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Home Decorating Paint Design Dilemma

Northern Michigan Lake Cottage Exterior Paint

3 years ago

Looking for exterior paint ideas for my small lakeside cottage in Northern Michigan. Color schemes I’ve been looking at-slate/charcoal/navy with slight purple undertones but don’t want it to look purple! I like dark blues, too but so many cottages in my area are that color. All trim will be white. I have grey stone chimney along side of house-will post better photos later. Open to any ideas-I’ve got two weeks to make a decision! Thanks!

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Comments (6)

gailmmatt
3 years ago
What don't you like about the current colour?

I think it is wonderful, subtle and matches the blue sky!
Wendy
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks! I don’t hate the color-I just figured since the house needs repainting, I’d go with something different.
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northernester, Here are a couple of pics of our house, sorry it took me so long to get a pic, this time of year, it's leave for work in the dark, return home in the dark. The siding is Hardiboard, pre painted, in Mountain Sage, trim is Hardie Sailcloth and the windows are Eagle, in Cinnamon. The pics aren't the greatest, sadly, it looks like mud season around here when it should look like a winter wonderland. Good luck with your decision, amd you have a lovely home, a 3 car garage in a waterfront home, that's great.
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Thank you all for the comments and ideas. After seeing the pics that lukkirish posted, my idea of going redwood-ish is disappearing. I really like that green (3rd pic) with the white trim. Or the yellow. What to do??? Bonnie_ann are you near here? When I was a teen my parents had a cottage in the same community. Driving 'to the lake' was like leaving the state, it seemed sooo far. There was nothing out that way for miles. (The trip now takes us 45 minutes, going the long way.) At that time all the houses were strickly weekend cabins, now most are permanent residents. We are having an arborist out to check on the trees and educate us on the pros and cons of their location. People in this region of Florida are protective of their cypress trees. I am looking forward to napping on the screened porch while listening to the breeze through the cypress, a sound that really is different then most trees. (Sappy but true.) Thank you again, keep the suggestions coming. We have a few weeks before having to decide.
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Hi! have you thought about adding a pergola or a covered area of some kind? I don't know if you like to eat outside, but that may be a place for a dining table or firepit. adding a gravel or concrete area around a fire pit would give the area purpose. Add a circular or square retaining wall around it to define the space. you can fill in with plants, small bushes, your favorite flowers, etc. If you are tired of looking at the side of your house, add a modern slat trellis for flowering vines to grow on. you can wrap this around one side of the firepit for privacy as well. Maybe you could incorporate your paddles into the benches around the fire pit as seat backs? either screw them vertically with the wide part up or sideways. I thought the second photo was a really pretty array of what colors you can add to your yard.
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Hi, those are some "interesting" colour and decor choices for sure. I like the idea of grey/white that you are planning and I think a dark colour would look great with those choices. One of my favourites is Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron. It is what I would call a soft black......more grey than black. Here are some photos of Wrought Iron used on exteriors: For trim and or contrast colours, these are the recommended coordinating colours from the BM site: I'd be tempted to find a cream that is a little less beige than this one - something closer to the trim colour in the photo above with the dark garage doors. Once you have your shingle colour you can decide about the colour of the chimney. You could go with the wrought iron colour on the chimney or you could choose a paint colour to match the shingle colour so it would disappear a bit into the roof. There are some folks who are on Houzz that are very good at photoshop and amending photos to show various colour choices.. Alternatively both BM and SW have paint visualizer tools so you can upload your pictures and play with colours until you find a look that pleases you.
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njmomma
3 years ago
Not a Pro.

I think going a deeper blue gray would look beautiful.

Adding a rock garden for landscaping, one with minimal care to the left side of the house, would look great.

Upgrade out door lighting near door and upgrade mail box or paint post and box.

Some inspiration:

Tricklebrook - Inland Lake Lot · More Info
Wendy
Original Author
3 years ago
Appreciate the suggestions!
jay06
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
We used to have a cottage in the northern area of the Lower Peninsula and I spent a lot of time looking at cottage colors. :-) I was always drawn to the classic greens--either a deeper, crisp green or a lighter sage. I also like pale yellow on cottages. Both would look wonderful with your white trim and very "cottagey". Cute place!
Wendy
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks so much. I’m near Mackinac Bridge. :) I’ve been looking at sage and yellow colors, too. My cottage is very tiny and old compared to my neighbors-so I feel like I can be a little more daring (but tasteful) with colors, including greens and yellows. Love Scandinavian style cottages-but red is too bold for me. Thanks for all suggestions!

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