Please help choosing colors/other advice for this 1980s squatty house

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hi! This is my first post here, and I apologize for the length. I am very excited as this is a big project for me, and I desperately need input.

We bought this foreclosed place to live in 4 years ago and have been slowly remodeling and improving it. It's a mess. The money is very tight, and I do as much as I can by myself, but I am not very handy. The picture is a bit dated: the hibiscus bush on the right side has been removed as well as all the decorations on the house, including the hanging shell baskets, and I added some bright flower trays on each windowsill.

Any advice is welcome. I am thinking about having the stucco and garage door painted with "Ginger Peachy" color by Glidden (but will use different brand), and the trim - white. The landscaping is going to be re-done next, and I need to visually extent the house height so I am guessing that the bushes on the street side will need to go, and maybe replace them with blooming flowers. The problem is none of the landscaping is getting much sun all around the house, and being in Florida, I can't figure out which plants to use that would bloom and look full in part-time sun except ferns. They, impatiens and begonias seem to be doing well, but still reaching forward for the sun. What can I plant to make the very plain and low to the ground house look more inviting and open?

Also we will get new gutters in white color, and plan to re-stain the wooden front door in something complementing the new color (maybe grey or cona stain?). The windows are copper brown, but I don't have the budget to replace them with white plastic ones, however, it's in the plan in a few years ahead, as well as changing the fence to a white plastic one. I would love to cut down a few of the five enormous live oaks in the front/back, but again, money is an issue. That would really help get more light around the house, but I just don't know if I ever will get to it. I also might change the blinds to light or medium brown/ faux wood ones, as right now they really pop out. What about the light fixtures by the front door? I want them lower, and change to white and maybe different style?

Please let me know any of your thoughts regarding what you would do. I appreciate you taking the time to read this.

(This is what ginger peachy color looks like on a house, but on my laptop it shows more orange than the swatch I have which is more bright and yellow)

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Comments (5)

PRO
Yardvaark
4 years ago
I prefer the color you have far better than the ginger peachy color.

The large plant I've circled in red is much too close to the house and drive, for something of that size.

Flaming torch bromeliads work well as circular beds around tree trunks. They tolerate (require) shade and put on a nice show for a couple of weeks in September. Otherwise, they are trouble-free plants that remain green. You may be able to pick them up cheap on Craigslist or Facebook if someone is dividing their lot and selling the surplus. I got a ton of them that way for $1/ea. There are many other Bromeliads, but flaming torch is an old standard that is readily available from other gardeners. Another groundcover plant to consider for color and low height is regular or tri-color oyster plant. They are easy to propagate and look tidy. The common Boston Fern which has escaped all over Florida is used by many people as a tall groundcover. It can be had for free, but you'll not be able to have much else (beds) because the fern spreads all over. For a larger shrub/small tree there is Camellia. There are also Azaleas for shrubs that are shade tolerant.
ukrworld thanked Yardvaark
ukrworld
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks for the response. I will definitely consider the plants you've mentioned, however, I want to get away from the green/gray color family for the siding. Here is a house in the neighborhood with a color scheme I am looking for. Do you think that would be a good look for our house as well, despite having dark window frames? I know it's hard to see for all the vegetation, but I drove past this place many times and love the colors at all the times of the day. I matched the color of the stucco and came up with Ginger Peachy.
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PRO
Yardvaark
4 years ago
The one writing the check must ultimately please themselves. If it's the color you must have, it's the color you must have. To me though, it looks too close to another variant of of the Florida beige, which I think is now beyond tired. Beiges, tans, oranges, yellows, browns are the colors of decay and appeal to me much less than taupes that lean in a tinted direction. Dark trim looks looks somber,. In much shade it tends to look even gloomy. White trim is generally cheery by comparison.
ukrworld thanked Yardvaark
ukrworld
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you for your reply. I can definitely see what you mean and respect your opinion. I do have another color in mind that I was considering as my second choice that should go well with the stone. It's Behr's Watery for the siding and Blue Metal for the wooden part of the door. The soffits, gutters and fascia will be painted Snowy Pine (soft white-gray). This is an example:

Do you think that would look good on our house? I have only seen a couple of houses painted somewhat in this palette, but they look nice and fresh.

.
PRO
Yardvaark
4 years ago
IMO, it is a cleaner, fresher look. When it comes to color, if the color is too strong, it goes negative for me. Blending a little taupe to the color tones it down. I don't mean adding taupe separately, but if one were blending paint, adding into the actual material.
ukrworld thanked Yardvaark

Please help choosing colors/other advice for this 1980s squatty house

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Please help choosing colors/other advice for this 1980s squatty house

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