Help!!! Need Suggestions for Home Exterior Project!

8 years ago

After replacing our roof, windows, siding, and trim, my husband and I are in the final stage of our home exterior remodel...painting! The body color is finished as pictured, and the brown trim is complete with the exception of the front corners and window trim, which will be finished later this week. We were originally going to paint the garage door either the body color or the trim color, but my husband decided he wanted an accent color. He chose the blue green color of the garage door and the entry door as shown. I agreed to allow him to try it because I am a visual person and couldn't picture it without seeing it. I actually like the color for the entry door, but I feel like it maybe too much going on in front with the brick, the roof, the body color, and the trim color. A family member suggested carrying the blue green color elsewhere if we decide to keep it. We thought about adding shutters in this color, but there is only space on one side of the 2 main front facing window. If we don't do shutters, I would like some ideas to dress up the front a little. It looks plain to me. I'm trying to keep an open mind because I usually end up getting my way on most home project decisions. Any suggestions or ideas are welcome!

Featured Answer

Denita

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

The green is a nice color for your front door - but totally wrong for the garage door. What it does on the garage door is make your garage the centerpiece of your home - so all of the attention is drawn to the garage where it doesn't belong. Normally, that is not where you want it - you want the focus to be on your front door, not the garage door. To make matters worse, your front door is completely hidden by its design on the side of your home. Paint the garage door a color that blends with the brick OR a tone close to a "wooden" garage door. I've seen excellent paint jobs for garage doors to look like wood - and poor jobs. Make sure your painter is experienced and shows you his work.

You don't have enough room on your home for shutters. Wider trim would enhance your windows if you want to go in that direction but you can leave them the way they are now too. Definitely no to shutters.

Once you have the garage door painted so it recedes (rather than jumps forward) turn that corner of the yard with the utilities into a garden area - and hide the meter and other utility items with an attractive L-shaped fence so you bring people from the front around the garden to your front door. You have many different garden styles - use one that works with your lifestyle. You could make this home a stunner with just a few inexpensive (cost effective) modifications :)

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Comments (7)

mnmamax3
8 years ago
I have to agree with you. The green looks great with the house color on the door side but something about the combination with the brick is throwing it off. Am I understanding correctly that you just finished painting the body color and trim - so neither of those are up for discussion?

I really like those online paint programs (Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams each have one) where you can upload a picture of your house to play around with the color a little. I definitely recommend getting some actual paint to test before committing, but it might help you choose another complimentary color that could work. I don't think the green is that far off - this one reminds me of oxidized copper.
Sheri
Original Author
8 years ago
That's correct...the body and trim color are not up for discussion since we've already paid for the majority to be done. We already completely changed the color palette once...lol. My husband and I have had a difficult time agreeing!
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Denita
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Hiding the electric meter can be as simple as an L-shaped fence perpendicular to your home with landscaping in front or you can go all out with a electric meter cabinet. In either case I think you want to lean more toward transitional or contemporary rather than cottage. Here are a couple of ideas (not style, but concept) to get you started in thinking about what you prefer
Sheri
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for your input Denita. We haven't done anything with the landscaping yet, but plan to tackle that project in the spring. The utility boxes being so prominent have always bugged me, and we've discussed what to do about it. An L shaped fence could work, but would have to convince my hubby.
Denita
8 years ago
@Sheri " An L shaped fence could work, but would have to convince my hubby."

I hear you. Some men (usually) just don't see the utilities as something to cover up!
PRO
Design Everest
8 years ago
Right now the garage door is what is standing out, the front door being paint that blue green color works wonderfully. But you don't really want the attention to be drawn to the garage door. Try painting it a color in the bricks (tanish-a neutral color) so that it blends not stands out. Once that is done it will look a ton better. I'm sure once the landscaping is done too that will help.