Help! I am looking to add some color to our russet colored house.
TVS
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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TVS
3 years agoRelated Discussions
How can I add some color here?? Help me pls.
Comments (37)Oh! They look just like the giant round yews I used to have on the corners of my house. One yew in the yard was removed after we moved in by my very useful DH and I hemmed and hawed and thought about what to do with the others since I didn't want to see DH destroy his back. Well, I finally decided that I didn't want huge bare spots next to the house and have to put something else there anyway. So I went with the major trimming and I really like the result. HERE'S WHAT I DID: I would NOT recommend cutting them back to 2 feet even though eventually they will grow back. The trimming can be done in stages so you are not left with a bare stump. 1) You can cut back the bush hard all over as far as the green goes to leave some green showing. I did this first. Yours look much too tall like mine were. 2) Then, if you look inside the yews, you can see that there is basically a trunk with radiating branches and the green is mostly on the ends of the branches. What I did was to trim off all the lower radiating branches and leave the top of the bush green. The result will be a vase shaped bush. I wanted to make mine narrower to keep off the house siding and because they were blocking the path. The trunk and branches are actually quite attractive and the top can be rounded or shaped naturally or done like topiary if you want. This left a lot of room underneath the bush where I can plant bulbs or anything else. The yew roots don't seem like they are too thick or shallow for other plants. This will let you keep the shrubs, make them smaller, trim them away from the house, and plant more plants in front of them. If you would like a photo, email me and I'll see if I can figure it out. I just dropped in on this forum for a minute, but had to respond. Susan...See MoreColor experts, please help--what color should we paint our house?
Comments (18)Thank you! So much great feedback. Sadly, the paint job is a necessity rather than just aesthetics -- paint on the back side is failing pretty badly & peeling off in layers. (After reading up on the paint forum, I think it was just too many layers of latex on top of old oil paint without adequate prep.) Maybe we will keep it close to current color. I'm not sure what color it is, but I'll have to stop by the BM store and pick up a tab for Briarwood. I think those color visualizers are just a bit off, at least on our monitor -- Down Pour is a very smurf-y blue on my screen. Luckily, SW store is right down the street. Of the SW colors, we liked Mineral Deposit -- gray, but not quite so dark. Johnmari, my wife said exactly that about warm trim looking bad with cool gray field color. I just want to get away from the current ultrawhite, just tone down a bit but not too much. Shutters? I think we will someday, after we've finished the essentials. Of course, being picky, I don't want to just screw aluminum shutters that don't match window size on there, so might be a while given that real shutters & hardware are pricey. The suggestion about doing the sash black is good--that could look really sharp and make the windows pop a bit more until we can dress it up a bit more with shutters. Absolutely agreed on the landscaping solutions. Could be more varied and it would add a lot. THANK YOU for all your suggestions, such a helpful group & nice little corner of the internet....See MoreHelp me add house building related items to our wedding registry!
Comments (23)*looks around library that's currently functioning as a tool chest for ideas* For your own sanity: gift cards for home improvement stores. There is always a billion little things you need. gift cards for the liquor commission - for when you can't deal with the billionth problem that goes wrong massage gift certificates - for when painting makes your shoulders and neck ache, but your STILL not done painting... movie tickets - for when your exhausted AND broke, and just want a night out. For doing work yourselves: Painters tape. Don't ask how much of the stuff you'll go through! Brad nails for the nailgun when installing trim. Again, its amazing how many thousand you go through! rags. For staining, cleaning paint of surfaces it shouldn't have gone, dirty hands... tape measures...because even if you have 6, you'll only ever find 1 at a time a GOOD stud finder spackle for when you accidentally knock something over dent your newly painted walls, and new knives for when your SO washes them and leaves them in the sink to rust... respirator with replacement cartridges - so that you aren't dying with a major headache and sore throat after staining all of your doors/trim... long screws to match your door hardware. (We found these hard to find in certain colors). It sucks when your builder drops them, and replaces the missing ORB one with a shiny brass one... undercutting saw (if installing flooring), or one of those multi-tools with the undercutting blade. plastic-type prybars - for when you install something wrong and need to 'delicately' redo it... Other 'things' you may not have thought of including in your home, or want to upgrade: whole home surge protector fancier doorbell exterior lighting outdoor bench/seating BBQ! yardwork tools - rakes, shovels, lawnmower accessories, garbage cans, recycling bins tool chest and/or pegboard and hook set for the massive amount of tools you've bought! decorative air/floor registers...See MorePlease help add some color/personality to my home office
Comments (1)Here is what I am working with. Thank you!...See More
Denita
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoAgree with Nancy above^
Right now the row of hedges is looking like a barrier to your front and not giving that welcome home vibe. Good landscaping will be worth it. You don't have to do a lot of landscaping to get a better result.
Painting the front door a much lighter color so it comes out of the shadows will help tremendously with curb appeal. You could also paint it a complementary color to the russet, but I would go more toward green than blue.
(1272) Pinterest · More Info
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(1272) Pinterest · More InfoYou could even go with a golden yellow:
(1272) Pinterest · More InfoTVS thanked Denita
PROBeth H. :
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI like the sweet potato color for the door. (but maybe toned down a bit) Any Autumn color or soft sage greens will work.
here's a muted brick color. I also gave you an address plaque. think about doing some numbers on the front there.
I'd concentrate more on the surrounding landscaping (the flower bed next to the stone on the right side) since that will make more of a first impression.personally I'd remove those hedges on the left. they do nothing for the space.
spend a few thousand and find a landscaper to spruce up the front.
post this pic over in landscape design w/your regional area, and they should have some pointers for you.
if you want maximum price for the house, you have to make them want to come inside.
TVS thanked Beth H. :TVS
3 years ago
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