A story? Well, one of the first things we did was an exercise out of the Not So Big House books: We made a list of the words we want to describe our house. In our case, we had a lot of words about function: Efficient, energy-efficient, good storage. And a lot of words about the "feel" of the house: Cozy, charming, nostalgic, friendly, inviting, light-filled. And words we don't like: Dramatic, modern, impressive, funky, trendy. That's not a story exactly, but it's kind of like setting a goal for how we want the house to work /feel /look. And we're very clear on what we want: A small (1600-1800 sf) house for the two of us after the children are gone, which will be built on our 45 acres of farmland. We want it to be age-friendly and to have all the everyday living spaces on the main level, and we want it all to be easy to clean and low-maintenance. We want every space on the main level to be used every day. We want to have a small upstairs for guests. We want a great outdoor kitchen with ample seating and a small pool. And we want it all to be mortgage-free. That doesn't feel like a story to me; it feels like a goal. Two comments on this thread with which I can really agree: While I believe in electricity, plumbing and even central air...I do love old houses. So while I would never be considered a 'purist' my perfect home would probably be similar to a car build on "Fast and Loud" LOL. I want it to look vintage, I want it to pay homage to vintage....but I want the car to go fast, stop on a dime and have air conditioning :) and I guess our not-yet-finished house's story would be 1920 meets 2014 technology I like the door picture ... but I'd say it's a cottage door leading to a small, picturesque home.

I like to think that what we're doing "references" our home's age and style, but we're definitely not purists. As I type, my butler's pantry oak window frame is being painted white. Gasp! Our house's kitchen was originally about 15x9. It had a free standing farmhouse sink, a large stove, and possibly a hutch-like cabinet on one wall. There was a single light, probably hanging over a work table in the middle of the room. There was a pass-through pantry connecting the kitchen to the dining room, and a second butler's pantry behind the porch, and both pantries had a couple of built-ins. The "laundry room" was a three-basin soapstone sink in the basement and a clothes line in the backyard. I have thought a lot about what it would be like to be the "woman of the house" in 1910 and making due with what was available. I am convinced that Mrs. Original Homeowner would think I was crazy if I tried to recreate anything much like that first set-up with so many great new options available. Still, we tried to pick materials and finishes that were in use in homes at the time - wood (painted and stained), marble, soapstone, slate, subway tile. We had our cabinets built to look similar to the originals, and we are using the blueprints to replicate one of two missing china cabinets in the dining room. We are installing push-button switches and some period-appropriate lighting, and we repurposed a sewing room as our new pantry (which is right behind and very similar to the original pantry). In short, we have a grand old house that had a tiny, dismal, minimally functional kitchen. I like to think that if our house had a choice, it would pick the one it's getting! ;)

Gray and brown go together. Gray roofs look fantastic! I would collect samples of all your finishes and choose an exterior paint color that works with all of them. Gray composite shingles usually have multiple colors in them so you should be fine. Gray comes in every hue so if you choose a shade of gray for exterior paint, pick a hue that works with everything. I have a gray roof, galvalume gutters (unpainted), beige deck with dark brown railing. It looks awesome with the white house. The gray trim pulls it all together. Outdoor deck furniture is taupe. You just need the right combination of shades, and the right amount of repetition and visual relief. My gray trim color was carefully selected by a pro and it is a lot browner than the cool blue shades I am normally drawn to. Be aware of the entry points, because those are the places it might bug you. Whatever you can see in one view should go together. This was an issue when I was choosing tile for my foyer. As much as I wanted a pale blue mosaic border, it conflicted with the exterior red brick and wrought iron-look door mat and exterior decor. I opted for taupe instead. Less visual clutter and conflict.

Whether you’re moving into a new house or want to brighten up your current living space, painting your home is an easy and affordable way to create a major impact. Before you start mixing up paint colours at the store, here are some tips from an interior designer to help you choose wisely and prevent expensive do-overs. 1. Let your personal taste guide you. This seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people choose paint colours for rooms based on what’s hot this season, or what they’ve seen on a home design show. Don’t let trends or friends lead you to colours that aren’t you. Let your personality shine through in your paint colours and you’ll be happy looking at them for years to come. For example, the client’s love of the outdoors and the birds that visit their expansive garden were the inspiration for this home design project I did. The walls throughout the main living area were painted a soft mauve/grey, creating the perfect backdrop for the deep blue accents used in the formal living room and shots of colours found in the garden. 2. Follow the colour wheel. The bases of the colour wheel are three primary colors: red, blue and yellow. The three secondary colours are combined of these and make orange, green, and purple. The six tertiary colours are mixes of the secondary colours, resulting in colours such as blue-green and red-orange. Here’s where it gets creative. You can use the colour wheel to help you choose paint colours for rooms. Pick complementary colours on the colour wheel (directly opposite each other) for a striking, modern look. Or, consider analogous colour schemes (next to each other on the color wheel) in rooms where you want to create a relaxing, casual feel. 3. Match paint colours to the mood of the room. Different rooms in your home have different moods. How do you feel when you’re in the bedroom, living room or kitchen? Maybe you like to host lively dinner parties in your dining room, so opting for warm and bright paint colours is ideal for your evenings with friends. If you think of your bedroom as an oasis after a long day, soft and cool colours will be soothing. Keep in mind certain colours can also bring out different moods. Blue can be calming, but pastel blue can come across as icy. Red is exciting, but may be too intense for certain areas. White gives off a feeling of cleanliness, but might be too sterile-looking for some people. 4. Factor in the lighting. It’s important to consider the lighting of the room when choosing paint colours for your home. How much natural or artificial light does that particular room get? Light fixtures, candlelight and natural light can drastically change the way your paint colours look. The room direction also makes a big difference. If your bedroom faces south, it will get more light throughout the day, which intensifies colours. An east-facing kitchen will get the most light in the morning, so warmer colours might be ideal if you spend lots of time in this room in the evening. 5. Get a design consultation. Colour is the most effective way to brighten up you home and create a harmonious flow. However, with so much information and advice out there, choosing paint colours for your home can seem overwhelming. Why not start with a Colour Consultation with me? Choosing the perfect paint colours for rooms is easy when you have an experienced design guide to help you along the way. Book your consultation now. No matter what paint colours you choose, enjoy bringing your home to life in this easy and affordable way!