Need help with exterior colors - 1900 Victorian
Our home is looking worn and tired, and we'd like to come up with a master plan for overall colors and curb appeal before we begin any work. The exterior is shingle at the top, stucco below, and painted stone (what a travesty) along the foundation and on the front of the first story.
The blue looks very dated to me, and I'm not sure whether or not the shutters are right for the house. The stone portion is painted a light gold, the same color as the shingles near the peak of the roof (yuck). Basically the house looks a bit creepy and forlorn to me, and I'm trying to figure out how to make it look warmer and more inviting.
We took down the awnings, and what you can't see here are the dark blue porch columns (same color as the shutters and stripe up top). I'll try to post a better pic of the front.
Anything is fair game -- we'll need to replace the roof eventually, so even that color is up for grabs.
I have a few thoughts, but they aren't very creative and I'd rather leave them out for now so as not to influence any responses. I'd love any thoughts you could spare!
Comments (14)
PROBeverlyFLADeziner
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoIn order to to locate paint colors on the home, we're going to require a much better, less grainy picture so we can see where your different materials are located on the building.
Maybe you could try to narrow the range of colors for us. Do any of these color schemes appeal to you? They could be adapted to fit your home.
Bonnie
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Need color help with exterior paint on 1902 Victorian with bad siding
Comments (7)Your windows can be repaired. Just because the glaze is gone and some wood is rotted doesn't mean they need to be replaced. There are video's on my windows page to show how the work is done. I know the enclosed porch really comes in handy but it's a very important choice you need to make. It is visually impossible to achieve curb appeal with it enclosed. Boarding up windows saves heat too but that doesn't do any good for appearance. Your house was not designed for the porch to be enclosed. Past architectural perversions create a disfigured appearance that affect your inner senses when viewing a building that abruptly sticks out. Instead of softening the facade of a house as a porch is supposed to do, it instead appears as an architectural wart - attached but not belonging. Your house can be stunning - even with the current siding. New paint colors will look nice but the problem will still be there but in a different color. Think about it. Everything takes getting used to but you can adapt not having that extra space. Good looks and everything good comes with a price. Good luck!...See MoreHelp pick paint colors for exterior 1902 victorian
Comments (1)Some ideas-...See MoreExterior Paint Color Help - Late Victorian Era Queen Anne - Lavender?
Comments (11)its good that you are trying for lavender... a neighbor was trying for blue and ended up on the lavender side of periwinkle.. quite surprising. i'd still aim for the blue to lavender boundary, so you dont end up all the way to purple without meaning too....See More1900 folk victorian needs curb appeal help
Comments (19)I would plant some shrubs in the beds in the retaining wall. Aronia lowscape mound, some mountain or sheep laurel, Azaleas. Itea little henry. Dwarf Fothergilla. Obviously, you need ro paint the wall and fence. The fence looks to be in bad shape, which suggests it may need replacing. I'd consider replacing with a hedge, if you want to demarcate the end of the flat part of the lawn. Aronia hedger, inkberry, bayberry, blueberry are some options. Itea. Of course, I have a lot of shade and maybe suggesting plants that need more shade than you have. Check. I'd also reconmmend painting your trim --- or at least the window frames and door blue. Navy is a crisp look. A softer blue would give you some definition, but be easier to paint over if you later want a house with colored siding and white trim. Paint the bare wood white and the railings in your trim color....See More
jlc712
8 years agoYes, a better picture would help a lot. It sounds like you are wanting warmer colors? Here's a couple links for color suggestions:
http://oldhousecolors.com/2007/10/16/the-great-divide-%E2%80%93-what-happened-to-colours-in-1900/1/
http://media.benjaminmoore.com/WebServices/prod/ColorCards2012/historicalcollection/index.html
And a few pictures:
siasconset
8 years agoThanks for the ideas! Here are a few more pics which hopefully give a better idea of the details. I really dislike the front elevation, especially the stripes and the blue. I'm also thrown off by the mix of siding materials, especially the painted stone (seen on the front porch).
beverlyfla, I really like the 2nd one you posted -- it's sort of what I had in mind, but I wasn't sure if it's in keeping with an older house. To be honest I don't mind the current gray of my house... but that's about all I like :)
bonnie_ann, my heart is on Nantucket but, alas, I am not. I would love to have a traditional shingled house like that, and it sure would make the exterior decisions easier!
- PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoWhich direction does the front of your home face? Were the large awnings necessary to control the sun?
I think the 2nd house would be a great color scheme for your home. Paint the window frames black, cream for the trim, and a grey beige for the body of the home.
Would you consider sand blasting the paint off the stone?
- PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years agoKswl2 I love that paint scheme. It would be easy to get rid of the shutters and add the black and white striped awnings on the home. It would be spectacular!
- PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years ago 
PROSombreuil
8 years agoUser
8 years ago- PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
8 years agoThank you kswl2, I'm with you on the painted lady look! I pulled many of those images yesterday to see if there was something I could warm up to, but they're often too dark and overwhelm the property; Like an old aunt with too much makeup and perfume. A classic color scheme and colorful landscaping, especially hydrangeas, around an older frame home create a very welcoming environment.
Kathie738 P
8 years agolorieisner
2 years agoJust came across this post addressing the question I'm struggling with. I definitely found some of the links and suggestions helpful but would love to hear any advice you all have for the shingle color for this Queen Anne Victorian. I'm being told that we need to make sure we don't pick a color that competes with the stone. We're not sure about any we've tried.
User