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asher_barrow

80s Contemporary Exterior Paint Advice Needed

6 years ago

Hello! We’ve owned this home in North Florida for about a year and are ready to start thinking about exterior paint colors. I love the color of the brick, and we just got a charcoal colored roof, so those are the most important factors when choosing a color (or so I’ve read!). The brown just isn’t doing it for me.

I’m open, but leaning towards a deep charcoal and adding more tropical, bright green plants. I have no clue about a door color. I’m so looking forward to hearing your ideas!

Comments (16)

  • 6 years ago

    Here’s a few more photos (one to give you a view of the greenery from the inside of the house) and my favorite inspo photo thus far.

  • 6 years ago

    I wish you had thought about this main house color before you did the roof. But what’s done is done so moving on...maybe you will glean some insight from this:

    https://mariakillam.com/nature-inspired-modernist-exterior-before-after/

    I’m assuming your windows will remain as is? Yes? Then that is a color you can’t ignore. I don’t see the cool grey of your inspiration pic working with the existing window color. Between Maria Killam or brickandbatten.com you might want to hire a pro to give you exact color advice.

  • 6 years ago

    Thinkdesignlive, the brick has a lot of charcoal coloring throughout, so the initial idea was to find a color that was a darker version of the windows. We’re also open to painting the windows, but aren’t sold on it.

  • 6 years ago

    If the windows are in good shape I would argue you shouldn't bother painting them and to work with the color. I see 'umber' or dark brown there - yes? I would have liked to see a roof color that was more brown black and less 'black' in order to coordinate with the brick / existing window color (but again, now to work with it...). You would have wanted to paint the eaves the same color as the new roof but I think that's way too cool with your brownish beige brick. So, I'm kinda stumped on where you should go next. Maybe find that 'bridge' tone that is cool enough to work with the roof but warm enough for the rest....

    Paint Color SW 2820 Downing Earth from Sherwin-Williams · More Info

    Sherwin Williams Downing Earth might be a starting point and then find some a bit cooler and a bit warmer and then place large samples next to window/brick to test. Good luck!

  • 6 years ago

    The windows are cooler in tone than that and the brick is more, tan, pink, and charcoal. In person, there’s a lot of charcoal in the brick. I don’t think all is lost!

  • 6 years ago

    I found this house that has similar color windows and is painted black. I think it looks pretty great without having to paint or replace the windows! Just need to think more about front door!

  • 6 years ago

    I’m not a pro, but I like your roof color selection, and it is leading you in the same direction as your inspiration photos. It seems to me that carrying through with those charcoal tones in your paint would look good with the darker tones in your brick. It’s hard to see your window colors from the photos you’ve posted so far, so I won’t offer an opinion on that.

  • 6 years ago

    I think a dark charcoal to go with the roof would look great! Go for something darker than the roof for contrast. it would look weird if both matched.

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks! The windows are taupe. They’re not ideal, but also not a deal breaker as I think the paint, brick and roof would be the focal points. If you have ideas for the front door, let’s hear ‘em! I really appreciate everyone’s input.

  • 6 years ago

    My neighbors have a house they painted charcoal. They have tried a number of different front door colors - pale yellow (definitely not a good choice), turquoise (not my taste, but it wasn’t a painful mismatch). My favorite was a dark red that leaned toward orange rather than blue on the color spectrum. It popped and picked up some of the colors in their brick chimney. Perhaps that would work for you. Currently, their door is a paler shade of the charcoal, which makes the house seem very monotone. I suppose the main lesson from them is that the front door isn’t a big area, so if you don’t like it, you can try again.

  • 6 years ago

    Thanks so much, pds290! I was thinking a taupe color like my windows or seeing how the current red color looks with the charcoal. I’m also going to look into stripping the paint and staining the wood (not sure if it’s possible, but I love the way the door looks on the inside).

  • 6 years ago

    I saw that image you posted with the all black with the blonde stone and that is a good look for your house considering the roof you did. Do you have a better photo of the window color?

  • 6 years ago

    They’re definitely taupe, but after seeing the other house with taupe windows and black paint, I think it might be ok until we decide to replace them.

  • 6 years ago

    I'd say work with that exact color and match it on a fan deck - then exactly color match your roof black - then find a shade that is perfectly in the middle of the two. I'd start there and see what that looks like with the brick.