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nancy_henderson3694

Need help with exterior paint colors

13 years ago
My house was built in 1941. Not sure of the style. It is currently painted tan with cream trim and rust colored shutters and front door. The front door faces to the right, not the front so not much impact. I took out the original wrought iron posts and replaced with the columns and railing. I would like something more "beachy" possibly the body in white, light gray or blue. Not sure what color trim with each of these possibilities. I will be replacing the storm door with one that has full glass and would like to also add maybe a window box on the left. Another thought I had was maybe to add some type of shingles to cover the wood trim above the windows on the left and maybe the wall under the porch around the two windows. I can't afford to do this on the entire house. The shingles are the old asbestos siding and I can only repaint them for now. I would love to hear your recommendations. Thank you!

Comments (19)

  • 13 years ago
    The trim is perfect for the period. I think these colors would look great on your house.

    http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/a-cool-dusky-blue-gray-brings-the-stone-facade-to-the-forefront
    Nancy Henderson thanked brickln
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    I wouldn't change the porch wall, but the gable would be darling with some shingle siding to look like shake shingles there. They can paint out the vent fully too this time. What about an aqua gray - I'd like blue-green on my siding - a little more like beachglass but muted down. Like ben moore sea star http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/seastar
    It will also make the terracotta elements so charming as a compliment.

    Creamy off-white trim - in bm mayonnaise
    and deep gray shutters w/ blue green undertone http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/newburggreen this deep shade will echo the window grids so there is another dark tone for contrast.

    Then, for the front door, you could go terracotta - just a bit softer than the red-orange you've got now, like http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/milkandhoney or try a perfect cottage yellow - bm goldfinch http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/goldfinch

    Darling darling home
    Nancy Henderson thanked libradesigneye
  • 13 years ago
    Wow! Thank you everyone. Great ideas to ponder. Actually the front door in the picture reads more red orange than the actual color which is more rusty like the shutters. I know my shutters are technically not wide enough so another question would be should I replace them with wider shutters - maybe board and batten style?
  • 13 years ago
    libradesigneye Just to confirm - you're suggesting BM Sea Star for body, BM Newburg Green for shutters, FM Mayonnaise for trim and then BM Milk and Honey or Goldfinch for door?
  • 13 years ago
    I have been a professional painter for nearly 18 years and I always tell my clients to drive around the area and look at the colors of homes that they absolutely LOVE and go from there. If you love it then that is what matters! I'd enjoy seeing what you choose!
  • 13 years ago
    nwduck I'm looking at brickln's response and the link shows three colors: BM Little Falls, Winter Snow and Baby Seal Black. You said shutters and door the blue and house the blue/gray. Can you specify which colors should go where? Thank you!
  • 13 years ago
    nwduck - I like the idea of adding a board horizontally at the bottom of the wood trim on the gable roof. Great idea!
  • 13 years ago
    terimc - the problem is I live in an area with many elderly people who probably haven't repainted in the past 20 years. I have driven through similar neighborhoods with younger families and have gotten some great ideas. Thanks!
  • 13 years ago
    NH - yep, you got it right! oh those late nite posts!
    As for looking around, I have googled images of colors and gotten to see color in a range of applications that way. You could try that for each color by going to google images.
  • 13 years ago
    I'm with libra on the late night posts! I looked at the photo brickln put up and didn't even notice that what I saw as a navy blue with a lot of black in it was actually called black. And while "technically" shutters are supposed to be the size to cover the windows, to me that might be too much for the size of the facade. Just accept them for the cute decorative detail they are!
  • 13 years ago
    Thanks to everyone for your suggestions on blue paint. Does anyone have any suggestions for painting the body white, gray, or taupe and, if so, trim colors for each?
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Hi Nancy......I have a few suggestions for you to ponder......White house; BM White Dove...Trim: BM Raccoon Fur.....Front door; BM Mozart Blue......The porch railing and posts are White Dove.
    Gray house, BM Barren Plain......Trim, same.....Shutters & door......BM Granite.
    Taupe house.....BM Thunder...Trim: Shutters......BM Granite.....Front door...BM Midsummer Night
    If at all possible take out the center post on the front and side of porch. Think about vines for the remaining posts, and trim down bush in front, too much green on that side, balance with plants and annuals on the left.
  • 13 years ago
    Thanks Matilda! Love these! The post on the right of the porch is actually the end which leaves an opening to the driveway. It shows up better on my second picture. The middle post needs to stay for support. When I bought the house it had wrought iron posts which I removed ASAP! And, the previous owners planted the shrubs. I plan to take the large pittosporum down and in this picture it is trimmed back. I do not know why people plant shrubs that take over! I will balance out the left side with other plantings. How you think a wooden window box would look under the two windows on the left?
  • 13 years ago
    nwduck - the BM Baby Seal Black is actually a dark blue/grey. I checked it on the BM site. http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/babysealblack. It did look black on brklns link.
  • PRO
    13 years ago
    Hi Nancy.....I think annuals in varying heights in the ground would be better than a window box, I'm sorry the posts need to stay, but that's still ok and still possible to do vines. Because the windows and the posts don't line-up, I though one less vertical line would help. How do you feel about cabana drapes??? That might be really
    interesting with tie-backs to the end posts. The mini-blinds you have on both windows, do you need those for privacy??? It feels very closed off......
  • 13 years ago
    last modified: 13 years ago
    Nancy: You have so much detail on the left hand side, window boxes might clutter it up. If you want something that is easy care and tailored-looking, plant some boxwoods for a low hedge. Over a period of time you can trim them into a clean line, or leave as is.They are quite nice au naturale. Do annual or perennial flower plantings in front of them.

    Honestly as a "vine owner", generally I wouldn't put these anywhere near my house structure unless you are diligent with pruning. Most are ethereal and great for a few years. I have an arbor with evergreen clematis on each side of the house (with mini lights all year, just because). They have gotten to be maintenance monsters. Don't even think about wisteria. It's the King Kong of vines. You could get away with a jasmine, carefully tended, which smells fantastic. Mine are on trellises just outside a kitchen window. :)
  • 13 years ago
    nwduck - I know all about wisteria! I have it on an arbor in my backyard and what a pain! Again, planted by the previous owners. I do have some mandevillas in pots planted on the right with a bougainvilla (constantly cutting back). I need to look into the boxwood/annual/perennials on the left. I have a sprinkler system so I need to plan it around the sprinkler heads. Thank you for your input!
  • 13 years ago
    Matilda: The blinds on the left are 2" white wood and the ones on the right are 1" metal. I closed them for the picture. I'll be eliminating the metal ones and replacing with the 2" white wood. I keep them opened during the day. I don't know why but I closed them partially for this picture. I see what you mean about it seeming closed off. Thank you!
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