skip to main content

Building a Home Design Dilemma

Help selecting between trim options - blended reddish brown brick

10 months ago

We are having a real struggle deciding on our trim color for our new build (picture 1) and hoping for some opinions. I apologize in advance for the photos - some of them were not taken with the idea of posting online and are a bit yellow-light washed.

We like the look of a modernized red brick house, using red bricks that have shading and color to bring some additional depth but want to modernize it a bit as well, so it doesn't look dated. We are using Cypress Point from Henry Brick with white mortar (Picture 2), just a bit of horizontal Hardie board that will be an an off-white tone (picture 3) with very dark bronze windows to help modernize (picture 4) and medium-dark brown front door (picture 5) with garage door to match front door color.

Picture 1

Picture 2 (manufacturer picture but closest to the ones we have seen in person) - "escribed as "reddish brown blended with copper, white, and dark gray"

Picture 3 (not great photo but the ringed notebook is the color of the Hardie Board (not sure name but I would call it an ivory white) and the shingles are a medium gray speckled appearance

Picture 4 - Dark bronze exterior window by Andersen

Picture 5 - Front door color (its a bit darker appearing in person - less gray, more dark brown - true espresso color), goal is to match garage doors (1 front facing, 2 side-facing)

So, with all that we had originally planned a different brick and paired a trim and matched gutter color of Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray (Picture 6), again, with the thought that the darker colors would help modernize the big wide red brick house but now we are finalizing decisions and are second guessing ourselves for a couple reasons: 1) Is it too much to add another color to the front of the house; 2) Does the darker gray just make the house look more "bleh" and not really accomplish our goal.

Picture 6 - SW Keystone Gray

Our other thought is to match the Hardie board ivory color with the trim, use a dark bronze for the gutters for a bit of a pop.

Suggestions appreciated:

1) Stick to original plan - Keystone Gray trim/gutters

2) Change to a more "ivory" trim to match Hardie Board and add in some contrast with the gutters to match the dark bronze window

3) Other - keep the red brick, ivory Hardie board, dark bronze windows, and brown doors but go with (insert suggestion here!)

Thanks in advance as we are in analysis paralysis

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

PRO
PPF.
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
What stage is your new build in? Already under construction?

With your really busy/jumbled elevation (looks like the plan was "perfected", then the exterior was applied), I'd suggest a simpler brick with very little variation, and not using a white mortar.

I would select a lighter window too.

Then think about trim and roof colors.
Michael D.
Original Author
10 months ago
Thank you for the response. Just broken ground - so very early still.

We are not interested in changing the brick color, roof color, or the windows - so looking to get ideas with those things set.

We have debated the mortar - we have ruled out gray, buff, and anything but a white or an off-white. We would potentially be interested in an ivory mortar or something very subtly off-white but still with the same brick and windows.
Related Discussions
HELP needed asap with roof color selection
Q
Comments (15)
THANK YOU very much for the input and confirming that the Burnt Sienna was not a good idea. We are going to go with the Colonial Slate. The shingles have not been ordered yet, so not a problem. We called our sales agent, and DH will send a fax. Obviously, this is a decision we'd have to live with for a very long time. Plus, if we eventually change the exterior colors (but won't be painting the brick) the slate will match pretty much anything else we choose. Some neighbors have used a light sage-y green on their trim, and I'd really like that, too. At least that's a few years off, though.
...See More
Need Help - Exterior Trim and Door Color on Red Brick House
Q
Comments (39)
If anyone can help I would be grateful! I really need to make a decision this weekend if possible. I know I need to do samples but would appreciate any direction on which SW whites to look at. I want it to be soft and warm/inviting and wouldn't even mind a cream if I can find on that still looks like a creamy white rather than yellow. Thoughts? Would SW Creamy work or go too yellow?
...See More
What color roof for light brown brick colonial?
Q
Comments (14)
Big props to Flo! Those colors look great. You will be very disappointed if you do white. The weathered wood roof seems like a safe choice, and you really don't want to worry about a leaky roof. Depending on what those big shrubs are, you may be able to severely prune them, but not right before winter, or the new growth won't have time to harden off. Fall is a great time for new plantings, so their roots can grow over the winter.
...See More
Painting trim/siding on brick ranch - colors?
Q
Comments (29)
you could use them for the fascia trim or the garage doors. I like Urbane Bronze. flo posted it too. I like it w/Alabaster if you want something lighter. because your garage is so front and center, I think if you tweaked that a bit it would add a lot more curb appeal. I gave you two different types of lights and address placques. (you only choose one obviously) first thing I'd do is to remove those arched pop in window panels. The arch is very 90's. they are easy, and cheap to remove or replace here's a very dark door w/square windows and new lights. immediately updates the look Same door in a lighter gray color ligher warm gray, diff light, address placque on brick. this door has no windows, which I don't care for. just showing you the color. I like the square window panels. black door, square grid windows, bronze lights, address, copper pots if you can, get some iron hardware along w/the square window panels. larger lights in a brass or copper planters in a copper or a glazed ceramic and if you want something different, lighten up all the trim with a creamy white, and do a navy garage door (square windows again!)
...See More
J Sk
10 months ago
last modified: 10 months ago
You have a lot of going on with all the materials and very busy elevation.
Michael D.
Original Author
10 months ago
I'm going to guess this is an indirect way of saying match the trim with Hardie board color
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
10 months ago
A McMansion, huh? Didn't know people were still pursuing this architectural design with all that had been written about avoiding this style trap. The house is huge and hulking and is mostly roof/attic.

McMansion is a slang term that describes a large, often opulent or ostentatious, mass-

produced house. The name carries a somewhat critical connotation because McMansions

lack architectural uniqueness, class, or style.

You keep referring to gray...................nothing in your current palette is gray. If they look gray to you, then there are online color blindness tests you can take to determine if you are seeing colors correctly.

What's with the large brick corbels at the base of all the gables? Just another applied detail with no design basis.

.

Do you think you understand exactly how much roof you have on your home as currently designed??????? And how much that roof is costing you??

McMansions
PRO
BeverlyFLADeziner
10 months ago
PPF did a very good job of revising the elevation to eliminate lots of unnecessary material changes. I'd go further and reduce the height of the roof & get some protection over the front door.

Here are some French style homes that have been detailed with careful restraint.
Michael D. thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
Michael D.
Original Author
10 months ago
Beverly this was very helpful, thank you. I agree, roof line is a lot and we need to reduce it/clean it up and straightening those corbels will clean it up quite a bit. There is a large front porch behind the fence and that area is covered. I don't think my elevation photo is a good photo and accentuates things quite a bit as the front of the house is more flat while this makes it look like it has a lot of variation in depth. I appreciate the color suggestions - I think when we switched brick, we couldn't see past the trim/design choices we had already chose to see that they needed to change now as well. This was exactly what I was hoping for. Back to the design board and back to make those design changes on the roof and corbel.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
10 months ago
IMO stop now and redo that exterior completly so many gables and all for no reason except upping construction costs .As for where to put the brick is there some reason for the brick? I think this house is planned for how it looks from the street but IMO homes need to be designed for how the house relates to the plot and what is inside and any brick or stone added to a house needs to go all the way around or it just looks like exactly what it is brick stuck on and not part of the constaruction I am thinking this is in some HOA place where you have to have brick . IMO back to the drawing board for the whole house.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
10 months ago
Never select colors from a computer screen.
PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
10 months ago
"Modernized red brick house" and the front elevation provided institute dubiety.
PRO
PPF.
10 months ago
From the Henry Brick website.
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
10 months ago
IMO too much is just too much

Related Stories

TRIM Trim Color Tips: Get Your White Trim Right

By Jennifer Ott Design

Set off wood tones, highlight architectural features, go minimalist ... white trim is anything but standard when you know how to use it

ENTRYWAYS Help! What Color Should I Paint My Front Door?

By Jennifer Ott Design

We come to the rescue of three Houzzers, offering color palette options for the front door, trim and siding

EXTERIORS 3 Common Brick Exterior Colors and How to Work With Them

By Jennifer Ott Design

Play up or play down exterior brick tones by choosing the right paint colors for your trim and accent areas

COLOR Paint-Picking Help and Secrets From a Color Expert

By Tiffany Carboni

Advice for wall and trim colors, what to always do before committing and the one paint feature you should completely ignore

TRIM Interior Trim: 8 Must-Know Elements

By Bud Dietrich, AIA

Softening transitions and creating a finished look, interior trim for walls, windows and doors comes in many more options than you may know

COLOR Choosing Color: 6 Striking Options for 1 Fabulous Fireplace

By Jennifer Ott Design

A painted-brick fireplace gets a virtual wash of new color, turning it dark and dramatic or bold and bright

LANDSCAPE DESIGN How to Select the Right Gravel for Your Garden

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Answer these 7 questions to find the right gravel size, color and texture for your needs and landscape style

EXTERIORS Help! What Color Should I Paint My House Exterior?

By Jennifer Ott Design

Real homeowners get real help in choosing paint palettes. Bonus: 3 tips for everyone on picking exterior colors

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Create a Whole-House Color Palette

By Laura Gaskill

Don't be daunted. With these strategies, building a cohesive palette for your entire home is less difficult than it seems

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Quit Procrastinating on Color Choice

By Laura Gaskill

If you're up to your ears in paint chips but no further to pinning down a hue, our new 3-part series is for you

Sponsored

More Discussions

Any brand of add-in rollout shelves better/worse???

9

Please critique my floorplan

47

Alternative to drywall for garage?

16

Fireplace Built-ins Measurement and Window Selection Help

19

Will it be cheaper to build a home?

12