Duuude. We painted our house. Clarification: we painted a few tiny test swatches. The creamy color wasn’t exactly hurting our eyes, but there are a few gorgeous homes in our neighborhood with gray hardboard siding + brick and we love the look, so we decided to give a few swatches a try. Having such a light creamy color on the hardboard siding (it’s solid wood) and all of the trim isn’t doing the trim any favors (it’s not popping at all since it’s all the same color). And the pairing of the light cream with the darker richer brick is sort of jarring – like it’s two houses. So we thought by going with a more mid-toned color (but not reddy-brown since that would be too much of a good brick thing) it might feel more cohesive. Like one unified house instead of a brick house with a big cream box in the middle.
First we held up around 25 swatches and picked three that we thought looked the best next to the brick (which has some pretty great gray undertones – especially in the mortar). Then we got three two dolla (holla!) paint pots from Lowe’s and made three test squares (right above the brick part of the house so we can see how things look when they touch). Note: why yes I did wear my shirt inside out when painting them, thankyouverymuch.
The winner?
The guy on the right. You can see from the photo above that it’s a warm taupey gray. So it shares a lot of undertones with the brick. We feel especially confident about how compatible it’ll be since it’s nearly the same color as the mortar.
It’s Flagstone by Martha Stewart, which we’ll get color matched to some sort of high quality exterior paint – hopefully with some built-in primer (more deets on that when we actually pick up the paint and pin down what brand/type it’ll be). As for the one in the middle, that’s Mushroom by Martha (which we thought was too dark), and the one on the left is Bedford Gray also by Martha (which we thought was too icy and blue).
Of course the photos aren’t the same as the real life effect, but we love the guy on the right because it’s not too icy/cool/light and it’s not too dark. Don’t get us wrong – we love a dark house (with white trim that pops = amazing) but we thought a mid-tone would look best with our black roof, existing brick, yellow door, and the bright white trim that we’ll be adding (black roof + dark gray house = too dark for our little ranch). So we hope our pick is a nice balance of not-too-dark-and-not-too-light (the roof can be the dark element and the white trim can be the light one). Here’s a poorly photoshopped version of the last pic to give you an idea of where we’re hopefully headed:
Speaking of the to-be-white trim, it’s actually really out of order of us to test paint on the house because we still need to demo out the scallops on the porch and paint the trim (painting the hardboard and then demoing the scallops could lead to some paint damage that we’d then have to retouch). So although we’ve pinned down our paint winner, we hope to move on to scallop-demo and then we’ll get to painting the hardboard gray and the trim white (along with framing out the curvy columns to make them look chunky and square like our future scallop-less header).
Hope we can tackle that before it gets too cold for exterior painting (especially since we’re also juggling the kitchen redo). Oh man, but can’t you just picture our happy yellow door with white trim and gray hardboard with that gray-undertoned brick? Hope it’s as lovely in real life as it is in my mind. If not… guess I’ll be repainting (we have gallons of the current colored house paint in the basement).
In the meantime, have you guys painted the trim or the siding of your house? Did you do the whole paint-a-few-test-swatches thing beforehand? Were you nervous? It’s amazing how not nervous I am. Usually I’m indecisive and happy to wait a while while thinking things over, but this time I’m all over it. Seriously, can’t wait. So here’s hoping the colder weather + the kitchen don’t make this a spring project. Come on fall, hold out for a while longer!
Kathryn says
Nice choice!!! I love grey. I think it will make all the difference.
Angela says
Love the gray and yellow together!!!
Emily says
Good choice! We just painted our house a similar color and are going to pick out a red/orange door.
Rebecca @This Nest is Best says
I didn’t even realize painting was on the “to-do” list! We painted out house gray a few years back (green roof, white trim with a purple door and accents) and I loooove it. Good luck!
Rebecca @This Nest is Best says
PS – yes, we tested about a bazillion grays, so I’m very impressed you found your’s so quickly! I wanted our’s to have a bit of a green undertone (to go with the roof), but every gray I picked just came out looking green! Took awhile to find the right shade, but it was worth it!
Amanda Thompson says
Boy Rebecca, you and I are on the same page here and I currently find myself in this exact situation. I, too, have a home with a green roof (selected by the previous homeowners). We’ve been wanting to paint the house since we moved in four years ago and we’ve finally decided to pull the trigger. For the last several weeks, I’ve been searching for a gray that works with our green roof. Coincidentally, I had also planned to paint the front door a deep plum to accent our landscaping (mostly purple plants). As you indicate in your post, the trouble is that most of the grays with a green undertone turn out to be waaaay too green. Might I ask what colors you ended up settling on? I sure would love to know!
Kristen says
I knew it was going to the the paint swatch on the right! It’s the perfect color! I can’t wait to see how it turns out…I think the colors are going to look beautiful!
Karen F says
it will look great. I knew right away which color you’d choose – it was the clear winner in my eyes, too, for the same exact reasons you mentioned (if that’s any consolation). I don’t know how you guys manage to juggle so many big projects at once – more power to ya! Hope the weather holds out for you!
Petra says
Looks excellent! Do all exterior paints come with the same texture as flat or something else? What about weather conditions?
YoungHouseLove says
Exterior paint is meant to hold up to all weather conditions assuming it’s applied at the right temperature (so if it gets too cold we can’t start since it won’t cure/adhere as well! As for texture, I think there are probably glossy and flat options but we’ll go with flat or eggshell since we don’t want it to be too shiny!
xo,
s
Karla says
The creamy colour is so nice, don’t do it!
YoungHouseLove says
We definitely know that all of the choices that we make for our house aren’t what everyone would do if this were their home! It’s just one of those personal preference things. We just love the richer gray color for all the reasons mentioned in this post!
xo,
s
LuLu says
Karla I’m with you on this one! (I also realize that I’m definitely in the minority!)
LuLu
Jeanette says
My new house has metal siding that was professionaly spray painted by the previous owner to be a not so lovely shade of baby-poo brown. I really want to repaint it gray someday! Is your siding wood or metal? Are you using a outdoor type paint?
YoungHouseLove says
It’s hardboard (which is solid wood). So just an exterior paint with a good built-in primer should do it.
xo,
s
em says
We painted our formerly-white house pretty much this exact gray. We don’t have brick, only siding. And we have a deep orange door. We love, love, love the gray. We think it looks so pretty with the orange door and fall leaves on our lawn this time of year. Good choice!
Laura says
This so soooo pretty! I love it already!
Can I ask a random question even though it’s not your blogiversary anymore? I know you said the previous owners of your home read your blog…do they have a favorite project that you’ve done thus far/are doing?
YoungHouseLove says
Good question! They seem to like following along as we go- so they haven’t told us which project is a favorite but they always seem supportive and say things like “that patio is amazing!” and all that sweet stuff. Love them.
xo,
s
Julia @ Chris loves Julia says
Wow. I cannot wait to see this! I can paint a room. Paint a piece of furniture. Paint cabinets without even blinking. But to paint the outside of my house—IT TERRIFIES ME! Why is that?
YoungHouseLove says
Haha, I’m not sure. Maybe that’s why I’m so excited! I feel like it’ll be such a noticeable difference and it’s not too much to do (the equivalent of painting one interior wall instead of four).
xo,
s
Christine says
We just painted our 50s ranch. The previous owner painted over the brick with a really blah beige color. We had the brick sandblasted and discovered a lovely brick with some moss undertones, so we painted the body of the house a moss color with crisp white trim. We get comments all the time from those in the ‘hood. We love it.
When we were testing colors, we had at a minimum 20 colors all over the house in different places. We looked like a patchwork house for a while, but so worth it. Can’t wait to see your finished product!
Alison says
I one million percent support this decision (not that I have a vote :)). I love the yellow door and have from the get go, but I always felt like the cream siding swallowed it up when you were looking at it from afar. It will really stand out against the grey! Yay!
Lindsey @ arkadian belle woods says
That’s gorgeous! I love that color it’s not too dark it’s got great balance!
Jen says
I think the gray would look great — we currently have a red brick house that has cream colored doors, which are still covered by black wrought iron ornate storm doors that are about to come down – but the cream doors are like a big white blob in the middle of the house. I want to paint them a dark gray but this is making me consider going lighter to stay more in line with the mortar. Picture here (albeit, not a great one). http://homeiswheretheholmansare.blogspot.com/2011/08/knock-knock-knock.html
NRauzi says
Love the gray you chose.
It will really update the look of the house. And I love gray and yellow together!
Erin says
This is a very timely project for me, actually, because my husband and I have beeng toying with the idea of re-siding vs. painting. What kind of siding do you have? It looks similar to our siding. Do you have any online resources that you looked at to determine the kind of paint that would be best for the type of siding you have? We can use all the help we can get! :) Thanks for the post!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s hardboard siding (solid wood) – so it’s easier to paint than aluminum or vinyl. Not even sure how to paint those (maybe ask at the home improvement center)?
xo,
s
Alisa says
When we moved into our house it drove me insane that the door trim had been painted the same color as the siding (yet there was white trim around all the windows?). I finally got sick of it and broke out the can of white paint we had been using on the interior trim and painted those puppies. Sure, it wasn’t the right kind of paint, but it’s held up well in all sorts of wacky Texas weather an it looks a lot better, so I’m good with it :) Oh, and I LOVE the grey you picked out!
JennyB says
We have mostly brick and some white siding & black shutters. The previous owners closed in a carport to make a family room and that’s where the siding is. I’ve been wanting to paint the blah white siding since we moved in a year ago but everything I read about painting siding makes me scared to death to do it! You said yours is hardboard siding so that may be different than what we have and better for painting.
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah, since ours is just wood, it’s pretty easy to paint with high quality exterior paint- especially the kind with primer in it.
xo,
s
Kelly K. says
Love the color you chose. And that house plan rendering is really cute. That might have to go on Pinterest for me! :)
Thais Bessa says
What a good timing. Painting our exterior is high in our to-do list. It is also brick with yellowish-creamy masonry that is just yikes. Plus the previous owners did a horrible lazy job with the satellite electricity cabling that runs rights in the middle of the façade. Grey might be a good idea, have to study it better though, as American and British houses are very very different in terms of sizes, look, style, closeness to neighbours, etc. But I will keep an eye on what you guys do, it will certainly give us inspiration!
Michelle M. says
I love that it matches the grout in your brick! Great choice!
Debby says
Our house is all brick except for the trim. Our brick is very similar to yours. We do have a metal black roof over the porch. When we repainted, we painted the trim white, but painted the gutters black. We love the look !!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that’s a fun idea! Maybe a dark charcoal on the shutters and gutters would be fun.
xo,
s
em says
We have charcoal shutters! (We of the gray house with orange door). And charcoal steps.
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh sounds awesome!
xo,
s
Lisa says
I can’t believe you are seriously planning to paint the exterior while also in the middle of a major kitchen remodel! On second thought, yes, I can believe YOU would do that. You guys make me feel so inadequate with all that energy and drive! I recently went through your “house tour” photos and was just AMAZED by how much you’ve accomplished in less than one year. Wow. Thanks for being such an inspiration! (Oh, and I LOVE the plans for the exterior!)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Lisa! John is totally rolling his eyes about the porch plans I have (he thinks they’ll end up being a spring project because the kitchen is keeping us so busy) but ya never know! Haha.
xo,
s
Lisa says
Ah yes, the hubby eye roll – seen that MANY times around here!
Sarah says
I think it will look great. The house next to us painted the vinyl from white to a grey and it completely transformed the house. I’m also amused at the Bedford Grey color. Your sample result is the color I was shooting for for out bathroom. Bought a sample of Bedford Grey but when I put it on the walls it turned out a horrible green color. Funny how paint does different things for different people.
YoungHouseLove says
Yes! It was so funny how blue it looked compare to the others in our lighting!
xo,
s
John@ Our Home From Scratch says
Nice color. I think you’re right about the mortar. It’s a good match. Looks sophisticated.
NIKKI says
Is that wood or siding? I thought i remember you saying before that one part of your house is wood and the other is siding which is how our house is because of the addition. I can’t wait to see the finished product!!!! We have brick on the bottom of our house and we want to redo it all in a gray siding as we have a dark khaki color right now with a pale yellow door. Should be fun!
YoungHouseLove says
It’s all hardboard siding (which is wood) or brick. Half of the house is brick (the whole front except for the rectangle over the porch) and the whole back addition is the hardboard siding. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
meganleiann says
Seriously? You’re repainting the house and renovating the kitchen at the same time? Y’all are crazy! (In a good way!)
Molly says
Love and Love!!! Good pick!!!!
Melanie @ Mailbox Journey says
I really love the color you chose! I have to say, this post caught me by surprise! I was expecting more kitchen stuff, but it was a nice surprise!
Megan says
When we bought our house it was a salmony pink with cranberry trim and pinkish roof. So incredibly ugly. It went to a calmer tan with cream trim, but after three years, I still haven’t finish the trim in the back of the house! Now we’re replacing the windows, so it doesn’t matter much anymore, thank goodness. The one good thing about the original color? People could easily find our house!
Sarah says
Hi there! Just wanted to say – looooving the grey!! We moved into our first house last year and just re-painted everything. We went from an old, chipping, pasty yellow to Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal with white trim and Benjamin Moore’s Olive Moss for the accent color. All positive comments from the neighbors. Grey is in! Can’t wait to see how it all comes together for you!
Here’s the before: http://bit.ly/s6WWUb
Here’s the after: http://bit.ly/vZXSs3
YoungHouseLove says
So pretty! Love the rich color you chose!
xo,
s
Kathi says
WOW – those photos show what a differnce paint can make! LOVE the green shutters with the gray and white!
NIKKI says
Im so jealous of your rich green grass Sarah!
Lauren says
Wow!! What a transformation. It looks amazing!!
Erin @ One Project at a Time says
I can’t believe you guys are considering, no, planning to paint the exterior of your house while you’re in the middle of a kitchen reno! You’re fearless! :)
We just moved into our very awkward, architectural home and I’m completely at a loss on how to warm it up on the outside. http://oneprojectatatime.blogspot.com/2011/01/curb-appeal.html
YoungHouseLove says
Yeah, John thinks I’m kind of crazy (I think he believes it’ll end up being a spring project) but you can’t be too prepared! Who knows, we might just find the time!
xo,
s
Meagan says
I was so not expecting y’all to be painting the house now. I love when you throw something out that we aren’t expecting. I think the grey is going to look fabulous with your brick and yellow door! Can’t wait to see it all come together. Now get out there and knock down those scallops like you did at the last house haha! (although did you notice that your sample house color house has scallops along their porch…interesting)
Ginny P says
I seriously love the combination of gray and yellow. Go for it!
We have vinyl siding we replaced after we moved in (the old aluminum siding was in rough shape). We went for a warm tannish color. I like it but if I had to choose again, I might go in another direction.
Kristin @ Ogo's Love Nest says
We just finished painting our house! Check it out at http://ogoslovenest.blogspot.com/2011/11/grow-baby-grow.html
Love the grey, it will really make your house and that yellow door pop!
YoungHouseLove says
Cute! And your grass is so green!
xo,
s
Gracie says
Your house is sooooo pretty! I love the new paint colors and that red door! I agree with Sherry, your grass is so green!
Amanda @ Our Humble A{Bowe}d says
I think gray will look amazing, especially with the yellow door. Our house is beige vinyl siding that came with, but if we reside, I want a dark dray.
Lindsay says
I am very excited to see where you guys go with this. I have AWFUL blue colored vinyl siding that has discolored where there used to be trees thisclosetothehouse and something NEEDS to be done. I am torn between new siding or painting, so I am looking forward to how this goes for you!
Jill says
I love the color! We actually have a similar set-up with siding and brick, and I’ve been itching to paint the siding (and maybe the brick too) a nice gray. I would love to see how you guys get ‘er done (especially if you do it soon)!
Susanne says
Love the color choice. I would also think about maybe painting the brick white?? Or maybe a darker grey to contrast with the light grey panels? Can’t wait to see the outcome!
YoungHouseLove says
Painting brick in our area is a bit of a pain because we get green mold (so white brick = tons of maintenance) but something dark or some sort of stain or color wash is something we debate. We happen to love the brick on this house a lot more than our last house (it’s less orange and has more gray undertones) so we’ll have to see if we end up leaving it au naturale!
xo,
s
meganleiann says
You might want to consider a glossier paint then. We have a cabin in the woods- deep in the PacNW forrest and were advised to use a glossier paint because it cleans off with just a spray of the hose and is more resilient.
YoungHouseLove says
Great tip! We’ll ask the paint pros what they think is best when we get to choosing the brand/type etc! And of course we’ll keep everyone posted!
xo,
s
Regan @ RenovatingRothenbergers says
You two have some serious guts! I’d be so nervous to tackle a project like – oh i don’t know – painting a house! Looking forward to seeing how awesome it turn out though :)
Abby says
What a fun project! It will be great to pull up the driveway to see a house that reflects your style and great taste. I have tried the martha exterior paint on my shutters and front door and was pretty impressed. Although the siding is a much bigger project and you want it to last, I just had to give martha a shout out!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks for the tip Abby!
xo,
s
Katharine says
We have a brick colonial. I am a bit tempted to paint the actual bricks. They change colors halfway up and it drives me batty. My husband hates the idea of painting the brick and I’m not totally convinced enough yet to push the point.
LaMadre says
Cra-aaaa-zy. Painting the house during a kitchen remodel? More power to ya! Love the gray. There’s not much on the front to be painted but is the entire addition part of this plan?
YoungHouseLove says
That’s another phase (definitely not to be tackled til the spring) but luckily you can’t see much of the sides or back of our house from the street so no one will be the wiser!
xo,
s
Debbie says
i tried your shirt inside out method recently when i painted one of the bedrooms in our ND house ‘kermit the frog’ green (its a huge room w/ lots of natural light & our home gym so i wanted a cheery color) & i still managed to get paint on the “right” side of my tank top….& my hair even though i wore a baseball hat….doh!
YoungHouseLove says
Aw man- so sorry Debbie! I think after 5 years of painting I’ve finally figured out how not to ruin stuff I’m wearing but just saying that probably jinxed me!
xo,
s
Shannon says
Love the color! I think it will look great.
Marci says
I just went to current house tour to see what the outside looked like before and looked through all the “before” and “progress” pictures… I’m an everyday reader but to look at all you’ve done in less than a year…U.N.B.E.L.I.E.V.A.B.L.E!! I know its your full-time gig but its still amazing how much you guys have accomplished in less than a year… every room just GORGEOUS! Do you have a tally of how much you’ve spent on the new house since you moved in?
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks so much Marci! We’re pretty amazed ourselves! Haha. We just try to take it one day and one project at a time, so it never feels like that much, but when we look back we’re definitely shocked at how much things have changed! Still have a lot more on the ol’ to-do list though, so we’re just trying to have fun and enjoy the ride! As for how much we’ve spent, we have budget breakdowns in many posts but no main tally. Could be really fun to calculate though!
xo,
s
Amy says
Love this color. We actually just had our whole exterior of our 110+ year old house painted this summer. It really took everything from dated (circa 1993) to fresh, modern and current. Sometime I might have to send you photos. But, as the very elloquent and meaningful tale of “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” it led to planting 25 boxwoods, repainting our pergola and spray painting door hardware.
But I’m sure you two know exactly how that goes. =)
YoungHouseLove says
Haha- love it! Would love to see pics too!
xo,
s
Leslie Ann says
If you can’t paint the house this winter, will you paint over the grey test squares next to your front door with the cream house paint? I don’t think the neighbors want to look at the 3 test swatches all winter long…
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, that’s the plan! We have so much spare house paint it’ll be no sweat!
xo,
s