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Help needed with trim and gables on front of home!

2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago

My husband and I purchased a foreclosure that the foreclosure company had put some lipstick on, prior to putting it on the market. They painted the whole exterior, but just caulked over rot, holes, etc. When bought, we initially thought just some of the siding needed to be repaired, but over the course of the first yr it became apparent that full replacement was needed. We had the windows replaced with white vinyl right away, but have been slowly having the whole home resided, one side at a time (easier on finances), using Alside steel siding (my husband's choice of material). All but the front has been resided at this point. We chose a steel siding color (Teakwood) that was VERY close the color the bank chose to paint the house, so it hasn't been as obvious that we have been doing it one side at a time. If you look at the picture that includes the garage door (still painted the color the foreclosure company used), you can see the steel siding color with the paint color on the door. Our trim is being wrapped in an off white color called Antique Parchment.

We need to proceed with the front, but I'd like opinions on the gables and trim in the front. There is so much going on in the front, that it is overwhelming to me to decide what to with all the trim and gables, especially since it can't just be painted over if I don't like it! I feel the pressure of needing to get it right the first time....instead a repainting things a few times like I usually do on the inside of our house!


Right now we know we want the sunbursts in the two gables cut out, and the gables recessed like the far left gable. My husband thinks we should then follow the same trim/accent placement that's already on the home, but use the new off-white color, everywhere the lighter greige color is currently. He would do the darker (teakwood) clapboard siding up to the gables and then off white clapboard (the same color as the trim) in all the gables like in the far left. I'm not sure about this suggestion because I haven't seen two colors of horizontal clapboard right against each other like that, on any other home. I always see some type of other material if the gables are accented. I'm also concerned that with how contrasting the new off-white trim color is with the siding color, that it might be too much/too busy to have the gables in the off-white. The steel does not come in scallops, or shingles, etc., so those type of accents aren't an option. There is a 12" board and batten, however. The board and batten is available in either the trim or siding color. My inclination was to keep it simple and just use the one color of clapboard over the whole house (without any gable accents) and do the trim, facia and and vertical outside corners in the off-white. The outside corners were supposed to be off-white on the back as well, but the installer didn't realize and we left it go for the back, since many of the homes in our area don't have the trim painted in the back, anyway. My husband thinks the house might look boring in all horizontal clapboard without anything different in the gables. Thoughts on what you would do with the gables? I don't want a boring house, but I don't know what would look appropriate in our case, either. If you tried to accent the gables, would you treat them all the same, including the very small window gables?

As far as trim goes would you do the inside corners in the trim color as well (like they currently are in the greige color) or only the outside corners and have the installer cover over the inside corners with siding?


Lastly, it has been suggested to us that we could put stone veneer somewhere on the front. Many of our neighbors have stone, but the only place that might make sense on our home is the back wall under the porch. If someone else has a suggestion as to where it might be appropriate, I would take it! Thoughts on how stone would look on this house? Not necessary?















The pictures are in order - basically a walk around the house.

Comments (7)

  • 2 years ago

    It's a lovely house already. If there's already too much going on for your taste, why add yet another surface texture? What is the purpose of the "wooden pitchfork" on the front porch.

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Thanks! I don't know that there is TOO much going on right now, but the current trim color isn't very contrasting with the siding color so I'm concerned that the higher contrast (especially in the gables) would make it be too much. I'm also very used to the way the house looks at this point, so would like outside perspective as to what should be done for trim and accent if any, in the gables. Like would it be better to simplify things and go with all horizontal clapboard in the same color over the whole house. Or is my husband right and it will be boring without something different in the gables? Or, without something like stone added somewhere?


    Basically I probably was too wordy, and gave too much explanation and should have just said, "using the teakwood and Antique parchment colors, what would you do with the gables and trim on this house"! Just looking for opinions!


    The "pitchfork" is a dated version of a porch post! Ha! The sides are going to be cut-off, leaving just a straight post!

  • 2 years ago

    I like the way the back of the house is turning out, and I don't mind the white windows with the greige trim on that front arched double window. Continue with greige trim. I would want to negate the vertical lines that are in contrast, and it looks like your new siding is doing that on the corners of the house as it should on the dormers. Contrasting corners continue the busy look and box in the house as well. Painting your downspouts to match the siding will be helpful too. A door that is not Victorian style will help you move in a new direction. You might consider using "faux" gable vents on each of the gables that have the sunbursts. The shape could mimic the arched window if you want to replicate that style. I think the arched window provides enough interest on its own without doing anything contrasting in that smaller gable. I am uncomfortable with the porch extending past the house as much as it does. There is some awkward alignment that may not allow you to replace the "pitchfork" post and add two more on the ends. Not sure how to remedy that without some major work.


    Gap area feels awkward and you don't have much room for more posts which you ndde.


    Here's is a similar style of trim for a gable vent, but you won't need a real one. Maybe have a local cabinet maker do one for you with louvers in the center; match it to the arched window.

    22"Wx32"Hx3"P, Gable Vent Louver Trim, Art Deco Style use With GVCA22X32 · More Info


  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Decoenthusiaste - thank you for the time you took to share your thoughts! The windows are a little difficult to decipher in the picture, but right around the white vinyl windows, the brick moulding is already wrapped in the off white aluminum. The was done when the windows were installed. The installer said he would just leave the window trim like that if it were his house, but he can build-out and wrap the rest of the window trim that's there (the greige color around the off-white on the windows), if we want. All the trim on the back and sides of the house (facia, soffit, window brick mould) is already done in the off-white color, so going forward, we are committed to that color. I understand what you are saying about the vertical trim, but I sort of feel like some vertical contrast helps keep the house from feeling so heavy and weighed down since the the house is so roof heavy. At least from the front view. Would eliminating the inside corner, vertical trim, help some?

    My husband would kill me if I suggested painting the downspouts! They were installed when we had the first side of siding installed, so they are newer. He is all about "maintenance free" hence the steel siding choice. We chose the color because they match the off-white trim color and the downspouts are all pretty much over a trim piece/corner, so it made sense.

    We do need a new door. Do you have a style suggestion?

    Do you think the top middle gable has enough room for a faux gable vent, with those small windows right below it?

    The porch is weird. We agree. It had a white rotting fence around it when we moved in. We sort of just ignore it for now. I'm not sure much can be done about it at this point without significant work/expense.

  • 2 years ago

    This area seems very busy to me. It’s distracting.


  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Littlebug any thoughts on how to tone it down?!

  • 2 years ago

    Well, you could paint it all the same color. Gable, trim, and siding all the same.

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