skip to main content

Paint Design Dilemma Exterior

Exterior design dilemma; should garage doors blend/contrast w/ house?

Nest Properties

6 years ago

I am remodeling a 1970's home. The house was not very attractive to begin with, but what's worse is that it was built perpendicular to the road (the "front" door is on the right side of the house in the photo).

Part of the remodel was cutting in garage doors into the existing full basement. So the part of the house facing the street is a plain A-frame with 2 garage doors on the bottom.

The plan was to go with a white or cream exterior paint color with some dark contrasting trim color, although I am not totally set on that idea. We just want the house to be warm and inviting.

I really don't care for garage doors right on the front of a house, but since they are there, I'm trying to decide if they would be more appealing if they were a color close to the exterior of the house to kind of blend in and be less noticeable. The alternative would be to have them a walnut wood-grain color to match the dark trim. The block foundation walls will get brick veneer that will be painted.

I thought I'd add some little pergolas over the garage doors at the end to hopefully add a little curb appeal, but any other suggestions on how to improve the "front" side of this home would be appreciated.

Featured Answer

Denita

6 years ago

Blend the garage door color so the doors recede.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
You have quite the job on your hands.IMO garage doors should be as invisible as possible on most homes and yours in particular since anything else will be even more confusing to find the entry.I would remove the tree add a nice stepped walkway up to the front door. I have no idea where the brown trim is but the whole exterior needs to be done for sure. Not sure why you did not build a separate garage but its done now.
Related Discussions
Exterior paint-not sure I agree w/House Color Consultant?
Q
Comments (16)
I have paid lots of money over the years for professional advise ... sometimes I take and sometimes I don't. There isn't just one perfect color for your house/trim/door. If you hire 5 more color consultants I will bet that they all come up with different suggestions and I bet none will say that your house looks fine just as it is ... after all you paid them to come out and make suggestions! You seem to be stuck on what was said by the consultant, but obviously you didn't agree with her or you wouldn't be posting here! It really is ok if you do your own thing, really! Here is a free consultation! If I bought your house today, this is what I would do: - paint house body BM Nantucket Grey - paint house trim a non-stark white color - ditch the shutters (I call them wasp condos) and beef up the trim around the windows - paint the front door a nice glossy deep red from Fine Paints of Europe - solid granite latern posts, for birdhouse too - since I hate having to paint them - paint fence same white color as trim - get rid of asphalt and replace with pavers That's what I would do. What do you (not some sonsultant) want for YOUR house?
...See More
Exterior Paint Dilemma on '70s Tract home
Q
Comments (35)
@katinparadise the paint is finally complete! So below is the paint finish, but I still need a new door and lights. To be totally honest, I feel the body is a bit too light and the trim is way too white. I feel it should be somewhat creamier. But anything is better than what I had before. I’m thinking if I should have the trim repainted to not look so stark white... As for the door, I’m leaning on a steel foot that looks like wood. My painter suggests not getting anything dark as he says “will look like a big square dark thing”. What do you think? The carriage look is nice; not sure if I can pull it off since it’s wide for two cars. And I just went shopping for the light.... I think I’ll have a better idea once I install the door. thoughts?
...See More
Exterior Choices; Shingles, Front Door, Garage Doors HELP!
Q
Comments (10)
Uugh @Virgil Carter Fine Art! Truly my struggle. The home was designed more then 8 years ago, and since then, many of my design ideas have changed. Yes, an architect designed the house. They were terrific and worked with both my husband and I, we obviously have differing focuses. the house calls for exterior shingles, but no color is specified, No exact front door model, garage doors, etc. And even if those things had been selected 8 years ago, I am certain I would have changed my mind anyway. lol a blessing and a curse.... I suppose I can go back to the architect for guidance, for every single choice. And it seems that must be where I am headed... Thanks. and Happy New Year!
...See More
Blending the house and garage exteriors
Q
Comments (12)
judfor1, what county are you in? I'm in Carroll. We have a lot of those garage additions which do not harmonize with the original brick or stone home (so much Butler stone around here!) The most successful additions have all the same roof color and similar features (windows, etc.) and a siding that is painted a color found in the stone. I like the suggestion of weathered gray. But otherwise, I would plan on Hardi and painting it a complementary color to the stone. I wouldn't worry about adding Butler stone to the garage. The only window that looks out of place to me is the large window on the right--it leans to MCM. If that is on the list of changes to be made, all the better. I like the 4 over 4 windows you have, it suits what I see in the older parts of Maryland. Classic door styles should be on the list as well--maybe even a Dutch-door. Good luck! We added a garage and LOVE it.
...See More
Related Professionals
American Canyon Flooring Contractors · Desert Hot Springs Flooring Contractors · Martinsville Architects & Building Designers · Dunkirk General Contractors · Klamath Falls General Contractors · Rock Island General Contractors · Estero Painters · Burlington General Contractors · Bon Air General Contractors · Champaign General Contractors · El Sobrante General Contractors · Fort Lee General Contractors · Lakewood Park General Contractors · Lincoln General Contractors · Mashpee General Contractors
User
6 years ago
Actually, I kind of like your house.

I almost always agree with Denita wholeheartedly but in this case I might go the walnut look to bring a little texture in.

Good luck. Post photos when you are done!
0
Nest Properties thanked User
Denita
6 years ago
^I can see where a walnut would look nice, depending on the rest of the house colors:)
0
KD
6 years ago
We have a house in the family we are considering that has the same weird front door on the side arrangement and garage door in front (city lot, no other place for a garage) and our plan if we redo the house is a garage door that blends with the house and then spruce up the front and the walkway to the front as much as possible. (We are wondering even about putting some kind of porch over the front door so that there is some front-facing structure that can say ‘hello, front door here!’ but we haven’t quite decided what form that would take yet.) Otherwise people see the garage door and get confused about a lack of front door.
0
Nest Properties thanked KD
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
6 years ago
Well, Cooper, that depends if you want the house or the garage doors to be the star. Personally, I don’t think my garage doors are the star of my place, so they are a muted, blended color so they don’t call attention to themselves.
0
Nest Properties thanked littlebug zone 5 Missouri

Related Stories

COLOR 3 Exterior Paint Dilemmas, 7 Palette Solutions

By Jennifer Ott Design

Houzzers ready to repaint their home exteriors get custom color advice from a design pro

DREAM SPACES Design Workshop: The Case for Big Overhead Doors

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Garage-style doors are cost-effective solutions for opening rooms to dream views and fresh air — and they’re more stylish than ever

REMODELING GUIDES The Good House: Little Design Details That Matter

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Tailored trim, cool counters and a nice weighty door — such details add so much to how a home feels to the people inside

HOUZZ CALL Did You Design Your House Around Your Pet?

By Gwendolyn Purdom

Doggy doors are just the beginning. We want to know what other pet-centric features have driven your home design

MORE ROOMS Behind a Garage Door, a Family Fun Room

By Kristy Woodson Harvey and Beth Woodson

Designer Kerrie Kelly's secrets to this low-budget garage makeover: a soothing palette, horizontal stripes and dashes of color

EXTERIOR COLOR Choosing Color: 1 House, 5 Exterior Paint Palettes

By Jennifer Ott Design

See how color variations change the look of this midcentury ranch-style home

GARAGES Design Workshop: The Many Ways to Conceal a Garage

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Car storage doesn’t have to dominate your home's entry. Consider these designs that subtly hide the garage while keeping it convenient

EXTERIOR COLOR On Trend: Bold and Black Exterior House Color

By Natalie Myers

All-black and coal-gray exteriors make a nonconformist statement on homes of any style and size

EXTERIORS Help! What Color Should I Paint My House Exterior?

By Jennifer Ott Design

Real homeowners get real help in choosing paint palettes. Bonus: 3 tips for everyone on picking exterior colors

GREAT HOME PROJECTS How to Replace or Revamp Your Garage Doors

By Laura Gaskill

Boost curb appeal and maybe even security with new garage doors. Find out cost ranges and other important details here

Sponsored

More Discussions

Best neutral paint color for my living room

32

White Dove Kitchen Cabinets, Shiplap wall, what color white?

16

Looking for a medium light taupe paint color

12

Paint on angled walls and ceiling

13

Update 90s Southwestern Exterior Paint

2