A closer view...

Has anyone ever lightened natural wood garage doors like these?

Actually, I like the color of the downspout.

Can you tell me where this house is located? I want to see it face to face. Its amazing.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cheap Furnitures Online

I hope the above SPAM comment and author are removed from this thread.

arapaho - I know...he's on just about every post I've read this morning. Very annoying!

What exactly is your sister wanting to paint? Is it just the trim or the front part of the house that isn't brick? I love the dark stain on the shutters and garage doors and wouldn't change that.

I like the dark of the garage doors, but the lighter colour of the stucco and trim do seem out of balance with them. I would do the trim in a darker grey (but a warm brown/grey). Is she planning on painting the brown stucco part too? It is a beautiful house.

She would like to paint the stucco part as well as the trim. Her husband doesn't like the dark wood garage doors and shutters and would like to lighten them somehow. I like them the way they are myself.

I am trying to photoshop those ideas and if I can do it I'll post your new pics.

I really appreciate this (and so does she)!

I don't know how light he's wanting to go on the garage doors, but I found this house with lighter doors. I still like the darker ones better.

{{!gwi}}

Great photo - I'll pass this on so he can see. I agree with you.

Good luck in deciding your new colors. Your house looks great as is though I understand you wanting a change.

If it were my home, I'd want to minimize the garage doors, and play up the front door. This can be done with paint, as well as some landscaping changes. As it is, the most prominent feature of the house is the garage, and the front entry feels like an afterthought.

Do you have a picture taken from across the street, that shows the whole house? You might want to ask the question on the landscape design forum, as well.

Chickadee, that is my thought as well. The downspout color is perfect for the stucco and front entrance area. If those wood doors are stained, they will have to strip, sand and restain the doors. That is a lot of work, and IMO not really necessary if. They look too dark now because all the colors don't really complement each other.

The brickwork and color is lovely. The pale color of the downspout on the stucco, trim and entry would be a nice foil for the dark wood door, shutters and garage doors. A bit of varnish to give them some reflective quality would make them seem less dark, ditto for the shutters. Another thought: If there are cross pieces on the garage doors ( cannot tell from photo ) they could do an opaque stain ( like paint but not quite) on the doors but keep any decorative crosspieces in the darker stain, in a Tudor, half-timbered style.

Great ideas and yes, I agree that the downspout color would look nice on the stucco area. There are cross pieces on the garage doors. I think I need to get better pictures - I photoshopped the garage area to remove the cars and close the garage door. Everyone here is so helpful and has such good suggestions - thanks!