Wednesday, April 11, 2012

exterior color decisions...



I am so excited to FINALLY be embarking on the exterior projects of our home. It is all about to change and all I can say is THANK GOODNESS! I think I have told you about a million times, I really only bought this house because it is right next door to my sister. I don't love the layout, I don't love the style, and I don't love having neighbors. But sometimes a girl gets sentimental and finds the crazy amount of fun she would have living right next door to her sis outweighs floor plan and style. {sigh...}

So back to the ugliness of my house. It is a one story ranch style, painted brick house from 1958. Luckily it is quite large, and has a high enough roofline we are going to finish the upstairs in a couple years. Not exactly the epitome of farmgirl style, that goes without saying. So, I have to inject a little cottage, a little charm and make it my own! (I will show you photos later...once it is done...because I am hoping it is going to be one heck of a change!)

We are getting a new roof, gutters, soffits, garage door, paint color and landscaping. Whew! I just realized how much work that really is once I started typing. What am I getting myself into again?? Today I am struggling with color. My roofer kinda needs an answer...like today...but I am almost 100% positive I will make him wait a few more days. I can't decide...


I am crazy in love with this color scheme...the brown roof, the light shade of gray paint and the touches of stone. This is a wood shingled roof, so I would have to try to achieve this feel with asphalt shingles. Possible? I think I can come close...Owen's Corning has a gorgeous architectural shingle called "Driftwood"...totally not a 1970s brown, but a nice shade with many tones to it. (my sis next door just put it on her house, too!)





But then there is the pull of a slightly darker gray with the brown roof.


and of course...the gray/stone/charcoal roof option is calling me, too...


As much as I am loving the gray paint/brown roof combo, I do love the simplicity and clean look of a light tan paint color with a brown roof...


but I have been seeing tan with a charcoal roof quite a bit lately, too..




which would look really nice with a charcoal shutter...

(all photos can be found on my Pinterest board 'exterior design')

Do you see my dilemma here? So many beautiful choices!! Of course, all these houses have a much different style than my own...but I can see elements in each photo  I can incorporate. Hmmm...

Which color combo do you like best??