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Porches & Decks Design Dilemma Exterior

Porch and exterior colors for little stone cottage?

5 years ago

What do you guys think about colors for the porch/roof? Should we take away the bottom rails on the porch altogether? Change them with vertical rails? Any suggestions are appreciated!

A

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mimimomy

5 years ago

Ma in Michigan... isn't it funny... I love the geraniums. They remind me of a trip I took to Paris, and hanging out the balcony window and looking at all the window boxes filled with flowers against the ancient stone walls_ and of course that wonderful french blue color on many shutters.

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Comments (24)

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Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
5 years ago
What style of home are you aiming for? Right now there seems to be a bit of a disconnect from the exterior to the porch. The stone exterior is cottage, but the porch railings and roof are ranch style.
User
Original Author
5 years ago
We just bought the house and this is the way it was. Its a converted school house from 1850 in a wooded location. I think we would like more cottage than ranch.
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Thats a neat little place you have there. I think the wood columns instead of the wrought iron will make a nice change. Will the posts be white like the roof wood trim or natural like the stairs? As for a few ideas for the landscaping, It would be nice to see something to the front right side to break up the hard line from the edge of the house and to cover up from view the electric/telco boxes on the front of the house. Im a big fan of Hydrangea, so *I* would probably plant Hydrangea Macrophylla there: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/63142-product.html Or maybe some incrediball: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/63133-product.html WOuld also be nice to see another shrub/bush to the left of the window with some nice color in between. Maybe a Purple leaf sand cherry bush or Weigela on the left and some Lillies, Crocosmia, Lavender and echinacea with a decorative grass or two mixed in to really stand out in the middle :) Echinacea: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/28460-product.html Lillies: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/381417-product.html Crocosmia: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/40737-product.html Lavender: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/32822-product.html Grasses: http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/30051-product.html http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/73382-product.html http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/30011-product.html http://www.whiteflowerfarm.com/30045-product.html
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You've accomplished wonders in improving your cottage--which is adorable! Even though the photoshopped windowbox is cute, I think your windows are large and low enough that it really would look just as good IMHO to just add some taller plantings below. I think some tall delphiniums with a deep bluish-purple bloom would really go nicely with your pink flowers and would come back each year. Your yard is really lovely already! If you decide to do shutters, I think a dark charcoal or black would look nice, although michelle's dusty red ones are perfect for her garden shed. One thing I've found on GW is that some on here feel that shutters should actually be large enough to cover the windows (if closed), so your space wouldn't meet that criteria. (Mine don't either, but I have them and like mine.) For the foundation and chimney, I'd paint that either the same color as the house, or a slightly darker shade. Your plantings will show up nicely against that. And for the front door --I vote for dark red since I can't quite picture the blue, but once I saw it, might love it as well. Your home looks so inviting.
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Grover any chance you can show me what it would look like with no railing and pulling the left side of the steps a bit more to the left (towards the end of the window) i was just looking at greige color schemes and I’m feeling super over whelmed. looks like a darker warm brown with a light grey compliments and contrasts with each (went through your color schemes) so now im thinking... the silver traverntine for the top of the steps and the top of the porch with a more brown stack stone color for the pillar, and light post? Or should I reverse it? Make a darker slate for the top of the porch/steps and a lighter grey with warm tones for the stack stone? God... I’m going crazy
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User
Original Author
5 years ago
Bumping this to get some more input. Thank you!
Rachel Lee
5 years ago
I would stay with the galvanized metal roof and eliminate the railings. Cute place!
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks @Rachell. Any ideas for colorrs to paint the porch? We are having some shutters made eventually as well and want a general idea of a color scheme going in.
Rachel Lee
5 years ago
I’d stay with creamy white.
mimimomy
5 years ago
I love it just the way it is. :)
User
Original Author
5 years ago
Ugh I just feel likte the white looks so tacked on and unfinished. I would like something to integrate the porch more with the rest of the house.
Rachel Lee
5 years ago
I was thinking more the mortar color, but if that’s still too light for you pull a tan or gray out of the rock and use that.
mimimomy
5 years ago
O.K. so how about the color of the 3rd large rock up from the bottom on the right hand corner? It looks to be a red-brown. I think that could look really nice. I don't know if you want to, but I would choose a different color for the screen door and possible the actual exterior door.

Call me crazy but I think a really bright blue on that screen door would look fab, and make the exterior door the same color as the rails.
mimimomy
5 years ago
Add red geraniums in a window box under the window in the spring.
mimimomy
5 years ago
Maybe this color red (door). I like the current railings. I would focus on planting and landscaping around the home... last photo landscaping is just to show the beautiful planting colors that go so well with similar stone colors.

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wmsimons85
5 years ago
Love your stone cottage. I also love the idea of blue. Just some inspiration photos I found, all shades of blue. Plus Mimimomh’s red geranium! :).

I posted all the photos it would allow me to. sorry for so many but I wanted to show a variety of blue.
Susie .
5 years ago
I think sage green or khaki would look good with your stones. Here are some palettes created for stone (these aren’t paint colors, it’s from LP smartside, and it’s their siding colors). I’m sure you can find paint colors that would be similar. You have a lot of orange in the stone.
mimimomy
5 years ago
wmsimon love that aqua-turquoise blue (first pic I think)... but do you think it will go with Is1114's red-brown-gray? I love the color so wonder... The blue I was thinking of was closer to the last pic.... but I'd be tempted to go with the aqua because it goes so well with a red color.
lizziesma
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
All the blue photos remind me of our trip to central Poland with homes trimmed in ultramarine blue, lacy curtain at the window along with a red geranium. Fond memory, thanks.
dyliane
5 years ago
I would remove the entire front porch, roof and railings
User
Original Author
5 years ago
The porch is staying. We enjoy it too much?
User
Original Author
5 years ago
I love the geraniums. The lot is over an acre and beautifully landscaped/partially wooded. There's definitely some window boxes in the future or planter boxes hanging over the railings if we keep them. I do want to replace or paint the screen door. I love the idea of doing a bright color and more neutral on the roof/railings. We are going to rent this place when we are not using it for a vacation spot or honeymoon cottage (it's near several wineries that book a lot of events) so it needs a little sprucing for the website.
wmsimons85
5 years ago
Mimimomy I love it too. I also love the soft blues and the sage that Susie suggested as well. It would probably also depend on location. Is1114 whereabouts are you located?
wmsimons85
5 years ago
That’s weird. I am not getting notifications on this thread and I just saw your last one Is114. Sounds very exciting, it is adorable.
mimimomy
5 years ago
It is adorable. Where are you located (generally)... would love to see landscaping.

Keep the porch! :)
miss lindsey (She/Her)
5 years ago
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