Expert: Nazim Nice - 8/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello.  I have a 2 story brick home with Old St. Louis bricks and white vinyl clad windows on the outside.  Currently, my trim is white with accent on the doors being a dark (almost black) green.   My question is:  can I paint the trim a color other than white if my windows are the white vinyl clad and cannot be painted?  Also, I have stucco only around the entrance of the front door which is now a grayish green color with white columns.  Any suggestions for the color of the trim, stucco, and columns would be appreciated.  I should mention that I do have copper gutters in some places.

Thank you,
Cindy

ANSWER: Hi Cindy,

There's an article on our website that you may find useful about choosing exterior colors and materials:

http://www.motion-space.com/exterior-house-colors.htm

Regarding your questions, I would tend to keep the white trim if the vinyl windows are white.  This usually looks better than changing the color since it makes the windows look more integrated, and less like replacement windows.

It's difficult to advise you on actual color selections without seeing a photo of the house.  Something to consider is painting the entire front door area darker (including the stucco), maybe with the door staying the dark black/green so it becomes an accent.  Ask yourself questions like: do the columns have to stay white?  What would they look like a different color?  Would that make any sense, as an accent?  Or maybe the columns should stay white to tie into the window trim?  Again, it's difficult to advise without seeing a photo. Feel free to post again with a photo if you want.

Good luck!

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
--
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again.  I am attaching a photo as you requested and I thank you for your time and expertise.

Cindy

Answer
Hi Cindy,

Are the copper gutters on the right part of the house in the photo?  To me this area looks a lot better because there isn't the bright white fascia showing (or it's hidden by the gutter).  I would look at introducing a new trim color for the fascia's on the rest of the house rather than white.  I would tie this into the colors used at the entry stucco and columns.  The colors you have now at the entry don't look too bad but could stand being a little darker. You might consider using these on the fascia (like the column color on the fascia's).  If the color doesn't look right with the roof, tweak the color to work with the roof.  Then tweak the stucco color.  It doesn't look like the stucco color is the same as the dormer wall color.  Having the same color on these two elements would help tie things together.

Hope this helps.  Good luck again!

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
--
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Visit Seattle Architects website at: http://www.motion-space.com

Read our blog at: http://seattlearchitects.blogspot.com/
See our completed projects at: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects-projects.htm
Looking for an architect?: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects.htm
What are the typical services of a design firm?: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architecture-firm.htm
Frequently asked questions of architects: http://www.motion-space.com/frequently-asked-architect-questions.htm
Sustainable and green design resources: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects-green-design.htm
Choosing exterior colors and materials: http://www.motion-space.com/exterior-house-colors.htm
Read about remodeling your basement: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-basement-remodel.htm
Need to add more space? Consider a second story addition: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-second-story-additions.htm
Information on common residential projects: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-residential-architects.htm
Adding a home addition?: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-home-addition.htm
Build a roof deck right: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-roof-deck.htm
Information on garage additions: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-garage-addition.htm
Remodeling your bathroom: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-bathroom-remodel.htm
Laundry and mudroom design: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-laundry-mudroom-design.htm
Remodeling your entire house: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-whole-house-remodel.htm

Check out our newest product - Custom Engraved switchplates: http://store.lumenid.com
See our gallery of products: http://store.lumenid.com/product-gallery.html
Send in your own switchplates: http://store.lumenid.com/mail-in.html
Uses for our custom engraved switchplates: http://store.lumenid.com/product-wheretouse.html