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Exterior Paint Design Dilemma

Updating a 1970's mansard roof house

last year

last modified: last year

We would like to update the look of our house. The roof unfortunately needs to stay the same. Should we paint the brick, door, trim? What colors palette would you suggest? Are there good apps I can use to test out colors virtually? Any input welcome as I do not have a design eye.

Featured Answer

cat_ky

last year

Please do not alter all that much on that house. It doesnt need to be modernized. Honor it for the style that it is. It looks nice, and no, to painting the brick. I do agree, that the white is way too stark, and doesnt look good on the house. A darker Cream would be a much better option. Also, you could use some better landscaping. Put your money into painting the trim first, and maybe some new lighting in the front entry, and a colorful pot of flowers on each side of the door. You may want to paint the door a color, so it shows up better as your entryway. Then, get some nicer landscaping. A small tree that flowers in the front yard would be nice.

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Comments (6)

Rachel Lee
last year
The white is too stark. I think a dark cream pulled from the brick would tie it all together better without having to paint the brick.
Josée Poulin thanked Rachel Lee
ginatay124
last year
Try the Sherwin Williams Color Snap app.
Josée Poulin thanked ginatay124
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I also think you should try to park the car on the driveway not on the brick walk as that will not stand up to constant car use. You have a one car garage so cars need to park in tandem or one on the street what you are doing in the pic is basically hiding the walk to the entry .I agree the white is too stark so start there with a nice color that works with the brick and do notpaint the brick .This is good color palette to use for inspiration use the cream on all the white except for the front door and that couldbe the lighter blue since the door in recessed. Landscaping will bring the house to life
Josée Poulin thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Debbie Downer
last year
last modified: last year
Yes - it's a really sweet period piece. Not understanding why you consider the roof "unfortunate" and why you want to paint the brick? The colors, as is, are attractive and they tie together nicely. You want roof and brick walls to read as a single unit and for there not to be sharp contrast between them. Otherwise your house will look like a box with a funny hat sitting on it, Im curious what original colors would have been - dark purple-brown comes to mind as an accent color.... Hmmm let me think some more about this.... As others have said the bright white is too contrasty.
Josée Poulin thanked Debbie Downer
Jilly
last year
Just for fun, good article on this style with lots of interesting info:

http://modernrealtor.blogspot.com/2011/11/modern-mansard.html

I’m not an expert on Mansard style, so someone please correct me if I’m wrong … I think the OP’s would be known as a Neo-Mansard.

Anyway, agree with a different trim/front door color and landscaping. It’s a great house! I really like the retro quirkiness.
Josée Poulin thanked Jilly

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