Should main house and guest house siding colors match?

8 years ago

Our house is sided with Hardieplank Light Mist with white trim. We are having a small guest house built about 20' from the main house. I'm struggling to decide which color to use to side the new structure. Should I use the Light Mist to match the current structure or could I venture into either White or Iron Gray with white trim? How important is continuity as the structures will be located so close to one another?

I should add that we will also be adding a detached garage on the other side of the house within the next year and I would like it's siding to match the guest house.

Usually fairly decisive in my decorating decisions but struggling with this one! Thanks so much for any input.

Featured Answer

PRO

Carolyn Albert-Kincl, ASID

8 years ago

While a main house and a guest house are frequently painted the same colors, it's not written in stone that they must be!

You could consider reversing the colors with the siding color of the main house on the trim of the guest house and the trim color of the main house as the main color on the guest house. Or you could vary the intensity of the colors used on one house, making them lighter or darker on the other.

Another possibility would be the same color on both houses with totally different door colors.

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Comments (6)

Curt D'Onofrio
8 years ago
You said you are adding garage on other side of house. What exactly does 'other side' mean ? on the side of house or in back ? Will garage be seen by drive by's ?
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PRO
Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
8 years ago
I totally agree with Carolyn Albert-Kinci's opinion......I like the idea of a different color for the guest house and the garage but with something that connects the buildings........reversed colors, same trim, etc.
lscbydesign
Original Author
8 years ago
The photo here is actually the back of the house facing the river (about 100 ft away) The guest house will be to the left of this view (south west corner) and the garage will eventually sit off the east north-east corner of the house. You will drive directly to the garage down a 1/4 mile drive, while you won't be able to see the guest house till you get within a few hundred feet of the house.
All of the doors I. The house are glass panels so no painted doors to match colors.
I really like the idea of the darker gray but we live on a tidal in the southeast and just wondering if it would be too heavy and I should stick to a more traditional white outbuilding look.
lincolnlover
8 years ago
it doesn't have to i guess but it would look a lot better if it does!
PRO
Lampert Dias Architects, Inc.
8 years ago
The traditional white would look great with the grey trim of the big house........by reversing the colors there is a discreet connection to the buildings..............