Exterior Color Dilemma

8 years ago

We bought a fixer upper last year. Cinder block home. Was originally yellow with brown/maroon shutters and sage green trim. We converted the front screened-in porch to a mudroom, and used siding that was leftover from another job (James Hardie, chestnut brown). Roof is charcoal grey. Trim will definitely be white.

Dilemma: Do we paint entire house one color, or do we leave the siding a different color as an accent? Do we leave the siding brown? Do we put the shutters back?

Originally I was thinking whole house grey, white trim, possibly black shutters (after we cut those huge bushes down). Now I'm thinking leave the shutters off. Hubby wants to leave the siding the color as it is, and paint the cinder block a grey/brown.

Top pic is the day we bought it, bottom pic is recent but white custom gutters have since been added.

HELP! Painters want to come this week all of a sudden!

Featured Answer

jck910

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

Cute house. Mudroom looks great. Paint entire house the color of the Hardie Board. House is too small to mix it up with multiple colors. If gutters are white all trim should be white. No shutters. Maybe a nice blue for the door. Definitely take the overgrown bushes out

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Comments (23)

Lisa
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you!! I was thinking a blue for the door as well :) And bushes are coming out. What do you think about white window boxes? Rather than painting house the Chestnut Brown hardie color, what if I painted everything Benjamin Moore Cape May Cobblestone?
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PRO
Designer Drains
8 years ago
I like the color of the fence you added.
Lisa thanked Designer Drains
apple_pie_order
8 years ago
Paint it all one color. If gray is not trending out in your area, go with gray field, white trim and black shutters. If gray is trending out, use white field, gray trim (which can be easily changed in a couple years) and black shutters. Look at SW Black Fox if you prefer a nearly black to a coal black.
Chastain Park · More Info
Lisa thanked apple_pie_order
jck910
8 years ago
I love window boxes and have them on my house. Just remember they are a lot of work. I hate empty ones so winter I put greens, spring pansies, summer impatiens or begonia and fall mums & cabbage.

BM Cape May Cobblestone will look great.
kathleen MK
8 years ago
definitely paint it all one color and keep it a light or midtone to visually enlarge the house. Keep white trim to go with the gutters.
Lisa
Original Author
8 years ago
UPDATE! I took your advice (thank you thank you) and it was painted all one color, with white trim. Looks a million times better. We'll be cutting back (or taking out) the gigantic bushes on either side). Suggestions for a door color?!
PRO
Stecki Construction
8 years ago
Wow! Looks great! Very cute!
Lisa thanked Stecki Construction
J Gregory
8 years ago
You have done an amazing job - your house is lovely. You will probably have to remove the overgrown bushes. It will be hard to trim them as much as you need to.

How about a bright blue or yellow for the front door?
Lisa thanked J Gregory
Lisa
Original Author
8 years ago
jengregory: didn't even consider a yellow!! That's a great suggestion...
S Reams
8 years ago
Huge improvement painting it one color! Your neutrals give you a lot of flexibility. You could do a nice blue, yellow, red — my go would be on a nice chartreuse color. Best of luck!
Lisa thanked S Reams
silviakunst
8 years ago
Looks great the way it is ! Put some color in the plants around the house and you are finished . Great look!
linlac
8 years ago
A few to think about:
Lisa thanked linlac
linlac
8 years ago
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Lisa thanked linlac
Lisa
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
@linlac: love this! Now I'm really not sure which route to go haha. I think the yellow and red stand out the most, but I do like the green/chartreuse. Or maybe even keep it white...
laceface86
8 years ago
What color grey did you use for your exterior color?
Lisa
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

What do you guys think of a royal blue or navy blue?
Lisa
Original Author
8 years ago
@laceface86: BM Cape May Cobblestone!
chloebud
8 years ago
Lisa, that looks amazing! I actually like the white door. You can bring color in with plantings. Big planters on each side of the door filled with colorful blooms. Replace the window boxes with larger ones and plant more color. Agree those big bushes need major trimming or removing.
Lisa thanked chloebud
chloebud
8 years ago
I think a gray/blue would look great with the Cape May Cobblestone...and your roof color.
linlac
8 years ago
I don’t think you can wrong with blue.
linlac
8 years ago
Love the navy.
Lisa thanked linlac
Lisa
Original Author
8 years ago
@linlac THANK YOU for that mockup!!! I love the navy!!