Does anyone have a recommendation for the style of shutter?

I like traditional louvred shutters. I do think that real wood shutters make a huge difference, as does using actual hinges. The thickness creates shadow lines on the facade that just make for a more substantial, architectural look.

I'll have to price them. I got the name of an excellent local shutter maker from my painter. And he's a perfectionist so I know they'll be of high quality. My house is so plain it needs all the help it can get!

Not plain: classically gorgeous! I think the paint is going to make it stunning. Getting rid of the overgrown brush was a great start. Keep posting and asking for advice as you go.

I love the paint colours you've chosen. They really suit the house (classic) and will allow you to go in many directions for door colour, landscaping, etc.

Deep orange or deep marine blues are two options I could see working well for your door, but definitely don't decide until the house is painted.

I love my tree guy! The family run company started with his dad, who we used when we moved here 30 years ago. Now it's in the hands of his son and he is teaching his son the ropes. I first called on Wednesday and he came out yesterday, Thursday, discussed the issues and his crew did the work in the afternoon. And it's not he's not busy but he keeps on top of it. Then he called me last night to make sure I was happy with the results!

It looks so much better without the big overgrown shrubs. Is that a Japanese maple on the right of the entry? It looks as if it could use a tad of a trim, and by that I mean just limbed up a bit to remove a few of the lowest,underneath branches. Nothing major. And a few of the shrubs on the right could be trimmed as well, but if they are about to bloom, wait until they are finished blooming.

The Japanese maple is limbed up. It's just grows about a foot long every summer so I need to trim the branches up a bit. It's nearly 30 years old and got sun damage last year when a tall pin oak that had been blocking light came down last spring. So I'm still babying it. The bushes on the right are 30 year old azaleas and rhodos. They'll bloom soon and cleaned up after that. Again, they're really feeling the effects of that tall oak coming down. I'll totally remove the rhodos if they look too shabby.

I think you could go with either the louvered or paneled shutters, depending on what you like. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is a shutter with decorative cut-outs, and/or board and batten shutters. Can't wait to see what it looks like!

I'm going to go with the louvered. I'm thinking that the lines across it will repeat the bump out line that's between the first and second floors. I debated painting that bump out another color (to contrast with the exterior) but I've abandoned that plan.

I think you're right about not painting the bumpout. I think the shadow of it is just enough emphasis.

Timberland Shutters.

This is the company I'm looking at to make the shutters. They have a line of wood composite that look very well made. I can't use the typical hardware because my window trim is so narrow and to attach them to the masonry and do all that extra work is very expensive. They can still add decorative hardware but the shutters won't be functional. I'm visiting the company next week to tour the plant and look at options.

If you use shutter dogs you'll have a more operable look.

Um... I'll look that up. Pretty sure he mentioned that as something to do.

I just got this rendering of my house using the BM colors I've selected. Coventry Gray on the house and Kendall Charcoal on the shutters. I've decided to go with all panels in the wood composit line. I'm probably not going with any of the extra hardware.

So...what do you think about a darker color on the shutters or is the Kendall Charcoal just right? I really don't want a true black.

Looks nice, but somehow I'd like to see a warmer color on this house. Just a thought.

It is fairly neutral but still a very slightly blue gray. In its defense the house faces south and I have Pennsylvania blue flagstone as a walkway and a front stoop that will be clad in it.

This is such an overcast photo it makes it look dreary.

I think I'd like to see the shutters go a bit darker for more contrast. The lines of the house & landscaping are very sober; this is my favorite quality of the current paint scheme; the dark green against much lighter cream. And then as has been said, selecting a complimentary color for the front door.

I love it!! I wouldn't go darker on the shutters....I think keeping them lighter is very current. Look at the April issue of Southern Living, they have a whole spread on shutters!

Here's a better photo, I think. I used Lightroom to brighten it up a tad. It's probably more accurate. although the shutters should be a bit darker.

Love the whiter color! It looks great!!!

I think darker shutters and a bold front door would look great.

I would go with slightly darker shutters. With some new landscaping & a different color door it will look great!

Your home is a beauty!!! It will look fabulous with the new colors.

i think that I would remove the Japanese maple.....then you can see the entry....especially once it is spruced up!

One does not remove a 30 year old Japanese maple. :-)

if you're not dead straight looking at the front it isn't so much in the way. And I've opened it up some since this photo was taken. When you're going up the flagstone walkway it works. I'm still babying it this year from the winter damage.

Ill try painting one of these shutters in the Kendall Charcoal to get a better sense of how dark they really will be.

It takes years to get that aged craggy look to a Japanese maple. I'm glad you're keeping it. On the flip side, if your door was a tad brighter, it might make the entrance stand out more against it. Love your landscaping. If it were me, I'd do a darker, brighter door color, but I like that "Look at me, I'm the entrance" vibe, so just my .02.

New photo just taken. A closeup of the shutter and the house color to get a better idea of the contrast. It's 5pm and its in the shade but I think you'll get an feel for it. I like it. Medium dark shutter, lighter gray house, white trim. Ignore the top half of the shutter which is green!

Yes! The door, color as someone suggested before, will be the last thing I decide. I do want it to be fun.

The maple, up close.

The maple is great, but the rest of the landscaping could use work. You need some layered landscaping. A tall slender evergreen would add some dimension.

I know.

I just removed a bunch of overgrown evergreens which need replacing. I may want to get the house painting done first though. Tomorrow I hit the nursery to 'look'. Did you see at the before photo at the top? I took down a beloved hinoki cypress that had been topped without my permission which left it unable to be successfully pruned.

the whole front needs work now. The crape myrtle, the spirea, and the two Japanese maples are staying. The rest is negotiable.

What if I painted the house white? Brilliant white

The person who works on very old houses around the midatlantic region said it would take a leap of faith but would be stunning. What do you think?

I personally don't like bright white houses. It's too cold for me. I would go a bit gray or cream to warm it up a bit. White reads formal to me & maybe that's a look you are going for. It's all personal taste. Keep playing around with your color app.

I agree that it is not as close as it appears! I also do not like to remove trees unless necessary. I am very glad that you are able to keep it. I think that the two shades of gray will look fabulous.

I love the bright white idea! While I think gray is a nice color and has its place in exterior design, the grays you've chose all appear to have a blue or violet undertone. The whole thing could come out looking like an old lady's purple gray hair rinse.

what color shutters would you use with bright white?

if you do use these grays I would certainly have a medium toned varnished wood door and not a painted one.

I would so love a wood door but it faces south and is wide open to the elements. I'm afraid it would self destruct pretty quickly. Maybe next year if we go ahead with the idea of putting in some kind of overhang we could replace the door. This year were going to clad the concrete stoop in the Pennsylvania blue flagstone to match the walkway and back patio.

kswl2, what shutter color do you think with the bright white? Wouldn't black be too stark? Very deep plum?

The only thing I can say is if you went bright white with the house, the plants would really pop. But the others colors look good too.

I kind of like the contrast between white and black. You could also go with a very dark green, almost black, called Charleston Green. Are you located in a hot climate or a cold one?

Must admit that I'm not a fan of plum for any home exterior, but that's my personal preference.

I'm in the Philadelphia area on the Main Line. Lots of stately houses with stone exteriors. Deep plum wouldn't necessarily be my first choice either. It's too limiting.

I have to say when I mentioned painting the house white my husband gasped. So that's a no go.

Also you were the first to like my color selection in this thread about the two grays and that meant a lot. My goal is for it to look elegant and serene.

Wow! The house looks great with the shrubs removed. Please post after you paint, it will look great!

I need a bit more help. In the daylight I now think the Kendall Charcoal on the shutters will not be dark enough. But I love the color. Is this something that asking for 150% tint could fix?