Help with small 1901 farmhouse cottage house exterior paint color

8 years ago

Hi--- After much thought we have decided to paint our very small house all white (body, trim, porch). It is currently a dingy off white color (picture makes it look more white) with gray trim. I am seeking advice for a specific white paint color/brand that would look good. We are thinking painting interior of windows & door black would be nice. It would emulate a "modern farmhouse" look I like. Maybe also under porch ceiling pale blue. I have also seen trim painted black, but that might be too heavy, not sure. Advice?

Featured Answer

sylviatexas1

8 years ago

What an adorable house!

I grew up with those white frame houses with black trim, & to me, they always looked stark & maybe institutional.

& this is what I thought when I was too young to know those words!

I think with a pure white background, you can use pure clear colors like red, which is a great "country" color for houses, or deep cool pastels, like the gray you have now or maybe a deeper gray.

Hunter green is also a traditional color for farmhouse trim, & it would play off the white white beautifully.

I'm a fan of Behr paints from Home Depot, but a lot depends on your climate; we have lots of summer & you may have lots of winter or lots of salt spray.

This forum's participants have a vast pool of experience a great willingness to share, so I'm sure somebody will give you expert advice on brand & type.

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Comments (7)

Laura
Original Author
8 years ago
Here are a few houses with the combination I am thinking. Two are new construction, but one is an older cape cod style house. Advice?
Sugarberry Cottage: 5 Houses Built with the Same Popular Plan · More Info

lsaunders38's ideas · More Info

I Heart HGTV Blog · More Info
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PRO
Anglophilia
8 years ago
I don't like the black. I actually like your photos of how it is now, if the white is truly white. Perhaps it just needs "freshening" up. I like the gray trim.
Laura thanked Anglophilia
prairiemom61
8 years ago
Behr Polar Bear is a good white. So is Sherwin Williams Snowbound. Neither are a stark white and neither have undertones. We have Snowbound on our exterior with dark green shutters. It looks great. Our daughter used Polar Bear on their exterior trim with a very dark blue gray on the body of the house and it looks amazing.
Laura thanked prairiemom61
Laura
Original Author
8 years ago
Anglophilia-- We want to stay light as the house is small. The white is a dark off white, with gray trim. With gray skies, it is more apparent than the photo. My neighbor's trim is a crisp clean white and the difference is apparent. Any specific brand/color combinations you would suggest for exterior that you know work well? Sigh-We have also tossed around a light gray for body/white trim. We want a current look.
Laura
Original Author
8 years ago
P.S. Look at the second picture of front of house. You can see how white the neighbors garage is next to the color off white of my house. Maybe I just need a brighter white with gray trim. or maybe a nice shade of gray house with white trim Any specific paint color/brand recs would be helpful.
PRO
Anglophilia
8 years ago
Yes, brighter white with gray trim or the reverse. Gray always looks best with a bright white.