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groomingal

Color Scheme for Cottage Exterior?

groomingal
15 years ago

We are getting ready to pick out the color scheme for our cottage and I could really use some help from you all.

We have a metal roof that is currently blue- think smurfs that have been baked a tad too long. The exterior paint was all done in white. The exterior doors are a sage green- yeah this was all the previous owners choice not mine.

DH and I are making flower boxes to put under all of the windows. The roof would be easier to keep blue and find colors to compliment it but I have no problem painting it (read DH will love repainting the roof :)

Also what about the windows/trim? There is some nice decorative work above the windows, the corners, and under the roof overhang.

Sorry for the pictures, I only have one of the side and back view of the house.






Comments (18)

  • oceanna
    15 years ago

    Here are some cottage looks that deffinitely cheer me up...

  • mbarstow
    15 years ago

    I'd love to see yellow for the house, white trim and black accents (window boxes, chairs, planters, mailbox, etc.) Yellow is inviting, with white trim it's crisp and clean and the black just makes it pop and catch the eye.

  • My3dogs ME zone 5A
    15 years ago

    I don't have a blue roof, but people stop each year and ask me to share the colors on my old Maine cottage.

    The body is a gold, creamy off-white trim, 'cranberry' doors, and 'bottle green' shutters which are very dark, almost black. Something similar might work for you if you have the shutters blue.

  • Lyban zone 4
    15 years ago

    I think my3dogs suggestion is good. You could keep the roof color, paint the body like my3dogs and then the blue shutters like she suggests. Maybe try and get a front view photo and with luck someone will photoshop for you.

  • groomingal
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    mbarstow- I really like yellow but that is one of DH least favorite colors. Pink and purple are the other two.

    My3dogs- you have a beautiful home and I love the colors!

    What about if we keep the blue color of the roof, paint the house in a light shade of tan/khaki, window boxes in a barn/colonial red, doors in navy and the accent work under the roof overhand and window tops down in navy?

  • spammypam
    15 years ago

    MY3 dogs- I absolutely love your house and color choices. It looks familar to me. Around the Portland/Wesbrook line? If not, then someone there has copied your palette. If this is your house, then I completely understand why people stop and ask you about the colors. I have wanted to stop and just gawk!

  • spammypam
    15 years ago

    Groomingal,

    I like your idea of tan/khaki and the barn/colonial red for window boxes (and doors?). I'm not sure about your idea of navy accents for the overhang and window tops with the blue roof. I currently have faded med. blue shutters with navy doors and it just looks like a mistake. They don't go together well. What about a lighter shade of your house color for the overhang and window tops? It would be something like 3dogs, just tan/khaki instead of yellow (and no green shutters).

  • My3dogs ME zone 5A
    15 years ago

    Uh oh...I've been 'outed'!

    spammypam, my house is on the Stroudwater River, so I am guessing it's the one you've seen. Although, so many people have asked about the colors that there are many houses in the greater Portland area with these colors.

    If the one you're referring to had this fence out front, it's mine.

  • groomingal
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    spammypam- I think that would be a great idea but will it still make the roof stick out or does it just incorporate into the grand scheme of things?

    We've been out doing yard work and DH was cleaning the gutters and the more I look at the blue roof I really want to paint it.

    I even thought maybe a black roof, khaki on the siding, barn red for the window boxes/doors. Should I still paint the trim in a lighter khaki shade or paint a white?

  • mary_lu_gw
    15 years ago

    What about a gray-blue? There was a local cottage with these colors and it looked so nice. The property sold and the new owners resided. They kept the blue roof and doors, but changed the siding to a tanish green. Now it just looks so-so and much like every other house around. It has completely lost the "cottage" feel that it had before. Just my .02

  • groomingal
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    My eyes are crossing from color swatches and I am still undecided. We did pick out the definite color for the roof- we will be painting it a charcoal gray/black color. DH liked a tan for the siding color and it's ok but now that I have the roof color I so want to pair it with a pale pink for the siding.
    DH is not a fan of pink but I'm trying to find something so pale and hint of pink that maybe he won't notice ;) I also thought white trim and a classic black for the accents?
    I was wondering if any of you that are whizzes with photoshop could mock up a picture for me? Or if someone knows of a lovely pale pink if they could recommend a shade?

  • PRO
    Snuggle Mug Co
    14 years ago

    my3dogs,

    I love the colors on your house, do you mind sharing the names of the paint colors.

    Also, is your roof black or grey.

    Thanks.

  • Circus Peanut
    14 years ago

    Grooming gal,
    Run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore and get a copy of Robert Schweitzer's Bungalow Colors: Exteriors. It has a zillion pictures of cottages and bungalows with amazing detailed color schemes. It uses Sherwin Williams for the color references, but you can have the colors matched in any paint brand you like. For each scheme (and there are dozens) it gives pictures and colors for siding, windows, main trim and accent trim. Indispensable reference!

    You MUST take a look. :)

    If you're doing pink or coral, you might consider a toned-down gray for the roof, not starkly black-gray, unless you're going for 1950's?

  • Circus Peanut
    14 years ago

    PS: my3dogs, I'm in the Brighton Medical area and pass your house on the way to 95 ... gorgeous! :-)

  • groomingal
    Original Author
    14 years ago

    circuspeanut- thank you so much for the book tip, I will run by the library and see if they have it this weekend.

    I have the pink colored narrowed down to 5 and as much as I like the dark color for the roof it does give it a different/heavy feel. I did pick it a dark gray and a polished gray. The lighter gray is my favorite but i'm wondering how much tree grime will be noticeable on it.

  • Sueb20
    14 years ago

    I have been thinking about this too because we have a cottage that will be undergoing some significant construction late this year, including new siding. At the moment it is white vinyl siding with forest-green shutters... NOT my idea of a beach cottage color scheme! Anyway, last weekend I was walking around looking at other houses and one of my favorites was a khaki house with darkish, almost navy blue shutters and white trim. I was surprised that I was drawn to it but it really looked nice and "crisp." I think the roof was a medium-dark gray. Our former cottage was gray natural shingles with plum shutters and an aqua door, which I also loved. I think we'll end up with gray siding after this cottage reno is complete, but not sure yet what color trim. I like cottages with neutral color siding and funky color trim: plums, pinks, aquas, etc. I love picture #6 in the list of pics above!

  • anele_gw
    14 years ago

    sueb20: The cottage you are describing sounds exactly like my house!!!! I can't change the exterior color but I keep trying to think of a good color scheme for the shutters and door.

    my3dogs: I never tire of looking at your house!

    Oceanna: I love your taste! I always drool over the pictures you post!

  • redbazel
    14 years ago

    I just saw a cottage in a decorating magazine that was adorable. I commented on it in this thread. And the house in this thread has a similar feel.........

    Red

    Here is a link that might be useful: BM Cliffside Gray Behr Swiss Coffee

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