Need recommendations on paint color

last year

This is a picture of my old family home (early 1960s red brick ranch). My parents build this home when they found out they were expecting me. I'm in the process of slowly fixing it up as it will be my retirement home. I'm trying to do one major project a year between now and retirement. This year's project was to get the roof fixed / replaced and to replace the gutters. I went with a black / charcoal for the shingles and went with black gutters. I like how both turned out. Now, trying to decide on a color for the trim, enclosed porch, fascia, etc. What color would you go with? The roofer said black. Painter says stay with the same burgundy / red color. He thinks black would be too much black.

This is a before picture.

This is after the roof and gutters were replaced.

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Comments (13)

Rachel Lee
last year
I would either paint the brick a dark sagey green and redo the porch, trim, etc with natural cedar, or, keep the brick and put the green on everything else.
ptreckel
last year
Tell us about your windows. Are they original metal? Fiberglass? Wood? Can they be painted? I would first remove the shutters and clean the brick behind them. See how it looks without shutters. I might experiment with black for your trim and your paint if your windows can be painted. What a wonderful project for you to embrace. Good luck!
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Mavis Jones
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
@ptreckel They are single pane wood windows. My mother had storm windows put over them back in the day, which is what you see from the outside. There is wood trim on the outside around the windows. I was thinking of replacing them, but, even though it's a dated look, I like the wood windows. Also, budget right now doesn't allow. I'm pretty much taking on the have to projects until retirement. Will take on the non have to projects after I move back into it.
ptreckel
last year
That they are wood means that they can be painted! Good news! You might try painting one black and see how it looks. That might guide your decision making. (I’d paint an inconspicuous one on the back of your home so if you don’t like it…)
decoenthusiaste
last year
Pressure washing the house, porch and walks would be a relatively inexpensive project you could do yourself, and that would freshen it up a lot. If you have a vehicle or tractor that could be used to pull out the old, stumpy shrubs after a good soaking rain, that's a good start on new landscaping which will make a huge difference. What kind of room is behind the sided section on the far left? Look at Romabio for high quality masonry paint/stain. I think you can upgrade the curb appeal of your home with a change of color. White would be striking with the black roof and gutters. Your painter would be correct then about black for the trim.

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RL Relocation LLC
last year
last modified: last year
i would invest in landscape
chloebud
last year
"White would be striking with the black roof and gutters."

Agree a white/light stain would look really nice. Right now the roof is pulling a lot of the focus. White siding with maybe black window trim could help balance things.
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
Some options to go with dark shutters and white widow trim
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
last modified: last year
or with dark window trim and light shutters
mcpherson007
last year
Celery... Wow they both look great!
Mavis Jones
Original Author
last year
@decoenthusiaste, it's a closed in porch. My mother decided to have both the front and back porch closed in. With no AC, it was nice to sleep out there during the summer months.
Mavis Jones
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Thank you for the comments. Landscaping is a back burner item at this point. It's not something that I have to do to get the house back in livable condition. Roof repair was the first item on the list in getting it back into shape as far as livability . There was a hole in the roof so it wasn't a small leak. There was also rotting wood on the fascia and soffit. Painting of the trim, etc. is to protect the old non rotted wood from further weathering and to protect the new wood that was just installed to replace the rotting wood on the fascia and soffits. Between now and retirement, which isn't that far off, I still need to install a new HVAC system, new hot water heater, do one of the bathrooms, replace basement window that is broken, and I may need to upgrade electrical. And I need to do all that while I'm still living in my current home and refreshing a few things in and around it. It's just me trying to get all of this done.

I will definitely keep everyone's suggestions on the landscaping in mind after I move back in.
cat_ky
last year
Your roof appears more charcoal, than it does black. I would paint the windows, and trim the darker color too, but, not black. Choose a color that is very close to the charcoal roof. It will be a bit softer look, rather than all black. I am not sure why the painter said to keep the burgundy. It never went with the house when it was new. :-)