Thank you so much, wow, you're very generous. Its much appreciated and we will make it up to you one day, promise.

This is one choice; the other I left on the kitchen table so will send it tomorrow, sorry.

Behr Elephant Skin for the house
BM Dove White for the trim
Behr Beluga for the accents

(of course the colors on the computer screen look nothing like the paint chips)

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-Ultra-1-Gal-PPU18-16-Elephant-Skin-Satin-Enamel-Interior-Paint-775401/204107372

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/oc-17

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BEHR-Premium-Plus-Ultra-8-oz-770F-7-Beluga-Interior-Exterior-Paint-Sample-770F-7U/202182555


Thanks again very very much

btw do you remember the colours you used for the bungalow and for the farmhouse? very nice and very sharp.

Here is a mock-up of the above colors...and you're right - colors can vary pretty widely on screen. You'll get the general idea, though.

I've seen the elephant skin swatch in person, and I seem to remember a nice warm gray, much like I'm seeing on my screen. I think it would look nice on your place (although, I think you could go darker to contrast more with your roof).

As for the bungalow and the farmhouse...

I don't remember the paint colors for the bungalow. This is the one we had to repaint after the color fiasco (see photo). These colors looked pretty tame on the printed swatches and on the small swatches we painted on the house. It was supposed to be a seafoam blue with ivory trim... Once we got it on the house, it was pretty clear we need to repaint. So we drove over to a house that we always had admired, held up a few paint chips to it and had it repainted the next day.

We have not repainted the farmhouse yet, so I don't know what the color in the above photo is. We will be repainting in the next week or two, though, and it should look pretty close to the mock-up below. It's Behr's "Restless Sea" and a nice ivory.

Wow! Thanks! that does look very nice, it is a nice soft gray, does look different in the mockup than in my imagination so it was worth doing it. I like it but I think you may be right, a darker color might stand out a bit better.

Here are two other considerations - WHEN YOU HAVE TIME. Really sorry to hassle you but its very very helpful.

These are right from the Benjamin Moore exterior expressions color guide -

steep cliff gray/ moonshine / snow white
2122-20/OC-56/2122-70


dry sage/coastal fog/ white dove
2142-40/976/OC-17

Once again thank you for your help and please don't put yourself too out.


wow that bungalow was a fiasco!!!! that is what is so tricky with these swatches, on the paint chip they look great and even painted on part of the wall - but when the entire house is painted it looks completely different! That's why we're so grateful for how you are helping us.

Sorry for the delay too, we have a sick little girl so its been juggling babysitters and doctors appointment, its all working out ok though and she should be better soon. BTW - triplets????? (judging from the three cribs) I am surprised you have even 5 minutes of free time.....

Hi. Rethinking everything. This is the new plan - make a mockup of what you think looks good, taking into consideration the roof, size of the house, shape etc - give us one nice combo and were going for it. (I like darker, she likes elephant skin)
Thanks so much once again..

I mocked up a few at home the other night. I did what you asked for, and then rearranged them to contrast with the lighter roof. Haven't had time to post them yet. I will try to get them posted tonight...maybe.

Oh wow thank you so much. You are the best. No problem, when you have time. We are at the point of being sick of looking/thinking/ trying and just want to be done with it.
Thank you again very much and we need to find a way to thank you one day.
Beautiful Indian summer weather here, hope it's nice by you too
Matt

here are a few options...
The order for each goes:
body // windows // trim


1. steep cliff // moonshine // snow white
2. steep cliff // beluga // moonshine
3. dry sage // beluga // white dove
4. beluga // dry sage // white dove

...and...

5. beluga // steep cliff // white dove

I've used your colors on all of these, but have flipped them around. I tend to like deeper, more vibrant colors, but that's just me. You should go with what you like.

I really think the windows are most defined on version 3 (and the sage is a nice break from all that gray). You get the most contrast with your roof with 4 and 5. With version 1, I miss the definition on the windows, and number 2 looks just a little 80s country, if you look at it cross-eyed.

Here are a couple more from my brain...

1. graphite // rustique // white cloud
- a nice deep gray with rich, orangish-rust red accents and a soft ivory

2. great barrington green // beluga // white cloud
- a medium sage color with a dark cool gray and a soft ivory

3. huntington green // universal black // white cloud
- not for the faint of heart - a fresh, bold statement
- a celery green with glossy true black and a soft ivory

By the way, these are all Benjamin Moore paints (I took the chips from their website).

...3...

Here's a great place to go for color inspiration on older-style homes, if you ever get the chance... Liberty on the Lake in Stillwater, MN. A lot of these color combinations would feel right at home there.

http://farmgirlpaints.blogspot.com/2009/07/liberty-on-lake.html

THANK YOU! Thank you so very much, these mock-ups look great, thank you for taking the time do do them, and do so many variations. They all look great. I really really like the graphite with rust, it looks so cool; and I like the Barrington Green very much, thats pretty much what we wanted when we started this process. Um, the Celery - well you're right its way out there!!! Stands out for sure, I think every neighbor in a 5 block radius would drop by to see it ;-)

The Stillwater Lake homes are beautiful, I like the green house with cream trim - but seeing that pic against ours makes me realise the reason we're having so much trouble is because the inspiration pics or houses all have a lot more contrasting trim than our cottage - ours doesn't break up the solid wall of color the way the homes we like best do. So I guess its time to decide on a color that both of us like and looks good on our cottage.

We can't thank you enough for how much you helped us. We understand how busy your schedule is and that you have many projects on now. We're grateful that you made time for us, and helped us, in the middle of all that. Thank you Good Samaritan. We'd like to send you a nice bottle of bourbon (or what you enjoy); or maybe a gift card to your favourite shop? Let us know because you've put in so much time and effort for us and its really above and beyond what anyone could ask.

Thank you.

ourfarmhouse...how can I contact you?? I have a couple questions. Thanks

ausoutback,

Sorry for the late reply. I was out of town for a bit and work has been extra busy.

Thanks for the kind words. I think Barrington Green is a good choice. Thank you for the kind offer, but really, no payment is necessary. It is just fun to be able to help out. Please post pictures when you're done.

Elaine, you can private message me on one of my idea books. Sorry for the delayed response.

Not sure how to do that...it asks for an email address

@ourfarmhouse - I just added a design dilemma and I have seen your amazing work! I would love your input. How do I reach you?