Spring Refresh
Redfin reached out to me recently asking for advice on how to boost curb appeal, especially during this hot Spring market (you can read about the craziness here in New England in this piece from the Boston Globe). You can read what I wrote for Red Fin here.
I love color and if you do, too, don't be afraid to apply it to the outside of your home. Assess the architectural elements first. Notice the color of your roof, any stone work, brick or grout lines and use those tones as a departure point. In the Boston area, many of my clients have brick homes or shingled Victorians but choosing the right exterior palette can instantly make these houses feel modern and fresh, from black trim with glossy teal front doors to dark green shingles with lighter green trim and eggplant purple entry. I ask my clients about evocative trips (Greece could mean a white house with a bright blue door) or a mood they are trying to evoke. Always consider the exposure to the sun and test colors in that light. But above all else be bold, stick with what you love and try it out.
But let’s break it down.
I love color, but do consider your surroundings, your neighbors, location and landscape. You want to bring out your personality but not be garish. For example, I live in a historic district full of Victorian homes. Many have two to four colors on the exterior. However, they use palettes that are either relevant to the time in which they were built, or work as a color system, or complement the exterior material, whether it’s wood, stone or brick. For example, for a client in my neighborhood whose home is brick, I recommended three trims colors and a separate front door shade.
Here we are sampling trim colors from Farrow and Ball in Railings, Inchyra Blue and the front door in Blazer.
2. Try your colors in the light outside, paying the most attention to the front of the house. Be careful with whites. A bright white on the exterior in full sun will look blue. Try some with a touch of yellow like Simply White by Benjamin Moore or Horizon by Benjamin Moore.
Get a good sample, not just a few strokes. Here you can see us trying different trims.
3. If you choose to stay neutral for the body of the house, one way to make the even a traditional home look more modern is to paint the trim the same color as clapboard. Go bold with the front door. And if you don’t like it, you can always change your mind.
And the After:
Check out the Before of a Brick House I chose new paint colors for:
