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Paint Design Dilemma Exterior

I could really use some opinions on trim color for our house, please!

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

I'm going crazy with this. I really like the exterior color Benjamin Moore Steep Cliff Gray. My issue is the odd size windows and small trim around said windows. Also, two windows on lower level will be painted the same color, just depends on what trim I use. And the stone face of the house is such a huge feature, but every time I tried blending, or bringing in some of that color, I hated it. What am I doing wrong? Because of Covid-19 I have not consulted with Benjamin Moore yet. I am hoping I might get some fresh eyes and ideas here first. And a caveat, my husband is doing the painting, is not interested in making larger window trim (looks kind of weird on a 1960 tri-level anyway) and there will not be any shutters. I really don't have much to work with as far as 'eye catching' goes, but I would like to make the best of what we have. Thank you for any ideas and opinions. All are welcome.

This is Steep Cliff Gray with Bone China Trim

Above is Steep Cliff Gray with I think Piedmont Gray

Above is current

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Comments (5)

PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
4 years ago
To be closer to your accent stones how about warm gray/taupe?
sunseeker8688 thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
4 years ago
More option
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sunseeker8688 thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years ago
Try this color with the stone
0
sunseeker8688 thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
houssaon
4 years ago
I like Steep Cliff Gray, too. I would go a shade darker with Dark Pewter on the window time and the fascia. I think it looks so modern.
sunseeker8688 thanked houssaon
sunseeker8688
Original Author
4 years ago
Wow, thank you for all of these suggestions.

Celerygirl, I had to chuckle because the first color you posted was what I was going for at first, then a neighbor painted theirs almost the same color. To be honest, just about any dark color I put with it looks good, but my goodness it'd hard trying to be a bit different than everyone else around here, lol. The second color is definitely a possibility.

Patricia, I had a color similar to that picked out; BM Sioux Falls, but was struggling, again, on the trim issue. We have had green trim for the last 30 years, so I wanted to get away from that. Then I tried different shades of green, blues, green-blues, anything but white. I just could not get that Aha! color to go with the Sioux Falls, which I really liked. What green is that? And any ideas on a trim color that maybe I'm missing?

housaon, I really love your pick of dark pewter, but I am concerned living in the PNW it will be too dark during the months of gray wet days we get. I agree a dark trim looks good. I keep searching the internet for pics, but most every house with a dark exterior has white trim, so I just can't get a good bead on it.

Am I overthinking this? By fall I really don't have much green as far as plants go because I cut them down for winter. I have been thinking of putting a long narrow pergola across the front, under the two plain upper windows, to break up that stretch of wall a bit. I would plant clematis on either side to grow towards the middle. If I were proficient in MS Paint I would try to show that, but I am really terrible at that. I have been re-landscaping the front yard just for this.

I do have another question though. If I don't want white trim, which around here would be a nightmare with all of our neighbors trees, what colors do you suggest? In your opinions, is a dark trim too foreboding, even though it's pretty? We don't have to worry about curb appeal right now. We have been in this house 40 years, and will probably die here. But I also don't want people driving by and going "Ewwww" either.

Thank you so much. I really do appreciate it.

P.S. Previous colors of this house has been: Light blur, yellow-green, rajneeshee red (my fault), and current off white. Yes, it has seen some baaad colors.
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