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sabrina_aguirre79

New home but I hate the mint color

2 years ago

My Husband and I just purchased a house in Bakersfield, CA. My husband really liked the house because of the pool in the backyard and the inside doesn't really need to many upgrades but the front of house is a horrible mint green color and has a bunch of different tress blocking the front!! Help!!! I'm open to anything. I was trying to stay in the Grey colors and maybe even ledger stone instead if the ugly rocks. I think I also want those big trees removed. Oh and the AC unit!!! How can I hide that???

Comments (14)

  • 2 years ago

    My sister told me the exact same thing. Lol

    Maybe I'll keep the big one and get rid of all the rest.

  • 2 years ago

    Since so little of your roof is showing you could probably paint your house whatever color you like but lighter colors will lower your cooling bills. I like earth tones to help houses blend in but maybe you don't.


    If you really hate those particular trees you can remove them but will probably want to replace them with something you do like. Using a photo editing tool to draw trees and shrubs in various places on your photo can be helpful in deciding placement.


    Hiding your AC and vents(?) will not be cheap or easy. A parapet wall around the house would work but its a big project. A ventless HVAC would get it off the roof but you would have to mount cassettes in rooms in your house. Congratulations on your new house!

  • 2 years ago
    last modified: 2 years ago

    Before deciding to remove the trees, I would have them trimmed & see what your thoughts are about them then. i agree with you regarding the house color, something in a lighter, but leaning more towards earth tones ( or lighter gray ) would be my choice. one thing that jumped out at me are the overgrown shrubs & Bird of Paradise ( ?, I can’t tell from photo ), on the left. I would remove the ones against the house & have the Bird ( if that’s what it is, severely cut back. I’m not a fan of the stones either, I think low, smooth plastered planters would more appropriate with the style of your house.

    BTW, a drought tolerant landscape needed in your climate. I would enlist the help of a landscape designer to draw up a plan, can be implemented in stages, not necessarily all at once. Even some of your local plant centers ( not HD, etc .) might have some on staff.

  • 2 years ago

    A gray-green would be nice, would not read as "minty" - but still have benefit of easily covering the mint. It is said that mature trees can add tens of thousands of $$$ worth of value to a house and the placement of these is OK- taller plantings to the side so as to kind of "frame" theh house. In fact another shade tree or tall ornamental shrub would be good on the other side.. The scrubby plantings right next to the house can go.

  • 2 years ago

    Oh Wow! Thank you for all your advice. I love your ideas. Yes earth tones are what I'm leaning towards and I didn't even think of putting planters. The backyard has those rocks by the pool and different little areas In the patio too. I'll have my brother (he is a contractor) just trim all the tress so I can have a better picture of what I really want. I think the AC unit is going to be my biggest problem. I'll have to really look into it and see what my options are.

  • 2 years ago

    People on Houzz often focus on what you see in a picture. Sure, the right side of your house is hard to see. But does the view of strangers from the curb matter? Particularly compared to your comfort and cooling bills? I might live with the house for a year or more and then decide about the trees.


    Personally, I kind of like the green.

  • 2 years ago

    I would keep the big tree on the right side (looking at your picture) and take down the plants on the left or anything close to the house. Trim up the large tree and that should open up the house view. Is your house facing east? I can understand your wanting to paint it, as the sun just washes out the mint green.

  • 2 years ago

    Since the house itself doesn’t have much curb appeal, let the landscape be the standout feature. You’re well on your way to a real beauty. Here’s a nice gray/green color from Benjamin Moore.



  • 2 years ago

    What I see is a large blank expanse of wall on the right side. A change of color wouldn't be enough. A large trellis would add interest.


    Asian flavor.

  • 2 years ago

    @ffpalms …. That’s a really nice color !

  • 2 years ago

    Yes I was just telling my brother that I wants something like that dan1888!! These are some ideas I had in mind.

  • 2 years ago

    I wouldn't have my brother trim trees - that isn't his area of knowledge.

    Non-arborists have a tendency to just make cuts without knowing what would be best for the tree, or improve its beauty going forward.

    Agree that you need to make the landscaping the star.

  • 2 years ago

    Raee-gw zone 5b-6a Ohio

    I'm sorry that your brother doesn't trim trees. I really don't need to know what your brother is capable of knowing or doing, it isn't any of my business. But yes I agree with making the landscaping the standout feature and I will me leaving the big tree but removing all the other plants and bushes.