Help me pick a PAINT COLOR?!! Hubby and I disagree.

I know I’ve shared this a few times, but the reason we could afford a 10 acre, 360 degree view parcel in wine country was because … no one else wanted it.

“Why?”, you ask?…

Well, a few reasons. One is that the house is very disjointed. The previous owner added on without an architect, and it shows. For us it works because we use our new addition part – and then rent out the 3 bedroom/2 bath original house on AirBnB.

Another reason… which I’ve talked about previously… the past owner used Roundup on every single inch of this property except the area right around the house. All the acreage was dead. I think that may have turned off grape growers, olive growers and any kind of gardening type person.

A third reason, and this one might be subjective, is the house color. It is powder blue or sky blue. Not sure. Both look wrong to me. And even though the house was very recently fully and newly painted this color, I feel the need to change it. To me, every single day, I stumble on the color of the house. I mean, every day it jars me. I’m not used to it. I don’t think I would ever get used to it.

In fact, when people ask me what is my least favorite color (besides flesh and Crayola Nude), I would say, “Powder blue”.

The front of the house…

The views are great!

I FIGURE I CAN PAINT IT MYSELF… heck,it is only one story and I’ve done it before!

OK, so I can’t afford to have the house painted, especially because we have yet to fence in the front two acres – which will be for Finn, BG and Wrigley, when the time comes.

Anyway, I figured I could paint it myself. I’m not working much, so I have free time. And, the house is only one story.

I painted my house in Oregon that was 2 stories! I learned that I really hate heights… and that dark house colors don’t work. I painted the house a lovely rich grey brown (which I loved on my test slab), but once applied, the house looked like a mud hut. I ended up having to pay house painters to redo it because I was too afraid of ladders after my first try.

I’ve tried so many colors… the sheds look like a ‘paint by numbers’ gone way wrong.

HUBBY AND I DISAGREE.

I thought I wanted a sage color. But, I couldn’t find the right sage. They all looked like pea soup or baby diaper.

Then I went to rich browns again. Same issue as before.

Hubby wanted yellow, so we tried a bunch of yellows.

I finally settled on a grey with a hint of brown. It is like a soft pewter.

But, Hubby still wants yellow.

MY ISSUE with the YELLOW

My issue with Hubby’s yellow is that I don’t want to trade one IT’S A SMALL WORLD storybook color for another. And, the inside of the house is yellow. I already painted the entire inside with different shades of cream and yellow.

Hubby likes a ‘sunny’ yellow. He thinks all the other colors are ‘avocado’. All of them. He has said that about every single color I’ve brought home… “Isn’t that avocado?…”. Sigh.

Also, I want the trees and flowers to stand out, too.

CHOICES. I’ve narrowed it down.

HELP ME, please. Email me or comment which color you like best. The white trim will stay.

Hubby Yellow

My grey

Dark grey brown (afraid this will get too heavy if it is the entire house)

Hubby Yellow

Avocado

Darker avocado.

This is in the shade. I tried to get every color against the white trim – since it is staying.

PLEASE HELP ME! ANY EXPERIENCE IS WELCOMED HERE.

Horse and Man

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45 comments have been posted...

dawndi Post author01/05/2018 at 07:46

I did! We did. He liked yellow. I liked darker brown grey. Ha!
dawndi Post author01/05/2018 at 07:46

I think we are going for darker grey. Am furiously painting the shed darker to see if it is overwhelming.
Karen 30/04/2018 at 14:55

why not take a drive? Find suburb area with some one story houses. Look at their color schemes. You might end up with a completely different color scheme than either of you considered.
Fran 30/04/2018 at 12:36

Your grey gets my vote. 2nd choice the darker grey. Good luck!
dawndi Post author29/04/2018 at 16:14

Good idea!
dawndi Post author29/04/2018 at 16:13

THANKS!
Bonnie J Bishop 28/04/2018 at 15:59

Grass green with Yellow doors. or the lady who said gold.
A bright color would reflect the sun though and be cooler inside.

Well I guess grass green is a primary color too, sorry.

Maybe a darker shade of yellow?
Good luck sweetie!
Barb 27/04/2018 at 22:53

I live in a condo community in Arizona where all the houses are painted Navajo White which is light yellow. I am used to it after 6 years but recently had the front door and shutters painted bitter berry (a brownish red color) to get away from yellow. The window casings are painted white. That baby blue makes me gag.
Diana Sollars 27/04/2018 at 21:23

Gray
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 15:07

Great information! Thank you!
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 15:06

A yellow that doesn’t attract dirt and bugs. ;)
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 15:06

THANKS!
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 15:06

Good ideas!
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 15:05

I know, so tough
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 15:05

Thanks!
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 15:05

DOES YOUR YELLOW DOOR GET DIRTY EASILY?
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 15:05

THANKS!
Sandee 27/04/2018 at 14:59

After many years as an interior designer in California I moved up to Washington and realized that all my go to colors did not work up her in the pacific northwest. That being said in California where you are I would stay away from the greys and avocados. Your husband probably sees color differently so that is why he is not happy with your color choices. The yellows that you picked may not be warm/strong enough for you. Have you thought about a more golden tone to the paint color? Being that the hills will go golden brown for most of the year it might make a nice blend with the surrounding area. White trim with a contrasting door would add the pop you are looking for. Look at Benjamin Moore’s Stuart Gold HC10. The website allows you to see the color on a bunch of exterior views. It is one of their historical colors and it might just suit both of you. I can also see it with a cute red barn for contrast.
Robynne Catheron 27/04/2018 at 10:28

Ooh, maybe you could paint the front door a happy, sunny yellow to appease the hubby :)
Robynne Catheron 27/04/2018 at 10:24

I LOVELOVELOVE your first grey, the lighter, softer one. It will be beautiful with the white trim! Your trees and flowers will definitely stand out. From a distance, the house will blend but not disappear into the landscape like green would. Like you, I’m fond of creamy yellow interiors, but yellow houses always make me think of great-grandparents with white picket fences. That’s just my opinion, of course :)

I can’t wait to see the pics when it’s done! Whatever color you decide to go with will be an improvement and it will be gorgeous!
Valrey 27/04/2018 at 10:08

I think a sage would be the best, but of the options you have on the shed, I’d vote for #3–the avocado. Perhaps you could paint your front door some shade of yellow to compromise with your hubby?…Personally, I’m not into yellow, but I watch a lot of HGTV and one of the shows recently did a yellow front door and it was okay (I think it was Fixer Upper–maybe you could stream a couple of recent episodes for inspiration?)

Good luck!
Ellen Edmunds Groppo 27/04/2018 at 09:18

I also love a bright contrasting door. Not sure what until house is painted.
Ellen Edmunds Groppo 27/04/2018 at 09:15

House Color: I like the color in the middle, Dark Gray Brow. However, if that is too dark maybe it could be lightened a bit. I just think it contrasts beautifully with the white trim as well as any yellow it comes in contact with. Good Luck. Color is a tricky thing.
Susan J Montgomery 27/04/2018 at 08:29

Grey with a yellow door is what I have picked for our house! But, if you want things to look ‘organic’ then look at the color palette of your land. Use the sand/beige of the dirt, or the grey of the tree trunks, and your house will feel a part of the landscape.
Kristen 27/04/2018 at 08:01

I definitely couldn’t handle that much yellow haha. I really like your gray, second choice would be the first avocado I think. Good luck!
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:45

Thank you!!! I like the idea of a contrasting door. Coral would be so pretty and happy!
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:44

I’m afraid a light colored house would show all the dirt and dust around here…
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:44

Aha. I think I need to add a neutral into the grey.
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:44

Great idea!
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:43

I do want the flowers to pop… but maybe I need a hint of brown in that grey. I thought it had it, but
the photos show it as grey only.
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:43

Thank you!!!
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:43

Anytime, sister, anytime.
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:42

Thank you!!! – yes, the blue does show through.
dawndi Post author27/04/2018 at 07:42

Thank you!!!
Heather 27/04/2018 at 07:27

I have powder blue “lifetime” siding and I do NOT like it. At. All. Resigned to my fate I find joy in painting the (new since the 2016 flood)) front door. Currently it’s a bright coral and my son hates it. I have painted it Chinese red, rich ruby red and once jet black, and may do a candy apple red next time. My vote is “your” grey, it resonates with a horse ranch feel and you could paint the front door “hubby” yellow. Good luck!
Sue 27/04/2018 at 06:11

Hi Dawn! We painted our home a beige that has a yellow tone (as opposed to a beige that leans towards pink or green). We have all white trim, and a gorgeous red front door and matching shutters. Wonder if hubby would go for a “yellow beige”? I have a pic and will email it to you . . . good luck!
Megan 27/04/2018 at 06:08

A very inspiring architect from Livingston, MT once said that a house should be a part of the natural environment and stick out-opposite. Being a part of the environment invites the local wildlife (birds, bigs, mammals, etc) to your property which was once their natural habitat. So, I would stand on a nearby hill and look at your property, imagine what it would like like if perfect and how your house and barns fit into that vision. That’s just me. Good luck.
Sonya 27/04/2018 at 04:38

I would try cream or off-white, with dark red (not maroon, which has purple) trim…

As for the Roundup, see if your extension service can help you amend the soil, then start new grass… You’ll have to do it the way they tell you, but… they sometimes give you GRANTS for this, or at least part of it.

Just a thought. Blessings!
Jan Hoole 27/04/2018 at 02:49

I don’t think I’d mind the blue, and I’d also like the yellow (I’m with Hubby on that one) but I’ll bet the yellow would be a bit blinding in the sun. I’d go with your grey. it’s not going to look oppressive but it’ll make the colours of the trees and any flowers really pop. I think the other colours might be a bit too heavy. Have fun!
Laurie 27/04/2018 at 01:39

Definitely the GREY!!!
You won’t regret that one.
Cathy 26/04/2018 at 20:59

First, Alice and I are coming down to help paint. And – not to confuse your issues but we do have a fabulous paint color to recommend. When do we start?
Patti 26/04/2018 at 20:20

I’d say your gray. It might be even better once there’s primer underneath so it doesn’t show the blue. Good luck!
Teresa 26/04/2018 at 20:06

Sorry, but I like hubby yellow. 2nd choice would be first avocado.
dawndi Post author26/04/2018 at 19:20

Thank you! If we had shutters, I’d do the same. Pretty much the colors of the Grass Valley house.
Can’t teach an old dog…
cheryl 26/04/2018 at 19:13

Your gray or the first avocado would be my first and second choice. Our house spent three years as a light blue – and I agree with you in my dislike of that as a house color. I generally like blue – but always found it jarring. It just didn’t look organic and I’m glad it is gone – now we have a medium gray with with black shutters and white trim. Good Luck!