Software
Houzz Logo Print
sheila

help me choose a color

4 months ago
last modified: 4 months ago

Here is my house in NE Florida (Jacksonville) . It faces east, the neighbor on the left is beige stucco, and on the right, medium terra cotta brick. The roof can read either black or dark brown, and the window frames are vinyl, so they will need to remain white. The current color is (my best guess) SW Studio Taupe, and my HOA seems to approve most light colors except blues. I am looking for a change from the current color, and thinking of painting the lighter colored moldings to match the body of the house, in order to simplify the look. I would appreciate any and all suggestions for body and door color!


Comments (31)

  • 4 months ago

    Please try uploading your pictures again. If you can't get them into the original post, upload into a comment field.

    Sheila Rowan thanked kandrewspa
  • 4 months ago

    Sorry, I can't seem to upload the pix; I will ask Houzz for tech help.

  • PRO
    4 months ago

    Here are some local model homes





    Sheila Rowan thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • PRO
    4 months ago

    Instantly thought white so a yes from me for white but not a turquoise door IMO thta will look cheap in fact if a more modern look I wouls get new enrty doors to amtch the window above and done in black wit no grids in fact I would remove all the grids if possible

  • 4 months ago

    Thanks, Patricia Colwell, I like the idea of the darkest color that would still read as white. I doubt the HOA would let me remove the window grids, but I'll ask anyway. I'm a little hesitant about the black door though - what would you think of Messel green (I think it's just a little lighter than what is there now), or perhaps navy blue?

  • PRO
    4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    IMO you have to be careful with a colored door they can make the house look cheap Are you going to do anew door and are the doors there like a storm door ? They are for sure not in any way modern. I cannot tell you how much I hate HOAs and the US seems to have them everywhere . I have never owned a house in Canada where there was one and I never will

  • 4 months ago

    There is no storm door. This is the old door, and I am happy with it but it needs refinishing because there are several coats of paint and it has bubbled up in a few places. Any refinishing and color advice would be welcome. As for HOAs, I don't like them either, but I am on the architectural review board of mine, so maybe I can destroy it from within! :-)


  • 4 months ago

    I'd do a warm cream. A turquoise door, of the right shade will not look cheap.

    Homearama 2014 · More Info


    The Farmhouse · More Info


  • 4 months ago

    Thanks Sigrid; it looks like both your photos show a gray house with white trim. Do you think I should consider gray in addition to warm cream?

  • 4 months ago

    Your home and landscape look very nicely done. Maybe focus on the house color and wait on the door so you can consider best colors. I think a soft cream or a white are good considerations since you mention the neighboring colors are beige and terracotta. I like this sample below shared by @BeverlyFLADeziner because it shows all the embellishments are painted the same white, so gives a good idea what yours could look like.



    Sheila Rowan thanked jackowskib
  • 4 months ago

    Here's one of the articles on Houzz about white exterior colors:

    https://www.houzz.com/magazine/10-wonderful-white-paint-colors-for-home-exteriors-stsetivw-vs~157690698


    There are more articles on the topic if you want to branch out from that one. Search on "white exteriors in Stories."


    I think in FL a turquoise front door wouldn't be too unusual, but I don't think it fits with the style of your house as well as some other choices. Black would be striking with a white exterior. You have to consider what works with your walkway as well. Charcoal if black is too severe for your taste. I'm not feeling navy or green too much, but if it appeals to you, you could always sample it on a large board to see how it looks after you have the exterior painted.

  • 4 months ago

    Thank you, kandrewspa. I worry about black and white because that combination is so overdone right now, at least where I live, and I'm afraid it will look dated in just a few years. Maybe I should be thinking about wood tones, since I have a lot of Danish teak inside the house. (I know, Danish doesn't fit with the style of my house either, but it's what appeals to me.) I could always indulge my love for bright color contrasts in the landscaping instead of with paint...

  • 4 months ago

    When selecting an exterior paint color, the exposure of the sun will greatly lighten the color of the paint. If you select a white - you don't want to use a white paint that is too bright - it will be super bright white on the exterior of your house.


    A lot of people have used white in order to update a Mediterranean style home:









    Sheila Rowan thanked dani_m08
  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    Thanks for all the great ideas, everyone! Yesterday I painted a sample board of SW Aesthetic White and tried it in various spots around the house, and to my surprise, it looks pale green (I have a lot of palms and shrubbery around the house). So I'm wondering how to counteract this - should I look for another white that has a slight pink undertone? Or just go with a new choice of pale green?

  • PRO
  • 4 months ago

    Thanks, Home Interiors, I like the shoji white because it's a little warmer than aesthetic white, might help with the green reflections. I will get a sample and try it this afternoon.

  • 4 months ago

    I agree with Patricia, a creamy white but no turqoise door. I know it's Florida, but your house is too big and nice for that.

    Sheila Rowan thanked lisase
  • PRO
    4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    I would go with off-white for body and white for trim.



    Sheila Rowan thanked Celery. Visualization, Rendering images
  • PRO
    4 months ago

    I like the bit of contrast between the trim and the body of the house.

    Sheila Rowan thanked Norwood Architects
  • 4 months ago

    Well , the consensus seems to be creamy white for the body and no to the turquoise door. Many of the beautiful pictures have brown doors, so I think I will paint the door deep brown for now and start looking for a wooden door with a matching garage door. Do people have suggestions for a brown color to go with SW Shoji White, and also for a wooden door with sidelights and a coordinating garage door ? (keeping in mind that I'd like the house to look more modern and simple) . Thanks in advance, you folks have such great taste!

  • PRO
  • 4 months ago

    Thanks Home Interiors, I think this will look great if the HOA lets me remove the window grids.

  • 4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    Good news: the HOA will approve my removing the window grids. Bad news: the grids can't be removed without replacing the whole window, to the tune of several thousand dollars for all 5 windows. I'm guessing I should redo the windows before I paint, so right now I think I will just repaint the front door, either brown or Messel green. The pic below is much more ornate than my house, but still I think it shows how a Messel green (BM Southfield Green) door would look with SW Shoji White siding. Yea or nay?


  • PRO
    4 months ago
    last modified: 4 months ago

    Hmm southfield green would be very bright? these are my 2 suggestions..more of a soft green slightly grey undertone..SW Softened Green and SW Clary Sage


    Sheila Rowan thanked Home Interiors With Ease
  • 4 months ago

    I have ordered new windows without the grids! The frames are an Andersen composite (which is paintable if I change my mind) and I'm thinking off-white. But other possible choices are white (to match the windows in the rest of the house) or dark brown. Do people think off-white would be the best choice if I'm going to paint the house SW Shoji White?

  • PRO
    4 months ago

    Do you have samples of the white and off white?

    Sheila Rowan thanked Home Interiors With Ease
  • 4 months ago



  • PRO
    4 months ago

    With the Shoji white you don't want a yellow white for your windows....

    Sheila Rowan thanked Home Interiors With Ease
  • 4 months ago


    Thanks Home Interiors, it looks as though the Andersen off-white is more yellow than SW Shoji White, but I will get actual samples to be sure. Now I'm thinking that white would be a better choice. But does anyone prefer brown?

  • PRO
    4 months ago

    White is best..no brown..white is classic and blend well with your lighter color.

    Sheila Rowan thanked Home Interiors With Ease