Blythewood, SC on May 29, 2012

Shutters: What color?

I am posting a picture of my home's exterior. I thought I could kind of match the shutter color to the grayest brick. Imagine my horror when the color just blended and looks like no shutters at all. What do you think guys? I'm about ready to paint them black and see what happens. Red metal roof not helping either. Gimme a COLOR!

73 Comments Displaying 25 of 73 comments | See Previous

Jeanette S Atlanta, GA

You have certainly received a lot of options! I picked up that you are struggling to get your grass to grow...I am having the same problem in an area of my yard. The weed control people were out here last week and he said I needed to add lime to my yard to treat the soil. Also, moss tends to grow in the sod in that area and he said lime eliminates moss! I am going to get a bag of lime and try it! You might want to do that too because your soil may have too much acid! Lime won't hurt your soil.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Linda G Conestoga, PA

cranberry or burgandy

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Linn L

My goodness you have gotten a lot of feedback Melissa! :D I just wanted to let you know that I thought your home adorable at first sight :> That brick is a really beautiful one - creating a very cozy, welcoming look. Love the red metal roof too! It add's that nice surpirse of architectural detail. I also think your front lawn (it's huge!) and pathway are beautiful and that ramp is *so* well done! Now, I am a lover of the cottage look and would encourage you to embrace it as you are ...»
well on your way. I would agree with some other's on here and suggest big, wide, bright, fresh white shutters (the hutter should look "real" enough to beable to cover one half of the window) - that will continue the frame of the window to help them have more substance (look to the windows with the trellis to see how beautiful and fresh and substantial it looks with the white) The white will also pick up on the white bits of brick and will help your home shine. Then add substantial window boxes (make sure they are the full width of the window). That will also help draw your eye up when other blooms in the garden have faded, and may be easier for you to tend - I have disabilities too and understand :>
Good luck Melissa and have fun!! :D

on May 31, 2012 · Like 3
Melissa K Blythewood, SC

Such wonderful comments and ideas. And yes, I see signs and hear on the gardening shows that Sc needs to lime their soil each year and I never have. The outer yard is lush and green, but we have just tilled and replanted the closer area last year, but notice that the soil seems needy, also is still slightly sloped. You guys are wonderful and I now now the shutters need replacing with longer and wider ones, and the exterior trimmings (ramp, etc.) shall be in white. One question...should the window boxes extend under the shutters as well?

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Melissa K Blythewood, SC

By the way, Sharron, I feed the roses banana peels and coffee gounds regularly. The, too rebloom over and over til fall when I cut then back slightly after blooming. I just received my first Knock-out roses this Mother's Day and plan to include them. Afraid of planting too closely, is this reasonable? Seems I want lushness, but always thin things out when they begin to get too close. Maybe this is unreasonable and counterproductive.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Melissa K Blythewood, SC

I can't thank you folks enough...this was so inspiring and educational!!! Will post the results as soon as they are done!

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Becky H Tampa, FL

Melissa K. there already is a presence of horizontal lines established at the front of your home by the ramp. Just to balance things, I would install window boxes just as wide as your windows. Then, I'd install shutters long enough to bring the shutters' bottom edges even with the bottom of the window boxes. I think the vertical lines established by doing it this way will offset the horizontal lines of the ramps and ground your home. This will also permit you more shutter area/ coordinating color.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 2
Sharron W Memphis, TN

I like what Becky H had to say about the window boxes....but was thinking...if they are too tough for you to tend regularly...use silk flowers they can take the weather and you can also change them with the seasons...

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Tina C

Sage green

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Paulanne C Chino Hills, CA

I think black would really make your windows stand out. But then, I love black. I even painted my double garage door black and have gotten many compliments.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Tina A Tulsa, OK

A red like the roof ,are you going to paint he fence to match?

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Jim G Suffolk, VA

me.... assume White would match just fine. .. not sure what would go best with a Red Roof, other then White, maybe a bright yellow? though I do understand each region has colors that seem to fit in the communities they live.

on May 31, 2012 · Like 1
Leida R Tampa, FL

I suggest black, and also black door to complement. By the way, BEAUTIFUL HOME!!!

on Jun 01, 2012 · Like 1
Melissa K Blythewood, SC

Tina C, they used to be sage green. Then I tried unsuccessfully to bring in a color within the brickwork. That's how all the confusion began in my head. As you guys can see, I STARTED staining the ramp railings and though received a promise from my college daughter, they were never completed. This gave me time to ponder my choice although I still have all this stain left to use. You should know also that my back deck and all my outdoor furniture their is in this same cedar stain color ...»
(OMG) But in the rear, it looks nice because the deck railings are white lattice and the walkway is white concrete. The deck is cedar stain. Should not have tried to bring the same colors to the front because the dynamics are different as you have all made me realize.Since the house is higher off the ground in the rear, the roof is not visible, only the brick, so the rear is great.
Jim, I love the idea of yellow tho this may add another color to stall me. Someone suggested blue, and I'm kinda liking this offer. What do you all think about a royal or tealy shaded blue for the shutters and the rest white? Or vice versa?
Becky H, thanks for explaining the dynamics of the fittings of the shutters to the window boxes. Boy, does my husband have a lot of back promises to fulfill. I would love the windowboxes and have wanted them for years. Have some scrap lumber and have been searching sites for simple-to-make boxes that we would enjoy building, since we built everything else around here.
You folks make me want to mail you all some of these irises that I have to separate twice yearly and some of the 30 azaleas I successfully rooted, and...well you get the picture. It seems that the more rapidly my health fails, the more rapidly I go at this gardening thing. Loving it and all of you, too.

on Jun 01, 2012 · Like 1
Melissa K Blythewood, SC

Now...about this greenhouse I want to build...

on Jun 01, 2012 · Like 0
Melissa K Blythewood, SC

Hey you guys, looking at my yard, what do you pick up as a general theme? Is there one? Maybe I could work from there as to whatever else I want to add. Bernice gave me a nice idea about a bridge over a stream...

on Jun 01, 2012 · Like 1
Leida R Tampa, FL

Melissa, yes Navy blue would also be nice as Mikey F suggested. I totally agree, though my original suggestion was black.

on Jun 01, 2012 · Like 0
Susan T Denton, TX

I like the brick, I only thought the holes shouldn't show. Just turn them the same as the rest. Again, it's justmy opinion. :) I love HOMETALK too!

on Jun 03, 2012 · Like 1
Sweet Pea Studio Astor, FL

I think black or a deep, deep dark brown. You can go to Sherwin Williams online and use their application to download these two photos and then choose the colors you like and 'paint' them onto the shutters online. Don't forget to save the ones you like so you can make a final choice when you are finished 'painting'. Good luck! Please post again when you are finished choosing.

on Sep 15, 2012 · Like 2
Donna Dixson Buford, GA

Well coming from Dawg country of course it must be black! Red roof, black trim! And a great color to tie all the colors together. (Win # 2 on the books!)

on Sep 16, 2012 · Like 0
Linda Joseph, OR

A friend of mine has a brick house and she painted the trim navy blue it looks so good I think you don't want to match and blend, but pop. I would leave the windows white and just the shutters blue.

on Sep 16, 2012 · Like 0
Linda Joseph, OR

and that little gable up there blue too.

on Sep 16, 2012 · Like 0
Sweet Pea Studio Astor, FL

I like Linda's idea of using blue on the shutters and the gable. Maybe Bonnard's Blue would be the best with morning glories climbing up the fence of the flower garden. Then, of course, you would need some tall yellow flowers to complete the look. If you like wild flowers, compass plant, would work.

on Sep 17, 2012 · Like 0
Patty Bellingham, WA

I go with white shutters and fencing as you have red roof and red bricks. Front door I would do red. Then you can get your other colors from your garden flowers and foliage. A lot to think about but whatever you do it will look great. Good Luck :-)

on Sep 17, 2012 · Like 2
Sheryll S Jacksonville, FL

Brick RED like your metal roof. I have the same color metal roof, but my house is concrete block painted pale yellow and brick at each window. My shutters are Forest Green cause I don't like to paint and they came that way. I seriously think Brick Red shutters would be great.

on Sep 18, 2012 · Like 0

Oops! Leave without saving?

Hometalk.com

Hometalk is where people share and help with everything home & garden

Shutters: What color?

NOTE: You can drag and drop your photos to reorder them