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Exterior Design Dilemma Paint

Exterior Paint Color Help!

last year

I’m struggling to come up with the right exterior paint color combo for our home. It’s currently a very unfortunate dingy yellow. I’ve even tried the Benjamin Moore exterior paint simulator hoping I’d have a light bulb moment, but nada.

Everyone seems to be going with black trim and white walls but I don’t think that will suit this style home. The roof is a brownish stucco that will eventually need to be replaced.

Any ideas?!?

Featured Answer

Rawketgrl

last year

Your home is lovely. I think people pick Higher LRV paint colors for stucco exteriors, to reflect more UV radiation... I do love a nice creamy white on stucco, it looks so rich and timeless...

These are painted SW Alabaster. It would go nicely with your brown roof and dark accents.

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Comments (30)

Goli Mahdavi
Original Author
last year
So helpful, thank you!
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Your light gray colors are the wrong tone. the ones you have listed lean a little pink/taupe. your stone is more tan/golden. if you go w/something too light, it's going to look washed out. these are the tones of your stone. This evergreen fog color would look great w/your shake and the stone. I love this color on your garage doors (so some other sage green color) if you want light, try the neutral ground on the siding w/the tan shade on the trim. or vice versa. darker grays that have that green/brown undertone. all of these pair well w/the stone. I love the black w/the wood idea. Iron Ore or Wrought Iron. no cedar shake, but this has the stone facade w/the dark colors and trim so you get an idea. Your cedar would actually lend a lot of warmth to the party. if you want a little warmer, what about these? (Copper Mountain on the front door) Caramelized on the trim, the bronze on the siding. Urbane Bronze is another nice color for the siding. either of the two light ones for the trim/garage door,,,Cajun for the front door. Any of these Protege Bronze, Urbane Bronze, Nettle or Nocturne will give that dark shade, but since they all have brown undertones, will work well w/the stone and the cedar. Some other neutral tones.
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@decoenthusiaste, woould you remove shutters from the windows on the porch only? On the walls to either side of front walk are windows with shutters, and also two on the front at left (one covered by tree). The window at right is boxed out with no shutters (covered partially by purple tree in bottom pic below). 1. Also we ruled out green--we think it's just TOO MUCH green and aren't into it enough to make a statement. 2. We may eventually change out the stone, which is fake stone and we don't love it, so while I do like taking the lighter buff tone and using that, please know we aren't married to the stone or especially trying to highlight it. We also need to re-do the front walk in the near future (next spring??).
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cat_ky
last year
I dont like the white look of Alabaster for your house. I think, you need to stay in the cream family, just not the shade thats on there now, which I agree, looks a bit dingy. I like the white trim, you have now. Maybe take a look at BM Ivory white.
D M PNW
last year
The rustic shutters do nothing for your elegant home. The flat top shrubs are also too large and tall.
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
Goli Mahdavi
Original Author
last year
So grateful for this community! Thanks all!
RedRyder
last year
Get samples and paint all the 4 sides of your house to see every type of sunlight. You can try some softer whites (SW Antique Ivory, Creamy, or Swiss Coffee) and see how they look with your exposures. You need subtle, elegant and quiet. A real white may be too stark.

Your house is stunning!!! When was it built? It looks Art Deco-ish.
RedRyder
last year
PS - The only reason I don't recommend Samplize colors is because your house is stucco and takes the paint very differently. Worth the price of samples to NOT make a mistake.
Goli Mahdavi
Original Author
last year
Thank you! It was built in 1925. I’ve been told it’s likely Italian Renaissance revival. Unfortunately there was a fire at our local library so no archival photos of the house are available. I’m so curious if the original home had a tile roof.
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Laura Bruce
last year
Can you tell me about the shutters? what are they made of and eill they be replaced? most of the homes ive built/designed have been in this style, i can suggest colors but would also suggest an appropriate shutter shape/ style-these are a few of mine- please do not do alabaster- it is not nearly rich enough for stucco
Keene's Pointe home sale · More Info

Windermere Keenes Point · More Info

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chloebud
last year
RedRyder mentioned Swiss Coffee. That was one of my thoughts when I saw your post.

Swiss Coffee from Benjamin Moore…
Goli Mahdavi
Original Author
last year
@laura Beautiful homes!

The shutters are wood and may be original to the home as they are falling apart. I’d like to replace them with a different style (although my husband is partial to the crescent moon…)

Love BM Swiss Coffee - I’ve used that on some of the interior walls.
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Laura Bruce
last year
“Setting Plaster” Farrow & Ball - with Swiss Coffee trim

Setting Plaster - Farrow & Ball for Stucco Italianate/ it will be much softer on the stucco texture (muted)
RedRyder
last year
Okay, now that people commented on your shutters I took a look. The half moon design doesn’t “match” your house - in style or era. @Laura Bruce is right. You have to gently move your husband away from loving these….

If you look at other stucco 1920’s houses it will help figure out which replacement style will work best.

@Beverly FLADeziner - do you have any shutter ideas? @Laura Bruce?
chloebud
last year
Goli, we’ve used BM Swiss Coffee on both the interior and exterior. It can look lighter on the exterior. Also, I was just thinking we used it on wood for the exterior, not stucco.
elcieg
last year
last modified: last year
Gray:

Not just any gray, but one with a violet undertone shown in photo. Try B.M. Heaven.

Ivory:

Hoping you go with a gray slate roof when you replace. Meantime, either color works with the present roof.
PRO
Laura Bruce
last year
Yes, I would leave off the front upper and opt for an awning on those (2?)…as for the corner ones leading to balcony - pergola of some sort
PRO
Laura Bruce
last year
The doors that are upper front are higher than the corner windows with balcony, that is why I suggested pergola or something to visually raise the line of those windows. I also want to add that you can add any kind of foam trim or custom pieces (corbels,etc) that is coated with a stucco. It resembles stone and is weather resistant and economical.
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Laura Bruce
last year
Decorative Architectural Products is one company- foam coated w cement
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Laura Bruce
last year
Similar to yours
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Laura Bruce
last year
Similiar
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Laura Bruce
last year
Similar to yours
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
You have lovely house. I like off-white body with white trim.
PRO
Laura Bruce
last year
??
RedRyder
last year
@Laura Bruce - do you have suggestions for shutter replacement?
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
Shutters inspro
PRO
Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
last year
or
Goli Mahdavi
Original Author
last year
Love this one! Thank you!
PRO
Laura Bruce
last year
👍 change the top of door trim. ( faux awning ?) to the darker trim, love the metal cleats, I like the shutters without all the louvers as these were traditionally, and heavier, stained even the light tones , with a solid stain (no transparency)
RedRyder
last year
@Celery. Visualization, Rendering images nailed it. Traditional shutters.

The ones you now have are very Cape Cod/New England.

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