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Paint Design Dilemma Exterior

Exterior Refresh on Cape Cod

Elizabeth Waters Zanetti

10 months ago

Looking for thoughts about how to refresh the exterior. we are replacing the siding with Hardie and I’m inclined to paint the brick to match because the side and back of the house just seem so choppy and divided to me. Do i need to paint all the brick or could i leave the porch brick in its natural state? what colors should i consider? i do plan to remove all the shutters.

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Comments (3)

jck910
10 months ago
I wouldn't paint the brick. I would choose a siding color close to the mortar in the brick - light gray. Agree to remove the shutters. Paint the door white. Maybe even paint the stair risers white to brighten that area
elcieg
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
Are you saying that your house is on Cape? I have never seen any structure here which looks like yours.. I would suggest white clapboard and painting the brick white, as well. No shutters, for so many reasons....vinyl, do not fit the windows.

White on white will meld both sidings.
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Lars, I like that color, I'm just a little afraid to do it! Here are my concerns. Thoughts? *Getting the right dark blue--sometimes I feel like you think you have the right color and then when the whole wall is painted, it looks turquoise, or too dark, or... *the white trim--I've never had white trim--only white vinyl windows which replaced white aluminum windows, and also white gutters. The gutters and the old aluminum grew mildew/algae. Will trim also go green with time in a place that sees gray skies up to 8 months a year (no joke) *the dark blue--any concern with oxidation/discoloration (but esp oxidation)? I've thought I'd probably only upgrade to the Aura for a dark color, as the way the guy described the difference between the 2 was how the solids are mixed/suspended between them (at least, that is what my lay-self took from his description).
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Might want to consider Hardie Board. We have a Cape Cod as well and used the Hardie. You can get it unfinished with a generic color that you can paint, which is what we did. It also can come with a finished color. I’ve heard that they have a lot of options. Your house is very pretty, best of luck to you.
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I love when the exterior of a home acts as an introduction to the interior. If I were selecting the colors from the picture posted by @Jilly from Maria Killam's website I would want to walk into a home with fall colors, not a home that was decorated with coastal colors. I am painting the exterior of my front door a deep red. When you open the door you walk into a foyer with purple red and green slate. The red door will match the red in the flooring. Red is an accent color that is used throughout my home. You may also notice that the pink brick wall (back of living room fireplace wall is the same brick as my home. The plants that I chose for the front garden include a red dwarf maple, silver coral bells (purple and green leaves, pink flowers, and blue pacific juniper, pulling in some blue greens, deep reds and purple tones.
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I don’t like the look of cedar posts on this style house at all. I think a creamy off-white would look lovely … with the brick, roof, everything. The front door could be any color you like with these neutrals. For the lower level, I’d match a color from the brick as close as possible. I’d consider removing the shutters from the wider window. Freshen up the landscape and add nice porch furniture. The entry could be very welcoming!
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kandrewspa
10 months ago
I think it was originally a Cape but shed dormers were added on the front and back. I also don't think you should paint the brick. There is nothing wrong with yours and it's not that unusual to have the second story be a different color than the first. I also would look at grays for the siding. Hardie has a selection of prefinished colors. Hopefully one of them will suit. The most unattractive feature of your house is the window on the second story in the front. The half moon over it is odd, and the window is too small for the expanse of exterior wall. Since the interior configuration is a major determining factor in whether you can change this, I don't know if it is an option to change it. But if you're residing, that is the time to consider such a change. Two or three separate windows spaced across the facade or expansion of the existing window so it's wider (three windows instead of two) would improve the appearance of the house.

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