Thank you ycity and Chloebud. I am considering changing the gutters to an off white for balance. I love the inside of my house...want to love the outside too! Appreciate all comments.

It's a beautiful house!

You could go a little darker than cream. For me, all the dark trim is just too, well, dark. It needs more life, and something lighter looks nice with the brick.

I suggest you not paint your gutters a lighter color unless you paint the trim. They are really not an architectural element here and need weight if they are to be in contrast with your main house color. Painting only the gutters would serve to fragment the lines of the house. Right now they are a cohesive extension of the roof line and color.

Thank you Chloebud and Scott Design. Really torn about the gutter color. Took a ride around multiple brick neighborhoods today. Could not find one brick house with gray gutters. Seriously not one. Gutter colors were pretty much either white or off white. I think for this decision, we are going to have part of the gutter painted to see how that looks. Hopefully that will help with that choice. The trim would be changed as well. It does need more life!

Shutters were a range of colors. After this ride I started removing the faded dk. green gutters, I preferred the no shutter look (at least for now).

This seriously is a cut and paste (tape). I cut the off white/cream accent color from another photo of my house and taped it over the gray gutter. Thoughts on the gutter color? (Not the cut and tape lol. I did the brick too.)

I would suggest you keep the white trim and paint the shutters the same color as the roof.

Really torn about the gutter color.

Maybe this will help..... You have exactly two choices for gutters. Match the roof or match the trim. Gutters are utilitarian in the hierarchy of exterior color order (curb appeal) - which is why there are only two choices for color.

If you have nice wide, fat trim, gutters match trim. If there's skinny or no trim, gutters match the roof.

The reason why so many have white or off-white gutters has nothing to do with good curb appeal and mindful color design. They're white and off-white because those are the basic factory-finish choices and most people choke when it comes to choosing gutter/downspout colors so they default to white.

As a result, the choice of gutter/downspout color often dictates trim color. Like, "if we can only get the gutters in white, I guess we'll do the trim to match." Plus, there's a theory that white or off-white will "go with everything" which isn't necessarily true.

Letting the factory color choices for gutters/downspouts dictate trim color is easier than customizing the gutters/downspouts so they disappear but it's not always the best way to go.

Many believe you can't paint gutters; that they will peel so you're stuck with the factory finish. With proper prep, you can paint gutters. The better pro painters take the downspouts off, spray 'em and put 'em back up in a flash.

Point being, it's not a big deal to customize your gutter color and downspout color. What I mean by customized for downspouts is paint them to match the body of the house if at all possible so they disappear. I have no problem with gutters and downspouts individually and strategically color coded so they fade away.

Of course, if you have copper gutters or something special that's a different conversation.

Thank you Sheila! I am leaning in the direction of the lighter color gutters.

Wow Lori....thank you so much for the insight into gutter color choices! I now understand why people go white and off-white.

So, if I am thinking of going in the lighter direction with the gutter color choice, should I beef up the trim? and how?

This reminded me of your home. I'm wondering if a decorative treatment for the brick above the windows and the brick quoins would be helpful. Perhaps stucco and paint to bring some life to them. If you decide to keep the shutters, I suggest my "go-to" color, Ben Moore's Crisp Romaine. Yes, it is green, but really more of a teal green, and not dark.

Crisp Romain on a lakehouse

Thank you Decoenthusiaste! I was researching the masonry tops on the windows. I am not sure what they are called. I was thinking they would be a nice addition too. I am not a fan of the white masonry quions. If anyone knows what they are called I would appreciate your help and opinion.

So, if I am thinking of going in the lighter direction with the gutter color choice, should I beef up the trim? and how?

No. You have nice trim so your gutter should match your trim.

Here is the picture of the masonry for the top of the window.

Deco - your suggestion for Crisp Romaine is spot on given the color of the brick!

Lori- are you a recent contributor? I am so impressed by your knowledge and the way you give your suggestions in such a professional manner - kudos.

Best.

@visualizmaven, Oh my gosh. That is so nice of you to say, thank you!

I've been a member of the Garden Web Home Dec and Paint forums since 2004 and that's about how long I've been an architectural color consultant. Just recently started reading/posting on this forum. It moves fast and like the Garden Web, so many creative and talented contributors! It's a fantastic online community.

Great advice from Lori. The nation needs to know this.

I just have to ask- Lori are you from the south or mid west? LOL

so gentile.

Any thoughts on masonry tops for the lower windows? Too much?

visualizemaven, Ha! You're good. Born and raised in Columbus, Ohio.

Any thoughts on masonry tops for the lower windows? Too much?

Yes, klc328i, too much. Trust your instincts on that one because you are on the right track.

Repeat after me, simplify and edit. : )

Currently have black shutters, cream trim, gray trim, a set of cream doors and I think a set of brown doors. We need to reign that in.

I would reference classic Georgian style homes for color palette inspiration and distribution (where to put the colors).

See what they did with the downspout on this Georgian exterior? Looks like they pulled the darkest color from the brick for the downspout, I would have chosen a little lighter color. But, hey, potato potahto.

And, of course, we all know that we do not paint any exterior element a darker color than its original color without checking the manufacturer's color spec's. :)

Lori, You are amazing! Thank you so much!

I am not sure if any of my wonderful houzz helpers will read this, but I wanted to thank you for helping me. I also read and reread all of your great advise. I also figured out my references, to gutter and trim, were often wrong. I totally get what Lori meant about matching the gutter to the house. When I said "going in the direction of a lighter color for the gutter...," I really meant the trim. I am meeting with the builder on Friday to discuss trim and gutter color. I think I have a good plan there. I have removed 4 pr. of shutters (faded green) from part of the house, and sadly find it quite bare. I may get a sample set of charcoal gray and give this color a try. (Thank you Sheilaskb). Thank you all!

klc, sounds good...post a pic when it's all done. Again, it's such a pretty house to begin with!

your welcome - our pleasure I'm sure!

Best.

Have you down loaded your photo to one of the major paint brand web sites? You can do that and play around "painting" your house. At least you can take the suggestions given here and get a visual. Once you decide always get a sample and try it on your house before investing in gallons of it as monitor color distortion does happen.

Thank you tedbixby! I have been working with one of the paint programs. It does help. That's why I thought a dark gray shutter might work. Not a black and white gal. Definitely need samples too. So many off whites. Thank you for your ideas and help!

I would love to see what you ended up doing. Please share photos. thank you!

Hi A U, We are in the process of adding an addition right now. The brick does not match and there are so many challenges to this project. I am considering brick staining. Having a light color gutter on the new addition to see how this will look before taking on the whole house. We are three months into this project. I did have the green shutters removed. Having stone headers put above the windows. Will add pictures today.

Stone headers will be placed over all the bottom windows. Scale looks a little better in person. Landscaping will help too.

Are you adding stone headers to all your windows to help give the original portion and addition a more cohesive look? Brick staining is a good idea if you just want to help tie in the addition and not do the entire house

My parents have a similar home, and they have copper gutters. It turns into a lovely patina.

Our home has similar bricks as your and we currently have black plastic shutters. I've had them removed and I'm having shutters built in a charcoal grayish / brownish color. Similar to the traditional black shutter style but chaining it up a bit. We'll also do gutters to match the shutters and roof. We're adding an awning with columns off the front door as well.

The shutters will be on hinges this time which also gives it a better look. Good luck and hope this helps.

Hi Kristine, Yes, the stone headers will tie the old to the new. I knew removing the old green shutters would leave the windows looking blah. I am getting ready to ask advise from anyone who has used brick staining.

Hi Kristin, I thought about copper. But I am trying to steer away from the darker side. Thank you for the suggestion :). We are only trimming the addition in the lighter color initially to see if it works. Fingers crossed.

Hi Chris, When we had the last addition done, we added the front portico. Totally love it! When the trim is repainted I will probably remove the dentil molding.

I tried two color shutters (ordered two sets from Home Depot) one a wheat color, the other a tan/gray cement color just to try on a lighter color shutter. I liked both colors with the brick, but decided to go shutterless. So, I definitely need a cosmetic boost. Hence, the stone headers.

So you are going dark on the gutters? Just the gutters or all the trim?

Thank you!

Since the brick color is not matching, I would like to see the addition painted the same yellowish beige as all the woodwork on the original home. I think that will go a long way in tying the two elements together. If it is too much painted a solid color, you could consider power washing the new paint to get some of it to chip off.

I'm hoping Lori will weigh in again and maybe groveraxle can do a mock up for us?

Hi Lori, Thank you for your suggestions. No painting at this time. I do think a wash at the end of the construction may help. Meeting with the brick stain guy tomorrow to get his thoughts.

klc328i,

I'm going to leave the trim white along with the windows white as well. The gutters will be the same color as my shutters. I'll post a pic once they put my shutters up, and then another with the awning and gutters also.

Just finished having the brick stained. It looks so good! And no shutters :)!

Paint the shutters (larger if possible) white, and put a strong bright colour on the front door.

No shutters now! But thank you! Will post more pics when the weather improves and we are finished with the outside.

Please fire your landscape maintenance people and let your plant materials grow naturally. They also distract the eye from the beauty of your home, rather than enhancing it.

Please, Karen.

I would paint the trim white and the shutters black or charcoal grey

Casio- landscaping is not complete. This is a newly finished project. Love my landscaper!

Thank you Tina, I am having the gutter, fascia & soffit changed to cream. Maybe by spring. No shutters now and am loving the look !

Finished!

Oh my goodness just read through this thread for the first time. You have done a fabulous job Karen and should be so proud. Absolutely beautiful home!!!

You nailed it! It looks fabulous. Congrats.

It's beautiful! The addition looks amazing and like it was always there. Curious what that lovely room is with all those windows. Love the no-shutter look!

Lovely! Congratulations and Enjoy!

Thank you all for the lovely comments! This project involved a lot of hard decisions. I appreciate all the help from the Houzz community. I am so glad I have you to help me :)!

to Carladr- It has no name yet, other than "The New Room!" My family will be using it to gather and open gifts at Christmas and eggs at Easter. I will post pics of the inside after I get draperies. It has exposed brick (now painted), crown chandeliers (inspired by Disney World) and a faux finish and two large couches (inspired by Frozen). And someday I may even find a rug I like.