Building a new home but can’t decide on exterior paint

3 years ago

My husband and I are DIYers and are building our home ourselves. The style is a low-country farmhouse. We are located in East Tennessee 1/4 mike from a large lake. The neighborhood is a mix of styles. Our home is on one acre and is partially wooded. We are drawn to blue homes and green homes but with all the green around us I think it would blend in too much and not be very visible. We don’t want a White House. It is set back from the road about 140 feet. The front porch is not in yet but will be covered. We are installing a metal roof. The front door is mahogany with a clear finish. I would appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

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Angela Burton
Original Author

3 years ago

I wanted to thank everyone for the suggestions. We finished our home and went with Royal Navy for our house color. We just love it!

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Comments (45)

Anna (6B/7A in MD)
3 years ago
I like your house design (though I’m not an expert): it appears appropriate for the setting and pleasantly simple without the thousands of extraneous gables new homes are prone to.

Are you looking for a more traditional color scheme? Or more modern? You mention blue and I wondered if you were leaning toward a navy or a more medium to light blue? What color will the trim be?

What color will the roof be?
devonfield
3 years ago
What a charming house! Congratulations! While not a suggestion you requested, have you considered a yellow shade at all? It would look great against all of that greenery you have, and coordinate with the style of the house and metal roof. Just a suggestion though.
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Anna (6B/7A in MD)
3 years ago
Blue or maybe a blue-green, such as a light turquoise?
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
We are considering a gray roof and the shade would be dependent on the house color. We were initially thing of navy but we I’m concerned it might be too dark. I like the lighter blue but not a beachy turquoise. Our goal is to make this not look like a brand new house. I personally love yellow but my husband does not like yellow. The trim would be white. Anna I like your idea of a blue-green.
houssaon
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
There are really stunning blues out there and I love dark green with white. Here are some of my favorites:
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This house might be Symphony Blue.
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pleballerina
3 years ago
I was going to second painting the house yellow-but not bright, more along the lines of a very light buttery color. Are you not entertaining white because it may be too stark or “new” looking?
Congratulations on your home-its scale is just right for the setting! Would you mind sharing the floor plans?
kathiebartel
3 years ago
Your home is beautiful! Congratulations. I think a slate blue shade similar to the second picture houssaon would be lovely in your setting.
Anna (6B/7A in MD)
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Whatever color you choose, try to use a soft white for the trim rather than a stark white. Stark whites tend to look very harsh and glaring, at least to me.
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
To Pleballerina - I do thing the white is too stark and new looking. I also think the white windows disappear on a white house.

Houssaon - What beautiful homes! I love the symphony blue and the first home, but I’m really drawn to the third photo (house #315). We also did the 3 over 1 windows. We are installing natural rough cut cedar posts for the porch and this shade of blue looks great against the wood tones.
latifolia
3 years ago
Our lake house is natural cedar with a green metal roof and green Marvin windows. Didn't look new, even when just built and blends in.
RedRyder
3 years ago
I’m in Middle Tennessee and I think your house is lovely! Perfect for a woodsy piece of property. I agree with the grey-blue or mid-blue ideas. And the soft white trim idea. Greens will definitely blend with the trees so that’s not an option to me. With a metal roof, blues are very farmhouse-y but modern to me. I think most of us would like seeing the inside.
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
RedRyder, right now it’s framed inside but electrical, plumbing, and HVAC is going in. Once we have walls I will post photos for some input on interior colors! Thanks for the input!
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
Latifolia, your house is very pretty. But we have white windows so I don’t think this would be an option for us.
lyfia
3 years ago
How about SW Svelte Sage. It is a lighter green so will contrast with the trees, but still make it feel more part of the surroundings and not look out of place.
lyfia
3 years ago
Here’s one of the HGTV dream homes in this color
nhb22
3 years ago
We are also in East TN. Near Johnson City. ;)

I love your home! And I love this last suggestion of the Sage Green. That's one of my favorite colors.

I will be following this thread as my DH and I are suppose to be building our retirement home sometime soon. We have a builder. The house will be built in an older established neighborhood and we want it to fit in. We are planning on a whitish/cream or old world looking brick with white windows.
Anna (6B/7A in MD)
3 years ago
We resided our ranch last year and went with sage green siding with cream trim. We live in a neighborhood that is close to farmland and we are surrounded by trees. The house definitely does not disappear and we think it compliments the location nicely. So I wouldn't rule out sage green!
shead
3 years ago
I love these color schemes:

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C W
3 years ago
Not sure what material you’re planning to use, but check out Hardieplank in Evening Blue. Gorgeous on a wooded lot!
f1241
3 years ago
Following
RedRyder
3 years ago
Are you using Hardiboard? Vertical or horizontal planks?
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
CW we are using HardiePlank. Pretty house!
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
RedRyder we are using the horizontal Hardiboard on our home
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
Nhb22 I go to JC often. I love the sage green as well...it’s so hard to pick! Lol
miller30
3 years ago
Definitely some sort of blue
RedRyder
3 years ago
I like the blue that C W posted. I had a house and close to that color, with ivory trim. It was quite striking. Here is the barn.
RedRyder
3 years ago
*house and barn
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
RedRyder that is gorgeous!
RedRyder
3 years ago
Thanks. I think the blue Hardie board option is close to this color. This is River Blue by BM. It sits nicely within trees, which is similar to your photos.
JJ
3 years ago
Looks nice.
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks
MiMi
3 years ago
That is just so beautiful and fits in with the surrounding setting just perfect! The stained porch trim and posts really set it off. It’s truly fabulous!
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you Mimi!
kathiebartel
3 years ago
It looks really beautiful. Congratulations on your home and I wish you many happy years there.
cobalty2004
3 years ago
House looks great Angela!

My wife and I choose Royal Navy for our home as well! White trim and garage door, arctic grey front door.
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you Kathiebartel & cobalty2004!
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
3 years ago
It’s very nice to see the “before” and the “after.” Many times people come here, get plenty of advice, and never return.
HU-187528210
3 years ago
Haven’t been following along but that’s incredible love. And love the face you guys did this yourselves. AMAZING. would love to get a sneak inside
Chessie
3 years ago
Angela Burton - I can't believe you picked that color. I had not read this thread previously and was going through it, and was going to suggest that exact color! My brother has a new home in the mountains that is exactly that color scheme and it looks beautiful - all year long. But it is completely stunning in the winter with snow on the ground.

Your home looks awesome - good choice!
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
We had a white Christmas and the navy just looks amazing against the white!
Chessie
3 years ago
I told you it would be. :-) Now you have a beautiful Christmas picture as well as a lovely home.
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
☺️
RedRyder
3 years ago
It’s GORGEOUS, Angela. It looks wonderful in that setting and the snow just adds to the charm. Congratulations on such a lovely new home! The blue is perfect.
Angela Burton
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you RedRyder