Color Suggestion

by Vshammond

+19

Answered

We are trying to modernize our 1960 ranch, the carport is closed in, there is hardy siding on south end and west front. There is a new deck on the back with an addition that was a sunroom and now a sitting area for bedroom, also hardy siding. The house is brick red...scattered gray and a yellow (dark)--- we need a color for siding to blend, it will be seen from front and side from road....do we paint brick?

1960's redo

11 answers

Marion Nesbitt on Feb 15, 2015
Maybe just the pic but the siding looks like gold metallic?? Looks like the brick has certain parts painted already with that gold colour in it. Don't see any problem with that. Looks kind of cool. Not sure about painting all the brick. Any I've seen starts to peel in a couple of years. An option might be to paint the siding.

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- Vshammond on Feb 15, 2015
  @Marion Nesbitt the siding is a greenish color...I think the setting was on "warm" but the brick has not been painted....it is red with gray and yellow/gold mixed in......I have painted all my outside doors deep (dark) yellow....the sliding is on south end and west front (HOT HOT SUN) that little section of brick to the right of door goes around to the back of the house....other picture...the deck will continue to the end...then there is another added room of siding...Thanks...OH what color for the siding not to SCREAM from the road that will go with brick...?
  
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- Marion Nesbitt on Feb 15, 2015
  @Vshammond Actually, green and red are a good combo as in a med-dark or darker green (loden green?) which I think has a bit of yellow in the mix. Or, perhaps if the doors picked up the gray in the brick the look would be more subdued - as in a charcoal. Or maybe do gray on the siding to pick up a colour from the brick and stay with the dark yellow doors. Have you ready access to one of those apps that scan a pic of your house, and you can play around with dif colour combos to get a better visual before committing? I would definitely try alternatives rather than painting the brick.
  
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- Wanda sinnema on Feb 16, 2015
  @Vshammond lots of brick in our area is painted. Usually done by a professional,when a major remodel-update is done...I also know it takes a SPECIAL PAINT,, and sealer and or primer.. otherwise it is like a sponge..
  
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Nancy Gramm on Feb 15, 2015
Don't paint the brick! Of course, it's your house and you can do as you like but once brick's painted, that pretty much puts paid to it ever being anything but again. As to color choice, I'm attaching a pic of the hub's shop. Not a great pic, but I think you can get a good feel for it. I love that color palette: a smoky green with steel gray and bright white. (The stone in the foreground is my studio, which was the original focus of the pic.) I do think that shade of green would look terrific with your brick--sorry, I don't remember the actual paint colors. Oh, and you can't see it from this but the front door is the same steel gray as the soffit. The window and door trim is white.

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- Vshammond on Feb 20, 2015
  @Nancy Gramm Thank you....we are putting a front porch on the house and it will have rock accents at the base....we were looking at a gray color because my sister in law just redid the outside of a rental.....and we do like it.....can you send me a picture of that awing over the door of the shop.....I need something over that back door....the deck part had a roof (and will again) but a southern afternoon thunderstorm took it! The house is a LONG ranch style (I grew up in) from the 1960s....carport enclosed with the siding and sunroom added with siding....it was painted a red color in the beginning (1970s) but that sort of looked "cheap"...but now shutters are added a front porch will be added (instead of portico) to cut down on the length. Any other suggestion and pictures would be welcomed. I really have never been sure about painted brick....so permanent.
  
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Ellen DeVilbiss on Feb 15, 2015
Why not try bringing in the cool gray/blue that is the other color in the brick? Using a cool tone in a hot area can make it seem cooler (illusions can be useful). And hang something decorative near the door. A plaque or decorative metal piece is probably better that a plant because of the heat, but it should be long and vertical in feel.

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- Vshammond on Feb 20, 2015
  @Ellen DeVilbiss Thanks I am thing about just using that brick as a wall.....BUT I just cannot stand the electric meter and phone equipment. Suggestions on what to do with them....Cost too much to be moved....
  
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- Ellen DeVilbiss on Feb 20, 2015
  I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to paint those things. What about a planter with an attached trellis? Then grow a vine up the trellis. By the way I wouldn't paint the brick, just the siding. Removing paint from brick damages them so if you didn't like it, changing back is impossible.
  
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Funnygirl on Feb 15, 2015
You can also stain brick a different color to tone it down

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Susan on Feb 15, 2015
I love the look of white brick! A home in an upscale neighborhood near us was painted a taupe color with black trim and it is beautiful! The speckled brick look is soooo out so I would probably paint it. Whatever makes you happy, sure would simplify roof and siding colors in the future ;-)

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Suzanne on Feb 15, 2015
Have painted brick fireplaces...crowning glory of the rm. Brick is porous so use good primer. Sometimes you can find "oops" paint at H Depot or Lowe's, even in lg quantities for primer...did that on a cinderblock outbldg. Check color schemes at Porter Paints test for 'your' colors! Light colors come forward and look larger, dark colors recede. By all means get rid of that multi-color brick. The taupe with black trim, Susan mentioned sounds beautiful. I like basic colors, then changeable accent or decorative pieces.

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Suzanne on Feb 15, 2015
Taupe is a good color to blend with the green siding...maybe a taupe on darker intensity.

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Ilona Elliott on Feb 15, 2015
If you don't want to paint the brick I would stay warm on the siding color or it will be too contrasty with the red of the brick and will make it even redder. Anything with green tones will not work because it is the opposite of red on the color wheel and create color vibrations for your eyes. I would try painting several different color patches to see what you like before doing it all. You could use maybe plum, deep red, dark pumpkin, and paint the white door another color that adds the contrast--navy, or taupe. Then I would add a red accent on that solid wall of siding--something hanging on it, since it is screaming for some interest. Paint can do so much--cute house, enjoy!

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- Marion Nesbitt on Feb 17, 2015
  @Ilona Elliott It's because these colours are opposite on the colour wheel that they can work.
  
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- Ilona Elliott on Feb 18, 2015
  @Marion Nesbitt Yes but she asked for color to BLEND not contrast. Just a matter of taste, but I think the homeowner is right. The brick is so red, you wouldn't want to make it appear even redder. At least I wouldn't.
  
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- Vshammond on Feb 20, 2015
  @Ilona Elliott Like your ideas....you sound like you know color....I will go and look for those samples...I do not like green but I am always drawn to it on other peoples houses. I am a red girl... we have tried a brown color on the back people did like that.....I just want to having something that would blend on this LONG ranch house 7 windows across the front plus a large picture window with two side windows (of course that is coming out and a fireplace for gas logs it its place --more siding)...we are adding a front porch for rocking chairs instead of a portico. Right now all exterior doors are brown mustard (for those brick) but I am always willing to change...we have had red, white, williamsburg blue.....any other suggestions....pictures are welcome...thank you borth
  
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- Ilona Elliott on Feb 21, 2015
  @Vshammond Have you checked out HOUZZ? There are so many photos there, you could search for brick and siding ranch homes and find so much it gets overwhelming! I love that site though, have huge ideabooks on it. Sounds like you've got a great remodel going on.
  
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Debbie Bush on Feb 15, 2015
I would paint the siding a redwood

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- Vshammond on Feb 20, 2015
  @Debbie Bush it was painted a red color back in the 70s (when I was in high school) but looked cheap...that could have been the type of siding...we have replaced and added shutters to the front of the house....I am a red kinda girl so I can go with a sample of that....what would you do on that back wall with brick....as far as leaving the brick like it is....what type of "decorative accents" I can not stand the power meters...but I do enjoy electricity, internet, and television! suggestions
  
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Debbie Bush on Feb 20, 2015
Make a built up frame and planter but only plant greenery

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Debbie Bush on Feb 20, 2015
To surround the ugly meter things

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