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Paint Design Dilemma Exterior

What should I do to update the exterior of my home?

Michele Crippen

2 years ago

We bought this home in July and spent the last 6 months updating the interior. Our 2022 project is the exterior. I would like to keep the red brick and play up the traditional theme of the home while making it modern. I do not like the blue on the home and want to go with something more modern. What color should I paint the exterior? If I replace the windows, what color should they be? We are definitely thinking new garage doors. I would like to do whatever I can to de-emphasize them as much as possible. Any other suggestions to give this traditional beauty more curb appeal and modernize the traditional style?

Featured Answer

jck910

2 years ago

You're right that blue is a bit much. Not sure if your brick is too red for sage green. This house is a very popular inspiration

Comments (11)

Lyn Nielson
2 years ago
I'd start with priming all the trim White... then see how you like it before choosing a color.

you might just like the white.
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Wow thank you all for the suggestions! We do plan on changing the entry door as well. Wasn't sure about the color, but it looks like you guys are suggesting a wood color or stain finish. Looks really nice. I'm not sure what is under the siding. We have only stucco on a few other walls of the house (patio area), so I guess it's possible that stucco is underneath. I will check and reevaluate the situation. I just have seen that stucco can look really nice, and currently, our house is the worst looking on the block for sure. At $6/sqft, I was estimating ~$9k for the stucco. Might be too ambitious to be under budget taking into account the price to remove the current siding as well. The idea of keeping the vinyl siding didn't even occur to me because of its condition and look. You guys wouldn't recommend getting new vinyl at least? Didn't think about updating the porch light to a larger size, or adding the larger bushes. Great ideas! As for colors, yeah light gray can work too, but I've seen pics of dark gray+brick and it looked really nice. My artistic sense is quite lacking, so I'd have to evaluate what complements the kind of brick we have. Darker green is a good suggestion as well. Thanks all for the input.
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Here is a greenish gray with white trim. Your tall arborvitae need to be removed from in front of your windows, which I guessed at the shape in this image. Your home could benefit from some colorful landscaping in the front.
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Kiimela, it just depends on how white you want the white. Alabaster and greek villa are warmer whites that lean a little yellow. make sure to get some samples and bring them home. I did these three on my home, with the Swiss Coffee (Behr) on my stucco. See how dull the swiss coffee looks against a bright white? But,,, this is how bright the white turned out on the stucco! Also have a rental house w/Swiss Coffee and black trim. (Behr colors) It's a nice combo. consider getting a new front door though. if you must keep yours, paint the entire door and side lites black or red. I'd prob just go w/Pure White if you're picking SW colors, for your place. Paired here w/Hale Navy, both of those would look nice. Or do the charcoal. just do a dark color for the trim against the white
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Your landscaping changes look great. In the current photo, the brick and trim look very different (due to lighting and photo quality) than the old pics. Can you get a close-up pic of just the trim and brick in good lighting, as well as the front door? Yes, definitely get beefier posts. Cedar ones might look good with your brick colors. But again, need better pics.
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Stacey
2 years ago
I would remove the bushes and one tree hiding the entrance and windows. Charcoal gray for trim? Looks like the roof is gray?
Michele Crippen
Original Author
2 years ago
Sage green is lovely but the brick is very orange so don't think that would be the right color. I do like the trim in the inspiration photo to break up the doors. The roof is gray so perhaps more in the gray to griege would work.

Stacey, you are correct. The tree needs to be removed. There is really pretty herringbone patterned brick work between the first story and second story windows that is completely hidden by the tree.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
2 years ago
Beautiful home. You’re right on the blue - it needs to go.

Oh, and you need a chainsaw bad. In the bed to the right of the driveway, remove everything taller than 2.5 feet.
chloebud
2 years ago
I actually think the sage green jck suggested would work with your brick color. I also think Lyn's suggestion of priming with white is good. Lovely home! Yes, bye-bye blue!
mojavemaria
2 years ago
With that blue gray roof the green might not look so good. Gray trim might work better with your brick and roof.
houssaon
2 years ago
I would go with white to match the windows and install wood looking garage doors.

Have the tree by the house professionally thinned to reveal its shape. Most of the other bushes need a hard pruning to bring them back in scale. Use this as a guide.
chloebud
2 years ago
The roof does look slightly blue on my screen. Is that the case IRL? Not sure if it's the blue paint and/or lightfing that could be showing blue in the roof.
raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
2 years ago
It is a traditional beauty, so take care that you don't remuddle it.

I think it mostly needs better landscaping. Most, if not all, of the bushes need to go, not just the tree. I'd like to see what DigDug would suggest.

I like the bronzey-gray trim that MojaveMaria posted. That is a little more modern vibe, IMO, but doesn't detract from the traditional beauty.
shari13
2 years ago
Yeah the blue is a bit much the the landscaping needs an upgrade first IMO. I feel like the house is all garage and think it would look far better if you could see more house.

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