Any help would be most appreciated!! :o)

I believe they said it was a stain, but looking at the house it must be a solid stain. I would assume that we would have to stick to the same type of stain? Would we be able to change the colour easily if we kept to a stain?

Take a look at the houses out at the end of Long Island.Lots of light grey sun bleached wood and white trim. I can see a Mink color on the wood also with a white trim.

Leave the dark windows and use a cedar color, dark taupe or a sage (weathered) green. You need something to break up the wall and vertical lines--a few shrubs under the low windows and a taller skinny tree on to help break up the flat section on the right in the first photo. A birch tree might look VERY nice on the right hand side, not too close to the house, but in the "corner" between the house and the large evergreen. Run mulch out around the tree and in front of the new shrubs, with a border that curves (to soften all the lines). It will make the back of the house look like a landscaped garden, without too much work or expense.

Yes, you can put a solid stain over a solid stain. You will need several coats if you are going lighter. That color will bleed through.

Should we be concerned about how many layers of stain we are applying to the house? In addition to changing the colour, the previous owners said it needed to be repainted at least every 5 years.

Yes, I think a dark brown/grey with a touch of green would look perfect but before you go changing those windows, you might find that they look better with a bit of timber framing around them and/or placing double height pergolas over and around them. Make them very sleek and square and thats's where you might introduce some stained cedar to enheance the overall effect. I think there might be a similar house for inspiration in Behre paints website.

Hi again- just went to the website......
http://www.behr.com/Behr/home#vgnextoid=5e77f3e98119c110VgnVCM1000006b0910acRCRD;channel=INSPIRATION;view=3
If you get lost it's in exterior inspiration- modern style

I like the idea of framing the windows with timber and staining a different colour, to add some interest and breakup the vertical lines from the siding.

And I hadn't considred a 'weathered' green colour before.... I think I might like that more than a grey.

Would anyone like to comment on the possibility of adding some window boxes to the front of the house? I know it is hard to comment without a photo, but just wondering about them from a home maintanince perspection -- are window boxes with wood siding a 'no-no'?

Look at Cabot's Stain in semi-solid for coverage. They have a standard Sage Green. We used their stain on this timber frame home's shingles. I'm not big fan of window boxes. They rot and then they rot the siding, Pergolas, as detached structures with well trimmed vines are maybe OK...There is always a concern about moisture trapped next to a house (wood siding or no). Air and light on wood siding....please. As to layers of stain...not much concern there. Stain is very thin and doesn't have the 'build' of paint. Less prep...no scraping or sanding, no priming...power wash, spray and back roll.

Thanks Ironwood Builders, some great advice. I hadn't heard of Cabot's stain, but checked out their website and they have a good selection of colours and lots of great info. ~ Much, much appreciated!!

Starkicker,
I agree with others that the color does look like a solid stain. Check for any flaking as solid stains will peel especially in direct hot sun and if there has been many previous applications of stain. Scrape or wire brush any areas that look like loose peeling material. (Semi-transparent stain will soak into the material whereas solid does tend to "ride" on the surface.)

You might want to consider adding a surround at all of the windows and doors. A surround of a stained 1x4 on the flat directly around the window frame and then a stained 1x2 on edge (perpendicular to the wall face) will give the windows more presence.

As for color... see the attached doctored photo. I would suggest a base color and an upper color to break up the vertical mass of the house. If you attach a stained 2x2 just below the window surround and run this horizontally around the house (be consistent even if it bumps into windows or doors - you can start and stop this line) you can break the house into two parts.

I have also attached a photo showing the same colors on a house that I have recently completed. Use all solid colors for better coverage.
The lower color is a BEHR stain colour matched to Pratt&Labert's #14-18 Olive Bark.
The upper color is BEHR #370 Sage.
Stain the horizontal band to match the windows - BEHR #319 Cordovan Brown

Good luck and don't forget to post more pictures of your changes.

Hi everyone, I know it's a bit off topic but I'm new to Houzz and I am overwhelmed with the fantastic advice and support everyone offers each other! From someone like me who has no idea about renovating it is very comforting to know that this great online community is there to 'talk' to about our projects.

Michaels advise on breaking the vertical surface is sound. My only concern is the inability to flash these applied pieces properly to the structure. When caulking fails, and it does, water can penetrate behind these applied pieces and begin the rot process. Window caps and horizontal water tables should be flashed so that any water is kicked out from behind the siding. Many articles on proper flashing are available, see back issues of Fine Homebuilding or other professional trade magazines for more info.

New to Houzz, but wanted to reply here...

As a painting contractor whom uses Sherwin Williams products (no plug, I promise!), they do have options to either stain or paint over. Here's just a little info on Cedar siding (mid-page)
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/home-builders/services/paint-technology-and-application/sw-article-pro-knowyrsubstrate.html

Also, I do like the idea of trimming out the windows. Have you thought of shutters to break up the wall as well? They wouldn't have to be traditional shutter, wrought iron design?
Window boxes sound like a good idea, but you'll need some balance around it from the bottom of the window (looking heavy). (On one house I had the contractors attach the boxes the same time they put in new windows.)

Please keep us all posted!

It looks like a solid stain. I don't see using a semi-transparent stain over a solid stain (semi-transparents are just that) especially if you intend to change the color. Consumer Reports gives top rating to Behr brand SOLID stains for weather resistance/durability. We've been staining our cedar siding with with Sherwin Williams SOLID stain "WoodSmoke" for a smoky gray we love, but we've found that it just doesn't hold up. We switched to the Behr solid stain and are sold on that product! It can be applied to both vertical as well as horizontal surfaces. The SW required dif stain formulas for vertical and horizontal surfaces (our house has balconies).
We also found that the different sides of the house weather at different rates....so we've taken to re-staining the wall that needs it and letting the others go several years w/o need for re-staining.
I'd recommend sticking with RED stain....it is knockout and contemporary. Find the red you like...it takes looking. We've purchased a mid 1940s bungalow and it will be RED. Still looking for the right red.
Re window boxes.....do not recommend them.Your house is not a cutesy cottage on which they might look good...it's more contemporary and would look silly with them. Plus you don't want dripping water streaking down the siding...that is if you remember to keep watering the plants. Before you know it you'll have window boxes with dried out plantings....not a pretty sight.

Michael, I love the idea of the two tone house, and really like the Olive Bark colour from the house you did. However, I don't know if it the two colours will work with our house, as the front and back of the house are the only areas with vertical siding, the rest are on a diagonal. The other pics sort of show this, but not well.

I will try to get out to the house tomorrow to take a picture of the front, which might help with everyone's suggestions as there is a balcony and garage to consider as well. I can add two more pics of the backyard right now, but again sorry for the quality, wasn't thinking ahead to designing when the pics were taken. And as you can see we have a lot of work ahead with landscaping and deck!

Chaski - good to know certain products only work 'one way' -- especially with a house that has siding running vertically, horizontally and diagonally!!

And the idea of window boxes -- OUT!

I like what Michael did giving the house some interest instead of a solid plain facade. It may be stain but I hate stain. Solid Stain is basically just cheap paint. It has a pigment coat but the mil-thickness of it is much, much less than good paint. Plus it quickly gets dull looking and doesn't stand up to UV damage well at all especially if you are someplace sunny. Plus you really are supposed to re stain it every few years. Since it doesn't hold up well to UV you will find it allows the boards to crack and dry which won't happen with paint since it basically creates a solid layer to keep out the weather.

I would say prime it and paint it. It will last much longer and it will look much better. The color will be richer and give the house much needed character. I would look at using some kind of natural look in color like from an Arts and Crafts palette. I would also only use a mid tone as the windows are dark enough and a lighter body will make the house look much more pleasant.

Someone suggested trimming the windows and this is a good idea to give them some character. If you create a belt course like Michael suggested tie the window trim into it. Then paint all the trim a lighter color or an off white including the fascias and gutters. It will make the house come alive. Windows are the smile in the eyes of the house- make them sparkle.

My home - an early 80s raised ranch - used to be a similar red color. See it now - also with new windows:

http://www.myredraisedranch.blogspot.com/2010/05/painting-is-done-this-is-view-of-our.html

I think those colors would look great on your house too!

Rachel - Checked out your blog - you've done a lot of work on the inside and out, and it looks beautiful! The only info on the colour I could find was that it is 'Shaded Fern'. Is it paint or stain, and what brand? When I first posted those were the exact colours I had in mind, something that would be dark enough to cover the red well. Additionally, what colour/paint did you use for your garage and doors, and trim? Thanks!!!

Thank you!

It's a paint. My painters only use Benjamin Moore so they had the color matched to the Glidden one:

http://www.homedepot.com/buy/glidden-premium-8-oz-shaded-fern-interior-paint-tester-gln42-d8.html#.UQkr0mdZMUM

I wish I had record of the trim and doors. I'm selling the home and have since moved out of it otherwise I'd run down to the garage and see if any of the leftover cans were marked. I wouldn't be surprised if all my colors were another brand that they had to have created in Benjamin Moore. If I rack my brain for a little bit longer, maybe it'll come to me. Such a bad blogger I am to not have kept track of these things!

this house is so simple you can do almost any colour so choose a colour you have always loved, even if it's turquoise!

i like dark windows, and three panel horizontal windows would add the perfect contrast to the vertical slats of the walls.

can't wait to see how it turns out!

Here is one more idea. Labour intensive though...

Margo - that's fun !
Maybe tough for re-sale, but eye catching.

Realizing this is about color, before you paint, how about triming it top and bottom (fascia board) - like you would with cabinets in a kitchen with molding. Trim out the windows. Then add a trellis- type feature down the right side. Not necessarily one to be planted (guessing this falls into the same problems as window boxes) but a really pretty architecural one, that some how repeats the design you use in the deck railing. The trellis (for lack of a better word) could add some depth and if repeated some elements from the deck could tie the two sides of the house together. These additional details could then be called called out with color to give the flat look of the house some depth.
PS. Rachel Hyman did a great job - bravo!

Margo, how did you generate that design? Was it a special software?

Lots of good ideas here. I think the most important change would be the railings! That lattice does not belong on a house of this style. Your home lends itself more to contemporary - maybe glass railings instead and if you need to hide the area under the deck, consider horizontal slats instead.
There is a lot of potential here and new windows and doors to replace the sliding patio ones would make a huge difference! Adding another element, like shake siding to the wall where the patio door is located or running the siding horizontally might kick it up a bit and differentiate it's look from similar homes in the area.

Lorri -- Yes! The railings do need to be updated. Actually, the whole deck needs to be replaced, as several joists have rotted out and the decking is in bad shape. We have LOTS of work ahead of us!!
We will also be putting in french doors to replace the sliding ones as soon as we move in.

julieperkins1, I did the mockup with Photoshop

I FINALLY did a drive by of the house and took some pics of the front. I hope they give everyone a better idea of the house, even with the snow and vehicles in the way. The pics don't show the true colour, the ones I first posted are better. Also, the front deck needs to be removed ASAP, so if people have suggestions, that would be wonderful.

Thanks SO MUCH everyone for your responses! Every bit of information and all the suggestions are so very much appreciated. We are excited to move into our home, but all the work that needs to be done is somewhat daunting. Getting your feedback is helping put our minds at ease that this is something we can tackle and be proud of!

~laura

Hello Starkicker,

It looks like a lovely home. I have to ask. Do you absolutely hate the red?? I ask because I like the red. I think it looks good on the house.

However if there is one thing that is not working is the brown contrast with the red. Red is bold color and as such it needs a bold contrast. The trim and gutters would look much better if there where all Black or White for contrast. Preferably black since is a more modern (ranch) type home.

Another item since you mention buying new windows is matching up the windows in the front of the house, specially the ones under the pitched roof or Gable.

I think that if you line up the front windows and change the wood siding in between the windows only to a diagonal similar to what is on the side of the roof pitch, while leaving the sides vertical you would be creating a much more cohesive facade.

Take a look at the picture below on the top right hand side. Notice how the material in between the windows between the second and first floor is changed while aligning the windows.

A few more

I just saw the front facade pictures of your house. I had a feeling that the first couple of pictures where of the back of the house. The one thing I would change right away is the garage door. It would complete change and update your new home.

I like the barn red and the black. Looks great with green trees and plants. I think I would look for changes in the landscaping.

Studio -- lol, I had the hardest time figuring out what you meant in your comments, but that was because I was thinking about the front of the house. Yes, you are totally right, the back windows do need to be lined up and of the same width. I also like the bottom right picture of the garage door. If we went that route could we paint something like that and keep the door, or would we have to swap out the door? Thanks!!

Swap!!

http://www.bessergaragedoors.com/residential-garage-doors/glass-garage-door/
http://www.clopaydoor.com/avante.aspx
http://www.glassgaragedoors.com