I really had to look at the colors closely but once I did I discovered that there were three reasons that the colors on this home’s exterior worked so well.

I began by figuring out the undertone of the stained siding  The shutters appeared to be a very muted tint of yellow-orange and harmonized rather than competed with the siding color but I wanted to be sure both colors were in the same color family.

I keep an NCS color deck in my car specifically for the purpose of generically determining paint colors.  I can then use their standard and match to any paint brand’s color.  Luckily, I was driving so I had it with me.  My iphone color apps are helpful but in this case I really wanted to see the color standard next to the actual surface.  I’m only sorry I didn’t think to take a picture so you could see it for yourself but it brings me to the first reason this color scheme works.

1.  The color of the stained siding and the color of the shutters have the same undertone

The NCS standard confirmed that both the exterior siding stain and window shutter color had basically the same undertones.  In the case of the siding the color is a visual blending of the stain along with some for the original color showing through so rather than guess which color stain would achieve the same results I check with the folks at Olympic Paint & Stain.

From the pictures and information I provided they said that staining the siding Off White would produce this look and that Classic Cream was their match for the shutter color.  Of course it is so difficult to show the actual colors on the screen but you can download the color chart or stop by Lowes or your local Olympic retailer to see the actual colors.

I also noted that the copper roofs over the doors, the downspouts and gutters picked up on the color of the siding that is peaking through the stain.

2.  The white color chosen for the trim has the same undertone as the siding and shutters.

The trim is quite white but when you look closely that it leans ever so slightly warm rather than cool.

The black wrought iron details punctuate the facade and keep the scheme from seeming too plain.  Sometimes all it takes is a small, repetitive, contrasting detail to keep your eye moving across the surface of the home and in this case that is exactly what the hardware is doing.

3.  The front door color is a color that complements the siding and shutters

The color on the front door is a muted blue-green and while it is hard to tell in the photo because of the screen door it is in a slightly darker value that allows it to stand out and beautifully complement the shutters and siding.

I didn’t notice it at the time as I’m looking at the pictures I was thinking how the door color reminds me of the bluish-green of copper patina so even if the homeowners allow the copper details to age they will bring out the color in the front door even more.

~Are the colors on your home exterior this sensational? If not, I’d love to help. Simply click here to contact me for more information and pricing for a personal color consultation for your home’s exterior.

Five reasons I think the color scheme and attention to details make this adorable Victorian stand out.

1.  The homeowners had the confidence to use a bold color for the home’s exterior.

While a color this strong might be disastrous on some homes it is exactly what this home needed to keep it from getting weighted down or lost under the roof.

The bright gold was the right color choice for the main home exterior paint color.  A dull or muted gold would have ‘aged’ this home in the same way using the wrong foundation color ages a woman.

2.  They chose the right white for the trim color

With a gold that is clear and clean rather than grayed or toned down painting the trim white rather than off white was the best choice.  It looks crisp against the gold.

3.  They created a welcoming entrance.

The purple doors are perfect in both style and color.  Purple and gold are complementary colors, which is one of the reasons that the purple stands out against the gold and creates a focal point on the home’s front and side facades.

The purple is repeated in the flowers in the hanging arrangements that flank the front door.  Thriving plants at the entrance of the home not only add color and texture but tells the world that the home is alive and being cared for.

4.  They clearly defined the entrances

Since this property is on the corner you not only see the front door but also the side door.  You can see how the homeowner has chosen a planter and trellis to the left of the door rather than repeating the hanging arrangements used at the front door.  This helps to define the two entrances and keeps people from being confused about where the main entrance to the home is.

5.  They respected historic color schemes but weren’t dictated by them

Although many Victorian home in New England today are painted all white during the era that these homes were being build bold color schemes that were inspired by nature were the norm for a home’s exterior.  While many homeowners enjoy researching their home’s history and duplicating the original colors I prefer to look at the past as inspiration and choose colors befitting the home today.  I believe that is the same approach these homeowners took when choosing their color palette.

This scheme is build from the complementary color combination of gold and purple along with neutral gray.  The red-orange may seem like an unlikely color choice for the accent color but I think if you were to try other hues with the gold and purple you would find that this is one of the most appealing choices.

The right green could have also worked but because of the amount of green surrounding the home it would not have stood out as nicely.

Are the colors on your home exterior this sensational?  If not, I’d love to help.  Simply click here to contact me for more information and pricing for a personal color consultation for your home’s exterior.

Finally a solution!  While I was walking down Commercial St. in Provincetown, MA I noticed that several homeowners and at least one business owner have replaced the gravel or broken shells typically used for driveways or walking paths with broken dinnerware.

I just had to ask but no one seemed to know how or when this got started.  Now everything from the chipped dinnerware of local restaurants to ceramic sinks from home renovations is brought to a corner of a local parking lot where someone gets to work off steam by breaking them into small pieces.

While I don’t have a gravel driveway there are a few places in my garden where I could replace stones or gravel with colorful broken pottery.   With even just one dish I could mix the pieces in with the gravel that covers the soil in my herb pots to add some flecks of color.

If you happen to be in Provincetown you can see how this looks for yourself.  The small parking lot at Angel Foods on Commercial St. is where I took these pictures.

While I’ll never be happy about breaking one of my beloved colored plates or bowls I do like the idea that they can take on a new life by being recycled right in my own backyard.

The vines are well established and upon closer inspection I could see the original once painted green shutters beneath the ivy.

Each plant was placed with the end design in mind so the vines head straight upward to each shutter.  I’m not sure how you would make this work for a two story home but on this single story home I think it is just absolutely brilliant.

The homeowners wisely chose a soft olive green to paint the front door.  The color works perfectly with the natural green hues in the ivy without competing or drawing too much attention.  If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that comment flies in the face of what I ordinarily recommend because I like the front door to be the focal point of the facade.  In this case however I’m giving these homeowners a green thumbs up for their color choice.

Do you love the way this home looks as much as I do?

Don’t you think it looks just perfect with the wreath and basket of petunias?

Purple is a delightful color for a front door but one that many people never consider.  I don’t know why when it looks this good.  Possibly because purple was not a color that was used traditionally for home exteriors it doesn’t come to mind.

Left to right: Valspar 1002-3A Pensive Plum, Pratt and Lambert 1079 Tulip Purple, Benjamin Moore 1399 Seduction

As you can see here it works well with a brick exterior and is also beautiful with any neutral gray, gray green, beige, tan or even white.  Purple sets off a yellow exterior and will draw attention to the front door.

Above are three paint colors that I have recommended in the past but you could go darker.  A very deep purple can almost look black but adds more interest.

Something changing the color of your front door is all you need to refresh your home’s appearance.  Why not consider adding a pleasing purple to your palette?

There is just something that is just so classic about this long-time favorite of mine but even my grandpa changed his look now and then. In his case it wasn’t always as success as these updated Adirondack chairs but that was part of his charm.

This Adirondack chair was just one of many items Julie included in ‘Color craving: Bright green’ on our Live In Full Color blog.

She describes the color as “Greens that are not too sage-y, not to dark… but in shades that can best be described as existing somewhere between preppy and edgy and are as refreshing as a tall, cool glass of minted sweet- tea.”

What a perfect place to relax with a good book and tall glass of that minty ice tea.

Like father, like son is what I thought when I saw these two. Don’t they look like their having one of those chats?

In a more rustic setting the wood on these is left natural but I think this red would make the seating area standout rather than blend into the setting and be so much nicer.

Adirondack chairs designed while listening to Jimmy Buffet music (or at least that’s what I imagined when I saw them).

I think these would be perfect whether soaking up the sun or watching it set over the water. I want one in every color for the beach house.

Note to self: Buy a beach house.

Credits: White from Amazon.com, Green from Smith and Hawkin, Red and Multi-brights from Uwharrie

You will want to select an exterior color that is different but works with the other homes in the neighborhood. You can pick a color that blends in or one that stands out but not one that clashes with neighboring homes.

Walk around your neighborhood and make note of homes that you find appealing. What is it about the color or color combination that appeals to you? Do you find that you are drawn to the homes that have contrasting shutters and front door or do you prefer a scheme of closely related colors?

If you aren’t sure use a digital camera or cell phone camera to snap pictures of the homes you like. I bet when you few the homes as a group you will begin to see similarities that you may not have noticed as you looked at them individually.

Taking pictures is also a good way to have an instant reference library as you begin planning how you will apply colors to your own home.

You will be able to find your perfect exterior color scheme more easily if before you even start thinking about specific colors you figure out the types of schemes that you find most appealing.

Resources:

Photo of green and yellow home from Jennie over at Active Rain real estate network

1. Color! You can wildly spin your color wheel on the interior, but not on the exterior.
2. Consider the neighborhood’s palette; do you need to comply?
3. Most paint companies have excellent palettes to choose from.
4. To be safe! Paint areas with test quarts on your home; view it at different times of the day.
5. The direction of the sun’s exposure impacts the color. UV light hits the Southern exposure the most; causing the most damage.

Paint will give you the biggest bang for the buck; it protects your largest investment.

You see, replacing stone or brick is expensive. However, using these fixed features as your color inspiration, or seeing them as part of your overall color scheme, can help narrow down your color choices.

For example, if the majority of your house is shingle and/or clapboard and the entry area is brick, start by identifying the color cast of the brick element. If the brick is essentially red, but has a golden yellow or beige cast to it, find a close color match to that golden yellow or beige for the house body. Voila! You’ve got your house color. The brick or stone element that you felt stood out like a sore thumb now fades into the overall house color.

Next, think about using a complementary color for trim. If your brick is essentially red and the grout is gray think about looking directly across the color wheel to red’s complement green then draw on the gray tone from the grout and choose a gray/green for the trim around the windows and doors. Using this dual approach (using a color similar to the grout, while complementing the brick) makes the brick appear less dominant and overpowering.

Offset your house body and trim colors with an interesting and “weighty” color for the entry doors, shutters and garage doors. Once again, this serves a dual purpose. It “grounds” the house while drawing attention to these elements as accents. To really make your house stand out from your neighbors, use a high-shine finish on these accent elements. This will highlight the details.

I hope that with inspiration from these design ideas, you too will create an eye-catching look for your homes exterior.

Sherwin-Williams is the first place I turn when looking for historic colors because they have already done all the research into historically appropriate colors. Other manufacturers have historic or preservation palettes which are also very helpful.

Classical / Colonial historic color schemes from Sherwin-Williams

My favorite exterior colors are from the California Paints Historic line. They include incredibly rich greens and blues as well as interesting neutrals in shades of tobacco and caramel. I like all of their reds. The paint colors were developed along with the Society of Preservation for National Antiquities.

Stephen J. Albro House, Newport, RI painted with California Paint Historic Colors

Those of you who don’t live in a historic home can still enjoy using historic colors in pleasing combinations. When I select exterior colors for my clients, I almost always start with the historic paint palettes whether the house is historic or not.

When selected appropriately, they can reliably add elegance to any homes exterior. Most all dwellings can be improved with an eye-catching historic exterior paint scheme.

For more information:

California Paints Historic Colors of America…

Sherwin-Williams Historic Colors…