As Summer Ends Happy House Is Happy: What I Learned About Exterior House Colors

/ Ally Bean

Happy House

INTRODUCTION

What’s the word, hummingbird?

In this post I shall explain why having a freshly painted house exterior is a VERY BIG DEAL for us. And how this very big deal is the culmination of a project that we started, by signing a contract, ONE YEAR AGO this month.

At that time WE ARRANGED to have:

  1. a new deck built [read about it HERE];
  2. repairs to replace rotten wood on the exterior [read about it HERE];  and then
  3. the house trim and shutters painted by professional painters.

This has happened now and we ARE PLEASED with the results because it looks good. Plus it is never a bad idea to maintain the building that shelters you from the nature’s wrath and other people.

That being said an offshoot of this project is that I learned multitudes about CHOOSING EXTERIOR HOUSE COLORS. So much so that I’ve written the following in which I explain a bit about THE PROCESS that I/we went through before arriving at the color choices I/we did.

Please note: at the bottom of this post is a list of sources that I found helpful. 

OUR COLOR CHOICES

• The whole issue of deciding which colors to use on the exterior trim and shutters was contingent upon coordinating with the brick and the roof. Makes sense, right? Those two variables weren’t going to change in our lifetimes.

• Then we had to decide how light or dark we wanted the trim to be. Deciding this required an understanding of Light Reflective Values [LRV], defined by myperfectcolor.com as “… the amount of visible light that is reflected off a paint color, or conversely it represents the percentage of visible light that is absorbed by the color…. represented as a percentage with pure black being 0% and pure white being 100%.”

In our part of the world it’s currently trendy to use darker, more moody, colors on houses. While we both agreed it is stylish now, we don’t think of those colors as being cheerful or timeless.

Also the popular darker colors contrast less with the brick which contributes to, what I’d describe as, a bland uniformity; in my worldview the beauty is in the contrast between the brick and trim. Hence we stayed with a similar LRV [60 before/59 now], deciding to fine tune the undertone of our neutral.

• Thus we changed the color of the trim on the house from a gray with a slightly pinkish taupe undertone [SW7029 Agreeable Gray] to a gray with a decidedly greenish-yellow undertone [SW7050 Useful Gray].

The new color looks like the mortar between the bricks– or at least it does on three sides of the house. The reality is that you have to accept that the light hits your house differently on different sides of the house, therefore not every side will look spectacular with the same color on it.

• The shutters remained a dark green color [SW6261 Jasper] that, quoting Sherwin-Williams, “resonates with quiet force.” And I ask you, who among us doesn’t want forceful shutters?

The new neutral trim with the almost black shutters, while subtle and maybe not even noticeable to a casual observer, is wondrous, creating a cohesive color scheme that has made a big difference in the curb appeal of this property.

• By leaning into these earthy neutral colors that coordinate beautifully with our upgraded retaining walls made from natural golden gray limestone, the house looks more in tune with nature, less like a relic from 1999.

Now when I come home I see a house that looks soothing and inviting, pulled together, calm, in harmony with its surroundings, like the happy house we want it to be.

SOURCES

There are about a gazillion and two websites &/or articles that talk about how to choose paint colors, exterior and interior. The following were helpful to me. I’m receiving no paid compensation for sharing these:

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

What has been a VERY BIG DEAL for you during this Summer [northern hemisphere] or Winter [southern hemisphere]?

What have you LEARNED multitudes about?

Any PROJECTS PLANNED for the Fall [northern hemisphere] or Spring [southern hemisphere]?

~ ~ 🏠 ~ ~

242 thoughts on “As Summer Ends Happy House Is Happy: What I Learned About Exterior House Colors”

  1. I’m glad you’re happy with the result. I will say that, if I had a house to paint, I might go through more of a process when deciding on the colors, but when I repainted my apartment, here’s what I did: I picked up some paint chips in colors that appealed to me, pondered them for a while, and then bought some gallons in the colors that made me happiest. Different process, same result.

    I do have to ask: what’s with all the capitalization? Maybe I’m not used to seeing such, since I don’t text or use social media; it could be a convention I’m not aware of, but it made it hard for me to read your post.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Linda, I know some people can immediately decide on which colors they like, but I don’t have that gift. I have to use a rational approach then run it through my gut to see if I like it.

      You found the capital letters difficult to read? I’m laughing here because I cannot win. It was suggested to me by a low-sighted person that by using them I could easily highlight concepts– and it’d make it easier for her to read my posts.

      Liked by 1 person

      • Has your other reader tried enlarging the page? The old Ctrl+ trick? I sometimes do that when I come across a blog that’s chosen exceedingly small text. It’s easy enough to enlarge the page and then reduce it with Ctrl-. Just a thought.

        Liked by 1 person

          • I only use italics for titles and such: never for emphasis. As for colored text, it’s fine for advertisements or banners, or if used consistently in a post. Sometimes I’ve seen dialogue using different colors for different speakers, and that was ok. Of course, I always appreciate links being highlighted by the use of a different color. I do that myself, although I picked a link color that doesn’t scream “Look at me!”

            Liked by 1 person

            • You have a set of specific guidelines for how you use text. I studied graphic design in college and used to abide by all the rules. I, too, like to see links highlighted. However for the rest of it I’m more freeform & casual about it at this point. This is a chatty blog, I’m chatting here. 😉

              Liked by 1 person

  2. Looks lovely (also based on Instagram photos). You really did lean into learning about all the light reflection. Kudos to you. When we repainted the exterior of ours, we kept the same colors–mainly because repainting the fence to match a new color was out of our budget. For indoors, I am a big fan of white or cream for the walls–that way I can change rugs and curtains seasonally. Our current giant project is just reconstruction after kitchen water damage. Hate it. So much work just to get back to the original!

    Liked by 1 person

    • AutumnAshbough, the last time we had the exterior painted we kept the previous color [Agreeable Gray] for the same reason you kept your same color. This time we went with something new and it is refreshing.

      I like white and cream on the walls inside, too. We don’t exactly have that going on now, but I like it and as we repaint the interior I see more SW6147 Panda White in our future.

      I can only imagine how messy and frustrating it is to deal with water damage as extensive as yours. My condolences.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I remember choosing among vinyl siding colours for my little house when we decided to go that route. It was a Big Deal; that was a Forever Decision! I’m still very happy with what we chose.

    We’ve (sadly) decided to go back to a grass back yard for our year-round home. We used to have all landscaping with natural stone paths and a small pond and waterfall. Unfortunately, due to an ever-widening canopy of the black walnut tree behind us, everything began dying because of black walnut toxicity. We got tired of all the researching and expensive trial-and-error of planting things back there, only to have them sicken and die. So the pond stays, and the dwarf Japanese maple stays, but the rest will be grass come spring.

    Liked by 1 person

    • nance, I don’t know if I could decide on a siding color, because as you said it’s a forever decision. Of course as far as I’m concerned this is the last time we’re having this house painted so this is our forever decision.

      I’ve never dealt with black walnut trees, so I’m interested in learning how awful they can be. I’m sorry you’ll have to redo your backyard, but I get it. We have a situation here where boxwood bushes are dying in droves in this subdivision, so next spring we’ll be rethinking our landscaping. An expensive opportunity, no doubt.

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    • Katie, we’ve slowly been changing the color palette inside the house away from builder beige so this exterior change was a continuation of that process. I like that green, too. We have it in a bedroom in a lighter shade on the paint chip strip called SW6212 Quietude.

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    • And I’m doubly impressed that you were able to create “a house that looks soothing and inviting, pulled together, calm, in harmony with its surroundings, like the happy house we want it to be.” If that was a Yelp review, I’d hire you on the spot!

      As an aside, it made me wonder how does one get the job of naming colors…

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      • Thanks, Endless Weekend. It took some learning but we did arrive a the perfect color. I don’t know who names colors, but sign me up. I’d love to do that.

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  8. Choosing exterior colors here is easy. Our HOA has a list of “approved” colors. We are in a triplex and all have to have the same color. Our triplex used to be a Williamsburg-ish blue but the occupants a few years back decided to get on the gray bandwagon. It coordinates ok with the brick but I’d prefer the blue (which also worked nicely with the brick). I also find it dark and moody. Not sure how it will go for the next painting. The middle resident lives in Florida so getting consensus may be tricky. Sincerely wish we could trade out the wood siding for vinyl that would last for 20 years. Unfortunately, for some reason, that’s not an option.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Kate, I know that some HOAs have approved colors, but that’s not the situation here. I get your problem. And being in a triplex would definitely complicate the decision-making process. I like Williamsburg blues so I’d be like you in preferring it. Darker grays are the rage here, too. Pretty, but in the winter so gloomy.

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Exterior color is a hard choice, everyone gets to enjoy it, or not. Our house is stucco and the color is light for my liking and painting it is not an option. The sun is too strong and I am not going to paint it every 5 years. My neighbor had stucco applied to his house and the color is bone white. OMG it is blinding simply not a good color choice in my opinion. I like how you thought it through, good color choices.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Danny, well said. I wouldn’t like seeing a blindingly white stucco house near me. I take your point, both about the color choice and about not painting every 5 years. We all live with certain things we’re not crazy about, don’t we?

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  10. Your colors sound great! Trying to have them compliment the brick is the trick😻
    Our house in Zanesville was in the historic district, so I picked historic colors, which looked very nice. At least I thought!
    We are having a huge pine tree cut down in our backyard next week. A big oak tree will also be trimmed back 50%.
    I’m planning on having a sun porch built onto our back porch.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Beth, you’re right. In the end it was all about making the brick look good and finding the undertone to make it happen. I liked your historic house and think you did a great job with the colors.

      I like your plan for having a sun porch. We like our screened-in porch. We’ve had trees removed around here. It’s a noisy and messy project but so worth it.

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  11. I love the names of paint colors and the descriptions that go with them! The siding trend here is also dark colors, even nearly black. I have to think of how faded that could get over the years. Maybe things have changed, and siding doesn’t fade these days? I don’t know. But useful gray sounds like the perfect color to me!

    Liked by 1 person

    • Michelle, I like the names of colors, too. It seem charming when you refer to your house colors by they full names.

      I don’t know if vinyl siding doesn’t fade now, but that’s an interesting thought. Maybe it doesn’t and that’s why all these darker trim colors are popping up? We don’t have vinyl siding, we have wood so every so often it has to be repainted. Color with a higher LRV last longer.

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  12. Cheers to you for persevering and coming to “color conclusions”. We’ve made SO many mistakes with interior paint choices over the years. Picking colors gives me the shivers. Love your deliberate approach…and as you said, it’s a mind-numbing journey. If the image you snipped into your post is reflective of the final outcome, I say well done! Looks great! Now wish us luck as we pick paint colors for our kitchen/family room. Oh…it’s a patchwork quilt of paint samples on the walls. Dizzying! Come on over and help me pick. 🤣🥰🤣

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  13. I agree with you about choosing colors that appeal to you personally rather than following trends. Those avocado green appliances sure wore out their welcome fast, huh?

    We have a ton of yard projects for this fall, starting with (CAREFULLY) getting rid of the poison ivy, clearing out overgrown garden beds, and erecting a fence to keep out the deer. I’m exhausted (and, not gonna lie, a little itchy) just thinking about it all.

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  14. When you live in an apartment, you have no say over exterior paint colours – one less thing to worry about. Currently mulling over repaint of lounge/diner and tempted to change colour but to what?

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  15. If that’s your house in the watercolor photo, it’s perfectly lovely. I can honestly say I’ve never put that much thought and research into paint colors, but judging from your results maybe I should in the future. Kudos.
    👍

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    • Rivergirl, I’ve made so many mistakes when choosing colors for our homes that I’m VERY cautious about them now. I like the colors to be cohesive and I’m unable to do that confidently without guidelines and help from professional sources.

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  16. The most important thing about your decisions is you are happy with the results. I studied colour theory years ago and worked with both colour created by pigment and colour created by light. For most people, choosing colours is a very emotional decision. One they don’t want to get wrong. It can be a real struggle for some. Glad you figured it out and are happy.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Jenn, picking colors is super emotional for me. I’m so aware of what doesn’t look right to my eye, yet hesitant to trust myself to pick what I think is right. I find myself between a rock and a hard place, but this time we figured it out. And like you said, we’re happy so it’s all good.

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  17. Looking back to the July photos with the views of the brick I think you made an excellent choice Ally Bean. Spruced up but very classic and appropriate for a woodland setting.

    No very big deals in sight here mostly because I have no say in matters. I would love new shades at my new windows but these work…sort of…sometimes… so pushing for new will probably only result in a rent increase especially after the stove died a while back and I still haven’t seen a rent jump from that purchase. New shades would likely push the landlords over the edge.

    I have learned multitudes about crows however and loved the info. Just finished reading Crow Planet by a local Audubon naturalist. It was fascinating.

    As to projects–hmmmm? I do have a large cross-stitch project that has been sitting in my craft bin for 3, maybe 4 years. Maybe I should finally start that?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Deb, yes you said it much better than I: Spruced up but very classic and appropriate for a woodland setting. That’s the goal exactly.

      I understand your reasoning about not pushing for the shades in light of the new stove. It would be nice to have some new shades of course, but at what cost [literally]?

      I don’t know much about crows, so you’re now my go-to person when I have a crow questions. I wonder if when you start your cross-stitch project if it’ll seem fun or tedious after all this time?

      Liked by 1 person

      • Yes, I will be the crow woman and refer to my trusty guide!

        I haven’t felt ready to even pick up that project until lately- just little niggling feelings that it’s finally time so I hope it will remain fun and keep me busy during these coming months. If not, back in the bin to sit for more years I guess!

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  19. This is going to be us soon as the east, and south sides of our home…especially the eaves take a beating from the sun and shows the wear from that sooner than the rest of the house.

    We have an HOA that have color restrictions so we’ll choose from a binder of colors and trims…also Sherwin Williams which is my favorite house paint so no worries there. I’m thinking now I’ll stick with the gray, and white we have now, but see if I can talk them into letting me have black shutters and door. The dark blue/gray we now isn’t too far off of black so….fingers crossed! The color choices are supposed to be in line with the natural desert landscape. I’ve always liked white house with black trim and shutters. It looks so classy to me with the right outdoor lights and such.

    We just had all the Day Lily’s removed and replaced with sod. I just can’t keep up with the weeds so sod makes more sense, and we discovered while doing that project we have a leak in the irrigation system. It’s taking a good deal longer than we imagined to find the leaky pipe. The 3 foot hole we have now may have to get a lot wider to find it. I hope they are able to fix it before we have the first freeze!

    I love that watercolor image you have at the top of the post btw.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Deborah, I understand about two sides of the house being difficult. We have the same sun damage situation. It’s annoying but all you can do is deal with it.

      I like the look of a white house with black shutters, too. For what it’s worth our painters told us that our vinyl shutters couldn’t be painted black. The paint wouldn’t stick for some reason. We could, however, us this very dark green [or a dark blue he said].

      We gave up on daylillies because the deer devoured them, not even leaving one flower. I hope you can get your irrigation fixed soon. That kind of problem drags on my nerves until it is fixed.

      I used the waterlogueapp on my phone to transform a photo into that top image. Thanks for noticing.

      Liked by 1 person

  20. Nice job on getting the colors the way you like them. My role in the process is to bring paint chips home to my wife. I do agree with the idea of ignoring trendy colors. You’ve covered a lot of ground this year. It looks like you’re ready for winter.

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  21. We need to get our house painted inside and out. But it’s a costly project and our priority was to shift to solar power and that finally happened a couple of days ago. The painting project is next, but perhaps it’ll be piecemeal.

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  22. I used to paint houses in the summers when I taught for over twenty years, and I have a lot of opinions on this topic. The time you spent choosing your colors may seem extreme to some, but I get it. We don’t paint our houses often, and who wants to come home to colors that don’t work? I can’t tell you how often I heard, “This doesn’t look like the color on the paint chip.” Most people don’t consider all the other factors that change our perceptions.

    One memorable job rises above the rest. The homeowners chose a hideous purple shade for the house’s main body with yellow trim. I knew it would look terrible together, but they wanted that. They purposely spent two weeks at their summer home while I was painting their home. I have to laugh remembering how many people stopped and stared passing by. I kept wanting to say, “This isn’t my house, and I didn’t choose the colors.”🤣

    The night the homeowners returned, the husband called me and said, “We realize we made a mistake. Can you return next week and repaint the house in less dramatic tones?” I did, and they were much happier with paint job #2.😊

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    • Pete, thanks for telling me this. I did feel a bit silly being so tentative about which colors to use, but I also admit I feel down a rabbit hole of information about color theory. I like research, maybe too much! In the end though we got the right undertone to coordinate with the mortar and brick.

      Your story of a purple house with yellow trim makes me smile. I cannot imagine how you managed to look at that much purple without going cross-eyed. OF COURSE it was going to look awful, I could tell you that without seeing it. Still good that you were hired to *fix* the mistake.

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      • Keep researching! Whenever I make a large purchase, such as a vehicle, I do vast amounts of research. If the vehicle was a lemon and I hadn’t invested the time, I’d beat myself up. Yet, if the same thing happened after I did the research, I’d view it as “just one of those things” and let it go.

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  23. That’s wonderful, Ally Bean! It’s such a great feeling to come home to an updated house. We just redid our basement, which was a mess due to raising 4 boys…I’m talking serious holes in the walls. Next up, a jump from a 1995 kitchen to something a little more modern!

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  24. I agree with your rationale on choosing the colors! I coordinated my roof with the body color since I didn’t intend to change it. I went through agonies picking a trim color; I knew I wanted white but not a blinding one and not the cream that I had. I’m happy with my choice. Like you, when I pull up to my house, I feel a sense of satisfaction and pride.

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    • Margaret, your last sentence is what it’s all about, but to get to that point takes some effort. Once you realize which exterior variables are a given, then it became easier to decided on the rest. I wouldn’t want harsh white either. Your house looks lovely, from the photos I’ve seen of it.

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  25. I think it is so important to choose colours that work for you, not what is trendy (unless those colours work for you, of course). I love the classic choices you have made.
    Did you paint that watercolour? It’s lovely!
    I had the big remodel last fall and am quite happy that it is no longer something I need to think about.
    My next major thing is changing the front door. I wanted to wait till next year an bought some weather-stripping to hold me off till then. It’s going to affect everything because it and the garage are a chocolate brown. Do I want to change the garage door, too? No, I do not. Much to ponder!

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  26. In Florida, our HOA provides a palette of exterior color choices. Ours is beige, and I’ll stick with that because it’s pleasing against the super green foliage.

    I hate picking interior paint colors though. Our daughter hired a professional color coordinator for herself, the color of pale sunshine. I liked the result and ordered the same color for our hallway, kitchen, and great room. It still looks great!

    Your home is beautiful , Ally, and I’m sure you are happy with the DONE deal–long before the holidays.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Marian, I bet your beige looks wonderful against your FL foliage. I’d like that look, too.

      I know you can hire professionals to pick your interior [and maybe exterior?] colors, but I’ve never done that. A co-worker did and loved the results.

      You see through me. Yes I’m pleased to have this yearlong project completed and am already thinking about how we’ll decorate out front for the holidays.

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  27. Oof. I am glad you got all that work done, but it sounds exhausting to be an expert on all exterior paint colors!

    I have become somewhat of an expert on tree removal because of a big storm that hit our town at the end of July. Do you need to call the diggers hotline or not? Do you need a permit or not? Do you have the stump grinded out or not?

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    • NGS, this was one of those low level exhausting project that dragged on because it had to. Am glad to put it behind us.

      I’m smiling. I like your in-depth knowledge of tree removal. Once upon a time we had huge tree fall on the house during a huge fall storm and I had to become an expert on getting rid of it… properly.

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  29. It’s great that you’re happy with your updating results. I agree; trendy isn’t what I would do either.

    A big deal for me this summer was/is my upcoming retirement, moving from the subarctic north, getting settled in my permanent home that M spent the better part of two years getting ready for us, and worrying about climate change (all those fires).

    There are a couple of things, not necessarily that I learned, but that I had confirmed; unattractive human nature stuff.

    Nothing planned except a retirement trip to a Caribbean beach in a favourite location. 🙂

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    • Lynette, we liked the trendy look but also didn’t want this house to look trendy then out-of-date in a few years. We’re here for the long haul, not trying to sell it soon.

      Yes, you are doing some very big things here and retirement will be soon. I can understand how your focus is on a smooth transition from one locale to another, from one lifestyle to another.

      Your retirement trip sounds lovely. I know you deserve it and will enjoy it. 🍹

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  31. Hmm . . . I am in awe of the amount of thought and energy that went into your paint choices. I’m so glad you got wonderful results. I’m not at all surprised. We replaced our wood siding with maintenance free stuff and had to lock into a color a few years ago. We like it, but it was nerve wracking – going from red brick/white siding to red brick/dark gray siding.

    We have been working on something all summer. It’s a big undertaking. I haven’t yet explained it on my blog, but I plan to soon.

    My big plans for the fall include hosting book club (eek, next week – time to pull my house together) and hosting tailgates for Mini and her friends. Both should be fun and lots of work.

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    • Ernie, I remember when you changed the exterior of your house. Like you said it was nerve wracking. And every house is so different that there’s no one perfect solution for all the houses.

      You sound like you’re up to something fascinating and I look forward to learning more about it when you’re ready to tell.

      A book club sounds like fun as does the tailgates, but you’re right they’ll be work-y events. Those things just don’t happen without effort.

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  32. Indecisive wonder that I am, I can spend way too much time making up my mind—heaven forbid I make a mistake. Kudos to you for your scientific approach. BTW, I got a huge giggle out of the conversation about capitalization, etc. I love the old adage, “You can’t please everybody all the time, so just do what makes you happy.” You can’t make a mistake going for happy! Is that a watercolor of your house? Gorgeous!

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    • Julia, I feel the same way about making mistakes– at least when it comes to a decision like having the exterior of the house painted. I had to map out my logic before I could commit to a color whose name I adore, Useful. What could be better?

      You said it about the capitalization conversation. I asked my husband who’d read what I wrote what he thought of the capitalization. He said, “what capitalization?” He didn’t notice at all, so go figure.

      The image at the top of the post is a photo run through an app on my phone that is called waterlogue. It makes photos look snazzy. Thanks for noticing.

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  33. Your house colors look great, Ally! All that research and analysis was worth it to have a house you will enjoy looking at for years to come. A very big deal for us this summer was taking an oil painting we inherited to a conservator for cleaning, restoring and framing. It was fascinating listening to her explain the process. We had no idea what would be involved. It’s going to take a month! Then her picture framer helped us pick out the perfect complimentary frame. I was so glad for the professional advice. It is a portrait of my husband’s great-grandaunt painted by her artist husband, about 1915. We didn’t want to make any mistakes and we learned a lot that afternoon!

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    • Barbara, I’m glad I did the research about color theory so that we felt confident in choosing these colors. It was quite a process.

      The restoration of your inherited oil painting sounds fascinating. I don’t know anyone who has ever had that done. It’s intriguing to think this artwork has been in your family for so long.

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  34. What you described as your color choices with given the red brick and gray mortar are wonderful with beautiful blend into nature! The forest dark green shutters are perfect!

    When I painted this old house, it was all boring depressing gray inside and out. I suffer from severe depression to the point of disability. This first change I made was to lift the color of the exterior with the golden color that is part of the beautiful Saltillo front porch and walk ways and back patio. It just made it all happy! I added a nature medium green paint to the doors and the dark green outdoor furniture. If only I had enough money to hire painters for the interior. Definitely needs painting on my interior.

    Today is my big Fall… Christmas in Fall! I order a TV and landline telephone from Amazon that were delivered yesterday and today. (My first Amazon purchases experience). And I unpackaged them and assembled them all by myself! Both were as easy as a can of peas! Now I’m waiting on my internet provider (a new one for me Astound Grande) to come any minute to get it all in real life installed.

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    • TD, your changes to the exterior of your house sound lovely, exactly what you and that house needed. We have some dark green outdoor furniture and I love seeing it year round. I’m sure yours is equally pretty. As for interior painting, for us that’ll be a while but like you eventually, eh?

      So you’ve found your way into the world of Amazon. I like how easy it is, I hate how easy it is. Your Christmas in September gifts are perfectly wonderful. Hoping the installation of your new internet provider is happening as I type. Enjoy your *holiday* 😉

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  35. When we were house hunting three years ago, the interior look was all gray with either black or white trim and big bold back splashes in kitchens and showers. According to our kids, that’s already out. In our neighborhood the outside is very easy. They have three or four colors that can be used and ours was newly painted “sage” when we bought it.

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  36. We had our house painted a few years back and I didn’t even try to figure out what color on my own. I asked the painter. My big project is cleaning out the garage and it is nasty work! But – I know I’ll feel better when it’s done.

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    • Jan, years ago we hired a painter who told us exactly what colors to use and he was spot on. HOWEVER now painters won’t say a word. I think they worry about having to repaint something that they chose and the owner didn’t like. We cleaned out the garage earlier this summer. It is messy work, I get that.

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  37. Your house looks nice – the picture looks like Monet impressionism. We got our exterior painted a few years ago after we converted the porch to a mudroom and added on the sunroom. We basically painted it the color it already was. Just reading about LRVs made me tired. Glad it’s all over.
    My big summer takeaway was: don’t drive a medium-sized car in the “old town/historic centers” of French cities (but this almost certainly applies to most countries in Europe). It will not end will, but even if it does, it will not go well before it ends.

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    • The Travel Architect, I agree that the souped up photo looks like a Monet painting. Ain’t modern life grand? The last time we had the exterior painted we went with the color we had, but this time we decided to do something, shall we say, more 2020s?

      Yep, I hear you about your travel experience. I’m in awe of anyone who’ll attempt to drive in those tight European spaces, but I’m sure you’re right that “it will not go well before it ends.” Bummer.

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    • Nicole, thanks! Deciding on these colors was a master class in color theory. Somehow I’m not surprised by your big deal of the summer. You’ve made a huge change. Good for you and wishing you well as your new life unfolds before you.

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  39. I love the vibe of your house Ally! It gives me good feelings sitting here hundreds of miles to the west of you. ..ah, the power of the Internet and the written word….you asked about a recent BIG DEAL? Well, I found and fixed the leak in the new addition we are building. Got rain overnight and the sub floor was dry as a bone when we got there this morning. (we haven’t insulated or hung drywall yet, so this was good that the leak was discovered now, before that phase..made me so happy, that I pulled some ribs out of the freezer and am having a celebratory meal because of it. Yea, I’m easily entertained…. Regarding projects planned..we’re still about 2 years out, but we’re hoping to build a new home here on the property, while I still have the physical abilities to do it. Creating a chart with certain dollar amounts ( ie $15,000 for the septic system, $30,000 for the concrete work, etc) Need to fine tune a few things so I can get firm estimates on the heating/ cooling system this winter… that’s in the pipeline @ our casa.

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    • DM, I’m glad and fortunate that this project that spanned a year is finally over and it’s been done to our satisfaction. I’m pleased that you have no leaks, which sounds like an odd thing to say, but I mean it. Of course you NEED some ribs to celebrate.

      You’re going to build your own home! Now that is a project and a half. I’m sure planning now will help you later but is also one of those things that requires constant adapting. I look forward to reading about your experiences as you build your [dream?] house.

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      • Thank you Ally! Yes, it is my dream house. Went to a seminar way back in about 1980 where some seed were planted (energy efficient house building concepts). that plus working as a carpenter now for 40 plus years, I have several details I’ve seen first hand I can’t wait to see come alive. regarding your project, couple of questions…would you use the guy again, if you needed work done? and secondly, was there anything in hindsight that you would do differently, if you had it to do all over again?

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        • Our painters were two brothers who were 66 and 70 y.o. so using them again is probably not an option. By the time we need to have this house painted again my guess is they’ll be retired.

          In hindsight, I’d change nothing. I did copious amounts of research about the colors, painting swatches on all sides of the house to make sure of our choices. I will say that around here finding exterior painters is difficult. They are few and are booked months in advance.

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  40. You already know more than you probably want to about my very big deal house projects this summer. I can add, however, that I have also been exploring all things exterior house colors, as we will need to paint the exterior of the house, maybe next year. I’ve been playing around with a color tool on the Benjamin Moore site. It’s been very helpful to get a rough idea of a general colors. (We are currently thinking a red or blue for the body of the house.)

    I have not had to match to brick in the past; that would be a new area for me. My general philsophy has been: A neutral, non-trendy color for the body of the house. Have fun with trim color, as that is cheaper/easier to change out.

    I’m glad you are so pleased with how your projects turned out. I agree that there is much value in having a pleasing exterior. I used to think that was a lesser priority (as it’s not as much about function) until we got our exterior looking quite nice. It is really nice to come home to an inviting house.

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    • Rita, your house projects have been fascinating to follow. Those kitchen cabinets are gorgeous, even if you think they’re too small. Well done.

      We’ve only lived in houses with brick so I am aware of how it influences color choices. This is the 5th exterior we’ve been responsible for and if nothing else I’ve learned how tricky [dodgy even] brick can be. Work with it, or live with regrets.

      Like you, I used to dismiss the value of having a beautiful exterior, instead focusing on the interior. But staying home during the pandemic and really seeing what this house looks like, changed my point of view. Curb appeal is important. Next up, we deal with the landscaping.

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      • We saw a lot of brick houses in Louisiana this summer, and I got to see the full range of choices that folks make with brick. Some I loved (I’m a big fan of brick houses), and others…not so much. I can see how it would be tricky. My neighbor just painted his house, and we think he did not consider the color of his roof when choosing. (He is not into house things at all, and it was a purely utilitarian/maintenance action on his part.) I’m so thankful to have a neutral, mid-gray roof. (His is orangey, which I think would be tough.)

        Wishing you luck with the landscaping. We have another neighbor who just filled their front yard with rocks. We were so hopeful when we saw a truck from a landscaping company, imagining the prettiness we were going to be able to look out our window to see. If we were going to pay the kind of money I’m sure they did, it wouldn’t be for a yard of rocks!

        Boy, I sound like the neighbor from hell, don’t I–looking out my window and judging everyone else? I feel like Gladys Kravitz. I swear, I’m not that neighbor! 🙂

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        • You make a good point about how the color of the roof influences, or should influence, your decision about a house’s exterior colors. We had our roof replace about 5 years ago and chose one like yours, a neutral, mid-gray with tiny dots of aqua and gold. I know I’d not like an orangey roof, but there are some houses around here with them– and they don’t look awful, just not my cuppa.

          There was a house in this subdivision that did the rocks everywhere landscaping look. It was odd– and came back to bite them in the butt. When they went to sell the house during a market when houses were selling in a few weeks, theirs stayed on the market for almost a year. No one wanted a bunch of rocks, until one young couple bought the place, and removed the rocks themselves. I admire that couple.

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          • Oof. Every time we walk past a house with a yard that is mostly huge, over-grown juniper shrubs (which happens more often than one might think), I often say, “Cute house but I’d never buy it because of that juniper. It would be so hard to get rid of.” So, yeah: I think about things like that–what would keep someone from buying our house when the time comes to sell it. I hope that couple got a reduced price on that house.

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            • They did. Also on the inside all the downstairs rooms had been painted primary colors, like red or purple or green. A friend tells me this new couple have painted the walls neutral and the change is astounding. It was all about seeing potential instead of problems. The young couple knew they could make it great.

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              • Rocks + primary colors on walls? No wonder it took a year to sell! I just love the power of paint. Such a relatively easy way to have a big impact on how a space looks and feels. (And now I must be off my computer and on to painting yet another set of kitchen cabinets–here in Portland, this time.)

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  41. I’ve wanted to repaint our house almost as soon as the original stucco was applied. It just didn’t come out the way I had envisioned. When hubby and I take our daily walks around the neighborhood, I always make note of colors I like. I know what you mean about the darker colors having their moment – and I do like them – but I also agree that they could easily look dated in the not-too-distant future.

    I’m glad you are happy with the way it turned out. I hope that, whenever we get brave enough to make the big change, we will be equally as pleased with the results.

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    • Janis, the color we had before, Agreeable Gray, wasn’t awful but I do understand how your stucco didn’t come out the way you envisioned it. Same with our experience.

      I like the darker colors on houses, but can’t help thinking this is a trend that is going to fade unevenly in the sunlight, then need to be painted more often than a lighter trim shade.

      If nothing else when you decide it’s time to update your exterior colors, there are infinite resources online that explain color theory in a way that I found understandable.

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    • Wynne, I knew from past experiences that picking colors for the exterior was a trial for us. Not that what we had before was awful, just not quite right. Now I know why it seemed off and we have a prettier [useful] neutral to look at. Once I did all this research I figured why not share it here?

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  43. Totally with you on earthy, neutral colors. Glad to hear it turned out as well as you’d hoped.

    This spring was too little rain. Now we get deluges in short time spans. Fall project is a few transplants and death to infernal rodents (sorry, but they are a bane here).
    What did I learn? A heck of a lot about Colorado history as I wrap up my current book project.

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    • Eilene, yes in the end these neutrals were the way to go. I’ll leave the trendy colors to people who like trends, bless their hearts. 😉

      Your weather has been really off. I want to transplant some perennials this fall too. And we are currently dealing with our infernal rodents aka moles, not being a fan of the destruction that comes with them.

      I bet you do know a lot about CO history now. Hoping your book comes together as smoothly as possible.

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  45. Congratulations on finishing all these projects! I think that deciding on an exterior color has got to be a pretty big deal. First, it’s quite expensive and second, chances are you’re going to live with it for a long time. I don’t want to seem either disparaging or, well, stupid, but Agreeable Gray and Useful Gray appear to be the exact same color, at least on my laptop. Perhaps I can make you smile as my brain insisted on reading them as Agreeable Gray and Disagreeable Gray. Whatever you call it, I’m glad you like it. I’m also glad you didn’t paint your brick. It seemed for a while that every home improvement show painted the brick first thing. Not my thing, I guess. I love the dark green shutters. I’d like to get my house done in a lightish sage green.

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    • Zazzy, deciding on these colors was important for the reasons you mention, especially living with it for a long time. I understand about how the two shades of gray look about the same on the computer screen. In real life, side by side in the sunlight, they are different. I do like the idea of Disagreeable Gray, though. Seems like Sherwin-Williams should have a color with that name. They could have a Cranky Collection with shades like Snarly Taupe and Unhappy Gold!

      A few people in this neighborhood have painted their brick. It looks okay but costs an arm and a leg to do, then there’s lots of upkeep. A light sage green house would be spectacular.

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  46. Our biggest project (I hope) is getting the siding replaced on our chimney. The old wooden siding was rotting, so we had it removed; the framing has been replaced and everything is dried in. Now it’s just a matter of the siding contractor actually putting us on his schedule.

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    • Linda, your project sounds familiar. We had to have rotten wood replaced before we could have the house painted. Fingers crossed the siding contractor comes through soon. Waiting for these projects can be the worst part.

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  47. Choosing colours for a house is so imperative as it costs a bucket load to change it. I really noticed the change in colour from one house side to the other when choosing darker shades for the exterior. So choosing a light colour seems to moderate this effect. We have a sunny country so that could also have an influence. I like the sounds of your new colour scheme. So fresh and light. On trend here too.
    What have I learned this winter? The importance of planning in structuring hope; the value of thinking time and down time (ie digital detox) and how life is continually becoming more complex. Computer technology, thought to take the pressure off us for long winded analysis, have instead created a highly complex world that often steals our time.
    Projects? Always – even though my house is relatively new, I have to keep the man on the house busy with something. I have a few things up my sleeve that he is working on.

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    • Amanda, you said it about the price of having a house painted, let alone maybe making a mistake and having to pay twice. We have weeks, sometimes months, of gray gloomy days here so the lighter trim color is an attempt to mitigate the drabness that is winter.

      You are SO RIGHT about “how life is continually becoming more complex” thanks to computer technology. I think the same thing– and often remember how when my parents retired they lived simple lives. But not us, baby! We have to deal with fussy machines that require constantly adapting to a new technology, almost daily, never letting us rest on our laurels.

      There are always a few projects around any house. In fact that’s one of the reasons why I like owning a home, something to do!

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      • Living in a house has many advantages to apartment life. As does living in an apartment, however as that involved other people, and corporate structures – unless it is freehold, you are more limited in an apartment compared to a house. At the moment, I agree. I love my house and we have done what we can to make it suitable for us for many years to come. But one never can guarantee what the future holds…

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  48. You did some very serious research. Your bricks make for a good, cheery starting place. Houses made from multiple materials look the best, I think. Absent any bricks, I had a very hard time choosing a color for my house. My research consisted of walking and driving around town to observe choices make by other people. In our area, people had been choosing boring, woodsy colors, as though the house should be camouflaged. Since I painted my house, some people have become more daring. I chose a blue house, which looks okay. If I had to do it again, I don’t know what I’d choose.

    This summer, my granddaughter got married. The wedding was fantastic and definitely a big deal. When my youngest daughter and her family visit from the opposite coast as they did in August, that’s always a big deal. It’s a good time to get together with all three daughters and their families.

    Fall projects? A little of this, a little of that. We’ll see.

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    • Nicki, I like blue houses. We have a couple in our neighborhood and they seem restful to me. We drove around town to see what was popular, too. I didn’t add that to my list, probably should have. Your description is apt and what we found as well: “people had been choosing boring, woodsy colors, as though the house should be camouflaged.”

      Your granddaughter’s wedding sounds like it was a perfectly fun. And to have your three girls + families together would be delightful, making for many memories. I can understand how it made for a great summer.

      Your fall plans are the same as mine. Nothing specific, just whatever needs to be done will be done in its own time.

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  49. Paint colors are serious decisions because we live with them for several years, and using a contractor is expensive. Congrats on feeling good about yours. 🙂 This summer amounted to surviving with an unfinished huge outdoor project, and I learned that contractors (some at least) do not live up to their timeline or their promises. This fall I’ve been consumed with the physical labor required to fix and finish this project ourselves because of shoddy results we were left with. We’re waiting for one contractor repair but have tackled everything else and things are coming along and looking good. 🙂

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    • Judy, I agree. I wanted these paint colors to be perfect so that we’d feel like our money was well spent. I also like to research so when I went down the rabbit hole of color theory I was in my own little world of happy.

      It sounds like you found yourself with a mess of an outdoor project. I’m sorry. I know that contractors vary but to be left with something shoddy is disturbing and defeating. However now you’re on the right track about getting your project back together? But the fact that you’re doing this work suggests things didn’t go well. Bummer.

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      • It’s always better to get a personal reference from someone who has used a particular contractor, but sometimes that’s not possible and you have to rely on reviews and conversations with the contractor. It all sounded good up front, and the project itself works as promised, but the final grading piece has been a real nightmare to try and fix. We’ve been able to fix a lot of it through long days of hard work, but there is one area that we’ll be dealing with forever. Bummer for sure.

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        • Yes, I understand your predicament. It’s the same for us, we prefer to talk with someone who had word done, but often have to go with our gut feelings about people and their ability to do projects.

          I can imagine about the grading project. You try so hard to get things done to your satisfaction but then there’s that one thing that is a never-ending nightmare. I’m sorry.

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  50. Congrats, Ally, on the completion of a home improvement project with results that make you happy. It’s a very big deal. I have a hard time choosing paint colours. Too many choices that lead to decision-making paralysis. Traveling to see family in the US has been a big and happy deal for me this year. I’ve noticed the difference between pre-pandemic and current quality of services provided by airlines and hotels, and rising costs where I visit. I hope to make a few more trips and don’t have any home improvement project planned for this Fall.

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    • Natalie, we’re pleased to have this exterior house project behind us. A year is a long time to fuss and fret about things like this, which is of course what I did.

      I know you’ve been traveling hither and yon. I bet you are a good source of information about the changes in travel pre-pandemic and now post-pandemic. From what I’ve heard travel is awful now, uncomfortable, and expensive. I’ll stay home in my freshly painted house, thank you very much. 😊

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  51. Wow, Ally Bean! I’m very impressed with how much work you put into this! And it sounds and looks like it was very well worth it — you’re very happy with the results and it looks great (based on that photo you posted). I love the colors and the names you picked. I did fall down the rabbit hole a bit on the SW site after reading this…so many great colors and I’m blown by how the little patch on top could look so completely different when shown in a room!

    We will have to paint soon, too. We are in a development that has HOA and there’s a list you can choose from. We have the red tile roof so my husband wants to play the Mediterranean style up and wants the white-white. I am not convinced a white-white would be the best but we will tackle that when we get closer to starting the project. We have so many other things we want to do in the house — remodeling our shower and my son’s bathroom, for starters. I would also like to work on the kitchen cabinets. But I’m only 3weeks away from retirement and I’m finding joy in being unproductive for now. I have been purging my closets and decluttering (I give myself 1-2hrs per day so it doesn’t get overwhelming).

    What has been a VERY BIG DEAL for you during this Summer? My retirement!! I’ve been REALLY looking forward to it for the last few years!

    What have you LEARNED multitudes about? Health insurance, Original Medicare vs Advantage Plans and how awful sometimes Original Medicare is much better than having an Advantage Plan. A good friend has been battling with this with her mom’s stroke and skilled-nursing facility stays. And my FIL’s significant-other has been fighting with her insurance and I got to listen to it all at our recent visit. Sigh…

    Any PROJECTS PLANNED for the Fall ? I guess I answered this up there already — decluttering/organizing! But it may continue on to winter and spring if I’m only going to tackle it 1-2hrs per day the way it is going! LOL

    Fun reading, as always, Ally Bean!

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    • M., once I began researching exterior colors I was hooked on the project. I didn’t start out to write a post about color theory but I figured I’d found some good resources why not share them here? I know exactly what you mean about that Sherwin-Williams website. I was mesmerized goofing around trying different colors on the pretend walls.

      I know that decluttering can be overwhelming. I’ve been doing that in small fits and starts for a few years now. Your approach seems wise to me.

      I don’t like learning about Health insurance, Original Medicare vs Advantage Plans. It seems like such a shell game plus I’m not big on games to begin with. I don’t envy you what you’ve been listening to, discovering.

      Congrats on your impending retirement. That’s a big deal. I wonder if once you’re not working you’ll be energized to take on the kitchen cabinets! 🤔

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    • Oh, I forgot to say that I kind of miss the brick houses. We had a very red brick house in TX. We were one of the last buyers in the development and there were not too many houses left by then. My husband loved it; I was more ambivalent about the color — but I loved the development with the brick houses!

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      • Brick houses do have a certain charm to them. Interesting that you miss them. Around here they’re prevalent and all have slightly different colors of brick so it doesn’t seem like “little boxes on the hillside” which is nice.

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  52. Quick response from me Ally Bean. Been walking the streets of Paris and Prague in these last days and have been struck by the exteriors of buildings. The colour, painting, the trim – today in Prague the use of a pale terracotta or a cream exterior from times long past, have been most pleasing to my eye.
    A big deal was watching my younger son’s concert here in Prague last night. It was EPIC. Mike, the elder son and I surprised him with our appearance!

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    • Susan, you are the one, wandering streets in fabulous cities! I’m honored that you had the notion to check in here and see what’s up in my little corner of the world. I like the idea of pale terracotta or cream exteriors that are reminiscent of times gone by. Not sure those colors would work in a midwest suburb, though!

      How fabulous that you got to surprise your son by seeing his concert in Prague. This seems like it might have been a magical night for you and his brother. Well done, Mom!

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  53. Good points about choosing house color!
    We had the Alberta house painted a few years ago and decided to keep the brick red with light tan trim because the grandchildren called me “Grandma in the Red House” to clarify which grandma they were talking about…
    This past spring we had the AZ house painted. Our HOA told us we had to choose from 24 approved colour combos for main color/trim. Their colours also tended to be darker, which didn’t make much sense in a hot climate. We chose a colour that worked best with the new roof tiles and the stone trim AND was on the lighter end of the palette. Then we did NOT get their approval, figuring it was easier to get forgiveness than permission…

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    • Margy, I’d keep your Alberta house like it was when you’re called such an endearing name, Grandma in the Red House. I see the logic + love in that decision, not to mention it sounds like it’s a pretty combo.

      I’m laughing about your approach to having your AZ house painted. I don’t know what it is with these darker exterior colors, especially when it is a hot climate. I think your lighter choices make sense and it’ll give the HOA something to fret over. 😉

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  54. It’s funny to think about this, but the times we’ve painted our houses (once when we lived in Santa Cruz, and once here on the north coast) we painted them light tan/beige color with red trim. Not sure why we choose that but we have both times. I found the paint can in the garage just now and saw that it was called “Lion Tan” and I remember I called it “Lyin’ Tan.” LOL!

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    • Robin, you obviously like what you like. I’ve never duplicated a color scheme on a different house, but I can understand why you did. If it works, it works. It’s Lion Tan, you say? Bet you get a *roar* out of it! 😊

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  55. Your post begs the question, “What if a house ISN’T happy?” I shudder to think of the ways an unhappy house could communicate its displeasure to its occupants. Your post also reminded me of good friends who repainted their house, but not before slapping at least two dozen shades of blue along their gutter line to choose from. One of those colors won out, but their gutter looked like a blue zebra for a long time. Finally, light really does play tricks. We painted our foyer, great room, kitchen, and dining room the same shade of light brown, but you’d swear each room had its own color thanks to natural light.

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    • Dave, I agree with you about how an unhappy house communicates its displeasure. We lived briefly in an unhappy house with bad vibes, which is why when we had this one built I insisted on calling it Happy House.

      I like the image of a blue zebra. We had test splotches of paint but no stripes in our quest to find the right color. Light plays tricks when it comes to colors, I have no difficulty understanding how the same color looks different in your different rooms.

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  56. Our last house in France was a mini chateau which had fallen on hard times…rendering peeling from the walls, damp penetrating, you name it. We took the rendering down, let the walls breathe and replaced it with a rendering which promised a sort of breathable membrane. To be fair, it worked, too! Then the question of colours. Unlike some French villages there was no colour restriction, nor was the chateau listed, which would have meant being under the jurisdiction of the official architects – an experience which we had had once and were determined not to repeat – so we were free to choose as we saw fit. Surrounded by woodland yet visible from the road we wanted light colours, and we wanted to make the square tower stand out from the rest of the building, so evetually plumped for dove grey for the main part of the house, a rose pink for the tower and white doors and windows to show the wrought iron balcony and window guards to advantage in matt black. It worked, making a rather lumpy structure look light, and, yes, it was a happy house!

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    • Helen DeVries, it sounds like you did a lot of work on your mini chateau, with good results. Not being under the domain of official architects and village color restrictions was a wise decision on your part. I like the color combo you selected for your property, I can visualize it in my mind. Matt black wrought iron is always a win in my estimation; I prefer it to bronze. I’m with you about making a house look light, which I find happy. Thanks for sharing your experiences here.

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  57. First, thank you for using SW paints, one of Cleveland’s few remaining giants of industry. We’ve done so much remodeling that I’m familiar with all those colors 🤣. Fortunately, the previous owners did new vinyl siding in a taupe color to go with the light colored brick, so I hope we never have to change it. No shutters here, but our previous home was classic white colonial with black shutters, so we kept it that way when we updated the exterior.

    We remodeled 3 bathrooms in the past 18months, so I’m over home improvement. I’m looking forward to focusing on travel over the next year, but plans can sure change on a dime, as I learned in July.

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    • Bijoux, I like S-W paints from way back, not because of the Ohio connection, but it helps. Once you have vinyl siding your color scheme is pretty much set. There’s a wisdom to having the stuff.

      We had two bathrooms remodeled plus these exterior projects in the last year and a half, too. I’m TIRED of making these expensive permanent decisions. Like you I look forward to traveling and just enjoying our house, but like you said. and experienced… plans change.

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  58. Choosing paint colors is such a chore, and so darn important. What did we do back in the day when there was no internet to help us? Just willy nilly go buy paints after looking at a tiny sample? yes, yes we did. 😳😜

    What have I learned this summer? That I want to spend my summers a bit more north, because it’s a bit more cooler. 😉

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    • Suz, I’ve a few stories of picking the wrong paint colors back in the day because like you said we had no help. Sink or swim, was how it went. I sank as much as I swam.

      Yes, I understand why you want to summer in northern areas. I couldn’t take the heat you get now. 😳

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  59. I like the names of the paints Ally – who thinks them up I wonder. My house is Colonial Blue siding and white trim, but I painted the front and back doors and used a gel paint mixed to match siding. That gel paint… never again. I had to sleep in the kitchen as it didn’t dry for three days … I did it over 4th of July weekend. You have had many renovations since I’ve followed you … the house is just the way you want it now. I have not done renovations in a while – something needs to be done in the backyard next Summer. Still wavering on all grass versus perimeter gardens like I had before and lost from a Polar Vortex, then the rest were burned in the fire last December. I’m leaning toward something easier.

    I have learned a lot in the last six days about groundhogs. I was horrified to find a huge hole/burrow at the back of the house at the foundation. My handyman was going to trap and bait it, but I went with a wildlife removal service. Yesterday “we” got an opossum. Great, but not the critter we want and it’s $75.00 charge for each critter removed and relocated in the woods five miles away. Groundhogs like eating cantaloupe, so along with the groundhog treats, it got a dozen chunks of cantaloupe today. Anything you want to know about groundhogs, just ask. 🙂

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    • Linda, I like the names of the paint colors too. While it isn’t the reason we went with them I like the idea of living in a house that is useful. I don’t know anything about gel paint but it sounds awful.

      I like the idea of anything that is easy in the backyard. I’m sorry about your groundhog [groundhogs?] and I wish you well in your attempts to have someone move them along. Groundhogs like cantaloupe? Now there’s a factoid.

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      • Well, it was interesting how you said their version of how paint should make your house look and what you perceive your house should look like. You would not want to be repainting the trim every few years to stay trendy. It was a horrible experience, though that paint has held up well and I never have had to touch it up again and it’s been about three decades now.

        Well, that is truth about groundhogs, however … the cantaloupe the wildlife removal guy put in the burrow and the trap Wednesday mid-day was still sitting there when I ran out to check the trap at 5:00 p.m. It’s either a groundhog who prefers veggies to fruit, or is savvy and doesn’t want to get caught. This company had good reviews and they are about four miles from me, so handy.

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        • I’m smiling here at the news that you have a groundhog who doesn’t eat what it’s supposed to prefer. Leave it to you to have an unwanted groundhog whose a food snob. Years ago we had a problem with squirrels getting into the attic of this house so we hired a company similar to your groundhog guy. There was a trap on the roof [!] and eventually he caught the culprit. Maybe it’ll just take time.

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          • Well Ally, two days with cantaloupe chunks and no groundhog. I called the guy to ensure he is available over the weekend in case it goes in the trap as they have 24 hours to relocate each captured critter. Yes, he is – I’m sure he would have rather the groundhog didn’t interrupt his weekend plans. 🙂 My grandmother had squirrels in her attic and they did a lot of damage chewing on wood. Squirrels have chewed my AT&T landline outside phone cable sheath three times – the repairman says squirrels’ destructive ways give him job security.

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            • Good about your critter removal guy being available. I hadn’t thought of that. Bad about your squirrels destroying your cable line sheath. That doesn’t surprise me. Fingers crossed about the impending capture. Happy Weekend!

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              • Groundhog is still at large – oh well. Critter removal guy has him blocked in, so he has to go in the trap or jump over flower pots. I don’t think he is agile like a squirrel. The squirrels can be destructive in the ‘hood. I lost my landline for two weeks back in April. When I called to AT&T their answer was “most people have cellphones now, copper wire is expensive and one day not long from now you won’t even be able to have a landline.” Not much of an ambassador for AT&T. I’m probably the only person on the block with a landline and they’ve raised my rate twice this year, each time $3.00, which I think they are trying to dissuade people from keeping a landline to just phase them out. Most people I know only use their cellphone now. The weather is beautiful here – hope you are enjoying the same beautiful sunshine and cooler temps.

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                  • Yes, I think the groundhog took a hike. Hope so. I am only worried about needing a landline in an emergency as a cellphone takes longer for first responders to locate the origin of the call. I’m no fan of cellphones either. My house is protected by metal roll-down locking blinds and steel doors, but I am thinking more about fire … I’m especially skittish after the downed wire fire last December. Internet landline is not good … we have Comcast at work and it often goes out … phone/internet. Beautiful weather at last!

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  60. Oh wow nice color!!! Isn’t funny how much you learn while working on a project.
    This fall we have our backyard fenced in and remove the carpet from our stairs and have them stained to match the hardwood throughout.

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  61. Wow! I’m impressed with the effort you put into your exterior colors. (And the result was certainly worth it.) When we first moved into our house, I do remember picking an accent color for the shutters and rails that picked up on the green “accents” in the brick walls of our house. The bricks had many different colors in them, and I never really did care for them so eventually we just painted them all a very light grey. And once we did, I wondered why we waited so long to do so: for the first time, I really like the way the exterior of our house looked!

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    • Ann, I feel the same way about the colors on this house now. I didn’t hate what was there before but it seemed off. Now, like your light gray epiphany, I am relaxed about how the exterior looks. We live, we learn.

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  62. As usual your blog has taught me something! 😄😄 It’s always fascinating to me to learn the trends of house colors. I had no idea what was trendy. Ths is probably why I have yet to make a correct guess as to which house the people on Househunters will buy. Anwyay, I’m glad you love how your house is looking.

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    • L. Marie, usually I don’t know what is trendy for house exteriors, but once I was tasked with deciding on a new color for this house I got interested. The thing is I like the darker colors, but not for the next couple of decades which is how long we hope to live here. Even with this research I never know what the people on Househunters will buy. It seems random to me. 🤷‍♀️

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  63. My very big deal was similar to yours. Paint 2 sides of the house (gr…the wrong coloured paint 25 km from the store) and 31 windows on the inside. Again they mixed the wrong colour and I had to drive to the store twice!!! But it’s done and like you I love how it looks when I pull up. Big plans this fall are to sand, stain and varnish the kitchen island. It’s looking 15 years old. Bernie

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    • Bernie, the wrong color, twice! Oh that is beyond awful– and with all those windows, too. I’d be livid, but like you determined to get it right. I’m glad you’re happy with the results. Fixing up your kitchen island will be a piece of cake [pun intended] compared to your exterior project. Kitchen’s get such wear and tear.

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  64. Yikes. So much to ponder and consider!!!! We have lots and lots of interior painting projects, and both of us keep avoiding them like the plague. Gee, I wonder why? 🤔 Good on you for tackling and finishing so much.

    What I’ve learned multitudes about this past summer is dental insurance. I’ll just leave it at that, but suffice to say the whole thing is one big scam. – Marty

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    • Marty, we have some small interior projects now, but the exterior maintenance projects have taken precedence. Now we can dawdle over the inside decisions.

      We don’t have dental insurance. You’re confirming what I’ve suspected. It sounds too good to be true.

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  65. Life does not get any better knowing through all the remolding and updating this is your precious outcome – “Now when I come home I see a house that looks soothing and inviting, pulled together, calm, in harmony with its surroundings, like the happy house we want it to be.”

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  66. I am excited about all the upgrades that happened for you. While it’s stressful, it’s also nice to see the final results. I am sure it was hard to pick a color for “such a large canvas”. I mean, where does one even start. I am getting inspiration from other houses that look beautiful (I run by a very pale pink house during my runs and I know that is NOT the color I would pick for a big house like that LOL).

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    • San, you’re right, it’s been stressful but worth it in the end now that it’s finished. Also it’s been expensive so doing it right the first time has been my priority. I know exactly what you mean about knowing which color I wouldn’t pick. I walk by a brick house painted almost neon yellow and it is NOT for me, ever.

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        • EW, no real plan, really. Over the years we lived in some other places and experienced what it was like to live in a blue collar bedroom community, big city apartment, urban college area, historic preservation district, 70s planned suburb, small town near ocean, and then here in what was then called exurbia.

          We had this house built, realized Z-D wasn’t going to be transferred elsewhere so we dug in here and call this home. For us the decision was less about where we’ll live and more about how we’ll live. 🤷‍♀️

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          • I really, really, really like that distinction! And it helps me clarify what we’re looking for, because you’re so right: it’s not about where as much as about HOW (idk how to bold or italicize in comments… 😦 ).

            Years ago, I started to follow you when you wrote an enchanting post (pre-pandemic, if you can remember that far 🙂 ) where you were viewed in a less than a completely spiffy outfit. I’m not sure if that “how” would have worked in the other communities you’ve mentioned, but I’m wondering if that’s what delighted you about “exurbia”?

            And, yes, I’m impressed with the breadth of experiences you’ve had in your places to live, and I’m left curious: what made exurbia feel like home?

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  68. My Big Deal: Starting a butterfly garden with a neighbor, who is also my biking buddy.
    What I Have Learned: I have been relearning flower names and how best to care for them. Bought two books about butterflies and butterfly gardens. Many thoughts and plans for next year.
    My Projects: Catching up on my “to-read” book pile and catching up on personal stuff that I tend brush aside in favor of blogging, TV, and eating.

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    • Mary, I’m thinking about starting a butterfly garden too. I tried to put one together a few years ago, but the perennials didn’t come back the next year like I thought they would– then the pandemic came along and I lost interest. Your gardening efforts have inspired me to try again.

      Like you I have piles of books to read, too. Now that the major exterior work is over I’m thinking I’ll give myself the gift of reading more. I won’t need to be researching about house colors all the time, can kick back and read in my spare moments.

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  69. You say it all here: “Now when I come home I see a house that looks soothing and inviting, pulled together, calm, in harmony with its surroundings, like the happy house we want it to be.” Not that I can say that about our house, but in its own way, it is in harmony. To be honest, I defer to my husband for color choices. If he had left it to me, we might have a red metal roof instead of a slate gray which complements the blue-gray of our house. For the last several months, we’ve been more focused on the outside of things: the patio and the gardens (plural because aside from our new garden off the patio, I had started a small garden at the front of our house years ago).

    I know there’s a lot more home improvement stuff we want to do, but we’re cooling our heels until we get another income stream later this year (my Social Security … I haven’t started collecting yet).

    Meanwhile, I’m slowly coming back into blogging, making potholders, thinking about weaving and knitting. And reading … will there ever be enough time to read all that I want to read?

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    • Marie, I’ve come to realize that in every relationship there is one person who sees colors better than the other. I get why you defer to your husband. We outside planting beds to deal with next. There’s a weird disease going around here that is slowly killing boxwood bushes, not all just some. We now have some dead ones and some ailing ones, the result is not pleasing. Always something.

      I want to read more than I do now. Something practical gets in my way every time I sit down to read. It’s uncanny how things go sideways the minute I pick up a book.

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    • Pam, I understand. I’ve had to pick exterior colors a few times before this and I did okay, but once I realized the quantity of resources available online that could help me do better this time I took a deep dive into the topic. Wishing you the best picking your color palette. 🤔

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  71. Hello there, Ally. I’m glad that the several projects worked out well. As for the house painting: Years ago it was a lot easier to decide on paint colors, because there weren’t a million to choose from. In so many areas of life these days, the choices are almost endless.

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  72. Hi Ally – your color choices are excellent, earthy, and inviting. I must say you did way more homework than we did when we first built our house in 1990. There were only so many choices available in the brick yard and the siding company. Saying that makes me wonder if you built your home back in 1999 and if you spent that much time to decide on what colors to use for brick, siding, and shutters. I love that you love driving up to your house now and smile at the results! 😍

    To answer your questions:
    What has been a VERY BIG DEAL for you during this Summer [northern hemisphere] or Winter [southern hemisphere]? Our retaining wall was a very big deal too. The grass is finally growing around it so I can take a final ‘after’ picture.

    What have you LEARNED multitudes about? This morning I did some research about eyelash curlers for the inner and outer eyelashes. I did not know there was such a thing. I hope I’m pleasantly surprised if the one I ordered works!

    Any PROJECTS PLANNED for the Fall [northern hemisphere] or Spring [southern hemisphere]? This fall I shall become ruthless with sorting out my clothing closet. I’m tired of seeing all the youngins buy vintage clothes that I supposedly can’t wear because they’re not hip on me even though I still own them. 🤔🤣

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    • Shelley, we built our house in 1999 and we took almost no time picking our brick and roof and exterior colors. The builder had about 10 choices of brick/roof/colors and we just pointed to one. It looked good enough until we changed the roof a few years ago… and then the house color scheme began to look off.

      I’m glad your retaining wall is, well, retaining again. I don’t know anything about eyelash curlers and wish you all the best on that decision.

      I know how you feel about old clothes that have come back around. I have some jeans, that I tossed aside for skinny jeans, that are now back in fashion. Don’t you love it when vintage means you don’t have to buy anything new?!!

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      • Yes, that’s exactly what we did when building our house too! We were silly and bought cedar siding for the front of the house and have the wonderful task of reviving it again soon… the joys of homeownership never end! I’m glad you’re happy with your revival, it sounds gorgeous indeed!

        Yes, it’s retaining! All 9900 pounds of it should hold it’s place! I don’t know if I’ll do any big review on the tools, they do help when one has eyelashes that grow the wrong direction and irritate eyeballs. So there’s that for an oddball bit of detail.

        Yes – I have retrieved a few of those items and have been tickled pink. The tickled pink shirt I have does match Barbie pink 🤔 but I haven’t yet worn it yet. 😂

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  73. Ally, congratulations on your newly painted house! Wow! You paint (!) such a beautiful of all the colours and reasoning for them, the whole house came alive and the central character in the narrative! I’m glad you have this welcoming annd harmonious haven to greet you each day, to inhabit and find peace within.

    In Sweden my mother has two summer houses and we help to paint those and yes, the window board and bargeboard trim colours are vital! In the area where the houses are located a local deep red colour is very popular but one house is painted grey/blue as a reminder of the sea with a ‘storm blue’ for the trim. Very striking indeed.

    Our Autumn project is removing two bigger trees in our garden, both which are past their best and prepare the ground for new planting in Spring. My husband insists he can do all this … I will get planning the replacement plants!

    This summer our major event was my son’s graduation – probably not what you were looking for but a most special and wondrous moment with lots of celebrations and smiles galore!!

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    • Annika, thanks for your kind words about the house. It was worth the effort to get it right this time.

      Your mother’s houses sound lovely. I like color on houses when it suits the area. There’s a house in this subdivision, a non-brick one, that is storm blue and it’s easy to love.

      I wish your husband well when removing trees. That’s a big job that should make way for your Spring plans. We’re going to be tackling the landscape next, too.

      Happy to read about your son’s graduation. I like to read about anything this is good news– and that certainly is. Congrats to your son… and his supportive parents.

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  74. I really like the colors you chose. I heard recently that one can save energy (especially in the summer) by painting your exterior a lighter color. Darker colors absorb heat. Here in California that is certainly an issue. Our townhome complex is dark brown shingles, but they are due to be replaced in the next few years. I’m going to research about the lighter colors and see what I can find out.

    I love exposed brick, I’ll bet your house is beautiful, especially after all of the work you have had done.

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    • J, one of the reasons we went with the lighter shade on the trim is for the exact reason you mention. The darker colors are beautiful but in the long run I’d prefer to save money on our AC bill.

      We had the darker original roof replaced about 5 years ago. We went with a lighter medium gray color in thicker shingles. I don’t know if there’s really been much cost saving, but they look pretty.

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  75. Congratulations on completing these major projects, Ally! I’m glad to hear that you are happy with the final results. Choosing colors is scary. It’s nearly impossible to tell what they will look like from the tiny samples available during the decision making process. We are preparing to paint the interior of our Wasatch Front home, so I will definitely check out some of your sources. BTW our Southern Utah home interior is primarily Agreeable Gray. We like it because it works with tans and grays, so we have more decorating options.

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    • Christie, you’re right it is scary to pick exterior colors, so many variables involved. I like Agreeable Gray and I know someone whose interior is that color. You’re right it works with tans and grays. It’s pretty… when you aren’t trying to coordinate with the mortar between the brick. And therein was our situation.

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  76. Oh hooray! It sounds like your research paid off and you have a wonderful result. I love paint color names. Useful Gray is perfect. It also strikes me as somewhat similar to the color of our house, although ours is a bit lighter and perhaps more yellow. (So not similar at all???) I read this with interest because our siding needs to be repainted in the next yearish, and I vacillate between wanting to keep it simple and do it in the same colors, or switch it up. I think a nice fresh white would be ideal for me, and would go well with the black shutters and stonework.

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    • Suzanne, I didn’t start out to learn so much about color theory but once I got interested I kept going. I liked the name of this color of gray, too. That’s not why we picked it but it makes me smile thinking our house is useful. I like white and black together, the neighbors have it going on. With our brick it’d look too harsh, but if you can do it’s a classic look.

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