1930 Tudor Revival - need exterior color ideas

November 24, 2012

Hi everyone,

We are buying a house near the Purdue campus for my daughter and a few roommates to live in. We have to completely redo the outside...new roof, paint and window repairs.

I am going crazy trying to pick a color scheme. I find myself drawn to the yellows- not bright yellow, but a mustardy or pale yellow. We will most likely own this for around 5 years, so resale is a concern as well.

I'm open to bluish gray, greens or even reds. I don't want a white or tan body. It's too generic, as everyone in this area has these colors. I really like the creamy whites as trim too.

I also can't fine any houses like this on the Internet. All of the ones I find have a brick peak, whereas this is all cedar siding.

What do you think about making the peak with the front door a slightly different shade as the rest of the house? Either lighter or darker to give it some dimension?

Here is the house

Comments (13)

deborahc
Here is one house I really love
November 24, 2012
deborahc
This is another one I'm really drawn to
November 24, 2012
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Thanks for all the ideas! This is totally what I needed! I'm going to try all the color combos in Photoshop and see what I like. I love the muted colors like the browns and creams in photo above; it's hard to go wrong with them. But I also like the idea of something bolder: the charcoal, a blue--I even found an eggplant trim with an orange-y brick and it looked really good. We have a slate roof with various colors so it would be a nod to that. The paint needs to be done so now's the best time to try something different! I know the landscaping needs work! I love the big tree. We moved here from a big suburban yard and that tree is my last connection with the nature park that was our old yard. But! it sheds needles on the roof and when we moved in, neglect of those had caused a ceiling leak. Plus, it looms over the chimney and we can't use the fireplace safely! Usergray, you're describing the lawn I picture!
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Thanks all. We are definitely planning to keep the character of the home (lest we become Philistines...). A couple of quick responses to some items brought up: --We are getting all new windows--updated energy efficient casement windows to replace the original steel casement windows. --We are in a neighborhood of other Tudor/Normandy homes and some do have original board and batten shutters which, from what I've read, are historically accurate. --We will definitely be redoing all of the landscaping to add color. We like the idea of the ironwork planters used selectively to add color as well. Appreciate other thoughts related to exterior colors that are historically accurate and appropriate.
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I love your home! And you have some great ideas. Here are my thoughts. 1. Replace as is. 2. Absolutely! 3. Too strong. IMHO that would crush your entry. 4. Definitely! 5. To me that expressive shape adds so much to the character of your home. Love it. 6. Only to the window on the right. Not enough room on the left. 7. Yes. 8. You can consider other shades, but brown it wants to be. 9, Yes, you could add some beams but it must be done correctly or it could look silly. Find a qualified architect in your area who understands in historical work of this period. 10. Add landscaping and planters symmetrically about the door. Have fun!
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bronwynsmom
I don't see why you couldn't replicate the color scheme in the Craftsman house you like.

That darling cottage is Tudorish, but not slavishly so, and I think it would look charming with those colors. The rich walnut brown for the door and window frames would give you a sort of neo-Elizabethan reference, and a slate-colored roof would work, too.
November 24, 2012
deborahc
Thanks Bronwynsmom! I like the idea of a slate colored roof too. We are going to use dimensional shingles which I think will look beautiful.

What do you think about the front door area (peak) being a slightly different shade? Crazy idea?
November 24, 2012
yayagal
What an adorable house, I'd paint it dark brown with lighter trim but you really can do almost anything with it.
November 24, 2012
Annie Deighnaugh
These are nice colors for a tudor revival.

Is there any way you can eliminate that front deck? It really looks so wrong with the house....
November 24, 2012
patty_cakes
What an adorable house! BUT, I would also have to agree about eliminating the deck. Even though he girls would probably make good use of it, it detracts from the look of the house.

As an FYI, you may decide to sell it 'down the road', and wouldn't want potential buyers to remember it as the house where all the kids hung out on the front deck. Houses have a way of being remembered for what was, or wasn't. ;o)

Here is a link that might be useful: colors
November 24, 2012
Sujafr
I love the colors of the ones posted. When I searched for one similar that I'd seen, instead I found this gray one. Surprisingly I think it's also appealing to me.

Here is a link that might be useful: FL Tudor Revival
November 24, 2012
rrah
I've lived in a midwestern college town for 16-17 years and am fairly familiar with West Lafayette, IN. I also worked as a realtor in this town for 8 or so years. Rules that normally apply to homes don't apply when one is talking about a house near a college campus. Location within walking distance of a midwestern university will trump most other things.

While the deck maybe unattractive, there are a few things to note: first, there appears to be a concrete patio, probably attached to the house, which is actually the floor of the deck. It's a pretty common thing to find on these types of houses in the midwest. Second, the surrounding deck material was probably installed for safety reasons. If the patio is high enough off the ground, it needed some kind of fencing to prevent people from falling off. If the house was ever a rental, it was probably a local code requirement. The deck material was not the most attractive choice, likely the cheapest, but it probably can't be removed without replacement for code reasons if there are any tenants.

Finally, if the house is within walking distance to campus, the reputation of being the house kids hung out on the front deck will not be a detriment in a future sale. Kids hang out on porches in college towns in the midwest. Future buyers will be more interested in it's location. As I said, normal house buying rules don't always apply in cases like this one.

That said, I would not recommend a different color for the door area. It's not really characteristic of these types of houses, unless it's brick or stone, for the color to be different. It would look kind of "mcmansiony" to me.
November 24, 2012
bronwynsmom
I agree that adding another color is not a good idea...it will make a small house look even smaller.

Keep it simple!
November 24, 2012
deborahc
Thanks so much everyone! I think you are right, all one color. The gray Tudor is really beautiful. I'm so torn. I guess I'll just have to play with photoshop and see what really looks great.

And I totally agree with the porch! It is horrible, and not correct for the style. But I also think it was added at a point when the house was use as a rental. My daughter doesn't mind it, she said they can hang out on the porch. The big thing at Purdue is to hang Christmas lights in the deck all year round, and turn them on for parties. Rrah is totally right about this in Midwest college towns. This whole street is college kids, it's in a really great area as its close enough for walking to campus.
November 24, 2012
kswl2
Love the gray, and to combine it with a creamy white trim would be fantastic! I would also keep the porch for all the reasons stated above, and also would play up the "storybook" aspects of the house--- to which the deck, with its railing reminiscent of picket fencing, contributes. Rather than try to create something historically accurate or even stylistically consistent, I would try to make the house as appealing and charming as possible. The location alone will sell it, but the next coed buyer's parents will also be attracted by the "cute" house that everyone knows.
November 25, 2012
Annie Deighnaugh
It would be interesting to find out if the railing is required by code or not, as it's the railing that is really outstanding...the deck part is less obtrusive with the plantings...it doesn't look like it is so high off the ground....
November 25, 2012

1930 Tudor Revival - need exterior color ideas

Comments (13)

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