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exterior color palette help - single level home no shutters

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

We are building a single level home, 2500 sq feet. I am in need of color palette help. I see beautiful combinations but they are mostly homes with shutters to bring in a 4th color. I just want 3 colors. Trim, front door and house. And almost every house on pinterest, IG and houzz show homes with shutters.

I have white garage doors and white windows. I don't know how to describe the design aesthetic. It's a plan we designed and one we like. I am going up to the house tomorrow to take some exterior pictures to post. The house in the country on a hill atop 5 acres. Front door and garage more of a modern vibe.

I am thinking with the white garage doors and white windows, I would like to have the trim white also. And I want a fun color front door: teal, blue or perhaps red. I don't think I want a really dark house. I need to pick out my stone accent for the lower front section on garage corners. Not sure how to tie it all together.

Featured Answer

PRO

Mark Bischak, Architect

4 years ago

Never do something just because others are doing it. Sheep will jump just because the sheep in front of them jumped; you're not a sheep.

I would suggest something other than white for the doors. The color selection process should be done with color samples you can hold in your hand an place against the surface it is proposed to be applied, not on a computer screen.

Stone works best when it is used as a structural element, or as if it is a structural element; not as if it were paint.

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Comments (6)

C DeV
Original Author
4 years ago
Here are some pictures. The colors you see are primed siding boards.
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Thank you everyone for your comments! Some things I hadn't even thought of! This house had absolutely no curb appeal when we bought it and we don't like the muted "blah" colors. I'm also not a fan of shutters, but every single house in our neighborhood has them. It wasn't until we went inside the house that we absolutely loved it. We knew we had to do something with the exterior, just didn't know what. Eventually we'd like to paint all the siding and brick, but for this year just looking to change some minor things like shutters, replace columns, front door, landscaping, etc. So many great ideas; this is a great starting point for us to tackle this Spring. Thank you again!
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C DeV
Original Author
4 years ago
I have found snap visualizer for SW and am going to try and get some visual color help that way. I am choosing elements because I like them, not because others are doing it. I have driven around our small town to see what color combos I like and am drawn too. The other two houses near us are light in color - one a light gray green and the other a neutral taupe color. As we are on a hill with not much landscaping or trees yet, I fear going too dark will be challenging with the sun and fading. I think I am on decision overload with the home building process.
pwanna1
4 years ago
I narrowed down colors I wanted when we built and asked on here if anyone near me had used them...it really helped...I found someone very close to me who had used the color I wanted...I was able to drive by the house several times/during different light, and really SEE how the color would look. Best of luck...it feels like such a daunting task I remember! :)
lyfia
4 years ago
If you see a house with a color you like don't be afraid to stop and ask. I did that once and they were very accommodating and even pulled out the paint cans as that is the only way they knew what it was.

I think a dark gray would look great and you could go darker on the trim or stick with white if you want the windows to blend more. Don't be afraid to paint the garage doors. If they stay white they'll look like a feature and if same color as the house they'll blend in more and not stick out as much. None of the pictures showed the garage doors so not sure what they look like to give other input.
cpartist
4 years ago
Two things. Forget the stone as it will look like it's pasted onto this nice looking house and keep the white window trim but paint the garage door the color of the body of the house. The garage door is not a feature and if it's white, it will be the first thing you notice as you drive up because light colors against an even slightly darker background draws the eye to it.

Your door should be the focal point. Not the garage.

What colors do you actually like? Start there.

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