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Architecture/Exterior paint color of a house on heavely wooded lot

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Expert: - 10/5/2010


Question

170 years old post off
Hello, Hazim Nice,

Thank you so much for taking questions from a stranger.

We recently remolded (more like rebuilt) a 170 years old historical post office.  The house is set back from busy street of a one acre heavily shaded lot in the rural.  I am having difficulties picking colors.  The colors you see in the picture came with the primed smart wood siding. My husband and I both are ok with this color(close to Herringbone), but I do not know how to accent it with white window trims.  

Another color, Wicker, seems to work well with Cameo white and stones on other houses in my present neighborhood, but it doesn't look quite right on this project house either.  And I am also concerned that it would be too dark on the east and north sides of the house.   

I sensed that there is great potential in improving the present situation, but feeling dry in creativity.  

Any suggestions,  either on the colors or the design would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jo

ps, the front door will be on the south side where the gaping hole is, and the street is on the west side of the house.  I wish I can upload more pictures, esp the east side of the house.  

Answer
Hi Jo,

Looks like an exciting project!

It's hard to say what direction to go with in terms of the color. It depends on what you want and to some degree what's appropriate for your area and other materials you are choosing.  With white windows I typically don't suggest going too dark with the the siding paint color, but a medium tone body color would be fine.  If you want to do something out of the ordinary, get away from beige.  I could see a sage green possibly working well here, and still tying into the rural nature of the site.

If you are leaving the siding the Herribone color, then you really only have the trim color and door color to use as accents. I typically would paint the trim color the same color as the windows or similar color. But the door could be an accent color, and could be quite a bit darker than the house color. Or it could even be stained wood, which could tie into a decking material that you might use for the porch (a stained wood deck, for example, or if you are using a synthetic decking product, choose one to coordinate with the door).

Hope this is helpful. Feel free to post a follow up question with another image if you want.

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
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Expertise

I am a Seattle Architect and can answer architecture and design related questions. Ask me about material suggestions or usage. Ask me about design options - what is good design and what is bad. Ask me about choosing exterior house colors and furniture layout options. Ask me about detailing and assembling houses or components in the home. Ask me about green design or materials. Ask me about choosing an architect, the architectural services, basement remodels, second story additions, and whole house remodels. Ask me about garage design, bathroom remodels, laundry and mudroom design, family room additions, and roof deck additions.

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Over 12 years of practice in the Architectural field including three years of internship plus 5 years of school. I have taught at the Knowlton School of Architecture at the Ohio State University and lectured at Carnegie Mellon University. I currently own and run the Seattle Architecture Firm, Motionspace Architecture + Design PLLC.

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