House Colors: Gray, White, Green or Black

Posted on | July 28, 2010 | 15 Comments

Greg and I gathering references to get our roof redone. In the meantime I’m snapping photos around town of potential roof colors. This morning I realized I’ve never shown photos of my potential house colors which to me totally relates to the roof color.

My two favorite houses in town are a shade of gray with dark shutters and white trim. The house above is gray/brown with dark green shutters. How cute is the whale over the front door? The cobblestone driveway is pretty awesome too! The second just a block away from my house is dark gray, white trim, with black shutters. See a photo of inside this house here (my fav wallpaper). Both color combos are traditional but feel a little dressier with contrasting dark shutters.

Tomorrow I’ll share potential roof colors and gutter options.

Category: house renovation, marblehead, paint colors

Painted House Number

Posted on | May 18, 2010 | 10 Comments

Have you ever walk by a house a hundred times but never notice a beautiful little detail? Last week on the news; I must have saw the entrance of 10 Downing Street in London (residence and office of the Prime Minister ) a hundred times. I kept fixating on the painted 10 on the front door. That night I walked by a similar door in Marblehead. Suddenly I realized I love glossy black front doors with painted white house numbers. How great would 39 look on my front door? Love it!

10 downing street entrance Painted House Number

painted number on door in marblehead Painted House Number

7 painted on front door Painted House Number

Category: marblehead, outdoor, paint colors

Inspired By Eggs & Sofra

Posted on | April 22, 2010 | 15 Comments

I picked up a pack of fresh beautiful eggs from Siena Farms at Sofra in Cambridge this afternoon. I now know what color I really want to paint my walls, Araucana. The Araucana is a breed of chickens that lay beautiful blue/green eggs.

I know Martha Stewart carries a paint color called, Araucana but it looks a little too teal.
When I held the Araucana egg up to my paint samples it was really close in color to Verte De Terre from Farrow & Ball. The egg was just a few shades lighter.

Below my super yum lunch I shared with fellow blogger, Kate Flaim at Sofra. We had a blast trying out different flatbreads and sweets. My falafel style flatbread had a really interesting beet spread. Above and below photos of my eggs and lunch.

Sofra Bakery & Cafe
1 Belmont Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-3161
sofrabakery.com

Category: boston and metro, eating out, paint colors

Testing Out More Greens & Trim Colors

Posted on | April 19, 2010 | 9 Comments

DSC 2261 Testing Out More Greens & Trim Colors

Round two of picking a green paint for the den. I love Farrow & Ball’s paint colors but all the greens are just too dark for the den. I got a lot of votes for #2 Teresa’s Green (F&B) but to me it’s too blue. I want a sage green.

This morning I picked a few large paint samples from C2. I’ve read/heard C2 has a similar paint structure to Farrow & Ball. I think we have a winner with #4 Cucumber. I like the shade and it’s a nice green! I’ll have to live with it for few days. But I do feel confident if Cucumber doesn’t work I can find something similar in C2’s line.

Now onto trim colors. I tried out a few samples over the weekend. Trim colors from left to right: Off White, Joa’s White, Clunch, and Lime White all by Farrow & Ball. I’m leaning towards Off White, Clunch, or Lime White which are brown/grey/warm whites. I’m not a fan of yellow whites. #2 Joa’s white is pretty but too pink.

Below a video of the paint samples. The colors are so hard to photograph. I was hoping the video would give you a better idea of what the colors look like in real life. View on youtube in HD.

Category: house renovation, paint colors, video

Sage Green Rooms

Posted on | March 17, 2010 | 17 Comments

The paint samples are continuing to dry in the den. The sun has returned but no room in my house could ever be classified as “sunny”. The house sits west which in the winter gives us some nice light on the back of house—which hardly has any windows— and afternoon sun in the front.

My favorites so far are #1 Cooking Apple and #3 Vert De Terre. In the photo above the colors look grayer then they do in real life. I am getting a lot of votes for #2 which is more blue then green. The room behind the den is going to blue so don’t fret if your color doesn’t win this round. Cooking Apple Green and Vert De Terre are both lovely colors but they are too dark for my space. Farrow & Ball was kind enough to send me a few more samples to try out. Stay tuned…

I imagine the walls to be a sage green like the rooms I found below on marthastewart.com. I realize the walls will look dark until I add furnishings, trim, and lighting. Picking paint colors that are up against stark white walls in an isolated scenario is probably not the best idea.