Architecture/house colors

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Expert: - 4/1/2010


Question

Color of home
Good morning Nazim. First thank you for taking time to help me. I'm in process of painting my home. I picked a dark charcoal color with white trim. My windows are white. I'm trying to get the colors to flow together. I chose a storm gray for around the front windows and the breeze way, which there is brick around bottom of breeze way which I'm thinking of painting the white color. I just feel the storm gray has a blue tint and I don't like it. I did look at the color card of the charcoal gray that I had piced and there is a gray about 3 shades lighter then the charcoal gray and thinking of this color. The garage door is white as well with storm gray trim wood. I just need some help to make these colors flow. Do you recommend another color for the wood. I will also be putting up stutters in front widows to the right of photo. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Maybe i need another color I'm not seeing. Also the front door will be a dard red.  Thanks again for your professional advise.

Cindy

Answer
Hi Cindy,

It's difficult to tell how the house looks from the photo, but I think you are right that the grey shutters aren't quite right. Grey can be a difficult color because it can tend to go toward blue or purple quite easily, and it's easily affected by surrounding colors, which can make the actual color once painted on the house look different.  I would probably experiment with different colors a little bit.  It could be that the shutters should be the same accent color as the door (like a really dark red).  Right now they look like 'primer grey' which looks a little unfinished.  I think if you get the right color for the shutters you could possibly use the same on the wood.  

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
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    Questioner's Rating
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    CommentThanks for getting back to me. I think the red on the shutters and wood would be two much. I need to find that perfect gray or maybe just go with white and accent with some decorations. Thanks again. A dark house is hard to match with accent colors. I was recommed by someone to take my house paint and have it mixed with 50% to 30% color, and I would have a gray match. Thanks again. Cindy Garcia


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Nazim Nice

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.

Experience

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.

Organizations
National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB, Seattle Architects | Motionspace Architecture + Design. More information at our blog the (un)common house. Lumen ID Custom Engraved Switch Plates with Labels.

Education/Credentials
BArch from Carnegie Mellon University & Andrew Carnegie Scholar

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