Yes, we will definitely be getting rid of the red in the peak of the house. I am not a fan of the half moon window either. Painting it grey is a place to start. We have money to work with on making it look better.....Overall we feel like the front is really busy looking and it isn't clear what door is the front door. Any ideas about how to make the garage less glaring?

Have your garage door faux painted to look like wood ,if the door on the right is not your front door paint it the same color as the house ,whatever color you decide to paint

How about hanging some large oversized lanterns on either side of the garage door,and maybe either taking down the wood fence and using a fence on the opposite side of the driveway to kinda guide people away from that door and to your main door

I think painting the house a dark gray withe a orange front door wood look good and then think wood look for the garage and fence,maybe trim the tree from the bottom just a little bit for a cleaner look then you could also get some big orange pots for either Edie of your garage?? Just a few thoughts to get you thinking

Try this one out....



1) remove picket fence OR paint it a bright white to draw attention to the left.
2) paint body of house something that is more warm/neutral and works with existing brick and the gable something a step lighter or darker in the same color. This doesn't mean it has to be boring! (Look at the painted ladies of SanFrancisco)
3) consider using white or the lightest color on the trim and under the eaves/overhangs since your windows are white and it'll bright around the door
4) paint the right side door and garage door the same color that you use in the gable
5) paint the front door something to draw attention... think bright/bold since the overhang shadows the door.

hmm, are you looking to do some simple cosmetic changes or actually remodel a bit?

some of my ideas:
- the grey trims all over the house (windows too): perhaps paint it white? might brighten it up. if you like the trim, then perhaps fix the little half moon window and paint a grey boarder so it matches up with rest of window?
- the red on 2nd floor: maybe paint over it or replace it with your shingles if possible. something to create the flow up to the roof.
- house door: dark grey tone that will match the roof or maybe even white?
- landscaping: get rid of tree that blocks your window. try shrubs or some flowers. if not, maybe just prune it a bit.. seems to be overwhelming your door and window.



hope this gives you some ideas to work off of. ^^

Janet I love those bright tropical colors, I live in Michigan. :) We have money to remodel, we just aren't sure what to do. Would like to remove the half moon window altogether, but it lets in a lot of light. Are there other options of what could go in its place? Will definitely paint the wider trim white. I don't mind taking out the fence either. The tree is a really pretty weeping cherry. It is kind of large, but a very nice tree......?

Spring is here and I am still determined to change the look of my house when you drive up- I got a few ideas when I posted this last summer, but I would really like some more.....anyone?

I don't know how to photoshop....but this is kind of what I was thinking. Get rid of thick grey trim and half moon window, add shutters and do something different with the peak. Maybe a darker garage door? I know the doors need to be painted too, it took me an hour to do this hack job and I don't even think it looks very good.

Trim and garage door white (maybe a different garage door?). House siding a tape matching a taupe color in the bricks.

Add decorative panes (molding) to half round window (see photo 2)

I think the horizontal white siding on the second level overwhelms the rest of the house. The front around the living room looks great, very homey. Maybe replace the horizontal siding with something with something more subdued to take away the accent from the second floor.

Use darker drapes on the second floor as well. Can you also look at my living room and provide comments?

Thanks for your comments on my old cluttered house. Actually the long sofa used to be on the other wall but I moved the rocker to sit in because it's easier on my back to watch TV. That portable electric fireplace will go, it's too much.

Give that tree a big haircut.

Now that I look more carefully at the design of the house the structure, dormer like, over the garage, overwhelms the rest of a ver nice house. It also seems to have a different design than the rest of the house, wide 2" X 6" boards painted grey. See if you can figure out a way to make it "blend" in to the rest of the house so it is less dominant.

The fence may be painted the same color as the garage door. You need flower beds on both sides of the driveway to make it more cheerful.

We took the fence out, the tree will probably go next....I tried to trim it, but I don't think you could trim it enough. Any landscaping ideas by the front door?

One red Adirondack chair to repeat door color.

I'm looking at the second picture in your original post last year.

You have room for a wide walkway, wide enough that 2 people can approach your house comfortably side by side, which is a minimum of 4 feet. Not sure why your pathway is wider on the left, can you add a picture of where it goes? If you added a simple arbor over the path, about where the clay pot is, it would leave no question of which is your front door.

For the rest of your house, I'd paint all the white siding, garage door and downspouts in a color which is an approximation of your overall brick color. In other words, "paint out" some of the busy-ness of your home. You have an attractively shaped home with interesting variations in roof line, but the different colors are making it a bit busy.

My neighbor has a weeping cherry like yours, also near the front door. It was good for a few years but is also now too large and unbalances the landscaping. You may be able to transplant it to the right side of your property where it can assume its lovely natural shape. Give it room. This is the time of year to do it.

This is what the cement walk looks like from other angles...no idea what the bigger pad area is for.

The big issue with the front of your house is 'colour values' - meaning, the relationship of the colours' brightness or darkness of the building materials used for your house construction (by others!)

The good news is the the brick is quite a lovely tone and very earthy. (Expensive to change although you can stain brick and it will look lovely. Don't paint brick as it needs to 'breathe'.

If I were you, I would pick a palette tones I like and then paint big sheets of plywood and 'lean them up' against the house facade to get an idea of what works best for your taste; the orientation to light (north, south, east, west); and the other neighbourhood houses (if you want to fit in).

For many or our clients, we have them walk by these big plywood colour boards for at least 1 month; viewing in all types of light; morning, afternoon, evening, dusk and sunny vs cloudy days.

Check out Benjamin Moore site for exterior ideas to help you start selecting options to consider: www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/color-your-home-for-curb-appeal

I am not really a fan of the light grey siding (it looks almost white in the photos), I supposed I could paint it. I have painted vinyl siding myself before and now Benjamin Moore makes a siding paint. The red is definitely going to go- just not sure what to do with it.

I was not aware of BM siding paint. Great Idea. So, go to their site and look at some of their combinations for Exteriors or pick some of your favourite tones - then get some testers and roll paint on a few sheets of plywood - make 90% of the plywood the house base colour and make a strip of 10% at top for accent colour (trim or shutters or both).
Then walk by it in all conditions and make a decision.
As a Designer, I would look at their Classic colours first and then select a base colour (or 2 or 3) and then select the 'accent' colour secondly, in each case.
It's OK to change your mind.
I can't tell you how often we change our selections of base, trim, roofing, etc.

If you are planning on re-shingling the roof at some point, I would make sure the colour scheme you select ties in with the future colour of roof material as well.

Remember to have fun also!!!! It can be daunting selecting exterior colours - but also you can have fun selecting unexpected colours for the front door, for instance. I have a client doing a Chartruese front door now! Benjamin Moore 2024-10

Hi!

Your home has SO much potential. It is a blank canvas. I offer very affordable exterior design you can view examples of my work here : http://www.nuhomdesign.com/

I basically gather your ideas and inspiration, and come up with 1, 2, or 3 design directions. I package them up in a look book for you to decide how you want to upgrade your home. Making upgrades to your home can be a big decision, so its always nice to conceptualize and see it first!

Cheers!

Rosemary Williams

nuhomdesign@gmail.com

We finally finished our exterior remodel. Just some trim to paint and lots of landscaping when spring arrives. Thought those who commented might like to see it.

wow, some job, excellent!

You did an excellent job with the color choices and design, changing your home from an ugly duckling to a swan!