Help!!! I have a traditional red brick home with white trim. I want to paint the door and shutters a fun color. I am not a traditional gal and am looking for a way to modernize it a bit, without getting a letter from the homeowner's assocation :)
mmonika I love the black and dark greys against the red brick. Very modern.
I would probably avoid any red tones, since they are so present in the brick. It would be an overload!
Blues are definitely an option (don't think baby blues!). Moody, grey blues would be lovely with an accent of pale yellow or even a vibrant lemony yellow as your front door.
Maybe more traditional would be cream trim and shutters with a rich blue front door.
More traditional then that, using sagey greens.
I would probably paint your shutters and window trim the same, keeping the accent only on the door. Get some planters for your porch that repeat your accent color too!
smorgan865 I agree, I love the black and grays.
To the other elements: I would paint/stain the wood a darker color, square off the column, and change up the landscaping to maybe some tall grasses.
Stephanie Halen I agree with mother bear. I would buy some fiberglass plant containers that have alot of color and design. www.frontgate com. I would keep it simple to with a shade of grey or black for a pop. I would spruce up the landscaping it does wonders. I would call in a landscape designer...
Alison Is there an inside trim to those windows? I can't really tell by the photo... if so what about keeping the outer trim dark (charcoal) and then do something fun an unexpected on the inner trim like a washed out wasabi green (although it might be hard to find one that didn't look festive with all that red brick) or you could do any bright colour that worked for you... The dark outer area really would allow for any punch...
Maryann Vecchio I think those colors, already modernize the space BUT I think if you take out the rose bush- add some really GIANT aloe vera or agave plants & some modern really GIANT vases or pottery like maybe in 3's at the corner of the steps and/or by the landing & a modern table & chairs outside or add a pop of color with the black chairs that are there with colored chair pads & something modern to the table- those things will definitely modernize the space WITHOUT having to be permanent & deal with the homeowners association!
Joanne Shaw Colors are great, I would remove spindles and add tempered glass instead.
Big bold size urns, but with simple planting, remove rose bush and add boxwood for a nice formal touch. Nice modern light fixtures on either side of the door would look good too!
inkwitch There's a website which lists the "meaning" of various door colors. It's interesting reading. Benjamin Moor & Sherwin Williams offer online virtual painting although it's hard to find a house example close to your own. I use them as tools, and it helps hone in on which colors I really like and really dislike.
You have enough red (brick) and the gray is solid and grounding. If you want something fun, think of unexpected colors. A bright (but not taxi) yellow front door would be a great contrast to all that gray. There's also deep orange, but watch the tones on that one, and black.
Redoing your garden would add pizzaz -- if you do a yellow door, swamp the beds with yellow-blooming flowers. Orange - rusty daylillies. This will take some research because you don't want to have to do it more than once! And where you live will determine what will survive.
Decorating (inside or out) with grays tend to traditional combinatins such as reds, blues and whites. Not too original. If you really want to change the look, think about painting all that gray (!!!) a different color or even a lighter shade at some future point.
Marie Hebson's interiorsBYDESIGN Inc. I'm confused - you said white trim? I don't see any. Love the look of your home, and yes - change out the roses to tall grasses. Paint your door a rich brick red, something with substance that will compliment the brick colour because if you go too wild you will get a letter from the Board! Good luck.
ccaines Consider using a natural wood trim instead of paint. Perhaps an ipe, dark like a walnut, but weather resistant like teak. The brick and wood would have a more modern feel. Also perhaps add a metal (maybe nickel) streamline minimal railing for the porch and stairs. And yes, change out the garden. Think about using concrete trough planters.
tunrida Difficult to say on one elevation but as an easy start you can just paint all the highlights charcoal black (a nice matt sheen) but I agree with the replies saying to change up with the garden. Something simple, maybe some round box along that planter in the middle distance and on the edge of the patio. Also some other structured plants on the near window and wall, but would need to see the front elevation. Some sexy garden furniture , maybe in a dark coloured sleek weave with white cushions and understair lighting.
Monica Martin I have a traditional red brick colonial as well. I recently painted the trim a dark taupe and the shutters and doors a medium gray/blue. I get ooohs and aaahs from all the neighbors. I picked a more modern color pallette for the outside to reflect the updated interior. Sherwin Williams has an application on their website where you can upload pictures from your house and try out new colors. I did 5 color combinations and had my friends help me with my selction on FB. FUN!
I would probably avoid any red tones, since they are so present in the brick. It would be an overload!
Blues are definitely an option (don't think baby blues!). Moody, grey blues would be lovely with an accent of pale yellow or even a vibrant lemony yellow as your front door.
Maybe more traditional would be cream trim and shutters with a rich blue front door.
More traditional then that, using sagey greens.
I would probably paint your shutters and window trim the same, keeping the accent only on the door. Get some planters for your porch that repeat your accent color too!
To the other elements: I would paint/stain the wood a darker color, square off the column, and change up the landscaping to maybe some tall grasses.
Big bold size urns, but with simple planting, remove rose bush and add boxwood for a nice formal touch. Nice modern light fixtures on either side of the door would look good too!
You have enough red (brick) and the gray is solid and grounding. If you want something fun, think of unexpected colors. A bright (but not taxi) yellow front door would be a great contrast to all that gray. There's also deep orange, but watch the tones on that one, and black.
Redoing your garden would add pizzaz -- if you do a yellow door, swamp the beds with yellow-blooming flowers. Orange - rusty daylillies. This will take some research because you don't want to have to do it more than once! And where you live will determine what will survive.
Decorating (inside or out) with grays tend to traditional combinatins such as reds, blues and whites. Not too original. If you really want to change the look, think about painting all that gray (!!!) a different color or even a lighter shade at some future point.