I agree with Jan. That is a whole lot of garage. I think the contrasting trim just highlights the garage more. Go bold on front door.

The darker trim, because it links the siding and the stone colors. You cannot avoid the size of the garage, so you might as well give it some interest and style.

I agree about the door color. Have you considered a rusty red, or a strong grey-blue?

I like the garage blending in too and a bright color for your front door.

I like the darker trim it makes the stone stand out more.

I like the darker trim and the way it works with the stone. With three garage doors there's no fooling the eye. They are what they are. Front door could definitely benefit from a burst of color.

The darker trim does it for me.

That broad area of the house looks unfinished with the trim in the same color as the house. I would, however, go a little lighter so there's less contrast or pop. I'd also go a bit warmer due to the warm gray/brown roof. It stands out as too cool in the photo but might be warmer in real life. Just another aspect to think about when selecting a color.

I like the darker trim but I agree that your front door needs a punch of color.

dark here

The dark. Otherwise it looks like someone didn't want to take the time to finish the house. IMO, the lighter leaves the stonework floating.

Call me weird but I'd do the same color on the garage trim as the siding to make it blend more.

Obviously there's no hiding the garage but I'd make it as inconspicuous as possible, just because it's so big and it's, well, a garage. I've never been a fan of front entry garages but it seems that what most houses have. I know pulling around back is a pain but to me a garage door is not a pretty feature, it's a utilitarian one.

Then I'd really dress up the porch and front door. Use color and contrast there, really play it up.

I vote for the dark trim. And agree, that a strong front door color would be helpful.

My vote is for the darker colour.

darker

Dark.

dark.

Dark. The lighter looks unfinished to me.

I like the darker trim better.

I prefer the darker trim.

Another vote for the dark.

Definitely the darker. I think the lighter looks unfinished.

Another vote for darker trim, it helps unify the stone work with the house color. Also think you need to paint the front door to stand out more.

I like the dark - it goes nicely with the stone. I agree the front door needs a strong color...

Hi maggie2

I'm another non-fan of front entry garages, not only because, in themselves, their big, blank doors can do a number on a house, but because they generally do just what happens here: turn the front of the house into a parking lot. So much for that curb appeal people keep talking about.

However, what's done is done, and what's important now is to make the best of things as they are, not as we might wish them to be. So, as much as it might be nice to talk about "turning your front door into the focal point" of your house, honestly, there's no way that a three-foot-wide door, under a deep, dark porch overhang will ever be able visually compete against--much less, /overcome--the powerful presence of three gigantic garage doors in full sun, I don't care what color you paint it. That's the bad news.

The good news is that people coming to vistit will manage to find your front door, no matter what, and as for the people driving by, well, they'll never notice it anyway, with all that other stuff going on, so go ahead & paint your front door door whatever color looks nice with the brick, add some square-ish planters with co-ordinating-colored flowering plants next to the stone piers. lay a cheerful outdoor rug on the porch floor & call it a day.

Then, to eliminate the bland, washed-out effect the lighter garage-door trim color gives--and to give a little more visual interest to the part of the house that the public sees, not what they can't see under the dark porch roof--I'd go darker on the trim, all right, but I don't mean the darker of the two options you're showing us: I mean darker yet, darker than the color the darker color is in the shadows now. Maybe darker than that.

Since you can't make those garage doors go away, you might at least give a little life to the main elevation, and the easiest way to do that is with a lot more contrast than either of the colors you've shown us will give. For that matter, I might use the darkest color as the trim, and, since you've already got it, use the darker of the two colors you have already as the main color of the doors themselves.

With six vehicles--& a big chunk of gravel, besides--all competing for visual attention, you still won't notice the narrow trim much, but when it's only four vehicles, the extra definition the darker, stronger colors provides will allow the house stand up to the transportation.

Is this the ideal solution? Of course not, but moving the garage doors isn't an really option, so the thing to do in a case like this is to make the best of the situation. Besides, the hardest part of most problems is just acknowledging the problem in the first place, and in your case, you're already halfway there. When life--or a builder--gives you lemons, you make lemonade. You don't try to make the lemons blend in with everything else.

Can we see a picture of the whole house in order to see the other elements involved?

Forgot to add the demo pic...

a href="http://s13.photobucket.com/albums/a286/MAGNAVERDE/?action=view&current=MAGGIE2--DarkerTrim.jpg"; target="_blank">{{!gwi}}

Darker trim. It adds interest.

Darker.

Dark.

Yes, I like the first picture with the trim matching the siding. It looks quite elegant that way. I agree with Jan that the front door should have more presence. Otherwise, the first sight of the house emphasizes cars more than people.

Dark. The light reminds me of a face that the makeup's been applied, but they haven't yet gotten to the lipstick.

dark.

Dark, and use that on the front door & sidelights as well, if not another dark color.... An eggplant would coordinate well for the door area. I could also imagine a nice cool wood tone (faux paint if you do not want to replace for actual wood).

Dark to tie in the stone. Paint your front door an orangy red or a burgundy red. Plant lots of annuals in that same color to draw your eye to the door. Pretty house.

Oh, I like magnaverde's virtual. (Who knew you were a closet photoshopper, lol.)

Definitely dark.

I too, really like Magnaverde's visual.

darker

Maggie2, so who preferred the darker, you or your husband? It seems to be the overwhelming choice.

Dark. Nothing screams "We aren't done with the house" like trim that isn't at least a somewhat different colour than the house.

"....(Who knew you were a closet photoshopper, lol.)"
Oh, ha ha ha!! Just what I thought. Now can't ya just see the future: 'Calling MV, photoshop help puleeeeze!' I like your virtual best, too, but you may have unleashed a monster:>)

I can't thank you enough for all of the replies. It looks like dark wins, which was my husband's choice. After reading several of the posts indicating the light trim doesn't look finished, I have to say I finally "got it". Several of you suggested I paint the front door dark as well. I know you can't see it in the picture, but it actually is the same color as the dark trim.

Magnaverde, your post made me laugh. When we were building the house, I had terrible anxiety about the garage, but it was my husband's dream and is now his "man cave". Luckily, we live on 25 acres at the end of a private, dead-end road and the house is set back far from the road. We've also placed several pine trees in strategic locations to try to mask the doors. So, when someone comes to our home, the garage doesn't smack them in the face until they are parked in front of it. :)

Here are some pictures showing the the house from a different aspect.

Thanks again, everyone!

"....(Who knew you were a closet photoshopper, lol.)"

Oh, ha ha ha!! Just what I thought. Now can't ya just see the future: 'Calling MV, photoshop help puleeeeze!' I like your virtual best, too, but you may have unleashed a monster:>)
---------------------------
Yeah, well, don't get any ideas, friends. Design is my profession, not my hobby, and this kind of explanatory thing generally comes with a price tag attached. The difference is that Maggie's paint question just happened to coincide with a phone call from a long-winded acquaintance. In situations like that, some people doodle: I mess around in MSPaint--I don't have Photoshop--and this was the result.

Nice house, Maggie, and the winter photo looks really good after our hot & miserable summer.

I forgot to mention one more thing.
My husband made the money to build this house by owning his own company - installing garage doors. I'm not kidding. :)

Your house is shaped like mine, a ranch with a hip roof. We only have 1 garage and think the 3 look great. I do not think you need to hide them or try to disguise them. I am also not a huge fan of paneled appliances and think there is nothing wrong with well done "function".
Since this is your hubby's business, you should wear those doors proudly!

My one tip would be to see if you could add a solatube to your overhang by the front door. It looks a little dark because of being in the shade all the time. I love that there is shelter for guests waiting to come in or for when you are opening the door, but it could use some more natural light.

Too, late, but I also vote for the dark trim.

A darker gray green would look nice on the front door.

"I forgot to mention one more thing.
My husband made the money to build this house by owning his own company - installing garage doors. I'm not kidding. :) "

ROFLOL Too good!

Your landscaping does a lot to identify the entrance.

Looks great with the dark trim Maggie!

Dark for sure. Why have trim if you're not going to highlight it? It is what gives interest to otherwise bland spaces.