate into the front.
Hi Sharon,
With so much color and pattern in the brick, I think you need a neutral on the new gable. Look at Sherwin Williams’ SW2805 Renwick Beige for the siding. Use a dark brick brown for your front door (I don’t see it on the photo but I know it’s there under the Tyvec somewhere). You have enough red with the brick in the front to tie in the deck on the back. You can always plant some orangey red shrubs/annuals in front of the new gable as an accent color. That will tie everything together.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, Barbara.
My wife and I are in the process of replacing the masonite siding on our 30 year colonial home in Marietta, GA with hardiplank and would like your advice regarding exterior colors (I am sending a picture via e-mail). Currently, the body of the house is khaki (similar to alexandria beige only slightly lighter), the trim is white, the door is burgundy and the roof and shutters are black. The owner of the local Benjamin Moore store suggested alexandria beige for the siding, navajo white for the trim, narragansett green or regent green for the shutters and rustico (AF-275) for the door. We are traditional (still driving Volvo 240s) and my wife is not quite sure of the recommended combination. In fact, I think she prefers to stay with what we have. Would you please let me know your thoughts/suggestions. We are willing to look at any combination. By the way, even if we stay with our same colors, the look of our house will change as we are moving from the 8 1/4″ reveal smooth w bead masonite lap siding to a 5″ reveal smooth hardiplank. Do you think that is a good decision? We can still change to a 7″ reveal smooth w bead hardiplank if you think that would be better. (Our neighbors homes are brick with the exception of one house with white siding. Also the front of our house is facing southwest.) Thanks so much for your help.
Hi William,
Since your house is in the sun much of the time, how about a cool light gray for the house — look at Hardieplank’s Light Mist (comparable to BM Stonington Gray HC-170) that will go well with both roof and black shutters as well as your current white trim color. Then for the front door, you can contrast with your brick steps by using Hamilton Blue (BM exterior). Pick up the orange of your steps with pots of flowers on the front step (your pumpkins are fine) and other warm-colored flowering shrubs.
That color scheme is very conservative yet it will offer you a change from what you’ve had before. No sense in repeating.
As for the lap width, I like the wider planks and of course I prefer the Cedarmill over the smooth for its better replication of actual wood siding.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
i’m back! you helped me once. we tried to pick a paint color for my living room that didn’t clash with the trim that i desperately didn’t want to paint. BUT, here i am again. i just couldn’t live with it. the color you chose DID go with the trim, but i just didn’t like it. the only way i’m going to be happy is to paint the trim white and go from there.
ok…try to get an idea of the flow of my living room and kitchen…
don’t mind the mismatched curtains those are the previous owners that i haven’t taken down yet.
we are having someone come in a paint all the trim white and i was planning on painting the living room the same color as our old house…do you think its ok..or too yellow/gold…(picture with people in it…it was at my daughters bday party-people are blowing party whistles) i really liked this color, especially against the white trim..but always wondered if the couch and paint were TOO MUCH YELLOW.
THEN…we were possibly going to put chair railing like we did in our other house (this is the picture in the album that is a double pic in one. one is the color in day light and another at night)
we are taking down the checkered wallpaper and i was considering painting the two small papered walls an accent color…red, green….something bold and warm. keeping in mind my plates are ivory and alot of my serving bowls/platters are apple red.
but, a friend said she thinks painting the accent would be too much if we are also doing two different colors with the chair railing. do you agree? IF so, i’ll paint the said chair rail walls ONE color and the wall papered wall an accent. i don’t necessarily love that the lighter color on top won’t make the crown molding POP…but i don’t think i should paint the whole area the bottom color…that would be too dark.
do you think the gold in the living room will be ok since you can see it from the dinning table? i want whatever colors i choose for the living room and dinning/kitchen to flow since you can see them from each other.
lastly, IF we did do chair railing would you stop it at the door the enters the garage? is the chair railing a bad idea all together?
hopefully with the pictures this will all make sense.
i feel like my entry is all over the place and random. please forgive me. looking forward to hearing from you.
Deana
Hi Deana,
Okay, first off, I do like the gold with your furniture. Very warm and it pops off the white trim. So in terms of your furniture, I think the yellow-gold is a go. BUT, there seems to be a bit of a problem with the carpet in the LR. It definitely has a pink undertone to it and it’s not a great combo with the yellow/yellow-green walls/furniture. I’m not sure how new the carpet is but that might be why you’re having trouble with your previous color scheme. In your old house, the rug was an off-white and you had hardwood floors — both perfect for the wall color and furniture. If there’s ANY chance of pulling up the carpet and replacing it with a continuation of your dining room flooring, I think that will solve most ALL your color problems.
As for the dining room, you might consider a couple of greens that are in your LR chair: look at BM’s Georgian Green HC-115 for below the chair rail and Guilford Green HC-116 above. I’m not a huge fan of chair rails, but they are a great excuse for bringing in more trim color (white) and I’m all for that!
In the kitchen you are a bit stuck because the backsplash is actually continuous with the wall so anything you do to the wall will go onto the backsplash as well (paint-wise) but you can always tile the backsplash if you want an accent of some kind. But for now, I suggest painting the whole kitchen the Guilford Green HC-116 to make the space continuous and open. Then you can use the red as your accent color. White would be best for valances unless you’re thinking of something custom. But keeping the windows simple will make the rooms look bigger.
You can end the chair rail at any corner. Chair rails break up the space, but like I said, it will add more molding to your dining area and make it a little more special and not just an extension of the kitchen. So that’s okay.
Hope that helps… not sure you wanted to hear all that, but I think I covered everything.
Good luck!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We are going to re-paint our home. We are on 2 acres.Our home is surrounded by a white vinyl fence and the fencing in front is a two-tone vinyl of taupe and white. We have log porches on the front and back. The front has stone accents along the bottom and at the base of the logs on the front porch. The stone is a combination of grays, blacks, taupes. We have a burgundy metal roof. Our windows are white. At the back of the house we have storm doors in almond. Our front door is a solid wood with a lighter stain. I am looking to repaint the house and the trim and wood like to add shutters in the front. I am looking for guidance on the paint colors and the shutter colors. I struggle with tying it all in to the burgundy roof. Thanks so much for your expert advice!
Hi Christina,
Just emailed you about sending a photo or two to my email at bmeglis@yahoo.com (or embedding a photo link here). But in the meantime, you have a palette of colors already with the burgundy roof and the other neutrals: taupe, white, gray, black, almond and light wood. I suggest picking a medium tone from this palette for your siding color and either almond or white for your trim. The trim color will tie in the windows/doors. Try a medium taupe (like Ben Moore’s Briarwood) as an option. With either white or cream trim, the taupe will pull all the colors together.
As for shutters, you can use black since you have black in the stonework. And then pick up a dark raspberry for your front door to tie in the roof. Also use pinks in your plantings in the yard. They will help to pull the whole property together.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara. I have emailed you with two photos attached. I’ve tried twice so hope you are able to receive and open them. I so appreciate your guidance and am excited about our project.
Cristina D.
Thanks, Christina! I’ve responded to your email.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you so much Barbara for the information. You’ve been incredibly helpful!
Cristina D.
Hi Dennis,
I’m terribly sorry for the deluge… I personally do not send anything out to people who have visited this site for exactly the reasons you specified. But what might be happening is that you “subscribed” to my post?? If you unsubscribe, then perhaps the annoyance will go away. I will see if there’s anything I can do on my end — I will remove your original post and contact information and see if that helps. I had no idea that the “spam” was flowing. (ugh)
I’ll get right on it. So sorry!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara-
My husband and I just recently purchased a single story ranch style home in California. The house will need to be painted as we recently replaced the windows in the front of the home and removed the black shutters on either side of windows only to find the home had been pink.
(right now the entire ext of home is an off white with min accents in blk)The roof of the home is greyish black, which is our dilemna. We were interested in adding stack stone planters in front below windows however most stone is in the beige/brown color scheme. I realize there is grey stack stone, but I do not wait to paint my home grey. What other options do you have based on the fact that the roof is black.
Hi Georgina,
One option for your house color is taupe — a gray-beige in a medium tone that would pull together the black of the roof and the beige/brown of the stonework. You could continue with black for the shutters to tie in the roof and white or cream for the trim. Look at the exterior color Briarwood from Benjamin Moore. It’s a wonderful transitional color between gray and brown and pulls all the earth tones together.
Another option is a gray-green like Ben Moore’s Nantucket Gray HC-111. It too will work well with both black roof/shutters and earth-toned stonework.
See what you think…
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I have a dilemma…we are adding on to a house, basically building a new house and I need to pick the windows. I am having windows with grids in them, just vertical grids to the halfway point. 3 grids in the top half of each window. The problem is..what color to make the grids on the outside of the house…white, wood color or a dark brown?
I am going to make the grids and windows on the inside of the house white. The house is going to have some timbers in it like an old farmhouse and a wood floor so I am at a total loss of what to do..I feel white is the easy and safe way to go. I don’t know what the other colors of my house is going to be but I want the look of a farmhouse but also have to work with what I have as existing house which has some timbers and wood inside kind of like a cedar house. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. Patti
Hi Patti,
Oh, I love those windows!! Very nice.
You’re right. White will always work, both inside and out, but colored windows (dark brown, green or even red) are quite in style these days. And certainly on a farmhouse-style home. Since the original farmhouses had painted wood mullions (grids), going with a color on the window (brown, in your case) might give the home both a farmhouse feel as well as a nod to the contemporary window look. White will always be around, but why not give the house a little more color.
Hope that helps. If you’d like to send a photo or plans for your house, just email them to me at bmeglis@yahoo.com. I’ll take a closer look.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara!
I just wanted to post a quick note to say THANK You!!!! Your recommendation to paint our home Nantucket Gray worked wonders with our brick! Our house looks so lovely now! THANK YOU!
Gabby
Hi Gabby,
So happy the color worked out well for you! Now, moving on to the inside. I will be back soon.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, Barbara. My husband & I just bought a 30 year-old house in Austin, Texas and we’re about to put on new siding, trim & windows… we need help with colors! We are replacing all of the siding & trim, so we’ll be starting with a clean slate. All we have to work with is the dark charcoal gray shingled roof & the limestone rock corners on the house. As you’ll see in the pictures, the limestone rock is not pure white limestone; we’re working with some yellow tones in it as well.
Here is a link to all of the exterior pictures of our house: http://www.flickr.com/photos/73652128@N08/
We’re going to be using pre-painted Hardie Plank siding and trim. According to their website, they recommend using 3 different colors; one for the main body, one for the second body & one for the trim. Here’s a link to the different color combinations that they recommend: http://www.jameshardie.com/homeowner/design-top-combinations.shtml
What we’re struggling with is what color combination to choose and where should we put each of the individual colors? For example, which part of the house gets the main body color, second body color, etc. & which parts of the house should be painted the trim color?
We really like the black accent door but we’re up for any suggestions you have on that as well.
We really appreciate your time & expertise!
Thank you — Amber
Hi Amber,
How about Autumn Tan for the body of the house and Arctic White for the trim. Then pick up the blue in the roof color (at least on my screen) with either Evening Blue or Boothbay Blue for the front door as well as the triangular vent in the garage gable. That option maxiizes the size of your house by incorporating the limestone columns into the wall color.
Another option uses the roof undertone (blue) to dictate the body color. Boothbay Blue with Arctic White trim (if you have white windows) and then use the Autumn Tan as your accent for the front door and triangular vent trim. This effect will be similar to what you have now in terms of contrast between siding and stone. However, the stone is incorporated in the accent details. And the roof is incorporated into the overall house.
I do not think it’s a great idea to put any more accent body color anywhere (gable above the garage, the second story) as I think it will chop up the house and make it look smaller. You already have quite a prominent roof dividing the house.
See what you think. The idea is to take the palette that you already have (grays/yellows/golds and the blue undertone of the charcoal roof) and spread them around the house.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Ooh — I love your suggestions! We’ll probably end up going with one of your choices, but I wanted to run this by you as well. Our contractor suggested we use khaki tan as the main color, navajo beige as the accent color, but then do the bay window area (front, 2nd story) ONLY in the countrylane red. What do you think this would look like? (He suggested painting the front door the same color to tie it in better.) We’re confused — would this look good or not? Help!!
Hi Amber,
I like the color scheme, but instead of doing only the second story bay window area, I suggest doing the front porch area as well. That will continue the bay window from 2nd to 1st floor and then carry the red over to the left side of the door. An interesting and bold color treatment. To keep the garage from standing out too much, use the khaki there.
For the front door, you can do real wood, khaki or navajo with bronze handle/etc. The lighter colored door would even show up better under the overhang.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We have sent you an email containing pics of the exterior of our house for your help. We have just bought the home and it is in need of a new exterior paint job. The house is partial brick and wood. The brick is a dove grey with flecks of white and charcoal. Where the ends of the brick meet or dovetail are burnt orange. The current wood is painted a blue. It looks more greyish blue in the pics but it is actually a stronger hue of blue than is coming across. We are needing advice on a color scheme. The house currently does not have any trim differentiation. There is a type of boxing around a window in the front that lends the eye to see a “shutter” type concept. The front door is a prominent feature as well. Across the back are 5 doors and a large/high patio. I am needing guidance on what you would reccomend as far as primary house color, trim color,door colors, garage door color, and whether or not you would paint the orange tips on the brick ends or not. The other houses on our street are traditional all brick homes mostly in tan, red or grey brick. We are the only house that has this amount of wood as well as a more “modern/eclectic” style. Thank you in advance for your assisitance.
Sincerely,
Greg and Stacey Martin
Hi Greg and Stacey,
I suggest picking up the taupe shades in your brick and moving the siding color to something like Ben Moore’s Pismo Dunes AC-32 or Valley Forge Tan AC-35, whichever color goes better with your current grout. Then you could pick up the gray in the trim with Silver Satin OC-26 (or keep the trim in the house color for a more modern look — either way but I do like a differentiated trim to break up all the medium-valued color). I do like the tips of orange on the brick, personally, and would bring that color into the palette with the front door color. Look at Fiery Opal 077 or if that’s too over the top, a browner version Montana Agate 056.
The only reason to paint out the orange brick is if you really do not like orange. I noticed that your outdoor furniture is in primary colors. The palette I’m suggesting is a little more rustic (more like your weathered bench than the Adirondack chairs in red and yellow). I like the idea of mixing the “modern” architecture with rustic accessories — a nice juxtaposition.
See what you think. Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Needing help with siding, trim and garage door colors. We moved into this home in April – nothing was done to keep up anything. The garage doors need to be replaced so metal seems to be the most economical but limited to colors – white, almond, brown, sandstone, hunter green and a rosewood. The soffits where dark brown – since no weather/sun got to them – it is the only thing with color – other than the awful blue trim. The siding is 4 x 8 sheets of cedar – my husband wants to keep and stain it. Is it too weathered? The picture I am sending shows front of house that faces south – street. the entire back side of the house is siding faces north and gets very little sun, but there is a beautiful lake there. We have had to replace all of the windows and doors on the north side – they are white vinyl clad.
Very nice homes in the neighborhood – help we stick out like a sore thumb. I want some curb appeal.
Hi Cindy,
Go ahead and replace the garage doors — almond would be a good color. Even if you replace all the windows with white vinyl, you can still use almond as a trim color all around the house, Either match the door color or look at Ben Moore’s Bone White as a possible coordinating color.
Then for the siding, the only option for staining would be to go darker as the wood is quite weathered. If painting is an option, then look at Texas Leather AC 3 (Ben Moore). That will go well with both brick and roof colors and should “fade” nicely to a softer shade over time. It will be tons better than the current blue.
See if that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
HELP! My painter is starting tomorrow and we have not yet chosen a color for the bedroom wall. It is a guest room with off white (cream but not too yellow) carpet and Charles Webb light oak (golden hue) furniture.
We do not want to get too locked in to a color so that we can have some variety in bedding options. I would like to stay in the neutrals and not go beyond the middle of the color strip (preferably a bit lighter since the rest of the house is pale/muted colors) if possible.
My husband liked Creamy Satin BM1087 but that would be BORING.
I read that greens are good with blonde furniture – I am thinking of perhaps Flowering Herb (514) or a pale olive (I can’t find the right one)
I also like Coastal Fog (976) , Tumbled Marble (1031) and Cedar Key (982) but I am not sure of the undertones.
I like the Tranquility and Serenity collections.
As you can see I am all over the place.
The room is fairly bright with a south/east exposure.
I would appreciate several options when your respond.
MANY Thanks! I need your answer ASAP.
Hi Gail,
Take a look at both Camouflage 2143-40 and Soft Fern 2144-40. (They’re from the other Ben Moore fan deck.) Both should go well with your light oak furniture without being too pale and “boring.” And both are soft, relaxing hues that will create a restful bedroom.
Another nice color with light oak is Gentle Gray 1626 and Quiet Moments 1563. Both are gray-blues that will contrast with the yellow of the light oak and create a little more energy (but not too much) than the greens above. Both of these colors are soft, relaxing shades.
I think the creams/peaches will blend too much with your furniture and will be, yes, a tad boring. The contrast of either the blues or the analogous greens will create more interest in the room.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks so much for your prompt reply. I just got back from the paint store and got those samples.
I definitely like Camouflage the best, in fact it is perfect!
So what about the ceiling and trim? We have molding at the ceiling. (old Tudor home)
Right now the ceilings are white (sanded)- a bit unfinished looking and old fashioned.
Would you recommend staying on the same card? (i.e. simply white 2143-70 or moonlight white 2143-60). I always like white dove for trim (satin finish, not semi) and think it would work. Linen white may be too creamy for this color.
Should the trim and the ceiling be the same color? I like that unified look, especially since the room is not too large (14 x 15 or so) .I now it looks different since you use different paint types for the trim.
Again, many many thanks.
Hi Gail,
Oh terrific! Glad you like the color! As for the trim, I agree. White Dove will be perfect — satin finish is fine.
For the ceiling, you can either use a traditional bright white ceiling paint (flat) for maximum light reflection back into the room OR you can tint the ceiling with the wall color which will make your moldings pop out better. Moonlight White 2143-60 will work. If the ceilings are high, I love to tint them. It really makes the room look finished!
Hope that helps.
Thanks again for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks again for your advice.
Do you think there is enough of a difference between Moonlight White and White Dove to show up? They look similar to me on the cards but I know that can be off.
The ceilings are not particularly high (standard) but I prefer not to use Flat Ceiling White. I think it looks somewhat less finished. Can I use the White Dove flat for the ceiling ? I do not want the molding to clash with the ceiling.
I thought that the different paint types (Satin vs flat) might give it enough contrast.
Your guidance is much appreciated.
Gail,
That’s a perfectly good solution. The ceiling will be flat finish and the molding satin. I agree that there’s not a big hue difference between the Moonlight White and the White Dove. The moonlight just has a hint of green — that’s what you would see up there. But if you prefer to keep the hues the same, particularly if the ceilings are standard height, then use the White Dove (flat ) on the ceiling.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I have a home built in 1987 that has yellow/brown brick on the first level and cedar on the second level that is painted dark red/brown with light cream trim. I am interested in updating the exterior look of the home. I would like to stain the brick to update the home and match the paint. I am considering standard red brick, or to stain it a dark charcoal/red (almost purple) brick I have seen on some newer homes. I would really appreciate your input. The home interior is very contemporary (remodeled) and the exterior lines are similar, but the brick color and cedar is dating the home. I will send both a picture of the home and another home I am considering to use for the brick color. Thanks!
Hi Keith,
Instead of staining the brick (yes one option), have you considered neutralizing the cedar on the second level? A lot of older brick homes are going with a nice neutral, something like either Davenport Tan HC-76 or Alexandria Beige HC-77 (Ben Moore), to bring the brick up to today’s more contemporary palette. I’m just not sure that more red/purple on the house will help the house overall.
The roof plays a role in the palette determination. Is it gray or brown?
If you really would prefer to get rid of the yellow brick, then I would still stay neutral with the finished brick (and not go too red). I don’t think the reds will end up going well together and you have to account for fading (with both!). Things could get ugly pretty fast.
See what you think of the two colors I mentioned. Another option is a rich taupe like Briarwood (Ben Moore Exterior — not on their web site). That color goes with everything and it’s much more current than any of the burgundy reds.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks for your response. The roof is a dark gray. If I were to paint the cedar one of the colors you suggested, what would you recommend for the trim?
Keith
Keith,
The trim was fine. You can keep as is. Check out the colors against the trim and brick and see what you think.
Hope one of them works for you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I am looking to correct this poorly done stain job on the exterior of our new construction. We chose to stain the Certainteed siding hoping for the cedar color that was on the label of the stain; however, the painter used four coats instead of two and this is what we ended up with. If we were going to paint the siding, what color choices could you recommend that would keep with the rock & timber/semi-rustic style we are going for?
Here is a link to my Picasa web album with the picture.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=104861710806721236306&target=ALBUM&id=5706147975915850465&authkey=Gv1sRgCKf_nv_D9arYkgE&feat=email
Thanks!
Hi Nicole,
Take a look at Gloucester Sage (HC-100 Ben Moore) or Texas Leather AC-3. Either of those should go with both trim and roof colors and coordinate well with the brick. And each is earthy and dark enough to fit into the rustic setting and contrast nicely with the rock, the real focus of your house.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I will definitely look into these two colors. I really like the Texas Leather – do you think it will blend too much with the trim color? Also, and I’m not sure if this is a separate fee, but do you think that I should paint the trim around the windows the same color I have on the soffit, trim and fascia? You had previously recommended that I paint the trim a color similar to what I have it painted now; however, I never asked you if I should’ve had them paint the trim around the windows! Thanks so much.
Hi Barbara,
Sorry to bother you again; however, I was wondering if you could suggest a third color? I uploaded a photo on the Ben Moore website to see how the colors would look, and my husband thinks the suggested ones make the house blend a little too much. He also wanted me to tell you that we’re going to be putting cedar posts in the entryway and wrapping the bases with the same stone and eventually cedar gable arches on the three front gables.
Thanks,
Nicole
Hi
This is your old friend again. I am still having trouble finding a grey paint for my yellow tiled powder room- bathroom . The tile is the color of Weston Flax/ Windham cream.
I have tried pigeon gray 2134 (too blue), silver dollar 1460 (too purple) and Ozark shdows AC26 too muddy (Taupey). Timber wolf 1600 looks a bit green.
Help! Do you think 2120-50 Silver spring might work? Shadow gray 2125-40 might work?
I want to stay mid range, not go too dark.
Pewter 2121-230 looks a bit too dark. The room is quite small.The hallway has (I think) Powell buff.
I really like the color of the primer – isn’t that funny?
I hope you can respond quickly. My painter is losing patience.
Thanks again
Hi Gail,
I’ll take another look in the light of the morning.
Back soon.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Gail,
This is an easy one! Look at Ben Moore’s Stonington Gray HC-170. It’s a perfect, warm, French gray that will go perfectly with your yellow tile.
Hope you like it!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
How about AC 29?
It is a bit taupey but it is much warmer than the cooler tones I have been trying. (except AC26 which was too muddy)
Thanks
or Coventry gray (HC)?
Sorry, don’t have the number…..
Gail,
Yes, Coventry Gray HC-169 is a little darker but has the same warmth — also very good with the yellow tile! Go for it!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks so much for the suggestion. I wish I ahd done my due diligence before attempting colors from the fan. The painter used Stonington grey and it looks great. I might have preferred something a bit darker but the hallway is light (Putnam Ivory, I think it was) as is the rest of the house. (Camouflage, Mystic beige, November Rain (?) in various places)
Can you suggest a color for towels and area rug? The room is small -floor is black and white tile (small old fashioned), the tile a pale yellow with black trim.(your typical 60’s bathroom LOL) I don’t love black towels but the dark pewter ones that I have don’t really work.(maybe the specific shade?) Please be as specific about color as you can. I would appreciate it if you could give me two options.
Your suggestions have been very helpful. SO glad I found you!
I will be back with more questions as we proceed upstairs.
Best, Gail
We are trying to choose exterior stucco/trim colors for our home in Albuquerque, NM The windows are white and can’t be changed. We can choose more than one stucco color (i.e. for wall etc.). I am torn between some kind of grey/taupe color and a more “creative” color, in honor of the creative history of the house. I love the yard but the house itself is kind of boring. We plan on staying here so resale isn’t the first thing on our mind. Thanks for your help!
Hi Becky,
How about something like Ben Moore’s Annapolis Gray (exterior color — maybe not on their website) for the body of the house and a more creative color for the trim — something like Sienna Clay 104 or Country Comfort 305?
See what you think of that?
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hey – I have a ’67 ranch with red-orange brick and need help deciding to paint or not. How do I send you a photo? Can I attach a photo to a notifying e-mail? It is one story and needs a new roof so not an issue. I love painted brick but if I can find a roof and trim color to tone it down – look more classic – I would use the money for painting elsewhere – new windows for example. Please help. Thank you.
Hi Leah,
Even though you have white windows, you might warm up the trim to a creamier Sail Cloth (Ben Moore exterior) or Navajo White. And yes, if you replace the vertical trim along the roof line, that will cut back on the busy look. As for shutters, check out Texas Leather (Ben Moore AC-3) and for the roof, Heather Blend (Certainteed). You might even paint your front door — I like Georgian Brick (HC-50). Some people like to contrast the front door but I think you have enough colors in your palette already from the brick. So the Georgian Brick would come right out of that palette.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hey Barbara – I left an e-mail reply but not sure if you would see. Is the overall look of the Heather Blend brown, if yes, could I go to the Weathered Wood roof or not a good idea with my brick or house size? There are several homes in the neighborhood with similiar brick with something that looks like Weathered Wood that seems to make the homes look more classic – even though they do have this period late 60s/early 70s reddish/orange/tan brick. But I did wonder since my house is so “short” if that was the reason to keep the brown tone. I’m just hoping make the home more sophisticated – I think the brick color is fairly “tacky” and was scared that a brown roof may seem like more of the late 60’s/early 70’s. Please advise. Thank you. Leah
Hi Leah,
As brick goes, Leah, yours is quite nice actually. It has lots of interesting earth tones in it. So don’t worry about looking like a 60’s house. With the Texas Leather accent color, your house will look updated. But regarding the roof, yes, the Heather Blend is a mixture of browns/golden tones — not dark brown like you have now. But brown. The Weathered Wood is lighter and has more green/gray in it. Very popular as it goes with lots of houses. It would definitely lighten up your roof.
Best thing to do is get a large sample of both and prop them up against the brick. You’ll know instantly which one you like better. I think both will work. I would avoid “Maximum Definition” shingles though to prevent the house from looking too busy. But a little bit of variegation will be okay. But check actual samples before choosing.
Hope that helps a little more.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi
I did not receive a response to my question posted February 9th regarding towel and rug color suggestions for bathroom with stonington gray walls, pale yellow tile with black trim and black and white small tile floor (circa 1950)’
Thanks
Gail,
I would stick with yellow for your towels and rugs, Gail. I think that will look spectacular!
More white will obviously work as well. Fluffy white “spa” towels!
If you do want an extra pop of color in there, lavender or yellow-grass-green will also look great.
Hope that helps.
So sorry for the delay. Sometimes I miss the follow-ups! uggh!
Thanks, Gail.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello,
We purchased a different house a couple years ago with cedar trim around the windows and on corners, cedar shakes on gable ends, and fiber cement siding. The cedar has not been maintained since it was installed 8 years ago and the siding and garage doors have a poor paint job. Basically, everything needs something done with it, so we thought it was good time to evaluate color options.
The cedar shakes are quite high off the ground and I do not enjoy the every 2-3 years maintenance of cedar, so we are considering replacing the cedar shakes with a vinyl or fiber cement product and painting the remaining cedar trim to match.
We are looking for color advice (specific colors from Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore, for example) for the shake and trim color and possibly a new siding color that will all coordinate nicely with our reddish colored fascia, soffits, windows, garage doors and roof color. Also, if the corner trim is painted should it match the shakes and windows trim or the fascia/window color?
I will email pictures. Thank you in advance!
Hi Todd,
How about either Davenport Tan HC-76 (Ben Moore) or Whitall Brown HC-69 for the new siding color and Manchester Tan HC-81 for the gable siding and the rest of the cedar trim? Another option for the trim is to paint the corner pieces the same red as the fascia/soffits/windows and then using the Tan for window and door trim.
I do suggest adding a few more strips of horizontal siding to the entry area so that the height matches all the way across the front. Right now, the siding/shake demarcation is right smack in the middle of the wall — a less than complimentary location. It would look better to have more siding and few shakes to make the proportion uneven.
Another idea is to add a red belly band between the horizontal siding and the gable shakes (or different colored horizontal siding — whichever you end up with). The red stripe would separate the two colors better than we see now. It looks like a seam that is unfinished. (I notice the belly band on the Dream House photo as well.)
Once you put the Tan trim around the front door and sidelight, you might want to paint them red or maybe even a fourth color — something like Hancock Gray HC-97, an olive green that comes right out of your stonework on the porch. Just another idea.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I am looking to paint my house with a ceramic coating in colors that would make it resell at a higher value in about 8 years. It is currently stucco and an eggshell white, the same colors as the houses surrounding me. My roof is a palomino pink tile and I would really like to update the front yard as well with gold and rose colored rock. I am thinking of an energy efficient base color with a darker accent color around the windows and garage raised areas.
My house also faces west, so it will get more of the orangy or pinky colors from the sunsets in the afternoon. I am a corner house surrounded by boring white houses. If you could suggest a color scheme for me, I would really appreciate it. I sent a picture to bmeglis@yourhomeandcolorcoach.com.
Thank you,
Jennifer
Hi Jennifer,
Here are three options to consider: Butte Rock AC-8 (Ben Moore) with Nugget AC-9 for the garage door. I do like white trim on your house, but the darker shade could also be used for trim all around. For a crisp look, go with white. For a blended look, go with the darker shade of the house color.
Also, consider Pismo Dunes AC-32 with Mesa Verde Tan AC-33 as the darker shade. This combo is a taupe with a pink undertone that will tie in the roof color. Again, I do like a crisp white fascia, but the darker shade will work.
If you’re looking for a real color statement, look at Copper Mountain AC-12 with white or Adobe Beige AC-7 (that would be great for the garage anyway, regardless of the rest of the trim). Copper Mountain is a luscious warm shade that will look terrific in your neighborhood — but it does make a statement so it’s your call. I love this option!!
See what you think. Any of these options will bring your house to life and make the rest of the white houses in the neighborhood look pretty drab by comparison.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara – You are too great – your follow up was so reassuring on the brick and update of the house in general. Also much appreciate the selection advice on the roof. Thank you! I can move forward with confidence! YEA! Well worth the money and the convenience – great site and service – I’ll be back for advice on the paneled den next! Thank you! Leah
My wife and I recently moved into our new house, and we are struggling to decide what color to paint the outside (Trim, soffits, door, garage door, etc.). Additionally, our interior room has a huge white brick fireplace, and we are looking for any ideas for that room. We were thinking of painting the brick and the walls; we just did not know what color.
For the interior, we like neutral or light colors.
I have attached two pictures of our house at the end of this post.
Thanks,
Mike G
https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=d7b3f3018dabdb43&resid=D7B3F3018DABDB43!2103&parid=D7B3F3018DABDB43!627&authkey=!AMh9rp9OjuoDqVo
https://skydrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=d7b3f3018dabdb43&resid=D7B3F3018DABDB43!2104&parid=D7B3F3018DABDB43!627&authkey=!AGWk3dHK948eSFA
Hi Mike,
Take a look at Sag Harbor Gray (Ben Moore’s HC-95 — a gray-green) for your exterior trim color (soffits, garage door, down spouts) and then perhaps a grape like Shadow (2117-30) for shutters and front door. That color scheme will perk up the neutral brick. Then you can spice up the garden area with lots of purple flowers/shrubs and big yellow and white hosta. Pretty!
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
We love your recommendation for the exterior. Could you recommend a purple flowers/shrubs that would grow well in the Dayton OH area?
Thanks,
Mike and Rhonda
Hi Mike and Rhonda,
You’re looking for color throughout the growing season so look into irises, lilacs, tulips, and any of these flowering shrubs:
http://www.naturehills.com/catalog/bushes_and_shrubs/purple_flowering_shrubs.aspx
Hi again Mike,
For the family room, take a look at Ben Moore’s Monroe Bisque HC-26. It is a neutral with just a hint of green undertone. It should work well with the brick if you leave it as is and will also look good with your darker furniture.
If you decide to paint the brick, then consider going darker — something like either Copley Gray HC-104 or even Cromwell Gray HC-103 (both dark gray-greens). That will create an accent wall in your room. For the walls, you could warm up the green to Richmond Gray HC-96. Don’t be alarmed by the “gray” in the names. The gray undertone in the colors makes them sophisticated and not too “bright.”
White or off-white trim will then work.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
In regards to our interior room, I thought I should add that we are planning to install a honey colored hardwood floor, and we are thinking about new furniture (sofa, chair, entertainment center, etc.).
Thanks,
Mike and Rhonda
Hi again Mike and Rhonda,
Certainly the Monroe Bisque would look great with your honey colored floor and any new furniture in the greens/browns/reds. You can always paint the fireplace brick the trim color in the room — white/off-white — or even the wall color if you want the fireplace to be textural but not a focal point.
Hope that helps. The greens I mentioned in the previous post will also work with the floors and any camel/tan/red furniture you might buy.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Just got a new roof (charcoal color) and although it’s beautiful I feel the darkness is overwhelming my ranch-style home. I’m sending photos in hopes you can suggest colors for the gable siding, garage doors, and misc. trim. Would a light gray or muted green go well with the reddish/orangish “antique” brick?
Also, my PayPal account is linked to my business so it will come up as: wanda@sunnyhollowpress.com
Hi Wanda,
I don’t think it’s the roof that’s overwhelming the roof. It’s a medium gray that coordinates very nicely with your brick color. And I also like the warmth of your siding color and the crisp white trim. Even the front door is spot on.
But one thing you might consider is lightening up the shutters. I think the heavy black is actually pulling the house down a bit. Although I usually recommend that shutters coordinate with the roof color, let’s try something different. Take a look at both Davenport Tan HC-76 and Alexandria Beige HC-77. And in the spirit of French shutter style, blend the shutter color into the house. That should lighten up the front facade and lift the house a bit. You could also use a shade or two darker than your siding color.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the incredibly quick reply. The roof actually looks much darker than the pictures reveal but now I see the shutter color is the culprit, as you pointed out. I should have also told you that we just had SmarSiding overlayed on top of the original gable siding and it came primed in the color you see in the picture. Since you seemed to like this priming color, I’ll match it for the final paint. Should the garage doors stay white or get the gable color? We also plan to replace the front door with a lead glass door to let in more light. Should we stain the wood or paint it a color?
Hi Wanda,
Yes, I would stick with that nice warm tan for the gable siding. And paint the garage doors the same. As for the front door,
I really did like your door color so I suggest painting it the same as it is now! How easy is that??!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
THANK YOU Barbara…can’t wait to start painting! You’re the best! May you be blessed today as much as you’ve blessed me. Wanda
Hello,
I am so happy to stumble upon your page! We are beginning the process of painting the exterior of our 1916 craftsman bungalow in Cincinnati. We have a main color of mixed deep red/ brown brick with rose-colored mortar. Currently the shakes are a weathered brownish color. The teal accents are my least favorite, and so the whole thing must be painted. Also, the slightly off-white trim needs freshened up. The roof is highly visible from the front of the house (teak architectural shingles with a mix of brown, burgundy, orange, little blue specks, and black), and this makes selecting the shake color very important and confusing. We are looking for a new, fresh look with great curb appeal. Our landscaping is simple and very green.
I sent you the picture of the front of the house just now.
Thanks!
Me
Hi Melenda,
Take a look at Ben Moore’s Lenox Tan HC-44 for the siding color with your current white trim refreshed and perhaps a Caponata AF-650 eggplant for the trim around the windows. It looks like the color is in the brick and it’s a bit unexpected and better than plain old brown (which isn’t bad, just already done).
See what you think. I like the idea of picking up some of the warmer tones in the roof for the siding color. The roof and brick blend so we need some more contrast.
Pashmina AF-100 would be an alternative for the siding — a khaki color — appropriate for your house style.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara.
We are considering the color choices you suggested. I am trying them out on the virtual painter first. When I went onto the Ben Moore site, I saw some lovely greens (historical colors, with hints of khaki or gray (or is it hints of green in the khaki and gray?) Would any greens work with the pashmina and eggplant, which we love now.
Thanks.
Melenda
Hi Melenda,
Here are some historical colors that would go with the Pashmina and Caponata:
Kingsport Gray HC-86, Fairview Taupe HC-85, Gloucester Sage HC-100, Gettysburg Gray HC-107. Copley Gray HC-104, and Cromwell Gray HC-103.
How’s that??
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Those are wonderful – thanks for getting us off center.
You’re welcome Melenda. I hope the color palette comes together beautifully for you!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara- we recently purchased a 1930’s cape cod in NJ and are struggling with what color to paint the house/trim/door. As you can see, we have what i consider to be an ugly brown roof which unfortunately is not going anywhere anytime soon. I painted the front door black just to give some contrast but all i see is a drab brown roof, drab brown house with a drab brown walkway! Any suggestions would be appreciated!! I will email a picture of our home under the subject of Ellien. Many thanks!
Hi There,
Want to paint our exterior siding, its a bi-level and currently light yellow with orangey-red door/gutters. The brick on the bottom is that same orange-red, solid, no variations in the color at all. Bleck. I struggle with color b/c our roof color is a camel or tan , it doesn’t really match the grout even. Not replacing roof currently. 🙂 Would love for the house to look less long and flat, too. What do you think? Sent a photo to email you gave in other comments.
Thanks so much,
Jenny
Hi Jenny,
By painting the yellow a darker color, you will extend the visual height of the house (right now, it’s cut in half). So take a look at Ben Moore’s Jackson Tan HC-46 for everything yellow. Then keep the red shutters if you like them. And paint the trim something lighter like Litchfield Gray HC-78 (around the front door and under the eaves. That will lighten up the house.
See what you think of those changes.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara, is it possible to send yoiu an image of my home for review ?
Terry
Hi Terry,
Sure, just send it to my email: bmeglis@yahoo.com
and I will be sure to see it there.
Thanks.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara, I’m trying to settle on a color for my home and wondered whether you would have any tips. It’s a creamy yellow now and gets a lot of shade so the current trim, a lighter cream, doesn’t show. I’m looking for a change, and am thinking about either a light beige or light gray – Benjamin Moore’s Shaker Beige or Edgecomb Gray. The roof is Weathered Wood. One challenge is the windows – the storms are metal/ugly, and I can’t do anything about that any time soon. I wondered what you would recommend for house walls, trim (white, I suppose – but which?) and the front door. I’m tired of red on the door and have been thinking about a blue. The shutters are black. I saw a picture with a BM Wythe Blue door that I loved but am not sure it would work. I don’t know how to send a link to a photo but could e-mail you one. Thanks so much!
Hi Janice,
How about Shaker Beige HC-45 siding with China White trim (it’s got a little gray in it so it’s not too white), and then Schooner for the front door (AF-520)? All will look really good with the Weathered Wood roof. That paint scheme will make the door pop. But I do like the new trend in light-colored, more subtle doors like the Wythe Blue that you mentioned. (It’s Ben Moore’s 2012 Color of the Year, BTW). It would give you a very soft look on the front door. But it’s worth a try!
I like the Shaker Beige with your roof better than the Edgecomb Gray. The Shaker has a little more body and will provide more contrast against the trim color. It also balances the value of the roof color better. But either will work — they’re both great neutrals.
Hope that helps. If the black shutters seem too severe against the new softer color scheme, then try another color out of the roof, something like Fairview Taupe HC–85.
Thanks for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara
We recently removed the tudor look on our house, and had the front of our house sided. The color matches the back and sides (of the house) which already had vinyl siding, but we went with the shake look to add some interest. However, I feel like the house lost some curb appeal and that it is incomplete. Can you help us? Should the fascia/gutter color match the trim work around the windows? Garage door color? We also want to replace the front doors…would fiberglass wood doors look akward, or should we go with a painted door? (What color stain or pain would you recommend?) Lastly, there is the small column on the front porch- is there a way I can make it stand out more (with stone/brick/color)?
Thank You!!!!
Hi Angelica,
I hope my first suggestion is possible since I think the material on the house is vinyl. And that is to paint the window trim a medium tan like Ben Moore’s Lenox Tan. That will soften the windows and make the whole house come together. Right now, the black around the windows is the only black on the house (minus the porch light) and because of that, the windows are sticking out too much. I know it is possible to paint vinyl — not practical — but possible. And I think that will solve your major problem.
Then bring that color onto the front door as well as the porch column and the garage door. The tan (other medium tans will do — Shaker Beige, Powell Buff, Monroe Bisque) will bridge the contrast gap between your light yellow siding color and the dark brown/black.
See what you think of that idea. Oh and yes, the downspout can be house color if you’d like it to go away (usually my preference).
Hope I’ve helped.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
My PayPal receipt is 72K23683J23821433. I need help selecting siding, trim, garage door and accent colors for my house exterior. Our southern house is a traditional 2-story with red brick on the front and 3-sides siding. Our 2 garage doors are on the side and have coachhouse type doors. The front brick is medium red with some subtle grey accents and light mauve-type grout. Our existing shutters our gloss back. I can email house photos if necessary. Front door is burgundy. Our existing roof is black/charcoal grey architectural shingles – called Sablewood from:
http://www.royalknightroofing.com/products/elk.htm
We have 2 dormers above the garage section plus a arched covered front porch. I would like the siding and trim to be different colors. The siding/trim is all painted in a cream tight now.
Hi Mark,
A couple of ideas: You could leave your cream trim (if you like it) and paint the siding Briarwood (Ben Moore Exterior) and the garage door something like Annapolis Gray (again, exterior). Unfortunately Ben Moore doesn’t show exterior colors on its web site but I assure you the colors are still available at the Ben Moore store. OR
You could paint the trim a China White (Ben Moore) and the siding either Shaker Beige (HC-45) with a Leno Tan (HC-44) door or vice versa.
Since your house is so large, a deeper color on the siding will balance the brick in the front and pull the whole look together. Right now, it may seem a bit “front-heavy.”
The front door can stay Burgundy as long as it goes well with the brick.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Our house is similar to this one except our front door is recessed under an arched cover. We do not have stone accents above our windows.
http://www.georgiahomeadvisor.com/search_RES_detail.cfm?myproperty=4331699
I prefer to use either Ben Moore or Sherwin Williams paint.
Hello! I just send a photo through Facebook. We are having our porch redone (new wood) and I don’t know what Benjamin Moore colors to use for the floor, railings, shutters (which are currently black) and roof of the porch (also currently black. The front door is the original wood which I don’t think I want to paint (1918)
The attached house beside ours has white railings, black roof/ shutters, and the porch is stained cedar, but I find it a bit boring. I’d love for ours to have a bit more contemporary feeling, and really want it to pop. Thanks so much for your help.
Hi Julie,
Is it possible to paint your porch ceiling or is the neighbor’s ceiling continuous with yours? If you CAN paint yours, how about a traditional Southern light blue like either Palladian Blue HC-144 or Yarmouth Blue HC- 150? Then you could keep the black/white color scheme as it is now but change the porch floor to a color that goes better with your front door, something like Maryville Brown HC-75.
If that doesn’t work, then consider painting the shutters an earthy Fairview Taupe HC-85 with a porch floor of Alexandria Beige HC-77. Since your windows are white, I do like the white window/door trim. You could switch the railing to a glossy Maryville Brown to tie in with the door.
As long as the roof is black, it does make sense to keep some black trim around pillars and fascia. But you can add color elsewhere.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hopefully the link works, even if you have to just paste it into your browser. My question is, what are the best ways to make the first house shown look more like the second house.
House #1 is the house we BOUGHT. It needs warming up all over (it’s the one with the lighter brick and the sidewalk straight out from the front door) but has everything we wanted. I am especially eager to improve the curb appeal as soon as we get settled.
House #2 is one that was a contender when we were looking and has beautiful curb appeal. Floorplan of #1 won out but I love the warm feeling of this house from the outside.
What do you think are the top budget savvy updates I could make to House #1 to warm it up, more like House #2?
Thanks!
Hi Lori,
I usually don’t put shutters on casement windows, but I think they might help on your house. Take a look at either Fairview Taupe HC-85 (Ben Moore) or Davenport Tan HC-76 for shutters. Then warm up the front door with something fun like Cabernet 2116-30 or Shadow 2117-30 and use that color as a springboard for more color in your landscape (lilac bushes, irises, other purple flowers). And pink too. Since the brick is really very taupe/gray, you could also use an orange for your front door color. Something like Fiery Opal. And still pull the purple in for the landscape.
Another color that will warm up the front door is a soft gray-raspberry like Warm Earth 1274.
You’ll be amazed at the transformation when the door is painted. Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Don’t think the above link is showing both images.
Here is house #2:
Hi Barbara!
I recently purchased my dream home in the wooded countryside of Indiana. (Sent pics to your personal email yesterday.) The home is painted in earth tones (beige and deep red siding with chocolate brown trim), which I like. I’d appreciate your help with 4 aspects of the exterior:
1. The front and side doors are painted in chocolate brown. Blah. I want to make the front door stand out by using a bold (wow!) color not applied anywhere else on the exterior of the home. Ideas? What about the side door?
2. The cedar deck is natural. I’d like to stain or paint it. I am favoring deck paint, because I don’t care for the amber color left by many stains. I like the idea of painting alternating planks two similar colors (sent photo as example.) Yes or no? What colors would you recommend?
3. I am preparing to do some planting around the front deck. What colors would be most attractive here?
4. The fence in back needs painted. What color would look nice?
I so appreciate your expertise and ideas. If you could, pls be as specific as possible with color recommendations. (I feel totally overwhelmed by all the choices in the paint store.)
— Ellen
Hi Ellen,
Check out Kiwi (Ben Moore 544) and Stem Green (2029-30) as possibilities for your front and side doors. Since you can’t see both doors at the same time, it’s okay to paint them the same color. (It’s when there are two “front” doors that it gets confusing.) Another option might be something sunny like Glen Ridge Gold 301.
As for the fence, I like the idea of painting it the brown trim color. It’s a traditional fence, nothing eye-catching particularly, so it should be a background color.
I love the porch two-toned effect. Very creative idea (wish I’d thought of it!). So yes to that. But unless you really want it to stand out, I would stick to the house color palette for the porch floor. Try a couple of shades (two-three shades apart) on the same color swatch as your siding paint color. You’ll get a geometric effect without creating a new focal point on the porch. (That could make the porch look too small.)
As for plantings, I love the idea of capitalizing on the green surroundings by mixing a lot of different shades of green (Hosta come to mind) around the house. If you add color at all, do it in large modern splashes of color (a big pot of yellow flowers, for example) instead of spreading the color too thinly around the house. You’ll want to keep that modern vibe that you already have.
Another way to add a splash of color is in funky lawn furniture. I mentioned pots already.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We just bought a small cape cod with blue/gray siding and would like your recommendations on colors for the entryway and front door, trim/shutters and garage door. I am sending you pics via email.
I was thinking either BM Evening Sky or a rusty red for the front door. If we go with the latter, what do you think about a dark/brownish red/gray (is there such a thing) for the shutters while leaving the window trim white.
Thanks!
Hi Cecille and Jeff,
How about the Evening Sky for the shutters and something like Ben Moores’ Tea 2091-10 (or another rusty red that picks up your brick) for the front door. I love the white trim.
Another option for the front door is yellow/gold. Something like Concord Ivory HC-12. In that case, I would use a darker version of the house color or roof color as you’ll have enough colors on the house already. I would paint the garage door the house color so it doesn’t stick out quite so much.
Red shutters make a major statement. I think it might be too much with all the brick. A little predictable. But I could be persuaded if you really want a cute, cottagey look.
See what you think of these ideas.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara. I am excited to try Concord Ivory! What color plantings would you recommend around the front door and windows?
I will also send you some pictures and the floor plan of the living room, where I need help with the following:
1. Do you think we should paint the brick on the fireplace?
2. What paint would you recommend? Two different shades or just one? I will email a photo of our sofa and some artwork which we may put in the living room if those would help. Which ones would you pick to hang on the walls?
3. Do you have any thoughts on window treatments?
4. How can I balance out the two spaces on each side of the fireplace? They throw me off because they are not symmetrical. Should I place a bookcase on the left hand side?
5. The house has an eat in kitchen. Is the living room too small to fit a dining room table? My thought is that it is way too small for it.
If you have any other comments on the floor plan, that would be great too.
Thanks!
Hi Jeff and Cecille,
Glad you like the idea of the Concord Ivory on the door. I would bring in some more yellow/gold in your annuals and maybe some red-blossoming shrubs and whites. Accent with blue pots.
As for the interior,
1. With your Arts & Crafts style of furniture, the red brick is perfectly fine.
2. The two wall colors do break up the room. It’s fine to use the same color or at least tone-on-tone in the room so the walls are not chopped up. The panelling will just add texture. I do like the light gold color in the current room. Very arts & crafts! And it would look great with your woods.
3. For window treatments, I suggest a woven Roman shade (check JCPenney) and then some side panels (plain or textured but no big pattern. Your sofa carries that.)
4. You can balance the fireplace with art and furniture on either side. If you put the bookshelf on the left, put a large vertical print on the right to balance. Then you might consider putting the sofa in front of the fireplace and a chair on either side with table in the middle. Kind of a C-shape. That will keep the traffic flow from front door to kitchen. I didn’t see a plan for your TV, but if you have one and plan to put it where the other people had theirs, then move the chairs to either side of the fireplace so everyone can see the TV.
5. I really don’t see room for a table and chairs in that LR but if you don’t have a TV for the room, then you could put a table along the wall where the current TV is. That would work. I love your Martin Cafe poster!!
Does that get you started? Thanks for waiting. Busy weekend!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I am trying to figure out how to post a question.
Hi Dawn,
Go to Payment Options where PayPal is available for a convenient, safe payment. Then post your question in the Comment section anywhere. You can send a photo to my email (bmeglis@yahoo.com) or include a photo link right in the comment box.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
My husband Doug sent payment yesterday. Hope you received it.
We are getting our house repainted and I would love a new color scheme. When we bought the house we didn’t even want to go inside because we thought the exterior was so ugly. Of course we ended up loving the inside, remodeled it a bit and are now trying to give the outside some curb appeal.
The house is part of a neighborhood with supposedly classic architecture, it is some sort of French style. It is set close to the street with very little front yard and because of its style and height when looking at it from the street all it’s vertical angles seem accentuated. The front door is set back in a courtyard and not visible from the street, leaving little to focus on but garage doors. Once you do get past the gate to the front door the courtyard is charming and probably the homes best feature.
We’d like to embrace the French style and really go for that look. I have thought about adding some shutters to the far left window and the middle windows. I’m not sure the middle windows would be a good place because they are not centered on their wall. I’ve also thought of adding an iron trellis over the two garages and make the bouganville trail over both garage doors, to add some color and horizontal line. I just really think the house needs some other architectural features to jazz it up. Am I overdoing?
A great paint scheme and any ideas on Frenching up the exterior would be appreciated 🙂
I will be sending the pictures to your email address. Thank you!
Linda
Hi Linda,
Well, in keeping with classic French design, yes you need shutters. But keep them neutral like the roof color for a subtle effect. Reserve the color for the bouganville trail over the garage. Great idea! Then I would also add wrought iron lighting on either side of the garage (if there’s a trellis above) and above the entry to the courtyard. Paint your garage doors a color out of the stonework to “ground” them. Could be gray or sandy brown. Nothing too dark though. Keep all the house colors subtley tone-on-tone for an elegant look. Obviously the wrought iron will be a contrasting black.
The house color is okay or you could paint it a little less yellow next time around. More of a beige neutral. Or you can go darker with a taupe allowing the shutters to be lighter than the house. VERY French!
Hope that helps. Sorry for the delay…
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Please recommend an exterior color plan for our home in Maine that views the sea above treetops. I would like it to feel nestled into the location, using soft neutrals, but still noticeable. It is a traditional Cape with a charcoal roof and white vinyl windows, and a brick chimney. There are rock walls in the back and two decks that will be stained. I would like the decks to be dark as it is easier to see through a darker color. My interior colors are all soft sea colors. My front door gets a lot of sun in the afternoon and the sea side gets the morning sun. I have sent photos to your email.
I should mention that our closest neighboring houses have light gray with red shutters and dark gray with creamy yellow trim.
Thank you!
Christine
Hi Christine,
Take a look at Ben Moore’s New Chestnut AC-6 for the body color with either a Bone White for the trim or China White for more contrast. Using a warm brown on the house will allow it to integrate into the wooded surroundings but also contrast beautifully with all the gray in your stone walls, the real feature of your property (other than the view). Doors could be Monroe Bisque HC-26 or a contrasting light Gossamer Blue 2123-40 which would tie in nicely with your interior color scheme.
Another option is a green like Caldwell Green HC-124 with white for trim and either the Gossamer Blue, which also works, or Montgomery White HC-33 for the doors.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks so much for your suggestions. I like the caldwell green with the gossamer blue front door. Would you please recommend a creamy white for the trim? And the two wooden decks – should I use the body color or another color?
Christine
Thank you, Barbara,
Would the 2 decks be stained the same color as the body of the house? Which of the whites would you recommend with the caldwell green?
Hi Barbara.
I am terrible at selecting colors, and have not done well with the exterior of my house (attached pictures – picture of whole exterior front – paint is more yellow than in pictures).
We had the siding painted last year (so I do not want to re-paint). It was suppose to be cream, but when completed (I went away – what a mistake), it turned out yellow… very yellow (not bright, but not muted).
The brick is “orange ish”/ light brown. I painted the trim around the entry door to the covered porch a medium grey, and the actual door to the house black. We are about to select a roof color and I really am at loose ends.
I need to re-paint the trim. Despite my not liking the color of the siding, it’s too big of a job to re-do. We are looking to sell in another year and I need some curb appeal.
I tend to like a conservative look. The house is about 90 years old, and the neighborhood housing is traditional.
What do you suggest for (the whole exterior look):
Trim to entry door and porch door (now grey);
Front door (now black);
Carpet on the stairs up to and inside the porch; and,
Roof – we are leaning towards Driftwood or Harvard grey, but I really do not know.
I am a novice at uploading photos. Note sure what you mean/ or to create a photo link so I sent an email with pictures attached separate from this blog). (paid via pay pal)
Many thanks,
Donna
Hi Donna,
Try Revere Pewter HC-172 for the trim except for the front porch door, try Audubon Russet HC-51 (same for the inner front door). It will tie in the brick color without being too dark. The Revere Pewter is a warmer gray than what you have on there now and it should look terrific with both grout and “yellow.”
As for the roof, I like Harvard Slate (see below) since you have the gray trim.
But the Revere Pewter is so warm that it can go equally well with the Driftwood. So either will work. If you’re tired of the brown, then go with the gray.
http://www.iossisidingandwindows.com/iko.html
The yellow/gray color scheme is very French. Embrace it.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We need to paint the exterior shingles and trim of our 1950’s Cape style house. I really like the Cape Cod look of grey shingles with white trim, but our house has a brick facade across the first floor in the front and a red roof. The house has a garage underneath, so a substantial portion of the grey foundation is visible in the front and on the sides. The front door is a reddish wood with a brown screen door, but is only visible from the side of the house. The paint color is only visible in the front on the dormers and the entry, but the sides and back are all painted too. The house is currently a peachy off-white, with off-white vinyl shutters and garage door, and white trim. Is there a Benjamin Moore grey that would look nice in the front while allowing me to maintain a Cape Cod-like style in the sides and back? And would it go with the off-white shutters and garage door?
Also, we have recently added on a screened in porch. The walls have the house shingles so those will be painted the color of the house. The ceiling is beadboard. Should that be painted white? I would also appreciate thoughts about a color for the decking floor, which is made of fir. Several people have told me it should be painted, not stained. What color would work well with the rest of the exterior?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Hi Lynn,
Check out San Antonio Gray AC-29 (Ben Moore) and Ozark Shadows AC-26. Either should work with your foundation color and go with the shutters and garage door.
For a Cape Cod feel, you can paint the beadboard ceiling white trim paint. That will really lighten up the porch. As for the floor, I would do a darker shade of the house color. Look at Galveston Gray AC-27.
See if those colors work.
Just a note: your grout is more sand-colored so a taupe house will also work (not as Cape-Cod-like however). Briarwood (exterior) is a great taupe that would work with your grout.
Hope this helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
We just purchased a house with tan bricks. My first order of business is to add a portico over the front door, change the front window to a bay and enlarge the other two windows in the front. What colors would you suggest for the garage, trim and front door and also around the portico?
Thanks for your advice
I just sent the picture of our lovely little home to your email address! Thanks!!
Hi Linda,
How about China White for the trim (very forgiving and not too white), Davenport Tan (Ben Moore HC-76) for the garage door, and then Copper Clay 2172-10 for the front door?
See what you think of that palette.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara.
I just sent payment and emailed you pictures. I would like your advice on selecting paint colors for an addition to our 1928 red brick, red tile roof house. As you can see, the addition opens onto a flagstone patio surrounded by a stacked stone wall. Certain color elements of the addition are fixed: we will have a red metal roof that matches the red tile roof of the main house, we will have copper gutters and downspouts to match those of the main house, the chimney and foundation in the addition will be the same stacked stone as the patio wall, and the vinyl windows and doors came pre-colored. That color is very, very similar to Benjamin Moore Elephant Tusk (OC-8) and matches the windows and trim of the main house.
I really don’t know how many colors to select, and I welcome your advice. I believe there are four different kinds of areas that need to be painted, although i expect that all or some will share the same color. First there are the straight, flat columns at the corners of the addition and surrounding the doors. Then there is the bead board below the windows. Also there are the flats area surrounding the windows, doors, and bead board and the flat, horizontal portion of the roof overhang. Finally, there is the underside of the roof overhang.
Thank you for your help in this daunting task.
Hi Rachel,
You have a lot of textures and trimwork on the addition and if we color each element differently, the house might look too checkerboard-like — especially with all the brick. So I recommend painting out all the trim/beadboard the same color with the exception of the fascia/soffits and columns by the door.
Look at SW6159 High Tea or another taupe from your stonework for the main trim/beadboard color. Then use Elephant Tusk OC-8 for the columns and fascia/soffits. That will outline the house, keep a light reflection coming in the window, and frame out the front door. You could even go a shade or two lighter with the OC-8 if you want to create more contrast with the windows.
There’s a dark brown I would love to see on your house to tie in the window trim on the main house. Maybe with oil-rubbed bronze lighting or other accessories.
See what you think of that idea.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you, Barbara. Very, very helpful, and I love the High Tea color. I’ll look at the lighting you suggested.
Rachel
Hi Barbara,
We have a brick house– it is orangish colored brick, with lots of green ivy on the front. We have a red roof (kind of brick colored) and we are looking for a way to tie it all together by painting the portion of that has wood siding, the front door, and the trim. I have a picture, but don’t know how to upload it. Can you recommend a color scheme for us? Thanks in advance,
Donna Studdiford
Hi Donna,
You can send a photo to my email account: bmeglis@yahoo.com. I will be sure to get it there.
Hi Donna,
Since you have all that wonderful ivy all over the front of the house, why not tie that into the overall color scheme? Think about painting the siding a medium gray-green, something like Sherwin-Williams Link Gray SW 6200. Then paint all the trim/gutters/downspouts Agreeable Gray SW 7029 — it approximates your current window opening color on the brick part of the house. I would paint the front door the Link Gray, the same as the siding, with surrounding Agreeable Gray on the door trim and palladian adornment over the door.
For the shutters, tie those in also with Andiron SW 6174, a dark gray-green.
Although your red roof/brick will contrast with the gray-greens, the extra greens will balance all the ivy on the house and pull the whole look together.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
Thanks, I have sent the photo to your e-mail address. It would be very helpful to hear your thoughts as soon as possible. I have been reading some of your other posts and am very impressed by your creativity! Thanks for your help.
Donna
Barbara,
Thanks so much for your very quick response. Of course I have consulted you when the painter is here and prepping!
I like your idea– I was thinking along the same lines, but what about if I do white trim and window mullions to make the windows pop a little for a cleaner look and maybe a slightly more gray in the gray color? Do you think that would work. We are replacing shutters, as well and I was thinking a deeper gray or black. I have seen other red roofs that look amazing against the gray and we currently have a gray green color that seems a bit dreary.
Finally, my sense is that it would be a bad thing to go with a gray that is on the bluish side of the color wheel because that would introduce yet another color. Do you agree?
Again, many thanks for your quick response and ideas.
Donna
Hi Donna,
Sorry for the delay…
You cannot go wrong with white trim and window mullions on your style of house. Very traditional. And as for gray, again, I think that will work just fine. But yes, I would stay on the green side of gray as opposed to the blue side in order to stay in the brick/ivy palette.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi,
We are having our house repainted and are looking for some color suggestions for the stucco, trim, and doors. Here is a link to a photo:
http://stephendaniel.smugmug.com/Recent/4131-Borden/23468048_w3pZnC#!i=1896336222&k=sxNWFHQ
We’d like to update the look of the house but don’t know how to coordinate colors with the orangey-red brick. The roof (which we don’t plan to replace) has tan and gray tones in it, but from the street it’s hard to see the color in the roof. Thanks in advance for your help!
–LeAnn
Hi LeAnn,
Take a look at Sherwin Williams’ Universal Khaki SW6150 for the body — it picks up on the grout color in your brick. Then use your current white (around the door) for the all-over trim color including the roof fascia. Pick up the Khaki again for the garage doors instead of the navy.
I also suggest you get raised-panel shutters to coordinate with your front door. Paint them black or dark brown and go ahead and include them on the lower windows as well. The new shutters will dress up your house a bit more. I like your current brick door color. Very nice.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Our house has been red since at least the birth of photography. Last year, we had Timberline HD Williamsburg Slate asphalt shingles installed on the roof. This month, we are painting the exterior. The aluminum and glass storms will be removed permanently, fully revealing the windows. We do not dislike the red–indeed, we intended to stay with it (thus the WS roof)–but can we make no changes for the better from the current red/white/black scheme? Did we commit ourselves with the roof? We do like warm, cheerful hues. Perhaps, a nice cream with a touch of red in it?
I’ll send you a few photos I’ve just taken of the front, side, and rear of the house, respectively.
-Bill
Hi Bill,
One color that would cover the red with no problem (light colors will take multiple coats, perhaps) is Benjamin Moore’s Richmond Gold HC-41.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/richmondgold
If that’s too rich, take a look at Montgomery White (Exterior).
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/montgomerywhite
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
I have a 1908 house in Alberta, Canada. I need to paint the exterior of the house. I would like some contrast but really want to make the house look rich. I have tried to reasearch some of the historical paint colors but don’t know where to start. It is currently smurf blue with wedgewood blue trim around the doors and windows (I would like to keep the trim color if possible). The wood siding is in excellent condition. I plan to keep a grey roof. What color should I paint the body? Trim? I like the yellow and blue shades and also like mixing different tones. Can I paint the peak of the house a different color? Would I match the door? Help!
Please see attached picture.
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151023839351181.482420.631796180&type=3&l=09cfbbf586
Thanks, Maureen
Hi Maureen,
How about Benjamin Moore’s Buckland Blue HC-151 with either Prescott Gree HC-140 trim around the windows or Wedgewood Gray HC-146. Then keep the current white trim color. Staying with blue but making it a more tasteful blue will keep the good coordination with the roof as well as the door/porch.
See what you think. Let me know if you have another palette in mind.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
I have a 1950’s brick house. In the 1970’s, an additional room was built over the attached garage. Currently, ugly white vinyl siding covers this room, but I cannot change it at this point. The vinyl siding was installed over the original aluminum siding, which was painted with white oil-based paint. As the oil-based paint aged, it turned to powder and washed over the brick below it. This will not come out, having tried muriatic acid and chemical strippers, and it looks dingy and dreary.
Here are two pictures:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17006829@N03/7400225168/in/photostream
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17006829@N03/7400224372/in/photostream
The view you see is of the side and back of the house, not the front. The house is on a corner, making the side highly visible.
The garage door colors are another element that I cannot change. Although the garage door is open in the picture, so not visible, it is white and pale gray like the side door.
I am thinking that I may like to paint the garage brick, as well as re-paint the (currently dark brown) stoop to freshen the house. I also don’t like the harsh triangular shape of the garage brick (under the white siding).
I am debating whether or not I will paint the garage brick and the stoop white to carry the color of the siding down to the ground. Would another color (like a gray) be better? Does painted brick come with problems, like mildew growth? Would white steps/patio of the stoop look clean enough? Should the garage brick and stoop be the same color or different colors?
I am very unhappy with the garage/addition unit and want to draw the eye away from it or visually separate it from the rest of the house, which is much cuter. My thought is that the eye may be drawn to contrast (dark brick, white windows of the original part of the house) and that the eye may sort of skip over the “whitewash” of the garage/addition.
I also cannot spend much on this renovation, so I’m hoping to be able to make some changes with paint alone, at least for now.
I’m stuck on this issue and not sure which colors to use, if any. Would love your help. Thanks!
– Tonja
Hi Tonja,
I’m not sure that painting the garage brick will accomplish what you’re trying to do. The problem with bringing the white to the ground is that the house will be cut in half visually, and that will make the house look really small. I suggest you try to incorporate the garage addition into the rest of the house. One way to do that is to add brown (or another color from the brick) shutters to the white addition. Another strategy is to plant “foundation” plantings around the house, particularly along the triangles garage. That will camouflage the brick there. Along the garage on either side of the garage doors (where the brick is), you can add a potted tall plant, again camouflaging the brick.
I would not paint the brick unless you paint the whole house. It is a last resort strategy because it cannot be reversed easily.
As for the porch, I think that all it needs is a planter with white flowers to brighten up that stoop. Also plant a bush along the side of the porch to add color. No need to paint the stoop. I think that will call too much attention to that area and if you’re not pleased with the paint job, it will be a disaster. Try the plantings first. I know they’re not cheap, but I think they hold the key to making your house look unified and pulled together.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Attached is a photo of my house. i am providing you with a lot of my thoughts so you get an idea of what we are thinking. Please provide whatever details you feel are sufficient. We are wanting to paint the exterior of our house and also put in new windows. The window company has 50 different colors that we can choose from (eagle widows) so the windows and frames don’t have to stay white. Unfortunately, the roof is in good shape so we are working with a red roof. The roof is reddish brown with some grey highlights. We will be widening the stairs, adding narrow trim around the top window to keep it consistent with the other window trim. The paint company says they can blend in the stone under the top window. We are also trying to come up with a plan to finish the foundation and the lower bottom of the house to make it blend better and to match the top veranda that is currently painted red (shingles or a cleaner look using hardy board maybe or if you have any other suggestions). The white picket fence will be replaced. Our other neighbors have white fences so it might be best to keep the fence white as well, although not necessary. I do like the idea of possibly painting the ceiling part of the two decks a light blue or light avocado green to add some fun color and then keeping the rest of the house clean and fresh. Any inspirations? sorry I see a website link but not the upload a photo link. going to post comments now.
Hi Sara,
You can send your photos to my email account: bmeglis@yahoo.com or bmeglis@yourhomeandcolorcoach.com
and I’ll be sure to see them there. Unfortunately this blog can’t accommodate an Upload Photo button.
I’ll look for your photos and get back to you today.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Sara,
How about painting the lower part of your house (the porch down) as well as the red veranda something like Ben Moore’s Mesa Verde Tan AC-33. Then paint the remaining walls and gable a lighter shade (Pismo Dunes AC-32). To warm up the taupe, consider keeping (or even bumping the volume) on the cream trim. Even Cameo White (yellower than your current trim) would be nice. And cream windows will top off the look. All those neutrals should go well with your red roof.
Another combo is Tyler Taupe HC-43 and the lighter Lenox Tan HC-44. A lighter cream window would work again — and the trim as well. Also good with your roof color.
I would not introduce another color (green/blue) with your red roof. A warm neutral will give your house a very nice, welcome-home curb appeal.
As for the red veranda, either Hardieplanks or Hardieshingles will work since the rest of the house is stucco and plain.
A natural fence would make your house distinctive in the neighborhood. Unless you like the continuity of the white pickets in everyone’s yard. Either way. But with this palette, I would love to see natural “wood” fencing and not white.
A robin’s egg blue ceiling on both porches would be spectacular. Check out Palladian Blue HC-144 and Wythe Blue HC-143.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara, We are ready to paint our one story stucco home. It has a black roof and very distinct and pretty windows that have white vinyl sashes. The entrance to the door is surrounded by cultured stone (the same stone that you have on your pinterest page.) The door seems to recede because of the stone and the alcove that it is set into. I love the idea of a blue, red, or dark orange door; something that looks welcoming and bright. For the body of the house I am really drawn to peachy, apricot, yellow tones but I want to use a color scheme that is fresh and up to date. I’ve been thinking of Benjamin Moore Jicama, Handmade, or Safari for the body color. I don’t want the house to appear garish, but I also don’t want it to look drab and appear smaller than it looks now. . I expect to paint the trim Swiss Coffee. I was originally going to paint the window trim Swiss Coffee as well but because of the stucco, we would not be able to get a nice straight line around the trim and the body. I plan to paint the window trim the same color as the body of the house or I could go one shade either lighter or darker. This is the painter’s advice.
I’m excited to read what you have to share. I am also definitely open to any color schemes that you think would make this home look great. You don’t have to stick just to the tones I mentioned above. The surrounding homes are all stucco with various shades of blue, pale yellow,and cream. Many of our neighborhood homes are being painted in darker, richer colors. I’m really not sure if I would like that on my house because it’s small and I like an open, fresh, friendly feel. We are definitely casual and we love to be outside visiting with our neighbors. We plan to add a paved seating area just to the right of the door under the tree.
Hi Carol,
Safari AF-335 is a warm creamy yellow bordering tastefully on peach. A terrific house color. And Swiss Coffee is our go-to trim color these days. However, in terms of the front door (and a color to go with the Safari), a rich taupe is the current trendy combo color (look at Sparrow AF-720). I’m not sure if you want that for your front door color, but in a glossy finish, it screams French to me. I love it. Very different from the traditional reds and rusts (also a possibility — red with yellow is a timeless color combination). So look at Moroccan Spice AF-285 as another option.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I like your ideas, Barbara. Just yesterday before I got your reply, we found out that stuccoing our house is the way to go because it’s never been painted. Plus we have some really large cracks that the stucco would cover more easily with longer lasting results. We just bought our home less than a year ago.
So now I’m working with a more limited palette. We are going to use La Habra brand color coat. If you’re familiar with this company, would you recommend a color that would be close to the BM Safari you suggested?
I also found the brand and name of our cultured stone: Owens Corning Shale Country Ledgestone (CSV-20044).
For landscaping, we plan to use several shades of green with some bronze flax (Tom Thumb) and blue fescue for accents. We will have purple, blue, yellow and orange flowers using Mexican Sage, orange Lantana, coral aloe, and filling in with poppies and seasonal annuals. I’ve always loved blue pots so that’s what I have in mind as well.
Now, the front door. The rich taupe sounds beautiful, and I can see how that would complement our bronze mailbox, knocker, and lights. I wonder, though, if the door would blend in too much because it’s set back into an alcove and surrounded by the stone. So I’m really drawn to a blue, orange, coral, or red door. I just don’t trust myself on this. The front of the house faces West giving us lots of sun. We are going to have a small table and chairs under the tree on the right. Should these be painted Swiss Coffee or the same color as the door? I will need chair cushions so I could find some that would pull out the color of the door.
Please let me know if I owe you any more money for your expertise. I am so glad I found your site BEFORE I started on our project. I will have much more confidence moving ahead with your advice. I am learning so much just reading through everything on your blog.
Thank you,
Carol Scully
Hi Carol,
French Vanilla is perfect. And look at Sherwin Williams’ Jalapeno SW6629 for the front door. Spicey hot in the sun but it goes with both stucco and stone palette. I like it better than blue.
We can go around again if you’d like more choices, but see what you think of this palette.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara, You did such a great job with suggestions for my previous house, I’d love your help with my new one! It’s a gem on the inside with some massive challenges on the outside!
I’d like to clean the exterior by painting the siding, garage door, and front door, and updating the entryway to make it “pop”. I also need to add larger house numbers, stain or paint the rear deck, and replace the exterior light fixtures (there is one on each side of the garage and one to the left of the front door).
I’m having particular trouble figuring out a new siding color to coordinate with with the grey roof and red/orange brick. The roof is new, so that color can’t be changed. The brick is only in front and the sides and rear are white siding.
Would you please provide specific recommendations for the colors and other ideas for making the exterior lovely and all coordinated? I’m open to adding shutters (though I do not think they would work on the bow window because the left shutter would be partially on siding but mostly on brick). I would even be willing to paint the brick if you tell me to! The columns at the entryway are weight bearing, so can’t be easily removed, but carpentry and/or masonry work can be done to modify them or beef them up. There’s also black exterior carpet (?!) on the front steps, but that can be easily removed. It’s concrete underneath.
Here are photos: https://picasaweb.google.com/116458270664276167519/NewHouse?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCKeThvigzdjBLg&feat=directlink
Thanks! Cait
Hi Cait,
Wow, another house. Terrific!
Take a look at Ben Moore’s Cape Hatteras Sand AC-34 for your siding with Shenandoah Taupe AC-35 for your garage door and Salsa Dancing AF-280 for the shiny front door or something like Chestertown Buff HC-9. You’re right about the shutters. Leave them off completely. But I love your idea to get more contemporary big numbers for your house.
As for the front door area, I would love to see beefed up columns (plain, not “turned”) and a gable roof put in to break up all the horizontal lines and give your entrance some stature. More and varied foundation plantings under the window will flesh out the curb appeal. And a couple of pots of annuals on the front step will make the door look bigger (right now the step is out of scale with the door). An easy fix.
I don’t see the carpet, but yes, that should be removed unless you have elderly relatives coming to the door.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you for these suggestions, Barbara. My children are painting the door Salsa Dancing right now!
Is this indicative of what you mean by plain columns and a gable roof over the door? http://goo.gl/gLdMt
The roof modification will be out of budget for a few years. Meanwhile, what do you think of adding trim around the door like this? http://goo.gl/TkZKf Or perhaps I can add a narrow pergola over the steps that rises just above the gutter line?
Lastly, I’m overwhelmed by the the choices for light fixtures. What color would you recommend? I like the dark oil rubbed bronze and even black, but would a shiny brass match the brick better?
Thanks again! Cait
Hi Cait,
Yes, that’s exactly what I was talking about for the gable roof and plain columns. But yes, more molding at the front door will give the door more presence — and will look awesome next to the new door color.
How about chrome for the lighting? It would give your house a contemporary feel. I’m afraid the bronze might be too traditional. BUT if you love traditional styling, then go for the oil-rubbed bronze. Here’s an idea that picks up on the window. (You’re too young to remember shiny brass but it’s too early to put that back on your house. It will not look updated enough.)
http://www.lampsplus.com/products/outdoor-lighting/usage_wall-light/finish_chrome/
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara!
I am currently trying to pick out colors for the exterior of my home. It is part red brick and part white siding with black shutters and door. We are going to replace the aluminum siding with hardie planks and we will probably replace the shutters as well. We want to paint the hardie board and shutters and possibly the door as well and I’ve been looking at colors. I’m open your ideas, but I have been looking at some Benjamin Moore colors and have found a few that I like. I seem attracted to grays, taupes (fairview taupe or kingsport gray), lighter grays such as senora gray, greenish grays (providence olive or hancock gray)or even a beige (bershire beige). Don’t let my colors limit you, I just wanted to give you an idea of what i’ve been looking at.
I will email you some pictures that I took of our home.
Thanks for your help! I am totally overwhelmed with all the options out there.
Sincerely,
Lindsay
Hi Lindsay,
How about picking up the grout color and going with something like Lenox Tan HC-44 (Ben Moore) or the very lovely Briarwood (taupe) — it’s an Exterior color and not available on their website for viewing (unfortunately). But it’s a great medium-toned neutral that would pick up your walkway color and not add too much more green to the landscape. Also with so much red brick, you might want to stay more neutral with the rest of the house.
I love the black shutters with your almost-black roof color. But the front door could be switched out to a lighter version (Annapolis Gray — exterior) in a glossy finish. Switching out your door handle to nickel and adding nickel house numbers will really update the curb appeal. See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara! I really like the Briarwood color. (I “googled” it and found some examples of homes painted in that color.) I am leaning toward that option. Also, I like the idea of keeping the black shutters but painting the door a lighter color while adding new numbers and door handles.
Thanks for your help!
Lindsay
Excellent!!
Barbara,
Our 8 year old home is in desperate need of paint. It is currently painted BM White Sand, but it is just too dull and yellow for me. I am considering a gray/green color and need some help choosing. I run the gamut from BM Winterwood, BM Herbal Escape, BM Gettysburg Gray, BM Crownsville Gray, and BM Copley Gray.
Our roof is GAF Weathered Wood (brownish/gray…though it looks more dark brown than gray) and we have barnboard to the left of our bay window. The barnboard is stained, but I think that I am going to ask the painter to strip this and stain it natural. The trim is white dove and the front door is black. I would like to stay with white trim (color suggestions are welcome), but I would like a door color that “pops”.
I am completely open to suggestions (for or against my color choices). I am at a loss and really need some help.
Thanks so much!
Sue
Hopefully this photo upload works…
Hi Sue,
Your choices are all good, but have you checked out Kingsport Gray HC-86 yet? It has a little more brown in it than the other gray-greens so it ties in nicely with the roof. Also looks good with your white trim. Of the colors you mentioned, I like Copley Gray the best. The “value” is just about right for the size of your house. I wouldn’t go any lighter or you’ll get the same result that you have now. Kind of washed out. Your house is big enough to support a lot of rich color.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/kingsportgray
For a pop of color on your front door, you might consider a grape like:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/vintagewine
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Not too late Barbara. Thank you. I think we are going with the Briarwood but at 75% more intensity. It will be a subtle difference. I don’t want to introduce different browns or grays.
Sounds perfect, Debbie.
Hi Barbara,
I was very happy to find your site and would like your advice on some choices we have to make to the exterior of our home.
We live in a 1959 two storey house with red brick, wood siding and green trim. We are just beginning a renovation. The contractors will be adding some peaks to the roof to hopefully reduce the “box like” look of the house. Inside the peaks they are planning to use natural cedar shakes.
We will be replacing the siding with maibec wood siding and are leaning toward a cobblestone or pepperwood colour (greyish tan) or pewter (greyish with a light green tint). Our trim choice would be burnt hickory (a darker brown colour). We are considering replacing the white windows with black and changing the roof colour to black. We are not sure what colour to do the main front door as it will be right beside the red brick.
My questions are:
– will black windows improve the overall look of the house?
– are we on track with our siding/trim colour choices?
– horizontal or vertical siding?
– colour suggestions for main front door, side front door and garage door?
– do the peaks improve the “curb appeal” or are they distracting?
I have forwarded you by email a picture of the house as it currently looks and 2 conceptual drawings of how the contractors are projecting it will look, dependent on our choices.
I appreciate any insight you could provide. Thank you,
Julie
Hi Julie,
I like the idea of pulling the roof into the stonework palette so charcoal works for me:
http://www.iko.com/products/residential/residential.asp?product_id=85®ion_id=19&task=ProductDetailsColours
But I would love to see you pull in the grout color which appears to be more of a beige than gray. How about
Mount Dessert Island 248 for the horizontal siding with Beeswax 313 for the trim and Pepperwood for the shakes in the gables?
Click to access Maibec-ColorChart-Canada.pdf
Then you could have black windows with no problem. But the big thing about dark windows is to use a contrasting trim around them so the black will show up. Dark brown and black will blend. (If you WANT the windows to blend, that’s okay too. Just so you know.)
To tie the grays in further on the house, I suggest big nickel numbers and lighting.
As for the garage doors? The same as the house color (either siding color) for continuity unless you want to make them a feature. Then they could be trim color.
As for the front doors? I like how you made the service entrance the same as the garage door but picked a more contrasting color for the main entrance. I don’t really like to see two doors on the front the same color. Confusing for guests. Consider something like the Maibec warm brown color Saddlery 323.
Finally, yes the gable peaks are a wonderful addition to the overall design. Bravo!!
Hope that helps. Thank you for your patience.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I have a Cape Cod style house with gray shingle roof, tan bricks and gray mortar. We need to replace the shutters and garage doors, and I would like to take this chance to update the colors. I don’t care for browns/rusts. Would like something classic but maybe with a bold pop of color on the door. Was considering black shutters and a vibrant door color…red maybe, but red is a little obvious. I was wondering if something like cerulean blue would work. Would the garage doors be the color of the shutters or the door? Open to other color ideas than the ones I mentioned.
Hi Cari,
Since door colors are moving into the light/pastel range of color values, I’ll make this suggestion just in case it works for you. How about Kendall Charcoal HC-166 (Ben Moore) for the shutters since that will pick up on your roof color and add a touch of green undertone to the shutters. Still traditional but not as severe as black. Then for the front door, one option (to pick up on the subtle hues in your brick) is San Clemente Rose AC-10. It’s not for everybody, but it’s a very elegant unexpected look and is great with your dark metals.
See what you think. (I’m not sure the bright pop of color will work well on your house because you have so many subtle tones that might get stepped on by a vibrant color. Best left to the garden. But if you’d like a little more raspberry on the door, try Gypsy Love 2085-30.)
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I am looking for some suggestions for the exterior color on my house. As you can see in the photos, we have just rebuilt the breezeway connecting the house to the garage and installed a stone patio. The patio stone is largely gray with some brown accent. Our roof is Certainteed’s Georgetown Grey, which has hints of blue and green in it. I was planning to paint the house a monochromatic white (possibly BM’s white dove), for an updated farmhouse look. However, friends keep telling me they think it could be beautiful with color, so I want to explore that possibility. We have lots of gardens surrounding the house and we live on a gravel road with no nearby houses to consider and lots of green fields around. I really loved your suggestion to think about what color a house “wants” to be because I think there’s a color this house wants to be but I’m not sure what it is! Dust from the gravel road is a consideration and another reason to think about painting the house something other than white. We have a brick foundation that we prefer not to paint and concrete steps that we do need to paint. We have already painted the new breezeway BM’s white dove so it would be nice to keep this as the trim color but we don’t have to. I have a few ideas for body color (BM’s Pashmina, Thunder, Cotswald or Greenwich Gate), but I’m not sure if this is the right direction and I’d love to know what jumps out at you. Although the house is located in the mountains of NC, it feels very New England to me.
Thanks very much!
Bonnie
Hi Bonnie,
I like the colors you mentioned, but how about bumping up the value of the color a bit since your house is big and can manage a richer palette. Take a look at Weimeraner AF-155. It’s a wonderful taupe with a green undertone and it will look terrific with your stonework and your roof. The White Dove trim is perfect. And if you want to add shutters, use the dark door color I see in your photos of the new addition. Should work great.
I also like the blue chairs as an accent color.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for your reply! I like the Weimeraner but was afraid it was too dark, so I’m glad to hear you think we can go that dark. My husband is not crazy about the taupes, so we have started to look more in the direction of grey. We are considering Gateway Gray, Fawn Brindle, Pewter Tankard, and Mindful Grey all from SW. I also like SW’s Roycroft Mist Gray. Having said that, I’m not sure if we’re going in the right direction at all. Part of me still wonders if we shouldn’t go with a classic white scheme or a warm, farmhouse yellow. As you can tell, I’m confused! So, do you mind a few follow-up questions: What’s your opinion about white vs. color? If you think color is the way to go, is there a direction you would suggest and/or some favorites of yours that you think would be lovely and match the character of the house? Our kitchen and our dining room both look out onto the patio and garage, so we see the house color (and the roof color) quite a bit from these rooms. Our kitchen is monochromatic BM’s linen white with honey colored wood floors and wood ceiling beams. Our dining room is BM’s Fernwood Green. I think I’ll e-mail you a few pics of these rooms as one of my goals is to try to make the interior and exterior spaces feel unfied or somewhat consistent in style. I love spaces that are serene and have a natural, garden feel. I love hollyhocks, hydrangeas and old fashioned roses and we have lots of these on the property. But i also like color — earthy hues, indigo blues, ochre. I have a split personality regarding color! Thanks for bearing with me!
Hi Bonnie,
Let me take another look.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Bonnie,
How about something like Sherwin Williams’ Sunbeam Yellow 0078 with Creamy trim SW 7012 and black doors? Your plantings would look spectacular in front of that combo. All the grays are fine. I like the Roycroft Mist Gray the best. But I thought with your traditional sensibilities, you might like a cheerful farmhouse palette.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
I am in in the process of having my home resided. I’m going to have the gable ends sided in white lap siding. I was wondering if I should to the dormers in a color. The contractor suggested doing it in Certainteed Cedar Impressions, Granite Gray. All the trim will be white. I was going to paint the front door black. Do you suggest a different color or should I keep everything white. Should I use Cedar Impressions on the dormer or go with the lap siding? I will send a separate email with photos. Thanks, for your help.
Hi Debbie,
How about doing the gable ends in lap siding but Sterling Gray with Cedar Impressions on the dormers in the same Sterling Gray color? The way you’ve unified the house but used different materials, which makes it more interesting.
The front door can match the shutters since you have a lot of color in the brick already and we don’t want to make the house too busy.
See what you think. The white trim is fine!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for your quick response. I’m not sure if you could see in the photos that I have an addition on the back of the house that has white siding. The chimney sticks out and is also sided in white. Should I still do the gable ends in Sterling Gray or keep it white?
Thanks for you help.
Debbie
Hi Debbie,
Gotcha. If the back is white and you have no plans to change it, then do the sides in white also.
Glad you followed up.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I e-mailed you a question regarding a prior recommendation you made on my home with a photograph. I am putting a new roof on my home that is GAF Weathered Wood, and the home has yellow brick, with some browns, and cedar siding. I want to verify what color choice you think would be best to paint the cedar to tie the roof to the brick, or whether I should paint over the cedar and brick. Thanks!
Hi Barbara!
We are trying to pick colors to paint our 7 year old home in Nebraska. We have just finished have Eastern Mountain Ledgestone in Dakota Brown added to the front around the front door and halfway up the wall on each side of the garage. Our roof is brown and the stone is very brown with warm hues of gold and some rust and clay colors. Our painter has given us some Benjamin Moore Classic colors to consider for the base and we are considering Scarecrow 1041 and Clay 1034. The painter has told us to choose a base color first and then we would talk about trim. The scarecrow is warm with a golden hue and the Clay looks neutral and almost a mushroom hue. Can you give me some feedback and tell me what you think we could do? I will send you a picture of the house in the morning.
Thanks,
Janice
Hi Janice,
How about Ben Moore’s Briarwood (Exterior — it’s not on their website but
here’s an approximation).
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1115&bih=808&tbm=isch&tbnid=0xEnLIGh0hKmjM:&imgrefurl=http://www.myperfectcolor.com/en/color/107363_Benjamin-Moore-Briarwood&docid=1rbObNKgoohp8M&imgurl=http://images.myperfectcolor.com/repositories/images/colors/MPC00107363-2.jpg&w=500&h=500&ei=IKQhULfkCPOI0QHOvoDgBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=123&vpy=138&dur=2544&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=96&ty=103&sig=106121527831780449409&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=150&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:75
Then you could use either Edgecomb Gray HC-173 as trim
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/edgecombgray
Or a warmer cream like Cameo (may be too yellow for your stone but here it is)
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/cameowhite
See what you think.
I agree that the Scarecrow is too yellow for your stonework. And the other one is kind of pink.
Using a taupe will allow the warmer stone colors to pop off the house. I think that’s what you want.
Hope so.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Janice,
I see the photos now on FB. Thank you. Yes, the stone on the porch looks
darker so I’m changing the house color suggestion to Annapolis Gray
http://www.benjaminmoore.net/samples/2593.html
And the trim color suggestion to Gray Mist 962.
I would keep the trim light. Otherwise, the white windows will pop too much.
Also you might consider painting your white storm door to the trim color so
it doesn’t stand out too much either.
By using warm grays for the house and trim, the warmer wood tones and stone
colors should come through. See how you like the colors with the roof as well.
I still like Briarwood though. But it might be too dark to allow contrast with
the stonework. The sample will help.
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I forgot to add that our front porch has natural cedar posts and rails with antique black iron balasters.
Hi Barbara,
Please help me decide what color to paint my house and 2 outbuildings, a large 2 story barn and small garden shed. I am assuming that I should go with the same color scheme for all three since they sit close to each other along the driveway.
The house is remotely located off a gravel country road in a small cluster of simple old farmhouses and red barns on a beautiful river. It isn’t a resort type of place, it’s surrounded by fields of crops, lots of foliage, with the river behind the house and a canal running alongside the property. We have remodeled the house which was a conglomeration of styles and tried to create a country cottage look. We kept as many usable parts as possible which included a fairly new roof. The roof color is desert tan, but because of the way the sun shines on it, (southern facing house) it sometimes glows almost orange. We’ve painted the house a light neutral (natural almond by Behr) and the trim is white to match the vinyl fascia and window trim. The shutters are black. It’s a brand new, perfectly acceptable paint job, but I’m disappointed with the way it turned out. It seems too light and bright, stands out from the surroundings too much, seems very blah, as though it belongs in the suburbs. We haven’t painted the shed or completed the barn because I don’t want to continue what seems to be a mistake with the present color.
We’d like to make the house darker, complement the roof color and appear more like it fits in the rural surroundings. The paint samples I have tried are SW carriage door (dark brownish red) and SW homburg gray (a soft color which looks surprisingly blue). I was thinking the red might work because it is traditional to the location and maybe I could keep the white trim and black shutters, but I’m afraid it might be too much red with the bright reddish roof. The homburg gray is very pretty with the roof, but not sure about a blue house in this environment, though it does reference the river. Would green be better? (I like the idea of a dark bluish green ….SW pewter green, or BM caldwell green?) I’d like to keep the trim white if possible since it’s already done, but I want to get this right! Are there other things I could do besides paint that would help make it look more appropriate to the setting?
I am feeling overwhelmed and don’t want to make another costly mistake! I was delighted to find your website. Thanks so much for your help. I am sending pictures to your email address.
Sally
Hi Sally,
I love the Carriage Door color for your barn. It’s such a barn — in shape and trimmings — it really calls out to be red. White trim is fine. Then you can use the house color for your barn doors (with white trim — see house color decision below).
Then for your shed, I like the color as is. But add a Carriage Door red for the front door to tie the two outbuildings together. You might even paint the window boxes Carriage door if you want the shed to have that cute, cottagey look.
Then for the house, I would look at Brown Horse 2108-30 or the slightly lighter Whitall Brown HC-69. Either will look spectacular with your roof and fine with white trim. Then you can pull the Shed color over for your front door. Make sure it’s semi-gloss, however. (It’s dark under that porch roof so you won’t want a dark-colored door there.) Or you can use the Carriage Door color if you have enough light.
For shutters, you can stick with black or use either the Carriage Door for a real punch of color or the shed color. Use the shed color for your garage doors — better than white but not as dark as the house color.
What I’ve done is to take a palette of 4-5 colors, all of which look good together and with your roof, and spread them around your complex. There is no need to have all the buildings the same color. Much more interesting to mix things up a bit.
I looked at the blue for your siding but it will make the roof pop — blue versus orange, opposites on the color wheel. I think you want the roof to blend. So using an earth tone is the way to go.
If you don’t like the brown or it’s too dark, you can go with a dark olivey green, something like Gloucester Sage Ben Moore HC-100 instead. It will still go with the other colors. But the browns blend best with the roof, allowing it to look orange (a version of brown) for as much of the day as it wants to.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I am in desperate need of your help! I am having trouble selected an exterior house color that will match the orangish brown roof and the red brick on the bottom of the house. I am putting fiber cement siding on the front of the house and the sides will be stucco. I tried Dunn Edwards Pigeon Gray but it looked too light. Do you think Dunn Edwards Wooden Peg DE6215, with DunnEdwards Swiss Coffee trim and a blue door Dunn Edwards Newbury Port DE5881 will look good? I am open to any suggestions! I will email you a picture of the house.
Thanks!
Hi Peace,
I love the door color. Perfect.
And the Swiss Coffee should be fine too.
The only question I have is about the siding color. Since your roof is orange and brown, you don’t want to have any pink undertone in the taupe you’ve selected (the Wooden Peg). Make sure you get a sample of it and look at it with the roof color in full sunlight.
As an alternative, take a look at Dunn Edwards Calico Rock DE6229. It has a green undertone so it will not clash at all with the roof. But see which color you like better. But, with the size of your house, it can support a lot of rich color so you’re wise to go darker instead of too light.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We’re painting the exterior of our home soon and wanted to check with you concerning the colors we selected. I’ll email you a photo of our home. We were trying to select colors that would complement the redwood-stained porch/railing and landscaping.
body- BM gray huskie 1473
trim- BM winter snow OC-63 or BM frostine AF-5 (both colors seemed to match the window frames the best)
front door accent color- BM blue dusk 1644
What do you think? Open to any suggestions and changing any or all of the colors we selected.
Thanks, Janet
Hi Janet,
You didn’t mention your roof color, but I’m assuming it’s a gray.
I like the Gray Huskie with Winter Snow (how appropriate). The Frostine seemed a little too white. I like the blue-gray undertone in the Winter Snow. As for the front door, great color. But how about something warmer to tie in with the fencing and warm up the grays? Take a look at Colonial Brick 2093-30.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/colonialbrick
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Yes, the roof is charcoal gray. Love your suggestion about using Colonial Brick. I’m going to share your wonderful idea with my husband tomorrow night.
Thanks, Janet
Hope he likes it!
Hi Barbara,
We bought our house a year ago and have been renovating ever since. It’s time to paint the exterior and we are looking for suggestions for the color of the house and barn (garage). The property in CT is set in the woods on a small pond. We would like the color to blend rather than stand out (although we have toyed with a dark red for the barn). We are thinking of painting the barn one color and the house a different color.
The left side of the house (where the roof line is lower) was a later addition to the house. We feel it makes the house look too long. We were thinking of making it a different color than the main body of the house to break it up, although we have really no idea if we can achieve this with just the use of color.
The roof color is black on both the house and barn. The front steps (fibron composite decking) are brown, the front door has a cherry wood finish, and the windows are all Anderson Terratone color. Because of all these brown toned features that we aren’t changing, we were thinking of painting the trim the same color as the house so as not to add another color, but, we are open to suggestions.
we have had a few of our own ideas for color.
1. main body of the house a grey/green color and trim the same. However, we are not sure what to do with the left side addition. For the barn, possibly a dark red.
2. main body of the house a rich brown (darker than it is now) and the trim a complimentary green. Again, we don’t know what to do with the left side addition to break it up. Also, barn?
3. House dark red, but unsure of all other details
We have sent pictures of the barn, house and setting to your email. We look forward to your suggestions.
Thank You,
Cyndee
Hi Cyndee,
I like the idea of a medium tone for the window trim so you can show off your brown windows at least a little bit. Take a look at something like Ben Moore’s Clarksville Gray HC-102 (a gray-green). Then for the body of the house, consider Gloucester Sage HC-100. Nothing blends better into a rural environment better than that color. Continue to use the brown for the porch, decks and railings. And as for the addition area, the best thing to do there is plant a tall shrub in front of it (to the left of the window) or a few shrubs of various heights. Since you have low windows, you have no foundation plantings elsewhere, but you can have a few plantings on that left end to camouflage it a bit. No need to call attention to it by painting it a different color.
I like painting out-buildings a different color but I’m not sure I would paint it red since it appears to be more of a garage than an actual barn. However, how about painting it the dark brown from your railing and then use the green sage for the barn doors.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
I would like to send you the elevation views of a summer cottage we are building in a wooded setting. The front elevation shows a screened in porch which will be done in ipe. We will be using a standing seam metal roof by Everlast, Integrity windows by Marvin, and fiber cement shakes by Certainteed. We were thinking of the roof in Hartford green with the shakes in wicker and the windows and doors in evergreen. We were considering trimming the windows in Certainteed olive. The other option we considered was a roof in burnished slate with windows and doors in bronze, again staying with wicker colored shakes. Inside, we would like to use Morning Star Moso hand distressed bamboo floors with predominantly off white walls and windows. The fireplace would be tiled floor to ceiling in casa dolce glass tiles in Nero sfalsato. What do you think of all this? We love the advice we’ve read on your blog. Please help us make this a dream house. Cindy
PS Had trouble with extra donation. Will retry sending.
Hi Cindy,
Regarding the roof color, I like to stick with colors that are the most natural for the roof. Burnished slate and Bronze are my favorites as they are the most neutral and they do not make a major design statement. The Hartford Green, although pretty, locks you into green and really does call a lot of attention to the roof.
So my preference, even before seeing your house plans or environment, would be to stick with neutral and go with the Burnished slate and bronze windows. If you then wanted to have a door color that provided more of a pop, the palette is completely open to you. Green has limited options.
We can revisit this when I get back to the office, but I thought I would give you my opinion asap.
More soon.
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
–
Hi again Cindy,
Since you have plans for a neutral interior, I think it’s even more important to keep the outside neutral. The green exterior (roof, windows) give more of a country feel than the neutral colors and you’d expect a more “cottagey” (colorful) interior. But you seem to have a more modern aesthetic on the inside so I would stay neutral outside as well.
I do like keeping the inside neutral so the views are the main event. A light bamboo floor will contrast nicely with the dark glass tile — definitely modern as opposed to using stone.
I think you’re off to a great start.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, Barbara!
I’m back for more help. We’re about to break ground on a new kitchen and need to pick a paint color. We have white shaker style cabinets (which are actually Sherwinn Williams City Loft) with satin nickel bin pulls and knobs, a white fireclay apron front sink, stainless steel appliances, probably white subway tile with gray grout, and pine hardwoods. We generally like light colors for our small craftsman style house but are having a tricky time picking a color for the walls.
Thank you!
Adelaide
Hi Adelaide,
Since you have Ivy Lane in an adjoining room (http://m.benjaminmoore.com/paint-colors/color/ivy-lane), how about a wonderful historic blue, something like Buxton Blue HC-149 (the same hue value as Ivy Lane http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/buxtonblue) or the lighter Woodlawn Blue HC-147 http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/woodlawnblue. Then perhaps instead of the brighter Yolo color you mentioned, you could pull in the green from the other room as an accent color (the pot rack), but this time in a more perky shade — something like Folk Art 528 http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/folkart.
Keeping with the softer blues and greens will create “flow” between the rooms and will make your whites in the new kitchen look fantastic. Then you can accessorize with brighter colors to give the kitchen a cozy bungalow feel, like the rest of the house.
For the hallway, you don’t have to keep the same color as the kitchen. If you pick a light neutral, something like Bone White or another neutral from your kitchen palette, then the hallway will be lighter and will “punctuate” the colors in the living room and kitchen instead of blending them together. Just a thought.
Hope that helps.
And thank you for your patience while I traveled last week. Back to work now… 😉
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello,
We need help choosing colors to paint our brick and trim. We purchased our house 3 months ago. The roof was put on in 2010 so am having to work around roof color. The shingle color is called Brownwood by Owens Corning Oakridge line. We are wanting to paint the brick and trim to coordinate with the roof. We have looked at BM Coastal fog 976 to paint the brick and BM stampede 979 for the trim color but worried may be too much gray and we need to be looking more into the brown/beige family. Any suggestions would be most appreciated. I sent a picture of our house to your email.
Thanks so much.
Leesa Newton
Hi Leesa,
The Brownwood roof certainly shows quite red, doesn’t it. With that in mind, the Coastal Fog and Stampede might be a tad green for the house. The result will bring out the red in the roof even more since red and green are opposites on the color wheel and have quite a bit of “energy” together. Not a bad thing, of course. One alternative is to go with more of a taupe like Stone Hearth 984 paired with Kingsport Gray HC-86. Both still have a green undertone but just not as green. An alternative to the Kingsport (less green) is Briarwood (exterior). The more you can approach natural stone color with the brick, the more successful the paint job will be. That’s what I would shoot for. A natural stone look.
Hope this helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
As you will see, we are in urgent need of your color expertise. Early this week (and after an overwhelming weekend full of color talk and grayish paint sample purchases) we took the plunge and painted all siding and trim on our home in Sherwin Williams “Classic French Gray”. We did this with the idea of using a cool color to compliment our gray roof and using a darker shade with the intention of seeing the hardi-planked new addition above the garage recede and blend rather than “pop out” like we felt a light color would cause it to do. Since there is so much siding and not a lot of architectural interest in the addition, we really did not want to bring attention to it and hoped the dark shade would bring a sense of dignity.
Now what we see is not enough contrast between the roof and paint as well as an overall shady/dark appearance. Do you think this color is salvageable? Is there something else we can do to perk it up without repainting the house in it’s entirety? Should we paint the eaves, crown molding, and window trim in a lighter shade of gray as shown in the “proposed” photo or do you have another suggestion?
The garage doors are painted in Sherwin Williams “Light Classic French Gray”. Our window frames are bronzed aluminum and our window glass is slightly tinted green. Our home was built in the early eighties and is among many other homes built in the same style though our brick is particularly colorful and mottled. We replaced the original (not so great looking) “stucco” siding with Hardi-plank. Most homes in the neighborhood are Tudor or French style painted in varying shades of neutral cream, tan, and beige. We tend to like things a bit different than the rest, but don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb either!
Please let us know what you suggest and if you need any other pictures. We look forward to hearing from you as our painter is on hold until we can come up with a solution.
http://www.hightechtool.com/bpoe/paint/
Thanks,
Charlotta Poe
Hi Charlotta,
I think the dark gray is fine from the street. But you’re right about the lack of contrast with the roof. Painting the trim will help that. But the Light French Gray does not tie in the brick at all — too cool. I suggest a warmer beige with a green undertone that will coordinate well with the adjoining brick and contrast nicely with the dark gray.
Look at Aesthetic White SW 7035 as a possible trim color
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7035/
or if that’s too white/light, then the next up Accessible Beige SW 7036
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7036/
Just make sure the trim color goes with the brick. If it’s light enough, it will provide the contrast you need without adding more gray.
You’ll want to paint the garage doors over too. Either color. But you won’t have to repaint the rest of the house. You should be fine with the dark gray since you want the addition to recede.
Check those colors out and see if they do the trick. Hope so.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara. We need to paint our Palm Springs house exterior and trim. The house is what could be called a “midcentury mediterranean” The red tile roof was added later to a midcentury profile. The house is now a yellow gold color and we wanted something with an equivalent lightness or shade but without the yellow being the predominant tone. But I’ve found that once you get away from yellow tones many neutrals show too much pink, and the green undertones don’t seem to go very well with the rock wall. We’ve tried BM Sand Dunes and it’s about as close as we’ve come to something we like. Also Behr Wild Honey but I’m afraid it might be too green. Benjamin Moore Alpaca may be too dark and maybe too peach. What we want is a classic creamy neutral that works on mediterranean style homes, goes with the tile roof and doesn’t look too yellow or peach. We would also need a trim color for the fascia(not just the flashing as in the picture) and maybe a door color. Picture sent to your email. Any help is much appreciated. My eyes are glazed from looking at too many fandecks. J. DeVault
Hi J.
I think the Sand Dunes might still be a little peach for your taste. Take a look at both White Sand OC-10
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/oc-10
and Natural Wicker OC-1
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/naturalwicker
and see if either of those has the right undertone for both stonework and roof. Then you can either stick with the same color for trim — more contemporary — or go with a lighter tone for a more Mediterranean “cottage” look. See Dove Wing 960
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/dovewing
or Swiss Coffee OC-45
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/swisscoffee
for possible trim.
For the doors, you might try an accent color like Sage Mountain 1488. It ties in the rock wall and complements the roof.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/sagemountain
Hope that helps. Painting samples on foam core and holding them up to the house will help a lot since you’re working with really light colors and tricky undertones. But I hope this gets you going in the right direction.
Thanks for posting.
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara. We got some samples today of white sand and natural wicker and BAM! they’re both great. The natural wicker is that creamy Santa Barbara look my wife has been looking for to no avail and the white sand is a more contemporary look that looks great with our natural rock wall. The sage mountain is done. Perfect. Now we just have to decide which look we like and to go light or dark on the trim. Thanks. I must confess to not having a great deal of confidence in an online consult but you really know what you’re talking about. Thanks. John
Why thank you! Glad I could help!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara…
We are building a new house and are having difficulty with exterior colors. I will send payment and email you a picture of the house shown in the house plan, as well as, our actual house in progress. We don’t want a finished product with a color scheme like the plan shows, but we need help nailing down color combos. It is driving us crazy! The trim is going to be white. The roof is an “estate gray”. The trouble we are having is what color of siding. We are planning to do a cement fiber material for lap siding, but it will be painted. We are in a rural setting and we are leaning toward a greenish grayish color, but not sure and having a hard time narrowing it down to an exact color. We need an overall color scheme. Some of the questions we have…
1. Paint color for lap siding?
2. Stone color and placement? We are planning to do a cultured stone around the exposed foundation. We are also kicking around the idea of putting the stone around the front door, and then extending it above the porch to the peak in the center… and in the peak put shingles. I’m not sure if the stone going above the porch line will cut the house in half and look funny or if we should just stick with lap siding and forget the stone. Also, should we stick with lap siding for the peak or do the shingles and keep it the same color as the lap siding or make it different? I hope you understood all of that. Basically trying to figure out what to do with the center section of the house from the front door to the top peak.
Below is the website we are looking at for stone… which color/style would you choose? http://www.fauxpanels.com/style-stone-real-cast-stone.php
3. We are unsure on window shingles. I think we are leaning towards not using them. Will it look fine without? If you think we should include them, and if so, what color?
4. Front door color?
5. Garage door color?
6. For the porch/deck flooring we need to choose a color from the available on this website. I think we are leaning towards “weathered wood”. http://lumberock.com/selection.php
I think that is all of our major exterior questions. We appreciate your opinions and guidance. THANK YOU in advance!
Hi Vickie,
Here’s a color combo:
1. Cromwell Gray (Ben Moore HC-103)
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/cromwellgray
2. Ledgestone Sterling stone to tie in Estate Gray roof. One option is to go all the way up the peak with the stone and skip the shake siding altogether. It gets a bit busy. But if you like the look of the shakes above the stone, then that’s okay too. Mixing lots of materials is all the rage in home-building these days. If you use shakes, I suggest the same paint color as the lap siding. That will avoid chopping up the house too much.
3. Window shutters are not necessary on your style of house. It will look fine without them since you will have stonework and maybe shingles and a porch — lots to look at so the windows are not that important. If you want to “dress” them, black always works. If you want t a shutter color, then wait until the house is done to decide what color is needed. It’s too early to be sure of that at the moment.
4. Check out Ben Moore’s Citrine for the door (Ben Moore’s AF-370).
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/citrine
It should pick up some of the warmer tones in the stonework and really warm up the front entryway.
5. Garage color — I would keep the siding color or go a shade or two darker.
6. The Weathered Wood decking should be fine. It’s also in the stone.
See what you think of that palette. Pretty house!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
You’ve helped me before with my front door and I thank you for that…it worked out great! Also, just may my payment for this new issue.
I’m STUCK….painting the main level of my house…must have bought a billion samples…have primed walls since X-mas and driving everyone insane…I ended up using BM pale oak in living and a very lighter version on the ceiling….with the thought of adding white crown molding (doubt now that will happen) and it looks drab and it’s too light of a color (probably should have done ceiling white) and wonder what a good accent color might be or possibly a whole different color choice. I need new furniture and will not be buying that until the future…the dinette is seen from this room and a small kitchen. I’ve thought about BM Revere Pewter, Hush, Pashmina, and also revisiting just painting the ceilings super white, as the lighter version of pale oak will not work with others and doubt if the planned white crown molding will ever be added.
(I thought about BM Annapolis grey but too pink of a hue I think.)
I also plan on painting my kitchen cabinets white but worried about the shade and if the trim throughout the lower level will work with them (BM Simply White) – already bought a gallon of this color.
There is an addition attached to dinette in back with French doors which are a blond/wood color (plan on painting white also). The color in that room is a Behr Dusty Olive..not too crazy about it, but that will probably have to stay. The powder room in the office is Behr Fortress Stone. It gets lots of light and is a pretty grey green, but when put in dinette or living room it’s too green….my dinette has a bright fixture, but living room only has 2 small Georgian style windows and although facing east is a dim room and every color looks totally different in there as opposed to dining/kitchen. It seems the colors look more grey green in living and warmer in dining somehow. Also plan on putting up a backsplash (maybe subway tile in some sort of natural shade) and maybe a dark granite counter…..but I need to get this place painted now before any of that is decided or done.
If I go get new sofa, it will probable be a med brown leather or warm reds, but not sure. The floors are all newly refinished original red oak in natural satin finish.
Please help with any thoughts/ideas…I had thought the pale oak would be much darker and it looks not much different than the bone white look I had before. I want some richness, a modern look not too dark but at least some color. I may send photos soon. All these rooms are very very small….the house only 1350 sq f. Oh and there is also a totally mirrored short wall in living, which will have to stay. My front door is white on the inside and all the trim will be white.
Thank you so very much in advance….this has been STUCK for way too long.
Mary
Hi Mary,
I would love to see photos so I can see your furnishings and how the natural light comes into your home. Then I will come up with a palette that will pull all the rooms together. I think the Pale Oak was probably a little too drab — it does need white to make it work so if you are not planning on the crown molding in a crisp white, then you’re right. A white ceiling will help.
Just send the photos to my email (bmeglis@yahool.com) and I will get busy.
Thanks, Mary.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Mary,
Thanks again for emailing the photos.
With a small house divided into walled rooms, you need a palette that will flow from room to room. Honestly, I think anything with a gray undertone is going to be too blah in your house since the natural light is somewhat limited. If you want to keep the Pale Oak (and it’s okay), I would paint the ceiling Simply white to contrast with it. As soon as the ceiling and trims are white, the hue will pop a little more. Then for the adjoining room, consider Camouflage 2143-40. It is a gray green, but it’s very soft and goes well with both grays and yellows so should be a good transition color between the living room and the Olive in the study.
Another alternative and a go-to color is Manchester Tan HC-81. If you decide the Pale Oak is just too gray, try the Manchester in the living room. With white trim and ceiling it will look great with just about anything.
Then for the kitchen, you might consider a richer hue than white but white will work. Use Simply White again but maybe with an antique glaze that will soften the look.
The backsplash can pull the whole palette together — look for tiles that have all the greens/tans/whites in them or simply use a white or celery green subway tile.
See what you think of those colors given your Olive office that stays. When you go to pick furniture, stick with all neutrals. Use color only in accents and art — that way your house will look much bigger and not chopped up in any way.
If you like the Manchester, it can go in hallways too — kind of an all-over color.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
House-and-roof color question here. We are putting an addition on the side of the house. The front of it will keep the winey brick of the rest of the house. (Winey side of red, with occasional browner hues.)
The sides and back will be Hardie board, probably in the green family. I like Heathered Moss, but I fear will wind up looking limey with the brick.
Monterey Taupe and Khaki Brown seem to be out, one for looking boring, the other for being already chosen next door. Woodstock Brown would be perfect as a trim color (the brick really loves it), but a big long wall of it gets pretty dark. Mountain Sage seems like too deep a green for a legacy neighborhood near an East Cost city.
Other relevant issues:
* We think we should choose siding that goes toward Cottage Revival (sort of Tudor). Is Heathered Moss down the side going to help that? Is it going to seem limey next to my brick?
* Does a lighter color shingle — more of a charcoal than “Moire Black” (Certainteed) — help with the Heathered Moss? If we went with Woodstock Brown, I would probably go with Moire Black.
* Why are we heading toward Cottage Revival? The house was a nondescript and not New Englandy (nor or Williamsburgy) Cape Cod. A new front-facing gable has an unexpectedly steep pitch that brings us toward a cottage style. (Or Gothic Revival, but that seems even more outlandish.) We think it’s time to embrace the cottage look, and quasi-cottage styles appear around the neighborhood.
* The pitch of the roof means the house shows the street a lot of shingle.
* I don’t like roofs that are really brown.
Will send photo via email.
Hi Kathryn,
Since your house will have brick on the front only, I suggest a siding color that does not have too much contrast with the brick. That way the siding will not upstage the brick front. So with that in mind, I actually like the Woodstock Brown because it really does go well with your brick. (Are there plans to put more than just two windows on the side of the house? Maybe a window into the garage will break up that long wall.)
As for trim, since your windows are white and the storm door is white, I would stick with a cream/light trim instead of anything with more color as it will only accentuate the non-historic parts of the house. The windows. Also, with a light trim, you embrace the pitch of the roof and the other roof lines. I will send you a photo that shows what I’m talking about.
For the roof, if you have a light trim color for soffits, fascia, and gutters plus all the windows and doors, the roof will be broken up a bit so it’s not quite as imposing. I like charcoal — it’s great on historic homes if you don’t want much variegation in the shingles. If you’re trying to modernize a little, have you seen Owens Corning’s Teak? It’s a rich variegated roof that would tie both brick and siding together. Just a thought. You might think it’s too busy. But your current roof has quite a bit of variegation and it’s fine. So I’m tossing the Teak out there for your review.
I agree about the dark green (although I love the color with brick!) and I do think the lighter sage would be too green against the brick. A little distracting. I would seek to blend siding with brick instead of contrast — that way your house will look more unified.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We wonder whether the Woodstock Brown is going to be sort of dark and boring where the addition goes into the back yard. The Heathered Moss would give a lighter look, more friendly and delicate, provided it isn’t just weird-looking to have the paler green-gray with the red brick. We see how the warm wood tones in the teak shingles can bring out the deeper undertones of a green-gray, so we now understand not to go with a very black or very cool gray roof. We are trying *not* to be too traditional Cape Cod, because the house is sort of a tweener. We want to pick up some cottagey tones so that the sharp gable makes more sense. Do you think it some warm tones in the roof can bring the Heathered Moss into that realm? Or is that just too delicate a green to put with brick? (When we put slats up on the side, it seems like it would work. But that is three pieces of siding, not 300.)
Is there another green/gray color, lighter than Woodstock Brown, that would work better than Heathered Moss? Is there a Ben Moore color name I should consider?Or is a lighter color always going to be bizarre with the deep brick?
Oh, and as to the question of windows. Yes, there is a big bay window going in the front, an arched window under the gable, and 5 windows down the side. It isn’t to be a garage, but a whole suite of rooms. It continues back 38 feet, so it will be part of a patio courtyard in the back, which will have a good bit of (light) foliage. Don’t know if that changes anything about color choices.
Thanks for any further insights you might share. 🙂
Hi Kathryn,
Got your question. I have to go out for an appointment but will be back this evening and will take another look. You’ll hear from me by tomorrow late morning (Tue) at the latest.
More soon.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Kathryn,
I love that you’re adding all those windows. That will help no matter what siding you end up picking.
I do like the Heathered Moss with the brick — it’s fine to mix green with the red brick (complimentary colors) and there’s a happy energy that goes with that. And if you’re going with a cottagey look instead of trying to blend the new gable into the rest of the house, then that shade of green is fine too. There will be a lot of contrast as you’re looking at the corner where the brick meets the green, but I think you’ll like the back of the house better with the lighter color.
I do like the warmer roof color (Teak) with both brick and green.
Here are a couple of Ben Moore options — along the same lines as Heathered Moss but perhaps a bit grayer/darker. See what you think:
Louisburg Green HC-113
Wethersfield Moss HC-110
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/a-fresh-green-color-scheme-presents-a-serene-picture
Here’s a photo you’ve probably seen already for a look at Heathered Moss with the brick.
http://www.newenglandhardiesiding.com/photos/siding-colors/heathered-moss/
The place to compare the three colors is in the sunlight. That will affect the overall look when the color is up on the side of the house in large quantity. But the Hardie colors are all tasteful. I don’t think you have to worry about choosing their green.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Looking for exterior paint color advice for a tiny (800 square foot) lake house we just bought. There are a lot of trees in the yard as well. The roof is a medium brown, we will keep that, and the siding is the old asbestos siding in white. The house stands about 25 feet from the water. I need to use Sherwin Williams colors, painters choice. I like SW whole wheat 6121 or something like that. Not sure of trim colors. There is a shed I’d like to paint as well. I am looking for advice on the body, trim around windows and doors, etc , front door and foundation color. I would like to do something with the deck but it is pressure treated lumber and I don’t know if you can paint it. Any other suggestions would be welcome. Thanks, Marilou. By the way, you helped me with another house before.
Hi Marilou,
Even though your neighbor has a yellow house, I do like the wheat color (SW 6121) that you mentioned. It will coordinate with your deck and make the whole cottage look bigger.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6121/
For the trim, I would use a white that has a touch of gray — not too white — as the cottage needs an aged appearance. Look at something like Nebulous White or another off-white for the trim.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7063-nebulous-white/
Then for the doors and other accents, you can pick up the roof with a rust like Roycroft Copper Red.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW2839-roycroft-copper-red/
Or a light summery blue like Jetstream.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6492-jetstream/
You can clean the pressure-treated deck and re-stain it and it will look almost as good as new.
As for the shed, I would paint it the same as the house but you may want to replace the doors with just naturally stained wood.
You can use the accent color for other accessories — pots, umbrella, picnic table — and coordinate with flowers and shrubs.
Hope that helps.
I will be back working from the office on Tuesday if I can help you further. I’m on a laptop but have a full range of fandecks back at the office.
-Barbara Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, Sounds good. I love the jet stream color. I have a few more questions. What is a good color stain for the deck? There are also some metal brackets under the roof- I don’t know what they are called. I’ll send you a picture and also wooden brackets on the shed. Should we paint those the nebulous white trim color or the jet stream accent color? Not sure about color for the foundation. I am also getting a wooden screen door in the front. I’ m thinking painting it nebulous white. Finally what would be another good accent color to go with the jet stream for pots, umbrella etc. Thanks for the help. Marilou
Hi Marilou,
The wooden “brackets” could be your accent color but I would paint the metal brackets white. The wooden ones have some architectural interest, but the metal ones don’t. Structural only. The foundation should be a natural concrete color — don’t try to highlight it with a color. It’s just the foundation. The wooden screen door can be the trim color, white. (I love wooden screen doors on a cottage!)
For a stain color, either natural or a medium brown that will go with the siding color. Nothing too dark as it will dominate the house.
As for another accent color, see what’s out there once stores put out their summer items. I love orange — it’s such a happy color!
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi there it looks like many send email questions. I am trying to work with this existing home. To add value and updates.
I need to put in new garage doors I have an ivory yellow house, white trim, grey brick around garage and cove to front door.
I have recently painted the front door a rust brown, and put in a new roof accidentally picked a dark reddish brown roof, after a storm.
Lion statues are gone at the front door. See photos.
Some photos are not the latest. It is snowing in MN in April.
Should I not have a rust front door? And what garage door color? Do I go back to white? If this were your home how would you make it better?
Ps. Already changed the landscape in photos.
You can respond to my email.
Thank you
Christal
Hi Christal,
The rust door is fine, especially since your new roof is in the same color family. But you could spread that rust by adding dark rusty red landscape plantings, like Barberry or other dark red evergreens to balance all the green and “speak to” the red door.
Also add large terracotta pots with cream flowers if you have room in the spring.
As for the garage doors, anything but white. Take a look at Bennington Gray (Ben Moore HC-82) and Revere Pewter (HC-172) as possibilities. Whichever color best coordinates with your two colors of brick and warms up the garage doors without creating too much attention to the garage.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/benningtongray
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/reverepewter
I hope one of those is perfect.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I emailed a photo of our home and specific questions pertaining to it. I sent it to bmeglis@yourhomeandcolorcoach.com. Now I see another email for you, I will resend to that one also. Thanks! If you need further specifics please let me know. My payment was processed thru Paypal.
Barbara:
We need to pick a siding color, garage doors, shutters and front door. My problem is I am limited to color choice, because of the brick and that all windows are being replaced and will be white. My husband does not want to get involved in painting trim as we are looking for a maintenance free home. The siding will be Certainteed Double 7″ Straight Edge Perfection Shingles to the entire home, currently the garage is Batten Board painted in light beige. We do not want the garage to stand out, so our thinking is to shingle same as the rest to blend as one complete home. The link for color choice for shingles follows: http://www.certainteed.com/resources/cts001.pdf
We are having a Portico built on the front steps and we like a coppery color for that roof, although it won’t be copper, due to cost. Our roof on house is 4 years old and is Weathered Wood, so it is brown/grayish. The columns and trim for the Portico will be white. Any suggestions for accent color or siding color on the Portico? The plans are being drawn up in a few days.
The two big bay windows in the front are being replaced and boxed out, they will project out from brick about 4 to 5 inches and all the trim underneath the windows will be Certainteed Restoration Millwork in white. We could accent color here if needed, minimally. An example being the inside box of the trim underneath window. These windows will not be bay anymore they will be a casement on each side and wide picture in middle, all windows have grids in them.
The garage doors are double and have black accent hardware and there is a white fence to the right of the garage. The garage doors are only about 4 years old also and have square gridded glass at top. Presently there is an accent panel painted in the middle of the garage doors that is light beige to match the house color. Since this will have to be repainted should it match house siding color or be the accent color or all white.
What color for shutters and front door? I see in your blog you mention a lot of red with the brick, but my brick is orangey. We do not like maroons or reds. We do like a black/blue that we have seen with brick. With all the white trim would it make sense to stay classic and make accent black?
The picture was taken in the spring. During the summer we have spikes in front behind the round green bushes that are a purple/maroon color. The area we live is heavily treed and most homes are stone or brick and vinyl on sides and back. Because the people we bought from years ago put the bay windows in, it left us with no brick under the windows.
Looking forward to hearing from you. If you need any other resources or the links are confusing let me know. If needed just Google the Certainteed 2013 catalog.
Thanks!
Geri
Hi Geri,
Thank you for your patience. Good to be back at work.
How about Natural Clay for your siding color — it coordinates well with your grout color as well as the roof and is a neutral that you won’t tire of. (Important for siding.) You mentioned that you like blue but the roof color is not one I would choose necessarily for a blue house.
So or the portico triangle, consider Pacific Blue — a dramatic contrast against the orange brick and a nod to the blue in the brick. You might use that for your front door color as well. Surrounded by white trim, it will really stand out.
For the garage, I would use the siding color for the interior — just like you have it now. No need to highlight the doors with blue unless you want to call attention to them way over on the side of the house (certainly an option since your doors are very nice. But not necessary.)
For the shutters, you can tie in the blue again or if that’s too much, then just stick with a dark brown like Sable Brown that will go with the roof.
If you plan to re-do the lighting, use bronze for a metal color since the roof is on the brown side and not gray.
See what you think of that plan.
By the way, I do love the Autumn Red as an accent color with your brick, but you mentioned that red is not a favorite. Also if you like the Sable Brown with the brick and Natural Clay siding, you could use that as an accent color on the portico and shutters and then pick up a purple — also in your brick — for the front door. Take a look at Ben Moore’s Chambourd AF-645 as a possibility.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/chambourd
A couple of possibilities to consider.
Thanks again.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara:
We were leaning towards the Savannah Wicker. On the color spectrum from the manufacturer they are right next to one another. The Savannah Wicker is a littler lighter and softer. We were afraid that the Natural Clay would be too harsh with the all white trim. We will call the contractor and go look at a Natural Clay house and if we like we will get a larger color sample.
We do like the idea very much to incorporate the Pacific Blue into the Portico. Thanks for that idea. I am going to send you a link or insert here if I can of a blue/black front porch color we found. http://blog.davinciroofscapes.com/blog/color-from-the-top-down/page/3 The photo of the blue is the last one under the heading “Finding The Right Color For Your Front Door”. Let us know what you think. We do understand your idea of the Autumn Red and have not ruled that out, something to sleep on for sure. The chambourd is very muted, which is great with the brick. We had eggplant color accent on our former home so we are leaning blue/black.
For the shutters we definitely lean towards the Sable Brown, just what we like.
We understand the garage doors. Thanks for that help.
Will definitely use your idea for the bronze lighting. It will pull the brown/tan from the roof nicely.
Thanks again. What you have given us is confidence in our choices and to look at the Natural Clay, which we hadn’t.
Just a thought: The Natural Clay is a new color families are using on their homes and a lot are doing black accent. Is that possible with our roof color? Or should we shy away from the black accent? Could you give a suggestion of a stain if we had wood door?
Thanks again!
Geri
Hi again Geri,
The blue-black would look more dramatic with a black roof. We also want to avoid having too many colors on the house. If you want to use a really dark blue for the front door, I would use a neutral for the portico (the sable brown from the shutters would work).
As for a stain, look at Cabot’s “Bark.”
For lighting, it is okay to use black, even with a brown/gray roof. But it will stand out more. Just make sure the lights are big enough for the scale of the house.
One more thought (since we are working with the many colors of the brick):
Have you considered siding OVER the brick? That would free up more color options for you. Just a thought.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara:
Thank you so much for the follow up.
We had a nice bright morning here in Jersey. We went out and played around with the large sample of Savannah Wicker and we have a small sample of the Natural Clay. You were absolutely on the mark with the Autumn Red in Portico and Sable Brown shutters. The AR/SB even looks okay (to me) with the Savannah Wicker. BUT we started to love the Natural Clay. Didn’t get the Brown connection with it until we put it up with the SB in front and then added the AR and there it was, you are truly talented. We both have forgotten about the whole black/blue hues.
No we didn’t think of siding over the brick, we had thought to paint it. We then decided it is like the kids it annoys us but we don’t want to live without it. We think to keep it because most homes in our neighborhood have stone or brick. BUT I will re-hash with hubby again tonight.
We will look this weekend at a Natural Clay home example and get a larger sample. After making a decision on the Natural Clay or not I will go back thru PayPal and go over all choices again with you. We came up with the stained door after seeing the AR it just looked so natural in our treed area.
Any thoughts on adding a few white half rounds on the garage side, directly over garage, to pull white from fence and garage door?
We know your choice is the Natural Clay but could you just let us know if you object to the Savannah Wicker.
We will look at the Cabot’s Bark.
Your advice to us is– shutters and the front door same color (SBish) and a little accent of AR on the Portico?
We have a direction and I thank you for that.
Geri
Hi Geri,
Hey, terrific. Progress! I will be anxious to see the whole house pulled together. I’m glad you liked the Autumn Red. Quite smashing!
Regarding the fish scales on the garage, they do tend to bring the roof down a bit, but a few rows would be fine.
I think that’s it. Let me know what you finally decide. And make sure, when you are making final decisions, that you stand back into the yard and driveway to look at the colors with the roof. Make sure the roof is included in all decisions.
All for now.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I’m having my house exterior painted in August. It’s a foursquare with Arts & Crafts, Colonial, and (strangely enough) Swiss Chalet influences. The current color is a beige/taupe, which in addition to being bland and common on the street, looks awful with the brick at the bottom. The roof is Weathered Wood.
I was thinking the house would look nice in a dark greyish blue with simple white trim, possibly with the window sashes (and storms?) in a third color. I painted a large board with a sample of Newburyport Blue and find that maybe it’s a bit too ‘country blue’ for my taste. Maybe a grey that has some blue in it would be better? Or should I be looking at another color family entirely? How should the major trim (i.e. garage door and porch) be painted?
Thank you,
Eric
Hi Eric,
With the Weathered Wood roof, have you considered a nice Arts & Crafts green??
Take a look at Ben Moore’s
Gloucester Sage HC-100
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/gloucestersage
With Manchester Tan trim
HC-81
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/manchestertan
The same shutters and dark brown porch accent.
And picking up the brick color from the foundation…
Warmed Cognac AF-235 for the windows and doors.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/warmedcognac
Another siding option might be
Knoxville Gray HC-160, a blue-green-gray
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/knoxvillegray
with
Silver Satin 856 for the trim
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/silversatin
If you keep the brick as is, it’s nice to tie it in with that third color. I do like the dark brown for a fourth color as it ties the roof in nicely.
See what you think of those palettes.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara, I am emailing you three pictures (I just made a payment via Paypal). The first picture of a white house is for you to see the color of the roof that is being installed on our house this week. The second picture is a full length shot of the front of the house and the third picture is the front door of our house (so you can see the color of our stained garage/front door and the current color of the house, which I happen to like too).
My question is: our windows are sandtone (by Andersen) and I am unsure if that boxes me in or if I can still work with light colored trims, or if I have to stick to an overall taupe tone on tone color scheme. In turn, I am also debating whether I should lighten the color of the house and make it brighter. Could I still do that with sandtone windows? Any thoughts on a dark and light color scheme?
Thanks!
Ana
Hi Ana,
The new roof will make a huge difference to the appearance of your house. I would wait for that to be installed before deciding if the house color is too dull. My guess is that it will be just right with the roof/rock/doors.
As for trim, I would definitely stay with light white/cream trim for the windows and allow the sandtone to contrast against the trim. That will be a nice look. You could go a lot darker, but I think the lighter trim is more uplifting.
Send me photos after the roof is put on if you still have concerns about the paint color scheme.
Another option to consider is shutters on some of the windows. That is another opportunity to introduce color without changing the overall color scheme of the house.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara- I just made a $25 payment on paypal. We just re-did our deck by adding wraparound stairs and built-in benches and planters. I will send pictures separately to your email address. Our house color is Benjamin Moore Platinum Grey and the window trim is white azec. Our deck was painted when we bought the house so we are stuck using a solid stain. I am looking for a new paint color for both the deck and the built-ins. In addition to what you see in the pictures, our contractor is building us 2 pillars (one for each back corner near the stairs) that look like the planters on the bench but will be made to house post lights. We plan to paint those white to match the house trim. Thanks so much for your help! Liz
Hi Liz,
Since you have a brown roof, I would stick with natural wood/brown tones for your deck and built-ins. Look at Ben Moore’s Davenport Tan HC-76 as a possibility as it goes well with the roof and looks like a “deck” color. I would stay away from introducing a redwood color (also a popular deck shade) because you’ll have too many colors on your house. Keeping the deck neutral will allow you to bring in LOADS of colorful cushions and flowers and umbrellas without stomping on the basic color scheme of the house.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello!
We’re having our house painted, and it’s a challenge to choose a color that will work with all the fixed elements that won’t be painted: brown roof, taupe vinyl trim (very close to Benjamin Moore’s Briarwood), red/green-gold brick chimney with inset stones varying from warm red-pink to golden tan to cold gray.
We’d prefer a light neutral–the Michigan heat isn’t friendly to a dark color. Perhaps a cream (Benjamin Moore’s Elmira White? or Sailcloth?)–nothing blue or green or pink.
But there’s also the Michigan snow to worry about–will cream just seem sad? I’d choose a yellow, except I really don’t like the brown/yellow combo we’d end up with given our roof . . .
I’ve sent pictures to your email address. The place probably hasn’t been painted in at least 25 years . . .
Thanks!
A few more thoughts:
In the pictures I sent you’ll see the taupe vinyl trim around the windows–we plan on using the matching Briarwood as the trim color for the entire house (eaves, side door, etc.)
I love your advice about garage doors, and ours will be painted to match the main body of the house . . . . whatever that ends up being!
And one more things: we’ll be removing the dark brown screen door. Any advice on a color for the front door? Will painting it a “fun” accent color just fight with the chimney or disturb the asymmetrical balance?
Hi Trina,
I like the idea of lightening up the house, but Sail Cloth might be a bit too light — not out of the question though. Take a look at Litchfield Gray along with your Elmira White. I think either would be a nice contrast against the trim color and the heaviness of the brick. Either should look good with the roof as well.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/litchfieldgray
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/elmirawhite
As for the front door, check out one of your brick colors: Plum Raisin 2082 and see if you like it.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/plumraisin
I don’t think it throws off the balance– the house is already asymmetrical — the door should draw as much attention as the brick. But I don’t think a different color would work too well. The brick is quite dominant and the brick and front door can be treated like a set.
You might consider Briarwood for the garage door as the darker shade will “ground” the garage. (Since your trim color is darker than the house color…)
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello, I have sent payment for your suggestions for house exterior color. My house is quite plain in it’s structure with very large walls of natural rough 1×6 channel cedar siding at angles & very small windows. The metal roof is a common green, not a blue green. I would like to use an opaque stain, preferably Behr as their solid stain has had the best Consumer Reports durability reviews for a number of years as well as lower cost. I would love to send a photo to better illustrate the very plain nature of my house.
I live simply, off grid, within a mixed forest in a very rural area. But while I enjoy all colors, serenity comes to mind, but I also realize that I may have to sell one day & probably without repainting for the market. I do not want to go too light, as in yellow or white or light grey.
The green roof can’t be changed. Everything else can be. The cedar siding is a dark natural cedar brown now but is fading in places, mildewed in places, new boards will be needed & so will be radically lighter in tone & so all need to be more uniform, thus the solid stain. Right now the window & fascia trims are dark brown.
Basically the exterior walls are large ugly plain cedar walls with small windows. I need help. Can I send you a photo before you comment or pay you a bit extra to do so?
Hi Al,
I do like the idea of keeping the natural wood color and dark green trim to go with the roof and help to blend the house yet make it interesting to look at.
For the foundation area, I suggest a dark brown to match the windows. The brown will “ground” the house.
So for the siding itself, look at the medium brown solid stains– something like Ben Moore’s Valley Forge Brown HC-74.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/valleyforgebrown
with Tarrytown Green HC-134 trim.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/tarrytowngreen
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
I am hoping you can help me out with my exterior color dilemma. I have sent you photos of my two story home which is in a middle class suburb. It doesn’t have any architectural interest such as brick or stone. The siding color is unusual. It is taupe but has a slight hint of violet. I have a Sherwin Williams sample (sorry Benjamin Moore is quite far from my home) and it can be best described as between Flexible Gray and Cinchilla. The previous owner installed windows which are a neutral tan. Then they had tan vinyl wrapped over half the trim. This color was a warm tan which makes the house color surrounding it look almost purple. The rest of the trim is a grayed tan and the siding surrounding it looks more taupe. I am very nervous about choosing a trim color that plays up that purple. I will be removing all the vinyl from around the trim so the only set colors are the charcoal roof, the siding color and the windows.
On the sides and back of the house there is a trim piece going across the house horizontally in the middle. I have thought about painting that the color of the siding because I’m not sure it needs to be highlighted.
I would appreciate your help in choosing the trim color, front door color, garage door color and also advising me on the trim in the middle of the house. I don’t know whether to do a very light taupe or to actually choose a darker shade. Should the garage match the siding color or trim? I like the idea of something colorful for the door. All the homes in my subdivision seem to have white trim and red doors. I want to be a bit different but in a tasteful way.
Thank you in advance for your sharing your great ideas!
Susan
Hi Susan,
First of all, let me just say that I kind of like the purple in your siding. “Gray” with a purple undertone is a very interesting color. But if you’d like to bring it more to the gray side, check out a very light gray for the trim. The Ben Moore color (sorry, my SW fan deck is in my car — at the shop) would be something like American White:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/americanwhite
That color may calm the red in the siding. Give it a try.
Then I don’t usually say this, but since you’re having some trouble with the siding color anyway, perhaps painting the garage door the same as the trim makes some sense. This time…
As for the front door, I would really embrace that purple undertone and use a coordinating color. Also, plant more lavender — it’s lovely with the house!
Ben Moore Night Shade 2116-10
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/nightshade
or the lighter Vintage Wine 2116-20
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/vintagewine
For landscaping and annuals, I suggest avoiding red. Stick with creams and all shades of purples. Your house should go grayer with that switch.
As for the “belly band” — it’s to break up the expanse of siding that only has one window and no other architectural features. Planting taller trees/shrubs at the base will do the same thing if you’d like to paint the band out or remove it. It’s not necessary but it just enhances the plain sides of the house.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
We are looking for some expert consultation on the exterior front our house. We are renovating a post-war red brick bungalow (with black roof shingles) in Toronto, Canada. An extension is being added on the top and back of the house. We are planning to use stucco for the addition. Our challenge is to bring the elements together in an appealing design. Specifically, we are look for advise on:
1. What color stucco will work well with the red brick color of the house? We are planning to have black shutters on the front windows, so the stucco would have to work with this color element as well.
2. How do we separate the stucco and the brick sections of the house? We were thinking of an eyebrow between the lower brick and the upper stucco of the house to create some separation between the two different materials.
3. How do we add some architectural details to the top triangle in the gable roof (please see the image emailed), so that it does not end up looking like a barn? We were considering a ‘return’ for the roof and struggling with what other architectural elements to use (a faux window, perhaps?) to make the shape look appealing.
Thank you for your advice,
Parul
Hi Parul,
I suggest a stucco color that is a shade of your mortar between the bricks. Look at “Travertine” on the attached link:
For the transition between the two materials, you could always use a “belly band” — a wide piece of trim board that separates the two materials. In the trim color.
In terms of making the gable more interesting, is there any way to enlarge that center lone window? Or at least make it taller than the others? It seems a bit small for such a prominent focal area. The roof returns will help a lot but consider a large decorative gable vent up there in the middle. That will break up the space.
If the space still seems to top-heavy, consider another belly band and perhaps a 3rd material in the gable. Something like shakes or even lap siding will break up the expansive space. But the first thing I would check is that central window size. See if there’s an option there to increase its width and height.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I desperately need some help! 🙂
We recently moved into a new home with a semi open concept. Initially it was all beige so we painted the living room a beautiful gray – Benjamin Moore Gray Owl. The kitchen beige looks okay with this combo it is called Bone by Behr (I only know this because the seller left the paint can behind.) The huge problem is the hallway, the beige now looks pink! EWWWWW. I have sent you some pictures for you but they don’t really reflect the Gray Owl accurately, I only had my cell phone with me for a picture. I have no idea what to paint the hallway because it also leads into the kitchen. At first, I was thinking just white wisp but that looks a bit cold. My husband was suggesting a yellow, but to me that seems so limiting and I am scared of what that will do to the kitchen color. I am all for repainting the kitchen if I need to. Any suggestions?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Tracey
Hi Tracey,
Try one of these instead of the Behr paint:
Seapearl 961
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/seapearl
Gray Mist 962
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/graymist
Hushed Hue 1520
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/hushedhue
or
Nature’s Essentials 1521
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/naturesessentials
See if one of those will tone down the pink — there appears to be none in any of them but it’s the reflection on the Bone that’s warming it up in the hallway and bringing out the pink undertones.
Also,
Paint the diagonal wall the hall color and not the living room color. Then the change in hue around that corner will not be so pronounced.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We are building a new home in a TND ( traditional neighborhood design). Although we are in the South we love the seaside grays in Cape Cod. Can you recommend a soft gray with a soft white trim?
Our painter uses Sherwin Williams but he will match to BM. The siding is hardy plank. Should I use an accent color for the shakes on the peak? I have seen a lot of monochromatic homes that look pretty.
I will email a picture. Thank you!
Dina
Hi Dina,
Take a look at Shale (Ben Moore 861) with Cloud Cover trim (OC-25) or Stonington Gray (HC-170) or Coventry Gray with White Wisp (OC-54). I often use a gray-white for the trim as it gives the house some age and it’s not TOO white. Try the different whites against your windows as well to see what look you like best. If you like a yellower white, check out White Dove (OC-17).
For a gray with a green undertone, Revere Pewter (HC-172) is really nice — especially with Swiss Coffee (OC-45).
The three grays mentioned all have different undertones so make large samples and put right on the house to see how those undertones play out with your house– the lighting and the porch will influence the colors.
I love the shake gables in the same house color — personally — as I think the difference in texture is enough of a change. Lots of people color them in a contrasting hue but honestly, I think the house takes on a different style at that point. We don’t see that much on a traditional New England-style home. Monochromatic is the norm.
See if those combos give you some guidance. Hope so.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Our house is in the Mountains of Santa Cruz, CA. It is an old ranch style home. I was planning to make it a Spanish ranch style, but the lite weight clay tiles would cost twice the price of a regular roof. We just had new stamped concrete steps/porch done. I picked a sand color with a dark brown release. The color did not turn out as expected. It is more of a brown/red color. It must of been a mahogany brown release. Now I don’t know what color to paint the house. I also don’t know what type/color roof to do. I do like the metal seamed roof look, but I think the cost of that is also more expensive than a regular roof also. Someday I would like to stucco the house. We are also putting up a new front porch overhang. It will have exposed dark stained beams underneath.
I emailed you some photos!:) thank you, Melanie
Hi Melanie,
When we put our metal roof on, it was substantially less expensive so just in case you decide on metal, I suggest Bronze for the color. It’s brown with a green undertone and it goes with a lot of siding colors.
Another really nice roof is Certainteed’s Presidential Shake in Classic Weathered Wood.
http://www.certainteed.com/products/roofing/residential/309005#
For the siding, look at Ben Moore’s Bleeker Beige HC-80.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/bleekerbeige
With Dune White trim (968):
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/dunewhite
For the door, I suggest a rich grape color as you have quite a lot of that in your stonework (unless it’s just my screen). Take a look at Grappa 1393:
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/grappa
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
…and here’s another question: guesthouse interior. This is a small 720 sf structure that gets good light in almost all rooms. We would like to paint it all one color because it is a small space. Floors, windows, doors, base molding all light wood. Beige ceramic tile (with a pink tinge) in kitchen and bathroom. White kitchen counters and bathroom vanity, simple Mission style. Black pearl granite counter tops.I think a warm cream would be fine in those rooms. Looking for an off white/cream that brings in a warmth, is calming and happy. Some thoughts, all BM colors: calming cream, morning light, Corinthian white, papaya, ylang ylang. The latter 3 colors mentioned may be a little dark or peachy? I feel like I never can tell until it’s on the wall. Can you recommend a fail safe cream that is warm with perhaps a tiny bit of yellow or blush? Thank you so much! Maria
These two are my favorites, Maria. They go with everything. The Palace White is just a lighter version of Papaya. It has a touch of peach but not too much and certainly not too much yellow. Very happy colors.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/palacewhite
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/papaya
Hope one of them works for you.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
hi Barbara,
Our home exterior needs a make-over. We are sticking with the current roof for about 5 years (although we will be adding some black solar panels soon). We need help picking exterior color and trim color that will help the house look it’s best. We plan on getting new garage doors once we figure out a color scheme. Should those be the same color as the rest of the house? Also what would be a nice color for the front door? I am befuddled by the combination of arches and rectangle windows on our house.. would shutters look good?
I will email you the photos. Thank you!
Linda
Hi Linda,
Since there is a significant overhang casting a shadow on the house, how about a sunnier color that will stand up to the shadows? Take a look at Ben Moore’s Safari. It is a clearer color than we would probably use in the Northeast but it is very appropriate for your part of the country. Then you could keep the white trim to tie in the white windows. And for the front door, pull in the stonework with something like Revere Pewter. It would be lighter than the current door and again, it would show up in the shadows.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/safari
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/reverepewter
Unless you have kids throwing balls at your garage doors (in which case I would go with the gray), keep the yellow for the garage as well. It will extend the length of your house and make it look bigger — as it does now. Hardware on the doors would be a nice touch, but not necessary.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
HI Barbara,
We are building a house on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. It will be about 500 feet from a beautiful beach. Behind is lots of green, the ocean blue and an small island behind us so so mixed colours…you can see in the pic. We are thinking gray cedar or red cedar stained or yellow. we are also thinking a metal roof. we have all 4 seasons here so lots of snow but beautiful summers with lots of colors too. Could you recommend a color combo. I like classic colours and nothing that will go out too soon…we love blues, yellows, brown and bray…..would love to hear your thoughts.
thanks
Glenna Calder
Hi Glenna,
If you want your house to blend into the “earth” colors around it, consider something like James Hardie’s Timber Bark with light trim (window color) and a Burnished Slate metal roof. The earthy combination blends beautifully into the countryside.
But if you’d like to call attention to the ocean and sky behind your house, consider James Hardie’s Evening Blue with a Dark Charcoal metal roof (and light/white trim). That combinations is perfect for your environment. Those colors are just guidelines — obviously you don’t have to use that particular siding product.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi!
I am in desperate need of your advice re a color for the porch/door/shutters.
I just painted the porch – the color was supposed to be gray but turned out to be a light blue; the door was painted purple as a bit of a Mardi Gras goof. Frankly, I don’t hate it (mind you, I don’t love it either) – but it looks AWFUL with the siding.
Gad. The siding….it’s a really weird color, sort of pink, sort of taupe, and for a good part of the year, covered with a hint of green (I have to pressure wash yearly). No idea what color to call it and NO idea what to do re the porch/door/shutters.
If possible, I would very much like a red door. If you just don’t see that working, please let me know.
Thanks so much for your help!
Andrea Andersen
PS. I have emailed pictures and a copy of this post as well.
Hi Andrea,
Take a look at Briarwood PM-32 for your porch. It’s a nice rich taupe that would go very well with the siding color.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/pm32
Then for the shutters, go darker, something like Brown Horse 2108-30
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/brownhorse
For a red door, look at Arroyo Red 2085-10.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/arroyored
That combination should work with both siding and roof.
But another one is grays: Silver Fox 2018-50 for the porch.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/silverfox
Kendall Charcoal HC-166 for the shutters.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/kendallcharcoal
And the same red door.
See if that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi, Barbara!
I bought this house when my aging mother could no longer live there. It was built by my grandfather, father and uncle during the Great Depression. I have always liked the house as it holds many fond childhood memories for me, but the white color seems tired and nondescript. I want something to make the house stand out as someplace warm and welcoming and bring out its character as what I think of as a cozy “cottage” feel. My first thought was to paint the house some shade of tan, but that color or some variation of it has grown increasingly popular in my area and neighborhood and so seems too derivative to me. The roof is brown, and the porch now is painted the same color as the rest of the house. What colors do you think might set the place off?
Best,
Steve
Hi Steve,
Take a look at Ben Moore’s Nantucket Gray HC-111 (a soft gray-green) that should look really nice with both roof and shutters.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/nantucketgray
For trim, you could warm up the “white” by using Swiss Coffee OC-45.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-color/swisscoffee
Then you could take out the large horizontal privet hedge in the front of the house and replace it with a variety of plants and shrubs of different shapes, sizes, and colors. (That is unless you want to keep the hedge for posterity…)
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Here is a follow-up question regarding exterior color for a small guesthouse…sent late last November or early last December. The house with the green roof and the brick red windows? I will send an email with a pic separately. Anyway, you suggested Richmond Gold, and as it turns out, we painted a panel that color to evaluate it, and found it was nice in the sunshine but not so pleasant with less light (and front door side gets little light throughout the day). We were thinking to go instead with Roxbury Caramel. It just seems to blend in with the other colors as well as the environment. That said, here are two questions:
(1) you suggested the Richmond Gold because you felt the color value stood up to the roof and window colors. Would the Roxbury Caramel have the same function?
(2)we also have the “real” house being built in a year, and want it to complement the guest house. We will follow your suggestion to use a brown roof, and will probably go with brown siding and white trim. If we use Roxbury Caramel, will that be an ok complement to the other house? (Your suggestion was to accessorize the main house with green/red to create continuity with the guest house, and we’ll do that.)
I guess another question would be if you could suggest another color if you think the Roxbury Caramel is too light or otherwise might not cut it.
I will be sending another payment and query regarding the next house, too. We really appreciate your expertise and advice. Thanks!
Maria
PS: we ended up painting the interior Sugar Cookie & we love it.
Hello again!
Hi Barbara,
In an email I will send a sketch of the house we are building, and a link to the color palette for the siding we are going to use.
The question is, how best to create visual continuity between the guest house and main house. We’ll use a brown (dark brown?) metal roof as you suggested, and this time around, we’d really like to use the pre-painted Hardie panels. The two colors we’re thinking about are either Timber Bark or Chestnut Brown.
We would use white trim for windows, fascia (not sure if the columns will be painted white or left natural as on the guest house). And paint the door red, perhaps (door needs to be an awesome color). We will probably use the vertical panels/battens that have a stamped wood grain. The upper triangle of the house would be in a shingle. We would use green or red accessories such as porch furniture.
Don’t know if the front porch will have the stone accents shown in architect drawing, or if so, what color/kind of stone.
Just looking for some assurance that we can make this all flow, visually. Any advice re. siding color will be appreciated!
Thanks again,
Maria
We are remodeling the exterior of our saltbox. The roof is Certainteed, colonial slate. This shingle has a somewhat green tint in it. I was thinking about using BM Sea Pine for the body of the house including painting the corner boards the same color. The windows are white vinyl. The soffit and fascia are going to be wrapped in vinyl. I was considering wrapping them In a color near BM wrought iron. Although the windows are white, I am not a big fan of white for the boxing and the new windows were expensive enough without adding a color to them so had to settle on white. For the door, I was considering BM Spanish red and doing the corbels on front of candle louvre the same BM wrought iron or maybe the frame in the charcoal and the actual door in the red color. Now I am wondering if the door should be same as corbels and boxing. It is a colonial wooden door with vertical boards and black straps on front of the door. The back of the house is an L shape with double garage. Not sure what color to paint the garage doors. Please give me your opinion on on this. Not sure about the charcoal boxing but again, not a big fan of the white. Also am trying to keep it so I can change the color of the body in the future if wanted too.
Hi Barbara, I sent a payment through paypal again. To update what I am doing, I got a suggestion to paint paint the corner boards In pBM linen white with black louvers and wrought iron hinges. Also do the siffit and facia board in a color nearest the linen white, keep the red door and I guess paint the garage doors white. Now what are your suggestions and did you get my pic of the house? Thanks for all your input,
Hi Dianne,
I’m not sure if you already have a red door (the photo does not show it) so if not, consider Embroidered Flower CSP-1190.It’s kind of a watermelon color that looks great with your house color. Not too red. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/embroideredflower
Then I like the idea of black shutters (or Ben Moore wrought iron — more gray). http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/wroughtiron
For trim I would use a Swiss Coffee that is not as yellow as the linen white.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/swisscoffee
Then use the opportunity when selecting your foundation plantings to bring in more of the door color and perhaps some dark purple for accents. That will look spectacular.
Hope that helps. And thanks for your patience!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I love all your ideas but need to ask about the corbels as to what color. Would they be painted the same color as the corner boards? We will be putting up 4 under the candle louvre . Also the trim around the garage doors and the doors (what color)? I assume you agree on the BM Sea Pine for the body of the house? You are right as to the door. It hasn’t been put up yet. The picture shows plywood. Thanks so very much for all your help!
Sent from my iPad
>
Oops. I will take another look.
Back soon.
Hi Dianne,
Sorry for the delay. The corbels can be black or an accent color if you want to show them off in a big way. Otherwise the trim color would be fine. I would use the same trim color (Swiss Coffee) for all trim — around windows, doors and all wood trim areas. I do like the Sea Pine for the body.
Hope that clarifies.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We are putting a small addition on our home and as a result will need to paint the exterior of the house so that it all matches. We have 8″ aluminum siding. My husband and I are at a loss as to what color to choose. Do you have any recommendations for this style of home? We will send you an e-mail with some pictures.
Thanks!
Hi Ruth,
I really like the color you have now, but here’s a fresh take on it: Ben Moore Beacon Hill Damask HC-2. Then you can either stick with white shutters or switch to the dressier, more traditional black. I love the white trim as is.
Then switch your metal (lights, etc) to black wrought iron instead of brass. That little update will make a huge difference.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello- I am just really struggling with what exterior main and trim colors will work with our reddish/brownish(?) roof. Any suggestions would be so wonderful! I have emailed some photos for your reference. Thank you!
By mistake I did a $25 donation instead of payment on paypal. Did you get it?
Sent from my iPad
>
Hi Dianne,
I haven’t seen it come through yet. If you hit the PayPal button and try it again, I will delete any duplicate payment that comes through.
Thanks for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Erin,
How about lightening up the siding and trim to give more contrast with the roof? Look at Ben Moore’s Shaker Beige
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/shakerbeige with China White trim http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/pm20 and maybe a coordinating door like Toasted Pecan. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/toastedpecan
Then you can switch your lighting color to silver to cool down the house a bit.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I think mine was called a donation too- is that ok? Anyway- thanks so much- any other color ranges you might suggest. I do like those colors I am just not much of a brown, tan, cream person. I tend to like dark blues, grays, deep browns, etc.
I think mine was called a donation too- is that ok? Anyway- thanks so much- any other color ranges you might suggest. I do like those colors I am just not much of a brown, tan, cream person. I tend to like dark blues, grays, deep browns, etc.
Painting exterior brick but we have so many different color combos going on I don’t know which to choose. I believe our roof is driftwood by certainteed. New white windows. New soffit/facia in a dark charcoal. We haven’t done anything with the gutters (but could paint them matching charcoal) then lastly we have orange brick. I will send you photos to the email provided.
Hi John and Rina,
Consider painting the brick Ben Moore’s Briarwood, a rich taupe that should go well with both roof and soffit colors. Then go ahead and paint the gutters to match the charcoal soffit/fascia. After that, the white windows will really stick out so to balance them, I suggest you paint the garage door white as well. The front door can be an accent color, like Mexicana 2172-30. (Remember to paint that large mullioned window in the backyard white as well. Right now it’s a dark trim color.)
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/pm32
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/mexicana
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello,
We are building a home in Idaho and we are conflicted on our exterior paint color choice.
We would like to go with white siding & white trim & a black front door. We need help selecting the shade of white. Dove white is very yellow and chantilly lace may be too white?
My husband would like to have black window casing and still go with white trim. I am leaning more toward white windows and trim, but he feels it is too sterile.
There are 2 white house in our neighborhood. One all white with red brick – I love this house. The other has the black window casing and black accents (the posts under dormers are black as well as the porch railings) – do not like it at all.
The builder’s designer suggested we do black window casings & light gray on the cedar shake to make it look a little different. I don’t know about this.
Also, we need to take into account the cottage-y style of the house. If white is all wrong – any other ideas?
Thanks so much!
Hi Crystal,
JUST saw your two postings after emailing you some specific whites and a photo of a house with black windows. Obviously, you are way ahead of that already. We looked at white house/trim/windows and gray shakes under the gable. You will be adding a black porch ceiling and door. All the decisions you’ve made so far are very cottagey with a leaning toward farmhouse (chic). New construction farmhouses are using a lot of the white-on-white with black accents and there’s nothing wrong with that. It is an absolutely timeless look and I think that’s very important.
Let me know if you need more white suggestions — I a yellow-white is out. I tried to lean more toward the gray side to coordinate with the other elements.
Keep me posted on your decisions — what a great project!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Sorry if this is posted in a different area – I could not find my original question thread. My browser was having trouble when I posted.
Thank you for your quick email reply earlier. I was hoping to get some advice on specific colors too. :0)
Our house elevation was based on a cottage home and we’d like to keep the style there with the color.
Our initial thought was to do mostly white – siding, trim, gables, window casing. We would like to try to add interest with a minimal accent color.
One suggestion was light gray on the cedar shake gables. Another possibility is to do black somewhere on the porch. We will have a black roof and no stone at all. We would like a black door.
Is all white too sterile?
The other possible combos are: blue color scheme or gray color scheme.
Thanks so much!!
Hi Barbara,
I am going to make an offer to purchase a house soon. My first choice works because of the layout, but I don’t like the exterior rock trim and paint colors. In particular, I don’t like pale green. The neighborhood is new with warm neutral colors. The custom rock wall is overwhelming. What do you recommend? I sent pictures over to help.
Many thanks.
Karen
Hi Karen,
Try this:
Ben Moore’s
Briarwood PM-32 for the siding
(“Elegant and traditional, this deep neutral works in virtually any setting.”)
Olympic Mountains 971 for the trim
And Super Nova 1414 for the accent color
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I just made a payment to you through PayPal and I need help! I live in a very nice neighborhood in Tampa, FL, with oak tree-lined streets. We own the ugliest, smallest house on the street (we are surrounded by million dollar homes–bungalows, brand new mega monster homes, and even Spanish style homes). Our house was built in the 1950s and is a small house for the neighborhood–2200 sq. ft. All of my neighbors have asked me when am I tearing it down! Of the very few painted brick houses like mine, they all are white with black shutters and either a black door or a red door. I am a little bored/tired of that scheme.
I am having the house painted in a few weeks and am in serious need of some color advice. I don’t like the reddish brown color of the roof but it is staying. I prefer to keep the main part of the house white but am at a loss for what color to paint the shutters and the doors. There is barely any trim so I am thinking to paint the trim white as well.
Please suggest specific colors and also a specific shade of white. My painter is using Sherwin Williams paint, so if you can suggest Sherwin Williams colors that would be great. I was thinking of a dark blue for the shutters and a mossy green for the doors but I am no designer and am open to any suggestions. I would like to make the house look more modern with a pop of color yet not stick out in the neighborhood. Also, what is strange about our house is that people can never tell which door is the front door when they walk up to the house. I think if the doors are painted too bright of a color it will only be more distracting since there isn’t one focal point to the house. What are your thoughts on that?
We are going to landscape w/tropical plants after the house is painted to add some more color to the yard. Please help, I am at a loss here! I need specific Sherwin Williams colors suggestions.
Front of house:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/QE6xNJxu2lvibHbUBOlzalszq6zU0hQTnzA0drpkeQ=w276-h207-p-no
Side of house (shown with old windows & old shrubs):
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/ae6XsA-GePEWYAIT598_wbdLJs5fkVhPAOSF2mTOqA=w276-h207-p-no
Thank you,
Laura
Hi Laura,
How about an Antique White SW 6119 for the body of the house. It will take the gray tint of the current white away and it will embrace the roof color. Then to contrast with that, I suggest an Extra White SW 7006 on the window and door trim and along the fascia/soffits and gutters. White will give your house a cottagey look and it should contrast just enough with the body color to give some character to your home’s architecture.
For shutters and doors, I suggest a nice soft green like Antique Marble SW 6162 and the reason for this is that your roof color is part of the palette and it’s quite prominent. We don’t need a bright color to interrupt the flow of the palette. The pale color (used in a glossy finish) will give your home a soft, pulled-together, intentional look that should work with your neighborhood.
For plantings, go lush! LOTS of greenery and you can add bright colors in the florals if you want. Your home provides a neutral palette for some fabulous Florida color in the yard. Tie in the roof color with terra cotta pots. I think you’re already doing that but go for larger scale!
Hope that helps. See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello, we are updating a home in Memphis, TN. It is set in a wooded, country 5 acre lot. The home exterior is spruce wood. I need desperate help in figuring out the home body color, trim, door color,and any accent color (like making the garage door a different color?) We had originally picked out Benjamin Moore Briarwood for the body color. What do you think of this choice? What trim color would look good with this? The painters told us that with this type of wood home, a tremendous amount of contrast would not look appropriate and that the body needed to remain dark due to imperfections in the wood? We are at a loss. Any recommendations would greatly be appreciated.
I will be sending an email with a picture of the home attached.
Please help,
T.J.
Hi Terri,
I do like Briarwood for your siding — great with the roof. Check out Annapolis Gray PM-14 for the trim color — less contrast than the current color. Then for the accent, look at Ten Gallon Hat 1210. The color palette goes with your roof and brick and will allow you to bring additional color in with the landscaping (and pool).
I will email the colors so you see them.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello,
Just looking for some advice as to what accent color we might paint our front door. We inherited a brown roof and brown accents (shutters and garage door) and don’t have enough money at the moment to upgrade all of them. Just wondering if we could brighten things up with a nice color on our front door. Right now it is unpainted. We will be replacing the broken shutter which was damaged over the winter. Not sure how to attached a photo, so I will email it to you.
Thanks!
Hi Meghann,
Try one of these in a high gloss. Any one of them should add some spice to the house. See what you think.
Benjamin Moore henderson buff HC-15
Benjamin Moore hancock gray HC-97
Benjamin Moore summerdale gold HC-17
Looking for a color in your brick that we can highlight — something other than brown/red.
Check them out.
Our home is a peach colored brick with a sage gray colored grout. The roof is fairly new, Tamko Mountain slate color. We have clad windows in bronze and the rain gutters are the same color. The door is oak and has a pickled natural stain. I like the grey green color of the house but I think it is a bit too dark and I’m ready for a change. What color should we paint the front door, side lights, and area around the front door? What color should we paint the deck, the wood around the windows, the trim, and the new garage doors? The area around our home is very wooded. I would like to send pictures but ‘m not sure how to add them…..
I emailed some pictures to you. Thanks for your help.
Hello Coach. I’ve been working out my muscles on the 50th anniversary of my humble ranch house. My coworker and I have chosen a Sherwin Williams Oakmoss color 6180 for the majority of the house. It has a new brown roof. I tried a traditional red on the shutters SW 7594 Carriage Door. While it is ok, it is not jumping out at us. We don’t want it to be a Christmas house. My other problem is the front painted brick part of the house. The brick goes approx. half up the frontal exterior. It has always been painted in the trim color. What you see on it now is the previous trim. I was thinking a light cream for the trim. Saw a few people using SW muslin. Not sure if that would work. Soo . . . my main question(s) is/are any ideas for the shutters? I thought possibly a butterscotch or something and what to do with the brick front. cream-like trim or light gold ?? Keep it light?? Should the garage door stay olive? A friend said maybe I should paint it. I will send some photos to your email address. Lastly if permissible, we recently had a new deck put on the back. I plan on staining it in the spring. We are thinking of a transparent stain. Any suggestions what would look nice with the oakmoss. Many thanks. David
Hi David,
Despite the change in material (brick), I suggest painting the lower half of your house the same green color as the top. That will make the house appear bigger and not chopped in half. THEN, you can warm up the house with the trim color. Something like SW Classic Light Buff 0050.
With a garage door and shutters in something like Colonial Revival Tan SW 2828
For the decking and front steps, look at Woodridge SW 3504 Woodridge
For the front door, try Spicy Hue — red without screaming Holiday! SW 6342.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Coach, Thanks for the suggestions. We did paint the brick facade the green color and we both like it much more. Haven’t tried anything else, a bit wet lately. Wondered if you have another number for SW classic light buff. The lady said that was an older color and was’nt sure how to match it up to the newer numbers. Liked the color for the door and the deck. Thanks! We have seen green and tan/buff before, I guess we were wondering if you might have another suggestion for the garage door and shutters that are more colorful. I do like the buff color but anything that’s a little bit “outthere” that you like with the green. Saw a new construct office recently that had similar green with tan and then a dark almost like fallingwater (cherokee?)type red for trim around windows. Looked pretty craftsman-like. I liked the look but it was an office building. Not sure if it would transfer well. to a suburban want to be bungalow. We both agree that right now with everything green it needs lightened up. Especially the garage door. Hope to work on it this weekend. Thanks Dave
Hi Barbara,
You recently advised me on roofing shingles & now, unexpectedly, a 2nd problem has arisen. My husband primed & re-stained a small section of our house this fall using Storm solid stain tinted to Cabot’s Cape Cod Gray. (We switched brands but, after much trial & error with colors, couldn’t find one preferable to Cabot’s C.C. Gray which we’d used on the house twice before.)
Today’s dilemma: the new C.C. Gray doesn’t look like the old one, & it has an obvious green tinge neither of us likes. Is there a Storm solid stain or Benjamin Moore mid-tone that would get us back to, OR IMPROVE on, our old color? No pink or green undertones. Alexandria Beige (HC-77), Berkshire Beige (AC-2), Brandon Beige (977)?? We have most of the house to prime and re-stain next spring, & a 2nd coat to go on what was done this fall, so we can’t make major changes. Again, your help is most appreciated!
P.S. Is Ashley Gray (HC-87) gray, or does it read light brown?
Hi Joanie,
To answer your questions, Ashley Gray is the grayest of the colors you mentioned above. All those others have a definite green undertone. But Ashley may be too dark if you’re trying to match.
Take a look at Smokey Taupe 983.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/smokeytaupe
See if that works…
Barbara,
So glad you set me straight about the undertones in Alexandria Beige, Berkshire Beige, etc. I didn’t pick up on the green in any of those, from the chips.
Smokey Taupe (983) looks very pretty but light. Are Stone Hearth (984) and Indian River (985) simply darker versions of Smokey Taupe, or do they have different undertones? They seem to be the mid-tones I was looking for.
Thanking you again for your help.
HI Barbara,
I am in need of some major color assistance. My husband and I are in the process of renovating a brick-and-cedar-shingle, 1950’s ranch house and just cannot come to an agreement about anything related to the exterior colors. There are some parameters that will not change – The roof is a gray color (with tiny bits of cream and a taupey brown), and the new windows are Anderson “sandtone” trimmed with the same color grilles. The front door will be mahogany (more brown that red). There will also remain partial red brick siding on 2 walls that will be visible from the street (to the left of the entry and the left side). Our difficulty is that we need to decide if we will have maintenance free fascia and soffits that would be white or brown – or choose to use wood and paint. This decision then would determine what color (brown or white) gutters and downspouts we choose. My husband wants no maintenance (so we need to wrap), does not like high contrast, and so does not want to paint the trim white (hence the choice of the window color) or have the fascia and soffits white; he would prefer brown. I, on the other hand, am not certain I would like the look of brown trim (particularly gutters) with the gray roof.
So, My husband would like a brown color body with the sandtone trim (including the corner boards that will be added later) and brown gutters and downspouts (and fascia and soffits). I fear this would be too dark with the brick face, but can’t seem to come up with any color that looks good with the sandtone trim the gray roof and the brick (I am not a big fan of the putty greenish color that it currently is – it is just too bland for me. I would like interesting trim and possibly a 3 (or more) color palette). Do you have any suggestions that would help with our immediate decision and ultimately the color choices for the house and trim? And are there any particular rules of thumb about color combinations that would help determine these selections?
I have shared the google+ album with you that has pictures of the project. If you need me to send you a photo separately, please let me know. Thanks for any help you can provide,
Judy
Hi Judy,
Please send a photo to my email.
bmeglis@yahoo.com
I’m happy to help you.
-Barbara
Hi Barbara,
I have a new-to-us 60’s red brick-fronted split with siding, sides and back..that is now white… white trim, white windows, white overhang. We did have a nice 6 ft wood fence installed for the Goldens, and had decking, fence and gazebo in back painted SW ‘pinecone.’
The garage is a side load, so you drive right up to the front porch to turn in, which is only a step up from drive..just lots of white! I am not a fan.
We gutted and redid the inside.. all our visitors like the inside, and one said it’s like a ‘cozy cottage,’ exactly what I want..and desire for outside too if possible.
Roof is brand new, black, the carriage lights outside are black- new, and front door is Ben Moore Yarmouth Blue, but that can change if you think. Need to have new garage door or paint..maybe carriage type door, and want to have driveway done…
So my question is, how can I bump the curb appeal now with house color? Landscaping is on the horizon this year, but need plants and flowers that the deer don’t like…
What color for house will work best?
What color will complement it for siding and trim?
Should overhang and gutters match trim or be yet another color?
And how should garage door color be integrated in this mix?
Can I paint my front porch? If yes, what color?
(my painter does use SW if you can recommend that way, that’d be great, although my local store can usually convert a Ben Moore to SW product via their computer)
I am so glad you are here … Changing a house color is daunting. Thank you so much. Susan S., Cle Ohio suburb
Hi Susan,
A couple of ideas come to mind:
1) Embrace the brick since it’s one of the few red bricks in the neighborhood and paint the white siding a warmer color that will blend with the brick and coordinate with it better — making the house look bigger and less chopped up. One color option is a warm beige (I know you said you live in a sea of beige — but take a look). Another is a soft green.
Benjamin Moore shaker beige HC-45
Benjamin Moore nantucket gray HC-111
2) A more severe option in terms of permanence but you could PAINT the brick white to go with the rest of the house. That would certainly make your house look bigger (all one color) and it would be a neutral backdrop for your cottagey accessories and landscaping. White houses never go out of style. But once you paint brick, it’s very difficult to go back to the original brick. Consult a professional painter if you are considering this option.
Then … the windows. Attached is a photo of a bow window with more traditionally “cottage” colonial mullions. If possible, replace the Tudor style mullions in the windows. That change alone will make a HUGE difference in the overall updated look of the house, whether you do anything with the paint or not.
The shutters are fine. The chimney is okay to stay brick — no need to paint. I do like the white trim color, even for the soffits and gutters. A carriage garage door would be a nice accent — white with black hardware.
The “porch” is more like a large but shallow step. I’m not sure I would accent it with a concrete stain as it will only look very narrow. But you might consider lining it with long white boxed planters that will break up the concrete and actually create a tiny little porch for your bench. If you keep the red brick, then use greenery only (or white/cream flowers). You won’t want to clash a lot of busy color with the busy brick in the background. But all greenery would be nice.
Landscape: I suggest pulling out the sculpted bushes and replacing with a variety of more loosely organized shrubs, annuals and perennials. Lots of greenery if you keep the red brick. And white/cream flowers. Include a little bed of flowers around the light pole (okay to have more color there, away from the house).
I think that’s it. Take a look and let me know if you have more questions.
Thanks for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I neglected to ask about shutter color. We just painted the louver ones we have to black, but are open to changing not just color, but also style if it would better fit house..say to board & batten. Thanks!
Hi Barbara, I need some help with paint colors on the exterior of the house. The most pronounced feature is the gray stone walk way and we may eventually put a stack stone veneer along the base of the house. We are located in Southern California.
Hi Erick,
Here is one idea to consider:
For the siding (upper lap siding and any stucco not covered with stone veneer):
Benjamin Moore sail cloth PM-21
That will coordinate with your roof, contrast with any stonework, and lighten up your front door alcove.
Then for the garage door and any other doors that need paint:
Benjamin Moore briarwood PM-32
That will “ground” the house and also tie in the stonework.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thanks Barbara, As far as stone veneer what color would you suggest?I’ve used El Dorado stone in the past.
Something that includes your overall color scheme. Try this one: http://www.eldoradostone.com/products/stone/eastern-profiles/cliffstone/#/montecito
Also do I still keep the fascia white or do I color that Briarwood? My wife is also asking if the front door would still look good in black?
Hi Erick, Yes you can keep the fascia white. That will look sharp, even against the Sail Cloth. And the front door can stay black. You might move some black over to the garage side by installing some black exterior lighting on either side of the garage door or above on the siding.
Dear Barbara,
My husband and I are buiding our first custom home, which is a craftsman style home. I am having a horrible time deiciding on the colors for the brick, siding, door and roof. I’ve looked everywhere trying to find ideas for vinyl colors to match with dark red/burgandy brick, however it seems more of the lighter brown/gray color brick is more popular right now. My husband likes a light (white or close to white color) and I prefer something other than white. There is a main vinyl color and then a accent vinyl color so I’m hoping to incorporate what we both like. I will be sending you a picture of the house (same house built in NC but our house will of course be different colors and brick instead of stone) and the link to vinyl colors we have to choose from. We would like our door to “pop”. We plan to have a 2 panel craftsman style door with dentil shelf with glass and transom above. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Crystal L.
Hi Barbara – I bought a small “Saltbox” house with a red roof in Redlands circa 1903. The previous owner was an old lady, so she didn’t have much money for landscaping so I need to add shrubs – you’ll see there aren’t any now. She also converted what used to be a deck on the left side of the house into a living room – and added a small roof over the door. The siding is old and not in the best shape – so a light color would reduce the mottled look of the weathering – right? I would like the house to look prettier – and to draw attention to the door. But there’s a security metal screen door outside the door, so whatever color you suggest for the door should apply to the security door also – right? Would you suggest shutters on the large front window? The house is so small and pretty nondescript – so do you think I should paint the trim the same color as the house? I’ll send a picture of the house to your e-mail address. Thank you! Alicen Wong
Hi Alicen,
I sent you an email with all the paint color suggestions but here’s a summary. I suggest a light warm gray like Ben Moore’s Athena (858) or Collingwood (859). Then paint all the trim white (Cloud Cover (855) including fascia. Red shutters on that front window will tie in the roof color as will red plantings on the left side of the house (where the foundation is plain). Let us see the rock foundation on the right side. Nice texture. Use silver as a metal color to update the house if possible to paint or replace that front step railing. And if possible, order white mullions for your windows to give the house a more cottagey look.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for posting!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello,
My husband and I are looking to tone down the exterior of our house, it is a bit too bright for us. With that being said we want the new color to be unique and maybe a bit trendy, just not so bright. We are going to paint the garage, shutters and front door. I’m emailing you a few pictures now. We will be using sherwin Williams colors. I had thought maybe Hazel for the door, sealskin for the shutters and maybe paint the garage doors the same base color Beige/brown as the rest of the house. Thoughts? Also, very open to your new color ideas. Thanks!
Hi Beth,
I just sent you an email with colors. But I do like Hazel for the front door. Then try Enduring Bronze for the shutters and Useful Gray for the garage doors. I think that combination will work well with both brick and roof colors.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
My husband a I recently bought this home and would like to change the paint colors. The decks are on the back of the house however we face a lake and the driveway enters here so it’s what you see first. The roof will be changing in two years so we are not we’d to this color and I will be happy to pay for that if you think we should change it. Our windows and doors are terratone by Anderson and we do not want to paint over it. There is no Lanscaping because we had to do a french drain and new Lanscaping isn’t on yet. I will send pictures to your email.
Thank you,
Lorraine
Hi Lorraine,
Check out Ben Moore’s Briarwood. It’s a wonderful taupey medium shade that goes well with brick and certainly looks good in most neighborhoods (wooded or by the lake). Then a creamy trim color that will coordinate with your brick again. Look at Sail Cloth. Using the brick to pull the color palette makes some sense. The blue combo that is on the house currently offers a bit too much contrast against that brick. Even with the lake as inspiration.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello, I am looking for color suggestions for the exterior of our house including trim, garage door and front door along with any accent colors. I am emailing photos of the house. I also wanted to mention the house on either side ours is gray. I need your help it seems I am color challenged. My husband is a little tired of blue.
Hi Barbara,
You helped me a few years ago with some interior paint choices and they turned out great! So I’m back to ask for you help with painting the exterior now.
House is 35 years old and has combination of cedar shakes, some wood (across second level) and brick. We painted for the first time about 8 years ago, and I don’t remember the color, but it was a BM color – a VERY light beige (which turned out to be the wrong choice.)
The shutters are Tudor Brown – & we had new Pella windows installed a few years ago to match the trim – so the windows are trimmed brown as well. New Front door was a dark brown with reddish overtone, but was just repainted Tudor brown (we had forgotten to have the door “sealed” every so often). Roof is a light (reddish?) brown. The brick is reddish/terracotta – with grayish cement in between. We also plan to re-do the porch steps and were told we could choose a slightly different brick on that. I’m not a fan of red, but we have no choice but to work with what’s already on the house! Garage doors also Tudor Brown.
We have a southwestern exposure and got TONS of afternoon sunlight, so there is a lot of lightening of the paint and ladybugs are attracted to the house due to the light color and exposure.
Painter is coming in a few weeks and I really want to update the look and not have such a contrast between the light house color and severely dark trim.
I definitely want to go darker with the paint color and wanted your suggestions on how to do that and work with the trim as is, or can we change that as well? For the house color, I was thinking more of a grayish beige, as opposed to the brownish beige – so many others on our street look the same, but we are definitely the lightest house on the street. I was looking at Bennington Gray and wondering if that would work with the red brick – and also what other colors I can test out before the painter arrive?
Also, is changing the shutters an option, or are we stuck with the Tudor Brown since the windows are brown?
Would appreciate your overall thoughts on how to proceed. I’m sending an email with photos for your to review.
Thanks,
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
Take a look at this palette (I will email it to you):
Ben Moore’s Briarwood PM-32 (siding)
Edgecomb Gray HC-173 (soffits, fascia and any other trim including the front door sidelights)
Buttered Yam AF-230 for the front door. (from how the brick appears on my screen — will need to check)
Remove the shutters altogether. You do not need them at all with the dark brown windows. There is more than enough contrast and the windows appear “dressed.”
Also, I suggest larger lighting on the porch and get silver-tone instead of black. That will add sparkle and light to the house.
Same goes for house number and any other metal.
See if that helps. And thanks for coming back!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Briarwood sounds good and I do like the idea of removing the shutters. That will really change the look, and I’m sure make it more contemporary.
A few clarifications and questions before I head out to the paint store to pick up samples…
The photos I sent unfortunately did not show the colors properly – the brick is really a combination of red (not deep red, a light red) and grayish tones – it appears very orange on my screen and probably yours, but it is not at all. Just a traditional (what I call “apartment building” red brick). We’re in NJ, and a lot of apt buildings use that family of brick colors.
With that in mind, if we decided to stay with the current door color (Tudor Brown) would that still work with the Briarwood and Edgecomb trim? Also, should the sidelights always be a different color than the door, or just because you had suggested a “pop” color?
So, should we go with a lighter color brown, or is there another color that would work? The buttered yam is pretty orange, and the brick is not orange at all. If you could provide a few alternate suggestions – whether it be a lighter brown or a different color that would work with the palette you suggested and go with the reddish brick as I have described it.
I also like the idea of changing the lighting on the porch – however, the sidelight glass is accented by brass, not silver – so I guess we would have to change to brass?
What do you recommend for the garage doors (they were just painted Tudor Brown as well but can be changed to work with everything) – should they be the same color as front door? Also, our new back patio sliding door is trimmed in brown as well – I would assume that would stay?
I never realized how many elements can and should be changed – thanks for opening my eyes as to what might be possible!
Dear Barbara,
I’m in desperate need your help to choose color of siding/garage door/ main entrance door. I will send you the pictures of my house to your email.
The house is 25 years old and it has dark brown roof and some cherry red brick. I painted it 13 years ago with Kelly Moor navajo white #36 for siding and swiss coffee #23 for trim. The colors were okay, but my husband did not like it that much because he likes brown and beige colors. He does not like yellow, green and grey. For me I like soft and fresh colors. I like colors not too dark, not too warm, and not too brown. Here is the list of all the colors that I tested out:
SW macadamia
SW windsor greige
SW pavillion beige
SW balanced beige
SW nomadic desert
SW nantucket dune
We did not like most of those colors. My husband and my daughter like nomadic desert form Sherwin William. However, I found some pinky undertone when I painted it on the cardboard sample and I also worry it does not go well the dark brown roof. I like SW nantucket dune but my daughter said it too light and it looks similar to the house current color. So, I still have no solution so far and I’m really struggle right now. I like the house look prettier. Do you think I should try some cream color like SW interactive cream? By the way, I like to keep the trim color white because we have vinyl window with white color so we just want to the trims to match with the windows. Please give me some suggestion of colors for my siding and garage door.
For the door entrance, right now I have golden oak stain, I wonder if I should change it to darker color. Please help me, I need to make final decision by this weekend because Sherwin William has 40 percents off this weekend and I do not want to miss it.
Thanks,
Giao
Hi Giao,
What about going deeper with another neutral for the siding — same color on garage door. Look at SW 7025 Backdrop. It’s a warm medium neutral that will go well with both brick, stone walkway and door.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW7025-backdrop/#/7025/?s=products&p=PS0
Another option is SW 6109 Hopsack.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW6109-hopsack/#/6109/?s=products&p=PS0
See what you think. The white trim is perfect.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
Thanks for the advice! However the hopsack and backdrop colors are too dark for me. Do you think it will be okay if I go with sw latte instead? Do I need to stain the door darker if I choose latte color? Should I use SW pure white or SW devine white for trim? Many thanks for your help.
Giao
Hi Barbara, We’re back again. Thanks so much for you previous help. We are looking to update the color in the main area of our house. It’s an open area including the kitchen, living room, and leads into the dining room. I’ll email you the pictures. The pictures will include a broad view of the room. I’ll also include closeups of our granite countertops, cabinets, wood flooring, dining table, and bar stools. We are doing some renovations but plan to keep these things. Hopefully there is a color that compliments them all. 🙂 We want to lighten up the room as we feel the current color is a bit dark. I believe the current color is Khaki. If you need any other information, please let me know. Thanks!
Hi Bill,
Here are some ideas:
Pale Oak is the new trendy (?) linen white. We are still in the gray family of neutrals in all new construction and this color is very calm and it goes with everything. Brings out the warm tones in your furniture and wood and definitely goes with the granite. Check it out.
Benjamin Moore Pale Oak PM-30
The next color is not gray but it is not as yellow as the old linens. It too goes with everything and is certainly MY go-to color. I have it in my main public space and love it. Very calm and does not compete with art or furniture.
Benjamin Moore bone white PM-30
The third color is a sunshine tone — but not too yellow. It is a happy color that we use a lot in staging homes for resale as it gives a wonderful aura as you walk into the home. I also have it in my sunroom. It will go with all of your furniture and granite as well.
Benjamin Moore papaya 957
See what you think of those colors. All are lighter than the current khaki and will brighten the space.
Thanks for coming back!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I do love the yellow with black shutters and white trim (Ben Moore’s Swiss Coffee OC-45 would work). But I also like the idea (if you think there’s too much yellow) of a Peale Green house with Swiss Coffee trim, NO shutters since the house would be dark anyway, and either a black door or a Concord Ivory (HC-12) door.
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/pealegreen
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/swisscoffee
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/concordivory
Another soft, golden yellow is Golden Straw with Marscapone trim
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/goldenstraw
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/mascarpone
White is not out of the question. Very traditional with black shutters and a dark green door.
I’m not sure I would bother with different tones of the same hue on different doors. The light will play tricks on the paint colors anyway over the course of the day. If you have an “Outbuilding” (garage or something like that), it’s great to paint that a different color (green maybe). So there’s not too much white or yellow. But I would hesitate to chop up the house with color as it will make the house appear more modern than it is.
As for the porch floor, medium gray always works as it does not show any dirt at all. Then the porch floor will not compete with the door color for attention. The floor should not really be noticed upon entering the house.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for coming back!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
One more idea… I do really love white houses with black shutters
Hi Barbara,
You’d helped me a while back with choosing a roof color for our traditional Maine house. We ended up going with Moire Black and have been quite pleased with it.
My questions today concern siding and trim colors. I’m still considering painting it yellow. (White primer on at the moment.) You had previously suggested Philadelphia Cream (siding) and Caldwell Green (door) as colors that might fit in a wooded setting. I think those colors may not be “clear” enough for me (a little muddy, for lack of a better term). I’ve been drawn to an old California Paint color called Faded Yellow, and that’s what you see (primer) on a bit of the siding in the photos I sent. To me, this is a clear yellow that maybe is softer and prettier than it appears in the photos. Anyway, I’m a little unsure about it.
I was also thinking of Benjamin Moore Peale Green (HC-121) for the south-facing front door-–and the fresher Kennebunkport Green (HC-123) for the east-facing back door. There will be a portico on the front that is not yet built.
To further complicate things there is a kitchen addition (see photos), as well as a long back addition. A screened porch will also be built to the left side. I think a little yellow goes a long way, so I’m wondering: Is this too much yellow? (I like white houses, and I’ve thought of keeping the house white, which is classic, but it seems stark here.) Do we paint the main house yellow, the rest white? We do not plan to have shutters.
Re back porch: You can see where the back porch joins onto the main house (a work in progress). What color paint would you suggest for the porch floor? Can I use a green, as on the door? The porch roof, if it matters, is an Everlast metal roof: charcoal color.
And what color white would you suggest for the trim?
What do you think of all this? I’m open to suggestions! Thank you.
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
A lot to think over—thank you so much. Definitely will go with a medium gray porch—it’s what I’d originally planned.
A few questions about the house colors:
1. Seems like you’re trying to steer me toward a warmer yellow, if yellow is the color we choose—correct?
2. The exterior window color is a stark white. So you’re okay with an off-white—Mascarpone in this case—for the trim?
3. If we decide to keep the siding white, is there a particular white you’d suggest? So many to choose from!
Barbara
Hi Barbara,
1. Not necessarily warmer yellow but creamier and softer. A touch more muted.
2. I am definitely okay with an off-white trim color even with stark white windows. All will “read” white from the road.
3. Here’s a white combination to try: Ben Moore’s White Down OC-131 for the body and Cloud White OC-130 for the trim. A little truer white to go with your stark white windows. (An even whiter white is Simply White. Check it out too.) Classic New England.
Hi Barbara,
Well, we’ve moved away from the yellow color for the moment. (I think this house wants to be white.) We now have a couple of white paint samples done: the White Down as above, and Linen White. The Linen White is definitely softer and creamier–I like it in our woodland setting. (Have not viewed it yet, though, in all types of light.) But is it classic enough for New England? What do you think?
Also, if it helps, we have the Moire Black roof.
Thank you so much.
Barb
Barb,
Take a look at this white: Ben Moore’s Steam. It is a very forgiving white. Soft. Classic white on white (white house with white trim) screams New England to me. Especially with a black roof. Like the house has been there 100 years. Check this out. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/steam
Barbara, I may have given you the wrong impression. The White Down is definitely a possibility. Guess I was just trying to compare the two. But I’ll certainly check out Ben Moore Steam, in addition to the above. Off to the hardware store…
Hi Barbara,
Still haven’t made a decision on the house color! I like the White Down– but white, without shutters, seems like too much, and we definitely don’t want shutters. Any yellow we’ve tried seems too yellow for this house. At this point, I’m wondering about maybe choosing a color that’s even softer and creamier than the Philadelphia Cream. What do you think about Gentle Cream (OC-96) in the BM Exterior Collection brochure? Thank you.
Barb
Hi Barbara,
After testing the Philadelphia Cream again (turns out that, previously, there was poor coverage over another yellow), we’ve decided that’s the one. You were certainly right to suggest that initially.
What white/off-white trim color do you think we should use? And would you suggest a green color for the door please?
Thank you.
Barb
Hi Barbara,
We have a 60’s split level that we are getting ready to paint, and we are also replacing the garage door. The roof is only a few years old so we need to work our color scheme with it. The roof color is Driftwood and they are CertainTeed Landmark shingles.
Since the pictures won’t show up on here, I will email you the pictures of the roof shingles, the front house view, the garage door color options, and a view showing the stamped concrete patio color. I can send a full view of the back and/or sides of the house if you’d like.
The house faces north. As you can see, the brick is kind of an orangey terra cotta color and I am not sure if we should work with it or paint it out though I’m not sure my husband will want it painted. As we are replacing the garage door, I can pick from the seven colors shown in emailed picture.
I was considering the Bronze color but I am open to any of them except the Hunter Green. I can also get it with or without windows, and with long or short recessed or raised panels.
Currently the front door is a bright navy blue, though as you can see the color gets lost in the shadows. The trim is white but that could be changed and we are open to putting shutters back on the house or not.
Without my directing you, what are your thoughts on colors that would update the house and create a nice curb appeal? Our painter uses Sherwin Williams paint but I am not opposed to having them color match another brand of paint. I must have color choices made by this weekend as our painter is going to start next week…Help!
Thank you!
Kathy R
Thank you again, Barbara, for the helpful suggestions. And I appreciate your taking time to talk a bit about trim colors. (I just realized that’s a separate category altogether.)
No problem, Barbara!
Hi, I am in the process of building a really cool shed and I have to select the paint color this week (he just told me that today). And, I have a house that is a horrid green. I plan to repaint it as well. I need to figure out what would look good on these two buildings and either match or coordinate them. Window colors won’t change, but doors will. I have a beautiful new door ordered for the house, and the storm door will go away. I’m not sure how to send you photos, so if you could please tell me, I will send you several. Thanks!
Hi Loni,
Here’s one possible palette:
Siding for the main house:
Fairview Taupe HC-85
Siding for the shed/coop.
Benjamin Moore shadow 2117-30
Trim for everything:
Swiss Coffee OC-45
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Dear Barbara,
I’m having trouble selecting an exterior palette. Currently body is stained Olympic Stonehedge, with brilliant white trim, and black shutters/door. I got the bright idea to branch out (pulling colors from interior of house) and came up with a new palette-BM Nantucket Gray (or Sag Harbor Gray or Sandy Hook Gray), BM Sail Cloth trim, and BM Ashwood Moss shutters/door. However, I didn’t really take into account my fixed elements: Timberline Charcoal roof, asphalt driveway, white aluminum windows, white sliding glass door on back deck, white gutters, slate walkway, white garage doors. My husband wasn’t thrilled about painting the gutters, aluminum trim, slider, garage doors, etc. a creamier trim color which would add maintenance. (Although I told him we should paint the garage doors the body color, right?!) Which leads me to maybe re-think the scheme to go w/all the white elements-and back to-a cooler gray, gray/green/blue palette- like BM Duxbury Gray or Puritan Gray w/Black shutters & door and BM White Dove or Distant Gray trim. Perhaps Duxbury is too dark with the heavy roof? Or is there another scheme that pops out at you? I’m asking our carpenter to beef up the window trim a little-only on the front of the house (to keep costs down)-and also removing storm door. I’m in NJ/quiet suburbs, and house faces North. Open to any suggestions! Thank you! I emailed a link to my shutterfly album.
Hi jtino1!
Thank you for the photos (I see them in my email) and the detailed description of your dilemma.
I am traveling today but hope to get to your question by tomorrow.
More soon!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Jtino1,
Just a quick thought as I look at your photos — I’ll spin the fandeck later — but have you considered something like
Ben Moore’s Briarwood?
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/pm32
It goes really nicely with your stonework both on the walkway and in your garden, and it would contrast beautifully with both dark roof and bright white trim. (I would stick with the white everywhere — you have so much of it, including fencing and columns — too much to paint and I love the white anyway with your traditional home –windows and black shutters).
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you for your suggestion of Briarwood, Barbara-I’m liking it! I picked up a sample today from BM. I have to say I am/was really hesitant about using a bright white trim with a color I’m perceiving as earthy and warm. For some reason I have stuck in my mind that earthy exterior body colors need an off-white trim. But I googled pics of Briarwood homes and most have a bright white trim-and it doesn’t look “jarring” as I expected! Do you like a particular clean white exterior trim color or just BM Brilliant White?
I’ll leave the black shutters and door as you mentioned to keep the classic traditional look. (I’m guessing if I get bored someday w/a black door I can always look at a red-like BM Cottage Red or Dinner Party?).
Finally, Briarwood will blend in nicely with the neighborhood. This house has been the same color since 1990. We’ve been here since 2000. Looking forward to a change to our OWN colors. Thank you for your help!
Hi Julie,
Sorry for the delay — I was away for a week.
I like the white trim you already have. Best to paint a sample board of the Briarwood, however, and hold it next to your current trim. There is no problem with a bright white and the Briarwood. It will look crisp and contemporary.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you Barbara, Briarwood it is with Brilliant White trim! Sample board looked great and painters started prep. I’m doing Briarwood also for back deck with white railing. I forgot to ask however if the front porch floor should be Briarwood also, or some form of gray? The interior walls of front porch are Briarwood. The painter asked me and I was like um…..Thank you!!
Hi Julie,
I think the current porch floor color is fine. It will still contrast a bit with the Briarwood but coordinate with it also. You want something that ties in the walkway and I think the current color works great.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you, will do! I just found an old thread here that mentioned Annapolis Gray for porch floor with Briarwood siding so I guess I can use that as an option also. I’ll send along a finished pic when it’s all painted!
Annapolis Gray should work beautifully. And yes, I would love to see the house when it’s finished!
Thanks for posting, Julie. Stop by again!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara. We have a 1911 American Foursquare red/rust brick house — which we love. I’ve sent pictures to your email address.
We are overwhelmed with color choices and could really use your input on:
– Exterior trim/accent colors for the whole house (including soffits and dormers)
-Color for a hardyboard addition on the back of the house (we’ve been toying with two colors: The red sample shown below is: Sherwin Williams Dying Ember HGSW3041; the gray is: urbane bronze sw7048), but aren’t sure if we are on the right track?
-landscaping for the front of the house up the front stairs and around the porch
Thanks so much for your help.
Hello Barbara
I have recommended your service to my sister and she would like your advice on the exterior of her home. She is currently shopping for a new entrance door. Can you offer some advice on the color/style of door that would most enhance her exterior? Would you change the color of the shutters and garage doors as well?
Any other ideas that you have regarding curb appeal would be most welcome and appreciated as always!
Thanks!
Holly Quinlan
Hi Holly,
Here’s an idea:
I love the shutters, actually. They look very French to me. Especially with the casement windows. Something you might see in Paris.
For the front door, I’ve sent you a photo style — it needs to have windows to let in light and “speak to” the other windows. For the color, it can really stand out. Here is a bold one and a softer version.
Benjamin Moore Sweet Butter 171
OR
Benjamin Moore Algonquin Trail 1055
For the garage doors, I suggest using the current front door color — it looks like a darker version of the house color that will give the doors some life but not emphasize them too much.
For landscaping, I suggest not covering any windows, but I do like the variety on the left side of the house. Another idea instead of the white stones is to use long rectangular planters along the walkway where the stones are currently and put low-growing greenery in there. Maybe some annuals. Nothing too high that would cover the windows. I love the pot in the driveway area.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you once again, Barbara, for your great suggestions. I am going to pass them along to my sister. They are great options and I know she will love them!!
Holly Q
Hi Barbara. My apologies if this is a duplicate post. I am having difficulties seeing my post in browsers other than Safari, so I reposted). We have a 1911 American Foursquare. I sent you pictures yesterday via email. We could sure use your input on just about everything:
-Trim and accent colors
-Color of the addition on the back of the house
-Door and gutter color
-landscaping on front of house (leading up stairs and around the front porch)
In the email, I sent colors that we were leaning toward for the addition in the back (we picked two from the brick: a red and a dark gray). We aren’t sure if we are on the right track there?
For the trim we’d like to stay away from super bright white, but are overwhelmed by all of the choices. Any help would be great.
We are on a time crunch, as we have been holding up the painters with our indecision…
Thank you.
Stephanie and Andy
Hi again Stephanie and Andrew,
Here are some things to consider:
Here is an idea:
House color (addition and the woodwork around the front of the house at the bottom): It’s enough gray to pull in the roof but enough warmth to coordinate well with the brick and there’s no problem with potential clashing. The Urbane Bronze was a little too dark, I fear.
Warm Stone SW 7032 –
Trim color ideas: the medium version or the lighter version.
Latte SW 6108 OR
Kilim Beige SW 6106
These “beiges” are warm enough to go with the brick and certainly are not too stark. What will show up, however, is anything that is white (storm door). So the lighter one might be better if you plan to keep all the white elements (windows). But either will work fine.
For the door behind the storm, you can move back to red but don’t try to match the brick. Just coordinate with it.
Benjamin Moore Boston Brick 2092-30
The dormers can be the siding color or the trim color.
As for landscaping, if you could send me a jpg of the front of your house again, I will take a closer look.
Hope this helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara, thank you so much! I really love the Warm Stone. Other than beiges, do you have suggestions for light trim color that would coordinate (except for the white storm door, the other white elements will have to stay for a while)? And, in addition to where you noted, would the trim color also go on the porch railing, the soffits, and the gutters? I’ll resend pictures of our house. Thanks again, Barbara. This is really helpful. Stephanie and Andy
Can you give me an answer on a roof question by tomorrow. I will gladly pay but I need an answer by tomorrow
Hi Kathy. I am here in the office this morning. Happy to help you quickly.
OMG I just saw your blog and need advice in the next day too. Down to the wire for siding selection and need input on new build. I can send you payment and photo. Hoping you are familiar with the SW colors as that is what we are using. Assuming all good let me know and I will get it over to you today with payment. Thanks
Hi- we moved into this house 6 months ago. Looking to improve the curb appeal with a new paint palette. Please advise regarding base, trim, accent and front door color suggestion. Would like to get deck stain color as well – please let me know if I should submit additional $. Thank you. Payment and pics to your email being sent now.
Hi! I need to provide 4 samples by Mond, to go on the actual brick, ugh. What do I do with this somewhat quirky 1906 brick Foursquare in Pennsylvania? Addition in the back w. old, light gray vinyl siding, replacing soon, perhaps hardieplank. Not sure about color for that either. The brick is run down, doesn’t make sense cost wise to repoint. Even the mason said to paint it. Older neighborhood with lots of families, a mix of styles & updates. The house is close to the two neighboring houses, but protrudes a little further out than the other two. There are several unpainted brick Foursquares on our block, incl. three in a row w. our house, all are different.
Thinking one of these:
Safe: Cream with bright white trim and black or gray shutters (gray to “match” the roof maybe?) Have a couple from Sherwin Williams. Anything bright white you see here will probably need to stay, at least for now. Except the gable. That, I’d like to paint or replace. I appreciate some personality, but hate how much it sticks out and makes the house look top heavy, even with the large porch. Almost a Victorian flair, no? Figured if painted same shade as the house (or the roof?) it’ll recede.
Daring: A deep navy, maybe even Ben Moore Hale Navy…is that too crazy? Could make this house look Halloweenish if close to black. OR a more subtle navy with a gray undertone. Just want to avoid everything looking like a big gray blob btw house, roof, walkway/stairs. Also a little tired of gray being used as an instant update by flippers. I never see brick painted navy here. Why? Other than upkeep? I’m from Northern Europe, even black houses are not all that unusual there, incl. very dark painted brick. There are some navy/grayish houses in this neightnboorhood but not brick. Plenty of painted brick in all light shades though. House across the street is gray w. mid blue shutters/some trim.
Other ideas? Or improvements to above ideas?
If this helps: The inside is mainly Scandinavian light and bright with lots of white walls (warmer end of white), light oak floors, black accents, and a little color thrown in. More saturated colorful walls or ceilings in the kids’ areas. It was remodeled and has a “modern” vibe, but kept & restored original baseboards, door & window trim, etc. Some interesting, less common design elements inside. Left an exposed brick wall inside, before we realized we would paint the exterior. Should we leave a little brick visible somewhere on exterior as a nod to its 1906 origins and the interior exposed wall? Have seen it with a strip under windows, but maybe too busy. Changing the porch balusters and more substantial pillars at some point. Upgrading with some sort a stone path and stairs where it’s now concrete. Patio in the back is flagstone.
This got long, sorry. Thanks so much!!
I will get back to you.
Hi Dori,
I really need to see a photo. Sorry you cannot upload on the blog, but if you can send a photo to my email, I will have a look: bmeglis@yourhomeandcolorcoach.com
Thanks.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Dori,
Yes, I would go darker with your house, not cream — it will stick out too much.
But with your roof color, I don’t think navy will work. Unless the roof is a true gray (I can see a lot of green in it now).
Here are some options:
Kendall Charcoal Ben Moore HC-166
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/kendallcharcoal
Fairview Taupe HC-85
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/fairviewtaupe
Cromwell Gray HC-103
http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/cromwellgray
Stick with white trim.
I will send you a photo of a house with the last color. See if you like the look.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Sent 2 yesterday (also Friday to your yahoo.) Thank you.
Just got the photo. Thank you.
Thank you. The roof is a blah medium gray. Pretty true gray and very similar to the gray cement on the ground. I saw that in at least one photo the sidewalk showed up w a green tone too, but donmt think it’s the case. As mentioned, was trying to avoid gray/grayish taupe because feels like so much gray between the roof, walkway, stairs, sidewalk. Am I really “stuck” with that? Any grays that lean more towards a different shade? (Or any grayish navys with an undertone that would not look terrible w. the other grays “surrounding” the house?) Many thanks.
PS. Thera are several white houses on the block, just not the couple closest to us, if that’s helpful.
I’ll get back to you in the daylight.
Hi again Dori,
How about this one: Philipsburg Blue HC-159 (Ben Moore) for the body, white trim, and for the front dormer something fun like Chestertown Buff HC-9. Your house would be the prettiest on the block, that’s for sure.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello, I am overseeing the total renovation of a 50’s style L shaped ranch. The existing roof is too new to replace, which unfortunately has very reddish patches along with lighter shingles. It’s not a blended look and the roof is low and very visible from the front. I am using Hardy smooth lap and it comes in various colors, but apart from the very light shades I am having difficulty choosing because the roof seems prominent to me. I am considering a barn/brown red that is available. With the new windows and doors, the design has def gone in a mid century modern look and away from the cottage feel it had before. It’s right on the water and woods are around it. Thanks for your help.
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell,
Take a look at Chestnut Brown (a Hardie color) that is warm enough to coordinate with the roof and take a little emphasis off of it. You can always bring in cool, crisp accent colors, like lime green or robin’s egg blue. You won’t even notice the roof…
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you, I had gone to the Chestnut Brown first thing but it has a lot of yellowish tones in the light, so I ended up ordering the Countrylane Red which is very brownish and a little more upbeat. It will be a smooth, wide lap and be organic and ground the house as opposed to lighter colors. Thanks so much for your assistance!
Mitchell
We have a 1926 Sears Dutch Colonial (the Oak Park) with lap siding. The painters are here today and want me to finalize my paint choices.
At the moment I’m thinking monochromatic light greens (Benjamin Moore Tree Moss 508 for the house, Benjamin Moore High Park 467 for the shutters and Tapestry Beige OC-32 for the trim.) My daughters want a coral door, Benjamin Moore Coral Spice 2170-40. I have no idea if this combination will work or not.
Complicating things slightly: we have gingerbread siding on a part of the back of the house, for which we can use the darker green for contrast (possibly) and a masonry foundation that needs to be painted, either the same color as the house, the darker green or even the trim color.
Happy to post pictures if easier and thank you for your help!
Hi Valerie,
I would LOVE to see photos — post to bmeglis@yahoo.com if you have them. Otherwise, I will be back in a few with some thoughts on the proposed color scheme.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Valerie,
With such a soft palette of colors, I would love to see white as your trim color (if your windows are white, that is). White will bring out the true hues and make the house quite striking. What you want to avoid is the look of drab camouflage. You could use the Tapestry Beige for the masonry foundation. It will provide a neutral backdrop for your foundation plantings.
As for the coral door, it’s perfectly fine but it will pop off the house quite a bit because the color is very “clear.” A less pronounced alternative might be something like Adobe Dust 2175-40 that has a touch more brown in it but is equally striking as a door color with a green house. We have one in our town and it looks terrific! Whatever you do, get a little sample first.
Hope that helps.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
My house is a red orange brick ranch with a red orange roof. I am in the process of considing adding stone to portions of the front facade, while retaining the brick window sills on the front windows,and the brick trim on the arch above the front porch. I would also like to add some paintable shingle siding to the front in the large plain stuccoed areas as you can see in the images I have emailed. Wood t-bars, possibly to be stained a wood tone, will also be added to three of the peaks for decorative interest. I am also considering adding shutters to two windows, if you think they would be adviseable. Please note that the stone would be warmer looking than the one shown on the emailed photoshopped image. I could use guidance on what color stone, as well!!
The elements I am looking for are a house body color ( also will be used on decorative siding on house front),trim color, window color, shutter color and front door color.
For the back facade of the house, I would like to stick with one color, as I must leave the aluminum-clad window frames the tan color you see in the photo. ( I plan on painting the clad windows on the front of the house, however, if possible). Also, I’m wondering if the roofline trim can be cream on the front and sides, but revert to the house body color on the back of the house.
I am looking at something like either Benjamin Moore Dark Olive, or Gloucester Sage for the house body color (the Dark Olive is my favorite), and a good cream color for the front windows and trim. One of the mock-ups I sent shows Gloucester Sage on siding, Dakota Woods Green on shutters, Abingdon Putty on trim, columns,and windows, and Hannity on the front door. I have included house photos in both sunlit and overcast conditions. It would be really great if you could give me a few combinations that would work
Thanks in advance for any color pallete suggestions you might have!
K
Hi Kirsten,
I like your idea to break up a massive house into interesting sections and make the house a little more welcoming. Stonework veneer is great as long as the scale of the stone and the color do not compete with the brick. I’ve seen lots of very busy multi-patterned houses. The stone you’ve selected is fine — it’s warmer than the gray on the mock-up, but either is fine. I would not choose a stone with too much variegation.
As for the color scheme, I think it’s great to add green to the mix. It’s a nice contrast with the brick and brown roof color and should pick up some of the green tones in the stonework.
Shutters; (I like it!)
Benjamin Moore Dakota Woods Green 2139-20
Trim: (lighter than your pick, but see what you think with the stone)
Benjamin Moore Soft Chamois OC-13
Siding: (again, lighter, but you have lots of dark brick and roof. And the gray green will go with your window trim in the back. You can bump up the color on the siding to Gloucester Sage, but check this one out first.)
Benjamin Moore Sandy Hook Gray HC-108
Benjamin Moore Gloucester Sage HC-100
Front door: (tie in the brick)
Benjamin Moore Rustic Brick 2091-20
I am not crazy about the added beam elements. I am not sure they really go with the style of your house and they look a tad like your arches are under reconstruction. We don’t want that effect. I would leave the beautiful arches as they are now.
See what you think. I tried to come up with another palette, but I really do love the green as it bridges both brick (contrasting colors) and roof/stone (great earthy palette). Gray will be too blah.
Thanks for posting!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
We are building a new timber frame home in central North Carolina. I am absolutely stuck on selecting exterior paint colors. The house already has a black metal roof. The siding is Hardie fiber cement board, a mixture of horizontal plank and board and batten style. (I’ve sent you an email with photos and more information). The house is located in a clearing in the woods on a bit of land, can’t be seen from the road, and is not in view of any neighbors. There will be some stone on the front porch and porch columns. The windows are white on the outside, although none have “dividers.”
I know I don’t want bold/saturated colors, and my husband doesn’t want green (although greenish-grays are ok). (I don’t particularly want green either). Inside, the house has a lot of wood (timber frame, pine ceiling, wood floor), and stone. The front porch has exposed douglas fir timbers. I’m leaning towards perhaps a medium gray, or blue-gray, with white trim (although not a bright white). I can’t even decide whether to have contrasting trim, and if so, if it should be lighter or darker. Or perhaps contrasting at the roof line, but not elsewhere. Originally, I wanted to paint the garage a separate color (Hardie country lane red, the garage is board and batten and I fell in love with it), but I don’t want to draw focus to the garage, and so I’m leaning away from that idea.
I think one house color, trim color, and wood stained front door and garage doors that match the timbers are the way to go. However, I am open to your suggestions! What colors should I paint my house? Thanks! ~A
Hello, I need helping matching Valspar’s Toasted coffee with southwestern colors, particularly green and blue. My house has low ceilings and not many window, so it’s quite dark. I need the lightest blue/green/beige/purple colors that match the toasted coffee. I need a minimum of 2 color choices. I emailed 2 dropbox links to pictures of my walls. Thanks!
Another couple of options based on your photo:
2050-50 Waterfall | Benjamin Moore
2145-40 Fernwood Green | Benjamin Moore
I’m not much of a color guy hence my solicitation for your advice regarding the exterior colors for a house that I am having built on a wooded lot in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.
I (“Jack Frost”) have sent a photo of the color of my timberframe beams, my construction plan, and of views from the East and West gable ends of the house to your email addy.
My tentative choices are as follows:
I will be using pre-painted Hardieplank siding color = sage green
https://www.jameshardie.com/Color-and-Design/Live-Colorfully/Mountain-Sage
Anderson Eagle windows – Frame color = Terratone
http://www.eaglewindow.com/getdoc/bb9c0f38-82bc-4dbc-b8d8-750e8d2d707d/50-Eagle-Complimentary-Colors.aspx
Hello Barbara!
I am back, this time with questions regarding my son’s new house. I will send you pictures separately in an email.
My questions are regarding his choice of quartz and paint color for cupboards in his kitchen as well as wall and trim color. He is adamant that he does not want a white kitchen.We have already picked out the above but am hoping to hear from you before we have to finalize that decision as I am second guessing myself…ugh!
Thank you again, Barbara, for your expertise and help. I should have asked you this before we made our selection. He really loves the quartz so I don’t want to change that but your advice on the cupboard/wall/trim color would be much appreciated.
Holly
I will look for your email, Holly. Happy to help!
Hi Barbara,
I’m in the process of buying a house that is in desperate need of a new roof. The seller has agreed to replace the roof with a color of my choosing. However I’m locked in to a certain brand of shingles. I would also like to paint the exterior siding. I would love to pick a roof color that coordinates with a new siding paint color. Right now the roof color and siding color are blending in way too much for me. Can you please suggest some options. I will send pictures to your email address.
Thanks!
Hi Larissa,
Here’s one possibility:
I do like your current medium taupe house color with the brick, but it might be a little dated and it does blend too much with the current roof color. Since lighter house colors are coming back, you might consider something like
Litchfield Gray HC-78 | Benjamin Moore
with
Stone Brown 2112-30 | Benjamin Moore
for doors and other trim — to go with your dark brown window color.
For the roof, I suggest Pristine Weathered or Weathered Shadow. Either will work.
See what you think!
And thanks for posting.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I just sent you some technical drawings and a google link to the home. I’m looking forward to your ideas!
Hi Omi,
Have a look at these paint options for your siding to accompany your burgundy brick color:
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/HC-102/clarksville-gray?color=HC-102
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/HC-111/nantucket-gray?color=HC-111
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/hc-113/louisburg-green?color=HC-113
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/HC-99/abingdon-putty?color=HC-99
I will send you a photo of a stone option. But the idea is to find a stone that coordinates with your grout color. That way, the stone will not compete with the brick.
Hope this helps!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Barbara,
You answered a previous question back in March this year and your advice was liked by everyone so I have another question that I need your opinion on.
I’m building a new building for a church. It is a stucco exterior with shingle roof. I’ve attached a couple of photos of the existing church building and the new building with the roof colors. The new building doesn’t have any decorative features so we are looking for a color for the stucco finish. The church doesn’t like the current wall color of the existing buildings which is a dark greenish gray and they are thinking of a lighter grey with a touch of blue possibly.
We’re using Sherwin Williams products. If you can answer this today, that would be greatly appreciated.
I’ll send the photos to your email address.
Thanks,
Ken Griffin
Hi Ken,
Sorry for the delay! I was away all of yesterday.
Take a look at
Starry Night SW 6540 – Purple Paint Color – Sherwin-Williams. I know it says “Purple” but check it out.
North Star SW 6246 – Blue Paint Color – Sherwin-Williams
See what you think of those options.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
I need a color recommendation for a half brick ranch house. I would like a white or off white trim color to match the new white windows, if possible. Attached are pictures of the brick as well as the roof color, and the house as it is currently. Many Thanks.
Hi DAA,
Okay, I hardly EVER do this, but since you asked… I am recommending that you paint the entire house, not just the trim and siding. The brick is asymmetrical and it really isn’t adding any character to the home. So I suggest painting the house and trim something like Ballet White
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/OC-9/ballet-white?color=OC-9
It’s a nice light greige that will blend in all the new white windows nicely, make the house look bigger, go great with the new roof, and give you an opportunity to use a coordinating deeper color like Natural Linen or even Fairview Taupe for accents (garage door and shutters?).
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/966/natural-linen?color=966
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/HC-85/fairview-taupe?color=HC-85
(I will email you a photo example.)
See what you think of that idea. And thanks for posting!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
I need help!! We have a ranch Florida stucco home (est. 1977) which we are about to put a metal roof on, standing seem, no color. We have not landscaped yet, that will come after the roof and painting. Additionally,
We are planning to put 6inch gutters along the roof line which we plan to paint.
I hate our accents on our house because similar houses with those blocks painted a different color Blare out and it echoes the datedness of the style.
I would like to find a color that is tropical feeling. My husband is opposed to many blues I’ve showed him, he decided he didn’t want an overall neutral, he doesn’t want yellow, we’ve finally settled on Green. But we are open to anything that looks GREAT! but it’s just not clicking – TROPICAL/ FUN / Sophisticated … HELP!! as you can see by the photo’s I sent I have been struggling! Some are from another person down the road, the flamingo and blue, the rest were my attempts.
I’m having trouble finding the tropical color overall and what to paint the accents or which accents should I make accents so it doesn’t seem dated.
Thanks!
Hi Nancy,
How about Kittery Point Green (Benjamin Moore HC-119)?
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/HC-119/kittery-point-green?color=HC-119
It’s a fresh green without being too brown, too yellow or too blue. Then you could paint all the blocks the same color as the house to disguise them, paint the window and door trim bright white (and the same with gutters, fascia and soffits. Then paint the front door a terra cotta that will pick up your brick, your wood ceiling on the lanai, and your pots in the front yard. It’s also really pretty with this green.
Baked Terra Cotta (Benjamin Moore 1202)
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/1202/baked-terra-cotta?color=1202
See what you and your husband think of that combo!
And thanks for posting!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Do those seem more northeastern or western than Southern/Tropical or is it me?
Just a minute! I will “tropical-it-up” for you!!
Try these!
House/box trim areas:
Veranda View Ben Moore 541
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/541/veranda-view?color=541
Front door: (Use white trim for door/window trim, fascia, soffits)
Monticello Peach Ben Moore 018
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/018/monticello-peach?color=018
Hope these are more tropical.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you Barbara, I will check out this green instead…..everything looks different in the store, then on the house!
Sent from my iPad
>
Hello Barbara – we are in the process of remodeling the exterior of our home – https://pin.it/o45dhzmxspwjy3. The new roof will be a weathered wood color, and we are planning to install a stained red cedar soffit under the main roof peak. I need help selecting a main house color, trim and front door palette. Note that there is stone veneer on the left side of the house. The house is obviously contemporary, and although I’m drawn to colors like BM’s Chelsea Gray for the main exterior color, I’m also not afraid to go bolder.
Thanks – Heather
Here’s one option for you, Heather.
I do love the camouflaging effect of the Chelsea Gray. It shows respect for the wooded environment. And the Weathered Wood is perfect with that color especially if you have the cedar soffit.
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/hc-168/chelsea-gray?color=HC-168
To keep with the wooded theme here, I might go darker with the trim:
Stone Brown 2112-30 | Benjamin Moore
And for the front door, pick up on the cedar (warmth) and the front walk/mulch and go with something like this:
Fresh Clay 2093-20 | Benjamin Moore
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you Barbara – can you provide an alternate front door option if we don’t choose to go with an orange- toned door?
Much appreciated.
Heather
One more, on the warmer side:
Shelburne Buff HC-28 (Ben Moore)
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/hc-28/shelburne-buff?color=HC-28
Barbara- thank you. I like the Chelsea Gray and Stone Brown combination. I like the Shelburne Buff suggestion for the front door – do you think I could go a little deeper? How would Mystic Gold (HC-37) look?
I inherited this 1960s red brick ranch house in rural southwest Arkansas. It is one of the first homes going into a community of at least 100 homes most of which have been built in recent years and new ones are continuing to be built in a wide price range. The community has been around 200 plus years and family has been here the whole time. This house is the best kept house out of four or five that go back to the sixties, although it needs a lot of updating. It’s on the corner of fifteen acres which include a large pasture and lots of trees. It’s important to make it look nice and blended.
To accommodate our kids and grand-kids who all live out of state we are in the process of this addition before we permanently move here.. To get as much as we could from our money my husband and the builder designed it with an emphasis on the function of the interior which really is great. We thought we would just paint it some shade of white along with the carport and front porch, and trim in charcoal or black. While we were away for two weeks, the siding was delivered. We don’t know why, but the primer color was this sandstone. (Maybe that’s just the color the local lumber company gets. We didn’t ask.) This color has set our brains to realizing we don’t have to just paint it white, but it might be best. We know that since the brick house and the addition do not match structurally it’s important tie them together with a uniform paint scheme.
Some givens:
1. The brick will never be painted by us. The color of it nearly matches Olympic Warm Wassail OL685.6 and Sherwin Williams Red Barn SW7591.
2. The roof on the brick house was replaced four years are so because of storm damage. We put the exact same roof on the addition which is TAMKO Tweed Blend.
3. All new windows which are white trimmed as well as the vinyl siding on the brick house.
4. In my opinion, because of all the shade the front porch and carport color needs to be a light color, as in some shade of white or cream. Only the front porch is seen from the road. So all porches including the screened-in one will be of similar color.
5. The side of the house which has the well room (that is still waiting to be rebuilt) is seen from the road as well as the front of the house. The back is not seen at all.
6. Landscaping will include some evergreens as well as other plants.
MY questions:
What color do you suggest we paint the main body of the addition?
If you suggest white or cream, how would you add more color–what color and in what way?
Hi Marilyn
Take a look at a couple of color options that coordinate with the grout in your brick — pulling out that color makes sense for the addition to unite the two houses with white used for the trim everywhere and windows. You might even consider white shutters — unless your wooded location makes them impractical.
Bennington Gray HC-82 (Ben Moore)
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/hc-82/bennington-gray?color=HC-82
Monroe Bisque HC-26 (Ben Moore)
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/HC-26/monroe-bisque?color=HC-26
Either one of those will provide the additional color you mentioned and will be a softer alternative to the traditional white you planned originally.
See what you think.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you. I like that idea. We are using grays inside. Even the bisque is a similar shade. So that’s even more pulling both together.
Are you agreeing that the front porch and carport should be white? I’m sorry. I should have been clearer in asking my questions and not been so adamant in my opinion!
Thanks,
Here’s another option for the front door — but in a glossy finish.
Kendall Charcoal HC-166
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/HC-166/kendall-charcoal?color=HC-166
Hi Marilyn,
Yes, you can keep the white trim around windows, carport, and porch and other trimwork. That should tie the entire property together.
-B
Hi Heather,
Sure the darker gold will be fine. No problem at all!
Hi Barbara,
I have a color dilemma with the exterior of my home. Currently, the siding is pale blue and the trim and gutters are medium blue-gray. The front door is natural wood – an orangish tone. There is a gray metal carport along the side of the house, towards the rear (not visible from street). The house sits among trees, plants, and flowers, as am a passionate gardener.
The front of house is not appealing… In particular, I don’t care for the dark window trim and the front door seems to clash.
My initial thought is to paint the siding the medium blue-gray color that is currently on the trim and to paint the trim some shade of white. The benefits are that I would like the lighter trim, I would not need to replace/repainted all gutters, the siding would coordinate with the gray carport.
I’m not a color guru… but I am open minded and I trust you. So what do you think? Is there a better color scheme? If we go with the idea above, can you recommend a shade of white for the trim/rail fence along the street and what should we do about that front door?
This is the second time I’ve used your service. After we settle on the colors, I’ll be back again (new request and payment) for a roof consult. You are the best!! I hope you never retire.
Thank you,
Ellen
First of all, THANKS!!!
I’ll be back soon with some ideas. 🙂
Hi again Ellen,
How about something like Ben Moore’s Knoxville Gray HC-160. It will look great with the roof and will allow you to go light with the trim, something like Cloud Cover 855, a gray-white. I wouldn’t worry about matching the carport. But the gray will be fine with the house color.
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/hc-160/knoxville-gray?color=HC-160
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/855/cloud-cover?color=855
See what you think. The door/sidelights will actually look spectacular with the darker house color. I would leave it as is. You’ll love it!
Hope that helps. Let me know if something needs to be tweaked! I enjoy our color projects together and I look forward to the next one! No plans to retire… 😉
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hi Barbara,
You are still as brilliant as the day you first started helping me! Thanks!
Never in a million years would I have thought of these colors. I like the multi-tones in the Knoxville and I see how it will look smashing with the front door. (I despised that FD until I read your message.) And I like light trim around windows.
I’ve never lived in a dark colored house before and that makes makes me a little bit nervous. But you give me the courage to try it. I will pick up samples this weekend.
Thanks again. There is no one else like you and I am truly grateful.
Ellen
Hope you love it! If not, come on back! And thank you — you’re very sweet.
We have moved to our lake home in northern Minnesota which is now our permanent home (process of retiring). We just completed installation of new roof in which we chose burnt sienna. We just realized we need assistance in making color choices for gutters and siding. We currently have cedar siding that is in desperate need of cleaning and wood treatment. Last treatment done with a clear natural finish that brought out the highlights of the cedar. However it has darkened considerably over time. In a few years my goal would be to go to maintenance free siding and also have all the windows replaced. So I kind of need to make choices that will blend into a future plan for siding but also work on a temporary plan for now.
Obviously do not want it to look like a home in the suburbs, would be open to something different maybe even with a couple variations (or are the roof tones the variation)? Neighbors have “log” look which is nice but I’m looking for something different-need a little “pop”.
I will email you a few pictures of front and back. Will include pics of home with attached garage and detached garage.
Thank you so much.
I will look for the email, Lois! Thanks.
Hi again, Lois!
Since you mentioned going maintenance free in a few years, here’s one option. With your roof and environment, it would be lovely to see your house in a Mountain Sage (James Hardie color) with dark brown gutters and a Countrylane Red for the doors that would coordinate with the red of your decking and roof. You could use bronze for the new window color and either trim out the house in the green (same as the siding) or a lighter color like the Autumn Tan. (Vinyl siding has a similar color palette.)
So for now, I suggest the dark brown gutters as cream or white would not work with your house style and location. For siding, you could paint (try Benjamin Moore’s Tate Olive https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/hc-112/tate-olive?color=HC-112). That color will give you a fresh look and will go very nicely with the rest of the palette while you transition to maintenance-free.
Hope this helps!! Thanks for posting!!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you so much for your idea’s. It took me a bit to envision everything but I think I have fallen in love with the color scheme. So excited to move forward and have a whole new look. It will definitely have a “pop” of color with the red door. We love the color-Mountain Sage. What great idea’s. We want to thank you so much!!!
Dear Barbara,
You helped me with siding and trim colors a couple of years ago and I have loved them. I am going to be moving soon and would like to paint my new house similarly. Both my old house and new house are red brick, but the new house has a more salmon color to it. The colors of my old house were both Sherwin Williams paints. The trim and garage doors were Roycroft Bottle Green SW2847. The siding was Studio Blue Green SW0047. I am going to attach photos of my new house, my old house and my “inspitation” house. I think I will have to send them to your email address – bmeglis@yahoo.com. I hope that is the correct address. I saw another email address somewhere, but I can’t seem to find it again.
A couple of payment questions: I was having trouble using the links to paypal. I tried it 3 times and the third time seemed to go thru. If possible, could you check at your end and make sure I haven’t paid 3 times? Which leads to the next question – I sent in one payment of 25.00. Do I owe you a second payment since I am asking about siding and trim. Let me know and I will get it taken care of. lauraaustin7@att.net
Thank you,
Laura Austin
Hi Laura,
Here’s one option for a palette:
Trim/garage door:
Roycroft Bottle Green SW 2847
https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW2847#/2847/?s=colorDetails&p=PS0
Siding: (to coordinate with the brick)
Rookwood Brown SW 2806
https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW2806-rookwood-brown#/2806/?s=colorDetails&p=PS0
OR
SW 2803 Roycroft Copper Red
https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW2803-rookwood-terra-cotta#/2803/?s=colorDetails&p=PS0
Front door: SW 2838 Polished Mahogany
https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/find-and-explore-colors/paint-colors-by-family/SW2838#/2838/?s=colorDetails&p=PS0
See what you think. The challenge is the roof (it’s gray) and all the white in the brick. Those elements are impeding us from creating the same look as the last house/inspiration house. But we can approximate it.
Thanks for coming back.
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
You helped me with the siding and roof color in September last year.
Please let me know if you need our house pictures.
Our house is split level with orange door and cedar color plank garage door.
I try to look more modern/contemporary house.
You advised me the roof color is Oakridge Estate Gray, the garage color is Royal building Midnight Surf vertical Board & Batten siding, the house color is Royal building Sterling Dutch lap and the gables are the same color but Board & Batten, and the brick wall is Benjamin Moore Metro Gray. After you advised me that I questioned you I would like to change the garage color to Ply Gem Deep Brunswick Board & Batten and the house color to Ply Gem Georgian Gray because our garage is south side. But our contractor just notified us a week ago, Ply Gem does not make Deep Brunswick Board & Batten siding anymore, so I have to change the siding color.
We already changed our roof to Oakridge Estate Gray.
Trim will be changed to white color.
We can combine the different manufactures’ vinyl siding.
Our thoughts:
For front garage surface, Alside Charter Oak Riviera Dusk Board & Batten siding
For the side of garage, Alside Charter Oak Riviera Dusk Clap or Dutch board
*Does Riviera Dusk match with other color? If so, which finish looks modern, Matt or Oak Grain?
*Is Board & Batten siding for all surface of the garage better than changing the siding pattern for the side of garage?
*If it’s modern approach to use Riviera Dusk, what color should we use for house and brick Wall?
*If Riviera a Dusk does not match, please advise the best color for garage, house and brick wall.
*If garage and house has same color looks more modern, I prefer to use same color for garage and house. If so, please advise the best color for garage/house and brick wall.
Or do you think the original plan is the best?
(garage color is Royal building Midnight Surf vertical Board & Batten siding, house color is Royal building Sterling Dutch lap and gables is same color but Board & Batten, and brick color is Benjamin Moore Metro Gray.)
Thank you for your help.
Hiromi
Hi Hiromi,
In looking at your house architecture, I think it might be better to keep the siding the same color but Board & Batten on the garage (all of it) and lap on the rest of the house. Then paint on the front brick facade. But take a look at Cast Iron (dark steely gray) that is very modern. Then for the brick, a lighter gray. Here are the links:
Cast Iron
Click to access cho_color_palette.pdf
Harbor Gray Ben Moore AC-25
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/ac-25/harbor-gray?color=AC-25
OR
Metro 1459
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/1459/metro-gray?color=1459
I like your front door and garage door!
See what you think of that idea. Since you’re going from a more traditional ranch to a “modern” paint scheme, I think the monotone around the whole house (except for the front facade stone) will look better.
Thanks for coming back!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara,
We love your color suggestion.
We will definitely use your advice.
Thank you very much!
Hiromi
Thank you for the feedback, Hiromi! Best of luck with your project. Send photos when you’re done — I would love it! -Barbara
Hi Hiromi,
Okay. And yes, it would be very helpful to see your house with the new roof on it — as it is now.
Thank you! Either include a link to a photobox here or send a photo or two to my email:
yourcolorcoach@gmail.com
I’ll be sure to see it there.
More soon.
Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
We have a blonde brick house and are currently planning on putting down paving (possibly travertine) out the front (see the second photo that shows the area outside the front door). We would like to paint the cladding, window frames and door; can you suggest a colour/s and shade/s?
We were thinking of painting the window frames a shade of white to help brighten up the house. We would like the house to feel brighter with a welcoming feeling but would like to choose colours that will not become outdated quickly.
If you have any suggestions for paving, that would be great too.
I have attached the photos separately.
Thanks, Sandra
Sydney, Australia
Hi Sandra,
A couple of ideas:
#1: traditional
Cladding: Fairview Taupe
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/hc-85/fairview-taupe?color=HC-85
I’ll send you a photo of a house painted that color with white trim.
Window Trim: White Dove
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/oc-17/white-dove?color=OC-17
Door: Richmond Gold — all Historic Colors by the way
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/hc-41/richmond-gold?color=HC-41
(I would paint that front wall or apply stone veneer to blend and coordinate with the house/environs. The front walkway can be another natural stone — flagstone. Does not need to be marble with your house style.)
Idea #2: more modern
Cladding: Ice Formations
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/973/ice-formations?color=973
Trim: Same White Dove
Door: Nightfall
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/1596/nightfall?color=1596
(If you go with the the more modern, you should switch out your light for chrome/silver modern style. And beef up the front door handle.)
Then the wall/front walkway could be dark gray.
Hope that helps!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Hello Barbara. I sent you a photo of our home via email. 11/15/19. It’s an English Tudor style of sorts. Kind of a combination style. We are prepping for our daughter’s wedding next May. Doing things we needed to do and just was putting them off. We just finished the roof it’s a gray combo of sorts with some very slight hints of maybe brick red. Very slight. I don’t know if it can be seen in the photo.Trim is a medium gray and the stucco is a very light/slight gray.We have a few stained glass windows. The front doors side lights are interesting hunting scenes with multiple colors. The window above the entry is a light amber leaded seeded glass. Not looking for a big change but a slight tweak might be fun. We have light pink-ish flagstone with colors as dark as terra cotta and as light as light pink. We have gray interlocking pavers on the driveway. I just don’t want to change one thing and then need to change more difficult items to make it all work. We have wood trim and painted brick all over the place. We may be interested in some new outdoor light fixtures. I plan to re paint the wrought iron black. Very likely. Thank you. Patty
Hello Barbara.
My husband and I are moving into an open concept townhome with soaring ceilings in the kitchen and great room. I have to decide on paint colours ASAP. I have decided on BM Simply White and Edgecomb Gray as my two colours. My dilemma is whether I should paint all the walls in Edgecomb and the kitchen cabinets, trim, and ceiling in Simply White or the kitchen cabinets in Edgecomb and the walls and trim in Simply White? It is a south facing room with plenty of natural light. There is also an open loft above. The floors are a medium brown oak hardwood. If you have colours that you feel are more appropriate, I’d love to hear them as well.
I would appreciate your opinion once again, Barbara. Your feedback is always most welcome! I have sent the pics to bmeglis@yahoo.com.
Thanks once again.
Holly Quinlan
Hi Holly,
Congratulations on your new townhome. It’s beautiful.
Since you have a lot of light and soaring ceilings I would opt for color on the walls and the white on all trim (windows, mantle, cabinets). Edgecomb Gray is a nice color — it should look very nice with your furniture (if that’s your furniture), but you might also look at another lighter tint: Classic Gray. It’s a color that is soft and it goes with just about everything. It might give you that updated light-walled look you’re going for without using Simply White on walls. Here’s the link for Classic Gray.
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/oc-23/classic-gray?color=OC-23
Hope that helps. And thanks for coming back!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach
Thank you so much, Barbara. Classic gray is beautiful. I always feel so relieved when I get your opinion! I am now confidently opting for your suggestions and can’t wait to see the finished townhome!
Thank you again, Holly!!
Great information, thank you so much for sharing.