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Paint Design Dilemma Exterior

How can I modernize the exterior of my house + new paint colors?

Katharine Di Cerbo

last year

We recently bought this house, and it looks like we'll be getting a new roof soon. Since I have to pick a color, it's got me thinking about all of the exterior.

I am open to changing any/everything about the exterior. How can I make this house look a bit less like a mid 2000's cookie cutter house?

Featured Answer

PRO

lisedv

last year

last modified: last year

You've purchased a beautilul house, congratulations! To update the look I suggest to remove all shutters and paint the stucco a lighter colour (trim same colour) and the windows in charcoal or black. A nice wood front door would complement the look...

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Comments (7)

littlebug Zone 5 Missouri
last year
last modified: last year
Is this house in a tropical area, like Florida? I see some foliage that makes me think that. This might affect your color choices - deep rich colors for my house in the midwest might look out of place in a warm climate.

Mentioning foliage, I can see that there has been extensive landscaping done, but I think it’s time to rejuvenate/trim back some of it. Especially the tall shrub on the right and the evergreens (?) right next to the house.
elcieg
last year
last modified: last year
It doesn't look cookie cutter to me. The roof lines make the house special and I like the three front facing gables.

Shutters on the right gable windows, only. Or no shutters at all.

Inspiration:

There is planting in the front which I can't see clearly, but guessing at barberry. Why not choose that color for the front door? Do the sidelights the same...

I would do a light toned paint with bright white trim. Have a finish carpenter trim out windows to make them look more important.
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OK I've changed my mind about how to approach your home. There are lots of details that have been fabricated on this house that I would change, but to get you over the finish line here is what I suggest. I think the key word here is SIMPLIFY. I would consider painting the complete home a soft greige gray color & select dark greige for the simple garage doors. Here are some colors from Sherwin Williams I tried to see what your home would look like if it was a light color & I think that grey/greige color could really update the appearance.
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of the colors you have in your photo, try the likeable sand. I think it would blend better with the stone. Paint the front door a fun welcoming color, but paint the garage door the color of the house. I like your home, too. Congratulations. you have plenty of time to play with color til spring and painting/ planting weather arrive . enjoy.
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Certainly keep the brick because the path and driveway are in the same color family. The yellow is actually very sweet with the brick. If it's to cheery for you, it can be toned down to more of a butternut. In my mind, the problem is that the roof is a cool color and the brick and such is warm. You might be able to tie them together with a neutral light grey paint if you find any flecks of grey in your brick. You don't want to tear off a roof because of the color so I would recommend foundation plantings to minimize the conflict. It can be as simple as a tidy brick-height hedge, or something more complex. A bench across the porch, and move the tree on the porch to the left side of the garage where the one side is thicker than the other.
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The shutters are too small, so either update them to proper shutters or remove them. The cedar shingles will hopefully look MUCH brighter once power washed. Then I would have to find a way to condition them, I am not a fan of 'weathered' cedar silver look. The 'modern' FAD is to paint everything the same color, shakes, brick; paint it all. That gives you a maintenance nightmare FOR THE REST OF THE HOMES LIFE. Right now it is "maintenance free" meaning no painting--if you like the shakes that is. When you replace the windows, will you make any of them larger? I would say this home needs larger windows pretty much in every spot. The front door has a country detail that I don't think flows and the garage door appears to be newer and really BRIGHT next to the rest of the home. Pick one trim color. I see green on the windows/window box and white on the garage/porch/soffits. White all around might help lessen the start garage door. The window boxes may be a challenge. My DH is dead set against them. How is the siding holding up behind them? The brackets they are hung with on the brick in particular might not be easily ignore once the boxes are off. They are a quaint IDEA but the reality of keeping the watered and freshened makes them a lot of work.
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PRO
Norwood Architects
last year
Do you have a particular style that you like? Modern? I would start with a style that you want to make your house and go from there. That should provide you with a guide to making changes.
cat_ky
last year
The house needs a roof color that is darker than what is on there now. I would choose charcoal, or something very close to that, since you are putting on new roofing.
kandrewspa
last year
While I agree the roof could be a little darker, it shouldn't be too dark as that would make the house look top heavy, plus dark colors absorb heat. If you are in a hot climate that would be a really bad idea.

I think the exterior color is fine. Do you not like it, or is the surface in bad condition such that it needs to be painted? While the trend now is for dark colored houses, that wouldn't really be appropriate for this style of house. I would remove the shutters from the window to the right of the front door. I can't see your front door very well. Does it need to be replaced?
Sigrid
last year
Paint the shutters an interesting color. A soft, grayish turquoise might be good.

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