skip to main content

Building a Home

indow cladding color choice on a gray (Nichiha) sided house?

15 years ago

Not quite sure where to post this, so I'm going to start here since this is the board I frequent most often (ideas on other boards that would be appropriate? windows doesn't seem right. Decorating, maybe?).

We are building a 2-story, craftsman-cottage style home in suburbia (Bay Area, CA). Siding will be charcoal gray Nichiha shingles on the 2nd floor and horizontal Nichiha boards on the 1st floor painted the same charcoal color, with an El Dorado stone wainscot in Sierra Mountain Lodge, which is grays with tans.

We have to place our window order soon and are going with a clad wood window, sash-set casements with hefty divided light gridlines, and doors with sash-set transoms above. The question is what color cladding to go with?

A safe choice would be to go with some type of off-white. We'll be trimming out the windows and doors in an off-white color, regardless.

However, I have seen a bit of resurgence of dark gray or black windows and they look pretty spectacular. Just haven't seen them on a craftsman, or on a particularly dark house, as ours will be.

Does anyone have any pictures or examples of this type of combo? I'm having a terrible time visualizing it (I've colored in the windows of various craftsman houses in magazines, etc. - sort of helps, actually....). Does it sound like it'll be too dark or look like the house doesn't have any windows (dark windows tend to recede)? Window, door and house trim (including square columns on the porches) will all be painted the off-white color.

Looking for your opinions, thanks!

Karen

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

buildinginva
15 years ago
Have you thought about dark red for the window sashes? Could be a nice contrast and definitely consistent with the craftsman bungalow color schemes. We are making our color decisions on a bungalow construction right now, and I found the following book to be helpful - "bungalow colors" by Robert Schweitzer.
kateskouros
15 years ago
i'm sorry i don't have the link, but nichiha has a photo of a house using the charcoal gray; have you seen it? it's pretty dark. i'd be inclined to go with a crisp white.
Related Discussions
pernickety: i'm using weathered gray nichiha (materials + pics)
Q
Comments (9)
Kate, your house is beautiful and has many interesting details in the front. So, I don't think you need the stone either. That being said, I'm also having the same dilemma. If I limit stone to only the foundation, I would only have a tiny bit in the front, and I wonder if it would look empty or insubstantial without alot of some kind of masonry product. I plan to add more white trim to compensate, but I was curious to see first how yours came out. :) Our current house has a course of stone in the front, and I never thought twice about it. That was before I discovered this forum. Now, when I look at it, I think, it looks like my house is wearing a mask bc that stone does not continue around the side, and it is cleary just a decorative face. I like stone though, and I wonder if I still need it in the front. I know that wasn't much help. Please post pictures though when you get your stone up. I'm dying to see how it looks!
...See More
Wood fence stain colour to go with light gray/blue siding
Q
Comments (13)
We recently moved to Florida. I dislike those white, plastic fences. They are so artificial looking, so bright they scream as you go up the street. I'm actually thinking of doing something similar. Our house is a greyish blue and I was thinking of staining the fence to match. I think the grey blends in to the landscape, doesn't scream and looks good with plants and trees. Go with your original choice. Jane
...See More
Help with color choices, siding, etc...
Q
Comments (18)
I think you have a great canvas to work with, but definitely need a bit of an update. It sounds like you have plenty of great advice on the landscaping and transplanting a few plants. From what you said about not wanting to update the siding, I would think about updating the trim and your front door! The gray and beige just need a pop of something - a third color added in will help define the spaces of your windows and make your house stand out. To get some ideas, I searched some traditional exteriors to help spark your color inspiration! Even here where they outlined the windows in a fresh white and notice that they did the same but thicker around the front door. I love the strong color they gave the front door as well. I could see this coloring really working on your home. [traditional exterior design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2107) by sacramento interior designer Kerrie L. Kelly Here is a link that might be useful: [Traditional exterior photos[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-exterior-home-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_736~s_2107)
...See More
Exterior color choices for 1860 farm house (now in a village...)
Q
Comments (20)
I think if you painted your porch (see next picture) and redid the walkway w/some type of landscaping, some porch accents, new doors (here they're black, but any bold color will also be nice) some nice address numbers, and hanging plants, You'd have something like this this is a greek revival farmhouse, but I really like this deep peacock steps and porch. You could do the doors in the same or lighter tone, or go for a contrast color like a yellow or green what if you redid your doors w/something like this? (one for each side) then copy some of the other elements on the porch You could DY these concrete pavers for your walkway. but notice the porch decor and metal roof overhang Longer wood shutters, redo the wood porch, nice railings,,,,also look good The porch is what you see, so jazz it up. redo the stairs. maybe a skirt. flower bed redo, etc. I like the style of this front door too. you can find single french doors like this all over the place for next to nothing. sand them and stain, varnich, or paint.
...See More
karenyang
Original Author
15 years ago
buidinginva - thanks - that book looks like a nice add to my (ever-growing) cottage/bungalow/craftsman library. we have thought about a colored window, including a nice cranberry color, but DH is color phobic. It was a lot to get him to consider non-white windows at all. :)

kateskouros - yep, seen all their photos, including some that our local rep has emailed. all the gray houses have white trim. i iknow we can't go wrong w/white (i'd still stick w/an off-white, since we're not coastside), but trying to be different. maybe different is not such a good idea?
alh1
8 years ago
curious as to what color window you ended up choosing?
cpartist
8 years ago
This thread is 7 years old. I doubt they are even on the forum anymore.
rmverb
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
If anyone cares we're using the same thing on our house and we're going with black Windows. Our Nichiha is coming from Carolina Colortones and their charcoal is lighter than nichiha's charcoal.
alh1
8 years ago
Thank you rmverb for the reply. That is a lovely color! What color trim are you using? My builder uses Windsor windows so I am looking to coordinate colors, quite a job!
rmverb
8 years ago
We're using a tan/cream color for the trim.

Related Stories

EXTERIOR COLOR Exterior Color of the Week: 7 Ways With Warm Gray

By Jennifer Ott Design

See why this hue can be the perfect neutral for any house

DINING ROOMS Color Feast: When to Use Gray in the Dining Room

By Jennifer Ott Design

The right shade of gray pairs nicely with whites and woods to serve up elegance and sophistication

COLOR Cooking With Color: When to Use Gray in the Kitchen

By Jennifer Ott Design

Try out Trout or shake up some Martini Shaker gray for a neutral-based kitchen that whispers of sophistication

COLOR Dreaming in Color: 8 Gorgeous Gray Bedrooms

By Jennifer Ott Design

With this versatile hue, you can go dark and bold or slip into something more soothing

DECORATING GUIDES Color of the Week: Decorating With Warm Gray

By Jennifer Ott Design

Tired of tan? Getting gloomy from cool gray? Make warm gray your new go-to neutral

COLOR Bathed in Color: When to Use Gray in the Bath

By Jennifer Ott Design

Go for elegance and sophistication without going overboard on coolness, using these gray bathroom paint picks and inspirational photos

KITCHEN DESIGN A Single-Wall Kitchen May Be the Single Best Choice

Are your kitchen walls just getting in the way? See how these one-wall kitchens boost efficiency, share light and look amazing

REMODELING GUIDES Fiber Cement Siding Takes a Front Seat

Not just a wood or vinyl substitute, fiber cement is a stellar siding choice in its own right for modern home exteriors

EXTERIOR COLOR On Trend: Bold and Black Exterior House Color

By Natalie Myers

All-black and coal-gray exteriors make a nonconformist statement on homes of any style and size

REMODELING GUIDES Seal the Deal With Fiber Cement Siding

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Chameleon-like, durable and low maintenance, fiber cement gives home exteriors of all shapes and styles a winning edge

Sponsored

More Discussions

Will it be cheaper to build a home?

13

Kitchen Advice Needed Please

16

Help me locate this tile manufacturer or where to find it please pleas

6

It's May 2024. How is your build going?

5

Trex Deck Stairs with Builder or After Installation?

2