I've been thinking about paint colors for a while. It's the next big thing to happen to the house. Dave and I always had a dark brown in mind. After a couple of summers we're thinking that might not be the best idea. We're working against two major factors: no insulation in the walls and our inability to plant trees where we need them to block the summer sun. Adding a color that sucks in the heat is probably one of the worst things we could do.
Recently I've been considering white. But then again, I need to work with the color schemes already established. The roof is dark,dark brown and the framing around the windows is white. Soooooo, I have no idea. I'd like to add a color to contrast with the white of the frames and complement the brown of the roof. I think I'm too worried about this because I've seen other houses where the wrong shade of brown makes the house look just awful. It's like nail polish, the wrong shade of gold will make you look like a stripper but the right one can make you look like you walked out of Channel.
I'm also having a hard time visualizing what a color will really look like because of the current stucco on the house. It's so awful! Who invented this horrible technique of making a building look like it's covered in cake frosting? Seriously! If you change the color of the house to white it looks like a wedding cake and pink it looks like a little girl's birthday cake! Even designer cakes don't use this kind of coating anymore! Smooth fondant has replaced the whippie stuff! That's something else to add to the bill: re-stucco the house.
On another note. The house behind/beside us is now up for sale after a major re-do. I went over one day to say hello and be neighborly. The contractor showed me all the changes, etc he was doing to the house (none to the Mid Century Modern taste). When I went to leave he TELLS me that they're going to paint one of our walls and landscape part of our property. Doesn't ASK, if it's ok with me but TELLS me that's what he's going to do. I informed Dave and he talked to them. Dave has a better way with people who have that kind of stupidity audacity. Last week they had an open house so I went over to see the final work. The realtor says to me "Did you see they didn't paint your wall or put plants on your side? They really wanted to." I replied in the kindest way I could "Yes, I did and I appreciate you not changing MY property." Then she started asking me how soon we're going to repaint the house and tried selling me the contractor and his services. I can't help but laugh.
Labels: color, neighbors, painting
