Monday, August 4, 2014

House Color


Well, friends, after following my highly scientific method for choosing exterior paint colors, I have made my final decision. Now I just need the painters to hurry up before I change my mind :)





I've decided to go with Sherwin Williams "Intellectual Gray" for the body of the house, and "Urbane Bronze" for the shutters and doors. The trim color will be matched to our existing gutters.

Here is Intellectual Gray on the 2013 Southern Living Idea House in Nashville, TN…



Hey… if it's good enough for Southern Living…


I made the paint decision a few weeks ago, but it's always a little nerve-racking wondering if the color will look good when the entire house is painted in it. There was a house in our town that did a lovely renovation, and I drove past every day admiring how it was turning out. At the end of the project, they made an unfortunate color choice (think neon yellow!) Now I drive by and think "Why???"

The other day I was driving my son home from tennis practice, and did a double take when I saw this house..




Naturally, I hung out the window to snap some pics.




I really loved the paint color and the way the trim around the windows really popped. I just had to know the paint color, so I went up and rang the doorbell. The homeowner stepped outside, and I immediately recognized her as a very well-known local designer. No wonder her house color was so good!

She was very gracious, and said I was not the first person to stop and ask about the paint color, which was Sherwin Williams Fawn Brindle. I told her I had decided to paint my house Intellectual Gray, but perhaps I would reconsider. She said her last house was painted Intellectual Gray, and is very similar to Fawn Brindle. She assured me that if I liked her house, I would be very happy with Intellectual Gray.

It was just the confirmation I needed, and now I am so excited to see the final result. The painters come at the end of the week.

After the house is painted, I will be planning my biggest remodeling project yet. Here's a little clue as to what it is…



Any guesses?

10 comments:

  1. I love that you stopped and asked! its totally a move I would make (I've embarrassed my husband so many times in doing just that). I always say the bashful go hungry. cant wait to see the before and afters...and your new project :)

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    1. Ooh… I like that... "the bashful go hungry." Ask and you shall receive, right? Glad I'm not alone!

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  2. I like your color choices - and, I have been known to stop by someone's home and ask about colors too! And, likewise, people have stopped by mine to ask as well! And, how lucky was it that it happened to be a designer's home!

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    1. Thanks, Genny! It was a stroke of luck that she was a designer. She has totally turned that house from an ugly brown box into a very pretty home. I may have to do a blog post on the transformation. That would require me ringing her bell again :)

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  3. I have had many a sleepless night over paint colours. When we first renovated about 15 years ago, iI made a bad choice and had to live with it for too long. I'm a lot more careful now. I'm sure your choice will be perfect! Xx Sharon

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    1. Oh Sharon… that is the worst! It's not an easy or inexpensive fix when it's the entire outside of the house. Yikes… I really hope I'm making a good decision :)

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  4. I'm proud of you for stopping to ask! How fun!! I think your house will be gorgeous.

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  5. I love the paint combination you have selected - it is going to wonderful!!! Looks like your next project is going to be the kitchen - I had an old Thermador electric cooktop with similar burners - hated it!! I now have a gas cooktop (still Thermador) and am absolutely loving it!!!

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    1. Really? You didn't like waiting 30 minutes for a pot of water to boil? Ha! I can't wait to switch to gas!! I wasn't quite ready to tackle the kitchen, but since my family likes to eat...

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