You are here:

Architecture/Exterior Paint Question

Advertisement

Expert: - 6/13/2010


Question

1930's house
Hi,

I'm moving into a 1930's home that is white painted brick.  The door is white, the roof is grey, the porch is light grey, and there are no shutters.  I'm about to get the entire house painted, and I want to leave the field color white.  Is that white too harsh?  Should I go for a softer white?  What about the trim and the porch?  Should I leave the trim white and the porch grey or change it up?  I'm lost!  

I've attached a picture of the house.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Phebe

Answer
Hi Phebe,

The white is kind of classic, but I think you could move away from that and be fine. There is a house on our website that was painted white, but we completely changed up the paint scheme (still relatively soft colors'). Here is a link:
http://www.motion-space.com/projects/kent-outdoor-kitchen.html

There is a 'before' photo a few photos in that shows what the house used to look like. Basically we made the body color darker, but instead of keeping the trim light, we made it darker than the house color. This made it different than the typical white trimmed darker siding kind of look.  I think this might work for your house too.

Good luck!

Nazim Nice
Principal / Architect
http://www.motion-space.com
--
LEARN ABOUT MOTIONSPACE ARCHITECTURE + DESIGN:
Motionspace Architecture + Design Websites: http://www.motion-space.com
Read our blog at: http://www.motion-space.com/blog/
Learn more about us: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects-information.htm
Architecture and design services: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architecture-firm.htm
Levels of services: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architecture-firm-service.html
Frequently asked architect questions: http://www.motion-space.com/frequently-asked-architect-questions.htm
Contact us: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects-contact.htm
A list of all our completed projects:http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architecture-projects.html

PROJECT GALLERY
See our completed projects at: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects-projects.htm
Lake Washington Waterfront House: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-lake-washington-waterfront-house.ht...
The New American Farmhouse: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/apex-new-american-farmhouse.html
Rim Rock Ranch: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/bend-oregon-new-green-home.html
Green Lake House Remodel: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-green-lake-whole-house-remodel.html
Capitol Hill Condo Remodel: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-capitol-hill-condo-remodel.html
Seattle Capitol Hill Craftsman: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-craftsman-whole-house-remodel.html
Seattle Mid-Century Modern Remodel: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-midcentury-modern-remodel.html
Northwest Modern Remodel: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-brick-home-remodel.html
Mercer Island Remodel: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/mercer-island-ranch-remodel.html
Seattle Capitol Hill Craftsman: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-craftsman-remodel-addition.html
Kent Outdoor Kitchen: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/kent-outdoor-kitchen.html
Selbourne Lane Town homes: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/kent-new-townhomes.html
New Front Porch: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-new-front-porch.html
Seattle New Home: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/seattle-new-home.html
Bellevue Home Addition: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/bellevue-remodel-addition.html
Bellevue Landscape Design: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/bellevue-landscape-design.html
New Swimming Pool: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/apex-new-swimming-pool.html
New Front Entry: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/kent-new-front-entry.html
Planet Kids Daycare: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/new-daycare-bellevue-planet-kids.html
HPS: http://www.motion-space.com/projects/healthcare-payment-specialist.html

LEARN MORE
Looking for an architect?: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects.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
Information on Seattle Home additions: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-home-addition.htm
Adding a roof deck: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-roof-deck.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
Consider adding a second story addition: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-second-story-additions.htm
Sustainable and green design resources: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-architects-green-design.htm
Information on garage additions: http://www.motion-space.com/seattle-garage-addition.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

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

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.