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eric35283

What color to paint VT ski chalet?

last year
last modified: last year

Help! looking to repaint my vermont ski chalet and struggling. it has a dark green metal roof. was thinking a sage green, charcoal shutters with cream window trim, but not sure. any suggestions? Ill eventually be staining the deck too. Thanks in advance.


Comments (14)

  • last year

    the colors you have suggested sound nice,

    but it's fun to think of less obvious options too.

    Do you plan to Stain the siding or Paint it?

    For a real change up, I would sample SW Virtual Taupe

    for the siding with SW Polished Mahagony

    for the shutters with your white windows.

    If you aren't going to replace any decking, to cover the highs and lows of age, I'd stain the deck and railing Ebony.


  • PRO
    last year

    NO PAINT ON THE WOOD unless you enjoy scraping wood once the paint begins to pop and peel. STAIN only on wood. Can be semi transparent like you have currently or opaque which will give off the appearance of paint.


    Once you wash the wood you'll likely discover a different color on the cottage.



    IMO just finishing staining the exterior and painting out those distracting white windows would go a long way to improving the appearance of the cottage.


    Here are traditional Swiss Ski Chalets and the color schemes used for them.





  • last year
    last modified: last year

    I thought of a color scheme, prompted it to AI and came up with these to visualize. Stain not paint.





    You might need a sold stain or solid sealer stain for the deck. Semi-transparent stain on the siding would give you a warm charcoal while still allowing some wood grain.

    Eric K thanked tracefloyd
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Thanks for the like, We also have a chalet with green/teal metal roof.

    Here is the warmer gray. Keep your current shutters as is with the pine cutouts.


    AI likes very large foundations lol.

    Eric K thanked tracefloyd
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Does the siding even need restaining? Use stain only for shakes, definitely not paint! Don't mix up colors unnecessarily. Keep the visual field simple in your natural setting.

    For a harmonious look, pair your green roof with green trim as @ tracyfloyd shows. A nice orange door would look inviting, especially in the Vermont fall. Make sure to stain your worn looking porch and balcony as well. They look pretty beat up. What are those white panels below the porch?Those should also be stained to match the shakes or green to match the trim. White trim isn't usually a good look with darker shakes.

    Rustic Exterior · More Info


    You've only supplied one photo. Please also post 1 photo from far away. 1 photo from the side showing the roof. People need to see your house in the entire setting.

    Eric K thanked housegal200
  • last year

    Thansk for all the feedback. a few more photos. based on this I will stain not paint. we will be doing the deck and balcony as well.


  • last year



  • last year

    So Cute!! The body color lookes much different in bright light. What do you not like about the colors presently? I agree that it looks like a classic ski chalet.

    Eric K thanked RNmomof2 zone 5
  • last year

    If you want to keep green on it, match the roof for the green, not a sage green, that will clash with the roof. I like the color thats now on the house, but, I do agree, once you power wash it, the color is very likely different than it looks now.

    Eric K thanked cat_ky
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Great chalet. Yes, go darker on siding stain and darker green than you have to blend in with your trees and natural setting and not compete with it. @Beverly's first photo mockup nails it! Match trim to roof. Paint the foundation same color as the new siding stain. Chalet will look bigger.

    Eric K thanked housegal200
  • last year

    If you're painting (I'm assuming you'll pick the right product for your house, so am not going to fuss over paint vs stain), I'd go with a warm brown that is slightly less red. I'd keep the green shutters, perhaps going toward sage, as you suggested. I'd paint the balcony and trim cream.

    Eric K thanked Sigrid
  • PRO
    last year

    Such good ideas already! I just want to say that I think your house is just charming!

    Eric K thanked Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
  • last year

    So have you decided? Any thoughts? It's so charming as is but I would change the red trim to gray to match the scalloped fascia.