What colour would you paint this house?

8 years ago

Having toyed with the idea of cladding and new windows and discounted it for the moment due to cost we are having the house painted as a temporary measure and then putting on a new porch. The windows are white upvc and so we can't paint them (or not easily anyway). I can't decide whether to paint the house white (in which case will it look too white with the white windows?) or whether to go for a very pale grey which would mean the windows contrast. If we go for the grey we might keep the shutters and paint these white (although my initial thoughts were to remove them).

What do people think would look best? I'm having to decide asap since we are also having the patio replaced and the colour of the house will also dictate the patio colour.

Featured Answer

PRO

AG Interiors

8 years ago

I'd go pale grey walls for house, white shutters , and then a darker grey stone for the patio and some really dark grey planters - very smart .....

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Comments (152)

Baboushi
8 years ago
good luck!
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
The prep alone is apparently going to take 2 days. I'm desperate for some paint to go up!
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Great, now we've discovered that the soffit is asbestos....
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Julie Horobin
8 years ago
grey cladding and a pale pink or lilac with grey around the windows
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viv mcc
8 years ago
I would choose green a soft green with the white windows and doors, looks nice, we have enough grey days,
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Rain rain go away. Progress halted as the heavens open...
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Blimey, ok, new house colour is certainly misdescribed as Old "White". It bears no resemblance to white whatsoever

This is the front of the house in Old White. As you can see its an odd colour. In some lights green, in some grey and in some beige. I think its actually french grey but its amazing how different it looks now that a large area is painted.

Not entirely sure that I like it....

As you can see from the bottom photo, there is a mark where the shutters have been up. It looks like someone has painted around them rather than taking them off and there is now a build up of paint. As such I think the shutters will need to go back on.
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Thoughts on framing the windows in wood (about 4inches wide) and painting the frames white?
PRO
Jo Brown Design
8 years ago
Stick with white
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TwoHearts
8 years ago
Grey will look really nice. I understand that there a 50 shades available! ;-)
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shelleyuk thanked TwoHearts
shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Bit late for that Jo. The photos show the painted house.
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
This picture taken from inside the house shows the greyness
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PRO
OnePlan
8 years ago
Hi Shelley - it's not quite as grey as I was expecting ?! Seems more beige from afar ? Think the 4" extra white trim will help define the colour a bit more - and if you paint the shutters white ( or maybe even a darker grey ) too that should help - think this is a warm grey rather than a cool one - and I was expecting a cooler grey !
shelleyuk thanked OnePlan
shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes its definitely warm....

I think the 4inch trim/shutters etc might help. We should maybe live with it for a while. The only issue is that it might affect the colour of the patio. We were waiting for the walls to be done so that we could decide on the patio stone. If we might change the colour then that could mean the wrong patio stone choice. Aargh!
PRO
OnePlan
8 years ago
It's a Proper rubik's cube !! ;-)
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shelleyuk thanked OnePlan
minnie101
8 years ago
Hi Shelley. I think you'll feel differently once the shutters are up and/or windows framed. It's a large House and its like having an enormous wall with little to break it up. Perhaps stick to the same colour family (slipper satin, lime white, off white) or try a green. Will be interesting to see the colour as dark falls :)
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shelleyuk thanked minnie101
shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Hmm. As dark falls it just looks brown.....

I'm thinking of switching it tomorrow to shaded white before it annoys me too much. It would be 900 to switch it and as much as I don't want to chuck away that money, neither do I want to feel depressed at making the wrong choice. I agree it will look better with the shutters up/windows framed but its still brown.

Views on shaded white. Its still hopefully dark enough that it doesn't just look white, and still warm but not nearly as brown??
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minnie101
8 years ago
Have a look a this re shaded white if you haven't seen it already.

http://moderncountrystyle.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/farrow-and-ball-shaded-white-colour.html
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Sounds like it might do the same thing as the old white and colour change as the light changes. I know most paints do that but these colours seem more prone to it than usual.

Im also starting to mistrust my eyes. Is shaded white a light grey or does it also have beige tones. On my outside wall it is much paler and more grey than the old white.
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minnie101
8 years ago
That's what I thought. I've just seen your other post. My mum has borrowed my colour chart ATM and there are some colours I'm not as familiar with and they look so different online!
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Now shortlisted to bone white (see top of thread) but it reads quite blue, shaded white which looks nicely muted (but 'm worried what it will do over a large area given that it is clearly related to Old White) and Ammonite.

Ammonite seems to have less blue in it but might just look dirty white...

I hate making decisions like this.

I actually want the colour that surrounds the houzz screen when you type a post. A nice muted light grey.
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mrsmcee74
8 years ago
Does this help? Painted these for a friend, top to bottom: shaded white, lime white, old white, string. Bone White - is that Fired Earth? Or did you mean Bone by Farrow & Ball? That will look quite greenish but Bone White by Fired Earth is very nice warm grey. I've got a gazillion testers and been looking for a good grey. From what you've said sounds like Cornforth White would be the way to go.
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mrsmcee74
8 years ago
Top right colour is Ammonite, colour on left is Dulux Dusted Moss 2, colour on right is Cornforth White. Hope that's helpful?
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mrsmcee74
8 years ago
Actually the Ammonite is a very nice pale grey.
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shelleyuk thanked mrsmcee74
shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
I think the ammonite is the winner. Our kitchen is bone white by fired earth and it doesn't look blue at all but on the exterior walls it has a definitely blue tinge to it.

I like the dusted moss but don't have a tester for that and the decision needs to be made now (well strictly the day before yesterday...)
Vicki Osb
8 years ago
Grey or a very light duck egg blue, almost white. The white shutters, windows and door will contrast.

Do not go too dark.
Get a black car in the driveway
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Update - now painted Cornforth White (this just shows the first coat on). It has a definite purple undertone but I think it looks grey...

This shows how misleading photos can be since I don't see the purple undertone in the photo but its very clearly there in real life.
mrsmcee74
8 years ago
Just goes to show how light affects colour so differently, that sample of Cornforth I've painted in my living room has a brown undertone. Are you happier with this? I think it looks great! X
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
It's much closer to what I had in my head. I have a feeling it might go very purple as the sun sets on it but I can live with that. Now I need to decide how to break up the big expanses of render. The joiner said he can frame out the windows if I want but he has never seen it done. Painter has suggested some white trellis panels.

And the key question of course is shutters on or off?
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mrsmcee74
8 years ago
I always associate those chunky window frames with Georgian style Windows but it could work. Have you thought about window boxes? You could maybe put the shutters back on the four large windows on the two outer sections of the house, and add window boxes on all the windows of the central section?
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mrsmcee74
8 years ago
A bit of extra architectural detail might work but just not sure with your windows, just struggling to envisage it, think you might need to have another go with photoshop!
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Ah well that will be easy! My photoshop skills are so fantastic....
mrsmcee74
8 years ago
Haha! Have you ever looked on here for inspiration? Amazing transformations when you see the before pics. http://www.backtofrontexteriordesign.com/projects/finished-projects/
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
They're amazing aren't they. When I win the lottery I'm engaging them immediately.
shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Honestly you'd never believe I work with graphic designers. They'd be so embarrassed if they saw this effort.

anyway -

before framing and after framing (if you squint)
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Hmm, not sure what happened there
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C C
8 years ago
Couldn't you just paint a white frame around the windows like in a traditional Portuguese house?
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Im not sure that I've ever seen that done. Just painted on the wall?

The issue would be getting it straight I suspect because of the render (which isn't smooth)
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C C
8 years ago
sorry i can picture it on my head but can not find many pictures online yes it maybe tricky that the render is not smooth
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shelleyuk thanked C C
Emily_grace246
8 years ago
White or grey
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shelleyuk thanked Emily_grace246
shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Its grey already...
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Victoria
8 years ago
Some people don't read..
I prefer the Cornforth :-)
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shelleyuk thanked Victoria
shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
:-) xx

Second coat going on today and they're moving around the back where the grey will also be offset by the white of the pergola.
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minnie101
8 years ago
Are the windows to the left of the door butt against the wall? Will you also do the side windows? I think it will give you the look you want and will also work with the shutters. I agree with mrsmcee re shutters and window boxes. I'm just not sure on those windows mentioned. Could you get the joiner to knock up just one frame to test it?
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes, the house was badly extended in the 1980s and as a result the windows on the left are against the wall. Similarly the Windows on the left hand gable are not central. It makes the house even more of a challenge....
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shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
We would do all of the Windows if it worked.
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Nicky Fraser
8 years ago
What did you do in the end to finish off? We are about to paint a not that different look and I like white on white or at least very very pale grey so can see the purer white Windows. Then dark grey or black shutters...
shelleyuk
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Nicky, my apologies I have only just seen your message. We went for cornforth white Farrow and Ball (which it definitely not white). The shutters are not back open yet but some of them will need to go back on because the large expanses of grey look very grey. The bits next to the white look less austere. The new white garage door with windows has made a big difference.

I'd be careful with a very pale grey because if your windows are anything like mine you'll find that they are not actually that white after all....
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tezz4
7 years ago
White without a doubt. No shades of grey here. You need the windows to pop.
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shelleyuk
Original Author
7 years ago
We went with the grey *tezz4*. I'm glad we did because the windows are not very white at all and white would have made this even more apparent.
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What colour would you paint this house?

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