Lovely colours, like linen, would look nice on your lovely home

Here's a prescription no shutters (yours are not sized properly and won't line up above if they are .. new windows need muntins on top half of single hung at least .. red trim on the brown house would be classic, yet rustic .. at windows and fascia . . . red door . . something like bm pottery red ..

if you want it much lighter, bring the house to a stone color of the chimney . . best when house is lighter than roof - dark color makes this a little more contemporary than it really is . .

I think it would also be really darling in a red barn color with white windows and trim .. . that would be so cheerful everyday . . test bm cottage red http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/pm15#ce_s=cottage re

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm confused. When researching shutters all the sites I visit say my shutters are the correct size? Also, painting the entire home isn't an option. I should have mentioned that. Sorry :(. Also we live in the country so we really don't want too modern of a look. More rustic. :) if any one has any other ideas that would be amazing!! :) thanks so much!!

Shutters are supposed to be big enough to cover windows when they are closed - the small window shutters look like they would, but the big window / double window shutters look about the same width. That is the only window I was suggesting you take them away from. I like your house for rustic as is .. a light contrast on the shutters compared to the base color isn't really going to be balanced anywhere . . .if you need to replace the roof, select an architectural shingle in a warm gray-brown blend - not too dark or solid. If it was my house, I would change the fascia and the window trim to a pretty dark red - bm carriage red would be gorgeous with the brown - if you want more contrast - go to a soft tone like bm sandy brown on the fascia and trim (it will look white against the brown)

beautiful house

Have you considered installing more rustic shutters? While the ones you have are nice, the images I saw on a Google search of rustic shutters looked like they'd add a bit more of the character you're looking for.

I am no paint guru but I wonder if a darker brown or a darker distressed look would bring the shutters to the forefront more and again, make your home look more rustic. Another color I've noticed with the look you're going for is a dark, almost drab color of green.

Good luck with your new home. I hope I get to see your completed project.

Thanks

Taroub

Thank you!! I can see what you are saying about the shutter size now! I agree with you!!

Yes! I was thinking different shutters now. More rustic style.. Like this. Not the color. Just style:

http://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/residential-architecture-101-shutters/

Here's a good article about shutters. If you're replacing your windows with substantially trimmed out ones as on the photo above, they'll look great. I'm a fan of a grayed green/teal color for shutters with your cedar. Here are a couple of samples of the color I'm referencing. I call this color Ozark Blue because is it found on old homesteads throughout the Ozarks where is was used to discourage wasps and hornets from building under stairs, porch ceilings, etc. Hunter greens come close to this shade, and I think you could have it custom blended if you don't find it exactly.

Board and batten shutters are more rustic - one thing you might try - what about going with natural cedar on the shutters, red or blue green (deco reminds me how nice the right muted ozark blue can be with browns) trim on the fascia, window sashes and porch posts / railing?

If you like the blue green - a great one to test is bm aegean teal . .

no shutters and a cedar shake roof.

remove all shutters use the blue-gray-green on the porch soffit with a cream railing.

Rust or Burgundy, Beige or Cream, and Earthy Greens are a great combo.

I don't particularly think adding colored stripes is going to look good. I might try using stone similar to what's on your chimney and cover the face of the first protruding segment of your house. I believe this would give you some contrast and project a very warm inviting rustic feel.

Maybe even a metal shaker roof

This is a gorgeous house. I'd make very subtle changes: slightly darker shutters, slightly lighter porch rail, remove shutters from the big window altogether.

I agree w/groveraxle-go subtle, consider a darker coffee colored brown for the rooflines, and a deeper reddish brown for the window and door frames (and the door?) and a deeper greenish brown for the shutters...and speaking of shutters, I think they look best when they are actually functional...then they become authentic, have a more substantial feel to them, and not just optional decor. If your house won't get too hot, also do the roof a bit darker (pick the roof trim color to go with). this will finish off the house nicely. For the porch-maybe try the greener brown there too-I'd be a bit nervous to go light. But you could go light cream on the porch ceiling! BTW-check out Cabot's wood stains-they do a solid stain, that is probably what your siding is finished in. It can be re-stained...and then you are starting from scratch...but all of their colors in their palette are tried and true.

I was speaking of using the suggested colors individually as accents, by no means in a striped pattern.

What is the half moon at the very top of the house. a lighter window including that item would help lighten and give interest to that flat front wall.

My advice is to add a contrasting lighter color - with the roof, the front door, the shutters... something. Your house is lovely, but monotone. You don't need to spend a lot of money to add the vibrancy and interest that a couple of cans of paint can provide.

libradesigneye is most correct in his assessment of your shutters on all counts. They are neither historically or articeturally correct. Boxing the windows as he's shown you in the first two pictures he's sent is a brilliant and beautiful correction. Once you've made the correction you'll notice every house which has the out of porportion shutters your house once had. This correction is in keeping with the style of your home and supports the scale of your lovely home. Just adding my support for a good suggestion, on I would have offered had someone not beat me to it. Good luck with your project. Jeri

Take a look at GAF Timberline shingles Weathered Wood. Are you going with a window frame colour? You mentioned you won't be changing the colour of the home, but I can't help but picture the walls of the porch in a lighter tone of your home colour to brighten the entry...

http://houzz.com/photos/9052064

Red. Window trim along the roof eaves. Somewhere. This house listed about is a must look. Your house would easily incorporate this look

I was procrastinating on other things (packing to move across country), so I thought it would be fun to play with some ideas for this great house. Please excuse the rough Photoshopping...Sorry, I just figured it's more about color.

I took some of the suggestions above. I like the idea of a light greige trim and a medium greige roof...then imagined either red or "Ozark" jade accents and shutters. Oh, and since we're all suggesting things you didn't ask for ;-) I "painted" your fence, too. Beautiful house; hope you'll keep us posted about what you decide and share "after" pics.

In the pictures right above here I am noticing, the windows are definitely surrounded in white, which is what I don't see in the original, I know the person colored it in. But, I think that they should all be highlighted the same unless it is the light? your large lower window seems to be white along the edge and none of the others do, and that I think is the first fix. It is a lovely house, and I don't believe you have to have shutters, but if you want them, then they should be proper sized for the windows, which means the large bottom window might be too big for the wall, and the top window, looks a little lonely when it does not go with everyone else. This can get costly, so you might want to just give shutters a miss. I definitely like the idea of introducing some sort of trim color, around the windows or something that ties it to the part of the house with a porch. I feel unsure of red, though I do like it, in this case, lighter creamy, or blue gray, or maybe some sort of gray green, I just feel it needs to be substantially darker or lighter. In the picture right above this, maybe not white around windows but green, just not that light, very dark. The white is ending up too bright and everything else looks a little monotone?

I'm having a tough time envisioning my husband going for red and green trim :( I realize my home doesn't pop because it's all one color... Staying rustic is key here. This house is in the country. You really want a cabin feel. If that makes sense. My husband mentioned like a beige fascia. What do you think of that?

Northgehl I like the idea of the green color. Not a light green but darker like you mentioned. I also agree that white wouldn't go with the flow of the house. What would you do about the porch?

i think some might be ok in a darker, maybe a taupe, but whatever you decide on the windowed side for color should definitely be followed through on the porch side. Like outline windows or do shutter in dark green and then do the poles and railing in that color, while the spindles might be the lighter than house color taupe or, breige color. you might want to look at P Allen Smith's very color, it is a green black. It is green, but so dark, you kinda think it might be black. It is hard, to describe these colors I just think above green is too light for color. I will look at paint chips and come back. I have unsuccessful at posting pictures. Guess you can be to old for some things. lol

ok, I may have come up with a good starting point. In Benjamin Moore, there is a paint called Brown Sugar, 2112-20, on their color palette, looks something like yours. Click on it, then click on details, shows other colors that go with it. They have a slightly more yellow green and then a cream.

Thank you!!! I'll check out those colors :)

Bethy, For an exterior (and green is a great choice), you will need a deeper green than the interior accent cited with that shade of brown. Behr and SW will make ben moore samples for you.Test these three

ben moore smoke bush, cleveland green, and pining for you

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/smokebush

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/clevelandgreen

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/piningforyou

You can never go wrong with a gray roof.

Please don't replace those beautiful windows! They look like they just need a coat of paint on the sash. If you're doing this for weatherproofing, you can have effective weatherproofing installed for wooden window frames by installing copper (or bronze) spring weatherstripping. It nails in once and does not have to keep being replaced. Work with your historical home, and it will be more beautiful and efficient. http://thecraftsmanblog.com/how-to-install-spring-bronze-weatherstripping/

I agree that you don't need the shutters, if you paint the window sashes. I recommend a happy green / teal, the color of copper patina.

i'm sorry, I did not know these were old windows? I thought this was a modern house. If it is old, let me say, that although they are always touting this window or that as the best, the truth of the matter is, and you can look this up, wood windows are the most weatherproof. They may need repairs or what ever it is marly said. which I am going to look up because, we are looking at another mature home, I may not be able to climb the stairs anymore, but I don't care. After 3 years of trying to get me to into another rancher, bigger and better, but still flat and dull, I think he has given up and is going to get me, a new to me mature home. yeah! Any way, if these are old, wooden windows, don't let them fool you, you have the best.

Thanks for the suggestions. The windows are 20 years old. They are not good quality and are VERY inefficient. So unfortunately for our bank account, we have to replace them.

As far as the roof... We found the options were limiting with our house color. We ordered GAF shingles in "barkwood" in HD. They start next week installing them. We are starting with the garage first to see if we like the color. Also, I think I'm going to go with green (almost black) shutters. I'm having a hard time finding the perfect shade of green though. Not sure what to do with the porch as I feel it's pretty bland.

Maybe painting it a slightly light tone? It sorta recedes like a cave. You maybe able to paint it lighter without it even looking different. from the rest because of the darkness. dark green, did you look up p.allen smith's site? he has a name for it. he uses it all the time on shutters, fences, porches. look him up you will see. oxygen seems to make me lose many little things. Maybe brighter door color too?

sw has rookwood shutter green .. think that might be too dark ...

look at the blue green ozark cabin color at ben moore . . really lovely blue green ..not as dark as black but much more character . . dark green isn't going to do much for you here . curb appeal wise . .no contrast ..