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PAINT YOUR TRIM FOR AN EXTERIOR FACELIFT
A client recently asked for advice on sprucing up the exterior of her
home. She felt it looked tired and didn’t make enough of a statement.
The answer is really about how the colors of the structure harmonize, or
contrast, with the accessorizing features of the façade.
Assuming the front of your home is in good condition, whether it is
wooden, brick, vinyl, stone, or a combination of elements, you can
achieve a noticeable transformation by painting the railings, shutters,
trim and front door, plus a few other tips.
Begin by analyzing how the home exteriors around you appear. Don’t try
to duplicate colors in close proximity or your choice won’t draw
attention.
There are different ways to approach how your exterior might look. My
client, for example, has a brick front that blends gray, white and tan
colorations. Her railing, front door and garage door are painted a very
soft sage, and the window trim matches the tan of the brick. She has no
shutters.
We opted for a higher contrast look that would add stimulation, rather
than a calm feel. Staying with the green idea she loved, we choose a
much deeper olive green for the railings, garage door, and recesses of
the door. The framework around the garage door and on all protrusions on
the front door, as well as all the inner trim on the windows, will be
painted a vanilla white.
The white enhancement will be much like the matting on an art print. It
will cause the dark green to pop out and be noticed. Choosing a rich
brown with white trim would work just as well at this home.
Across the street from my client’s home is a similar color brick with a
vinyl mix that blends the colors. The painted trim is a khaki color that
brings all the tones together for a monochromatic look that is quiet and
tasteful.
If you’re unsure what color to choose, you should consider what color
trees, shrubs and flowers you have. The color of Japanese maple could be
brought into the trim, or if you feature red geraniums, you might want a
slightly deeper red door.
Another idea is to blend the color scheme for the interior and exterior.
A green introduction on the door might be repeated in varying shades on
the inside. High contrast would be repeated on the inside, and low
contrast for the monochromatic.
As in any interior, lighting fixtures should be sufficient and eye
appealing. If they look worn, remove them, along with the door handle
and the house numbers, and spray them with metallic paint for sizzling
effect.
Add window boxes, or floral filled urns, decorative benches, wicker
furnishings and some metal wall art to add personality and curb appeal.
Add a few curving flowerbeds in the lawn if the front is boring and your
porch is small.
Don’t forget to fertilize the lawn, and add the finishing touch of
gleaming windows.
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