Help with paint color/curb appeal

4 years ago

We live in the south and purchased this two-story home (second floor is an addition over half the footprint of the downstairs). It desperately needs to be painted. I am puzzled what my color options are. It's currently a yellow in my eyes, although my husband sees it as more of a beige. Are we wed to warm beigy colors because of the Spanish looking tile for the front entrance

way? (I will have a hard time replacing the tile immediately because of other pressing projects, but the paint has to be done in the next few months). The windows will remain white so I think the trim needs to be white. Any thoughts?

Also, I know the landscape needs some help. The palms in front of the window are overgrown and the oak tree needs to be trimmed back. I assume those things will really help the way the house looks.

Incidentally, the roof is a dark gray asphalt shingle and is not visible for the most part from the street or anywhere on the property. Thanks in advance!

Featured Answer

PRO

Yardvaark

4 years ago

In general, I would avoid the yellow/beige/brown family of colors. It's the colors of stains and decay. Not every derivative of it, but too many such that mistakes are easy to make. If you take it to some derivative of taupe -- of which there are innumerable -- you'll be safer. With the cave-like set back entrance, I'd look for a way to incorporate a lot of white as the trim/ceiling color.

No objection to quarry tile in general, but an installation where its edges show at the step noses does not look good. The installer should have used special pieces there.

The front of home is too engulfed by hedges, IMO.

Is there enough tree above that the low-hanging limb can be removed without missing it? Its presence adds some gloom.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

L Harwell
Original Author
4 years ago
Yardvaark - Thanks for your insight! I will look into the taupe color family. The entrance does have a white ceiling. I guess I'm not sure how to add additional white. Perhaps a white bench instead of the natural wood one that is there now.

Interesting about the tile installation. The tile is not my favorite and I would love to replace it. I definitely see your point about the installation.

The tree is a problem. It is leaning to the left as you face the house because it grew together with another oak that died and was removed. So the tree is lopsided and removing that lower limb will not help, but that branch is also growing into the house and will not clear the roof so I agree that it needs to be cut back. Unfortunately, it has to be cut back to the trunk I believe because there are no offshoots or green growth until the very end of the branch (which will be trimmed).
Related Discussions
need help with curb appeal and paint options
Q
Comments (2)
jody90, hope you'll try again to post a photo. If you need help in doing so, let us know! Maybe we can do a mock-up of your ideas on the photo.
...See More
Help with curb appeal & paint colors!
Q
Comments (8)
I was hoping that there would be room to frame out the bottom portion to make it look more substantial but pillars are right to the concrete edge. Something as simple as: https://atlantacurbappeal.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/front-entrance-2.jpg
...See More
paint color/curb appeal help
Q
Comments (1)
Grey green would look beautiful with a bright white, perhaps? I would also recommend some landscaping and outdoor lighting to help!
...See More
Help with exterior paint color and curb appeal
Q
Comments (4)
Definitely remove the shutters. A metal railing would not block so much of the facade. Redoing the landscaping would give the most improvement. I prefer looser, more natural shapes for shrubs. In spite of being pruned away from the walk, the hedges give the feeling of squeezing the walk. It looks like you are fans of symmetry so I will let someone else give you ideas for that kind of landscape.
...See More
L Harwell
Original Author
4 years ago
Anyone else with ideas for the set back entrance?
PRO
Yardvaark
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
And BTW, taupes can come in a gazillion subtle tints that lean blue, green, pink, mauve, grey, dark, light, etc. Keep it subtle and make sure there's enough value to differentiate it from the while trim.

If you'd add vertical trim pieces to the set back corner of the hall, and its opposite side, It would give you a way to paint all the hall beyond, white. I'd also paint the pediment portion of the garage white, including it as part of the trim. The trim at the corner should wrap it, The trim opposite would be flat against the wall.

If you could change out the top panel of the garage door with one that has a bank of windows in it, all the better.
L Harwell
Original Author
4 years ago
Yardvaark - thanks again! We could definitely paint the wall containing the front door white. I think getting the vertical trim pieces in place could be an involved process because we would need someone to create those pieces with stucco. I will definitely give that some thought.

I would love windows in the garage door. We are in a hurricane zone so I would have to see what is available -- didn't know that I could replace just a panel on the door.

So it sounds like you would shorten the shrubs next to the garage door. Do you agree that the palms in front of the window are too tall (imagine the tree branch gone)?

Finally if you could pick any material for the walkway and floor for the entrance way, what would you use?

Thanks so much!
PRO
Yardvaark
4 years ago
Looks like a decent specimen of Robellini palm ,,, but bad placement right in front of the window. I don't know how hard they are to move and the prognosis for survival.' But I would move or scrap it.

The shrub next to garage I would change to something much lower. Possibly, seasonal color.

Given that you can't raise the level of the porch, you are limited to tile, a treatment of concrete such as grinding, or a coating. Instead of there being a perfect, right material, it's a matter of coordinating the choice(s). Since you're wanting to replace the walk, too, you might consider something that will work at both places. Usually, the more unity there is in a floor, the better. Explore epoxy coating specialists to familiarize yourself with that possibility. You might want to include the drive, too.