First off, I hope this is the proper place for this thread.  If not, than sorry to the mods.  I have been lurking here for a bit with a few posts here and there.  I really enjoy reading what many of you have to say and keeping up on NE Ohio development.

 

My wife and I have been working on our lil ol' house in the hood trying to make it look some what respectable.  We have are working on the front of the house and are having a faceoff when it comes to paint.  I figured this was the best place to come for a neutral opinion.  Our house is not a beauty queen, we can't all live like MTS  :wink:.

 

Here are a few limiting factors:

-Painting the whole house is not an option, because... well it's expensive!

-The window trim is all white, and I don't want to take all of that on, so it has to stay white.

 

Ok, here it is as it stands today (the white on the front is just primer)

 

I came up with some alternatives with photoshop:

#1

 

#2

 

#3

 

#4

 

There you have it, some rough ideas.  Let me know what you like or dislike.  Let me know your thoughts on other possible colors to add in.  We want to paint the door too, but we are not sure what(not red!!).

 

Sorry if this is a lame first thread, it is what it is I suppose?

 

What do you think of a dark olive color for the door?

Is there supposed to be a color difference between option 1 and 3?  Or is it just a reversal of colors on the columns?

 

Assuming all colors are the same, I like option 1 best.

 

I think a dark olive front door could look nice.

Not a lame thread at all, and it's in the right place - I say option 1 as well.

I also vote option 1.

#1.

 

Is that a wooden screen door on the first pic, and if so, I vote for leaving it on.

 

A nickel porch lantern and mailbox would look great above and below the house numbers.

 

Yes I watch too much "Curb Appeal" on HGTV...

Wow, that I didn't expect it to be so unanimous, that's a good thing.  The color of blue is probably going to be a color that matches the house, I may not have achieved that exactly in my mock-ups.  That is a wooden screen door on our house, we put it on last year to replace the not so attractive storm door.  Right now there is no porch ceiling, I bought new tounge and groove bead board exactly like the original stuff.

 

Thanks for all of the replies.

One other thing, Shrubs of some kind, flowers and maybe some flower boxes are going to be part of the final product.  It's just so absolutely bare in the front, maybe a small tree too.

 

Here are a couple before and during photos:

I like #1 the best, but without the bottom grating/fencing painted blue. I feel like it's a little too much for me, personally, and I feel like it draws my eye to a part of the house that shouldn't really be given visual attention. But I like that blue horizontal stripe across.

 

I really like that sky blue kinda color, though. It's very handsome.

Option number 1.  But make the door pop!

You have a craftsman house, Craftsman colors are usually earth tones: browns, tans, greens, and ochres with red and green accents. If you "must" keep the white trim (craftsman houses NEVER had white trim, I would use a tan or ochre color. A blue is too strong a color with white. If you must use the blue use a flat finish only.

 

Here is a 1915 Craftsman we did in Indianapolis, The body is lt green the trim is an Ochre and the accent colors are dark green and red and a cream yellow.

 

Hope this gives you some ideas, I built the window boxes on the front ( we partially enclose the front porch top make a solarium) and of course the deck pergola, french door and hot tub on the back are all new as well.

 

The hosue was painted white when we got it.

I forgot to add that the siding on your house was added sometime after 1938 and you may find you have cedar shakes or lap siding underneath. I just got through remiving this siding off a 1871 Second Empire cottage we bought in Cincinnati and are restoring and generally the wood is in good shape.

Hey, thanks for the advice.  That house turned out very very nice.  I am aware that my house is a (less ornate) craftsmen bungalow and I know that the trim was originally a moss green color.  The clap board siding is still underneath and the little bit that I have seen look really great.  The front railing on the porch was actually covered with the blue tile and I removed it to reveal the original look, with bead board on the backside.

 

I would LOVE to remove the blue shingles, really really love to.  The cost is prohibitive for us, and the unknown underneath could get expensive fast.  I assume with the age of the tiles there may be some element of asbestos which could also create issues with the removal.  You did a beautiful job with yours but I don't think we even have enough money to repaint the siding that is there already.  There is still work happening inside too.

 

Actually our trim looked a lot like the green on your house.

Although Blue and white are not the traditional colors for our house, do you think painting the interior of the columns adds to the Craftsmen appearance?

 

MTS, got any suggestions to make the door "pop"?

Definitely option 1.  If you are working to save money, I'd agree with your decision not to paint the whole house.  The existing blue goes well with the grayish roof.  If you were willing to go all out and sink a bunch of money into it, I'd say put on a new roof with a darker color where you can get more paint schemes to compliment it.  But the roof already looks like its in excellent condition, so I doubt you'd want to do that!

^ We actually almost got the roof replaced at one point.  We had a hail storm and had an insurance adjuster look at it.  Of course the adjuster said there was not enough damage and a private contractor said there was and he could get the claim.  In the end we decided not to, but we would have gotten a dark roof for sure.

Now this is the arts and crafts home of my dreams, if only I had the cash!

 

 

^ Definitely got the details there.

Although Blue and white are not the traditional colors for our house, do you think painting the interior of the columns adds to the Craftsmen appearance?

 

MTS, got any suggestions to make the door "pop"?

 

buy a glass door or a door that matches your red brick.  Whatever you chose it must match the details of the home.

^ Over that existing door?  Wouldn't the reflections hide it?

^ Over that existing door?  Wouldn't the reflections hide it?

 

NO.  Replace the door with a NEW glass door or NEW wood door that matches the color of the chimney.

NO.  Replace the door with a NEW glass door or NEW wood door that matches the color of the chimney.

That door looks original.  If it is, and they change it for a new door, I hope they keep it in storage or something.

NO.  Replace the door with a NEW glass door or NEW wood door that matches the color of the chimney.

That door looks original.  If it is, and they change it for a new door, I hope they keep it in storage or something.

 

However, some of those original doors aren't as weatherproof or energy efficient as they are today.  It's just a suggestion. 

Have you thought about painting just the sashs a different color, with the blue you could go into a dk plum or a muted dr bluish gray.

 

As for the siding , there is common misconception that all this type of tile is asbestos, acrually many have a mineral wood base and doesnt need special remediation. We had ours tested on the second empirre befiore we look it off to confirm it wouldnt need remediation.

 

Whatever you do I would try to add one more color maybe in the panels of the wood part of the columns. Perhapos wahtever color you decide for the front door?

Sorry to sound ignorant but by sashs do you mean the interior of the window frame?  I suggested to my wife painting the storm window frames a different color (I would like to replace them but thats a whole other story!)  My wife likes a cream color but I keep suggesting darker colors.

 

Yes, the front door is original.  Many of the homes in my neighborhood have the exact same door.  MTS is right, it's not very energy efficient.  You could say the same for all of the windows in the house, they draft like nobodys business.  We will definitely be painting the door, no doubt about it.

 

This is sort of a goofy question, exactly how "hoopty" does the house look?  I look at it every day, so I may be numb to it.  Every once in a while I get the feeling that it's border line crack house.

Sorry to sound ignorant but by sashs do you mean the interior of the window frame?  I suggested to my wife painting the storm window frames a different color (I would like to replace them but thats a whole other story!)  My wife likes a cream color but I keep suggesting darker colors.

 

Yes, the front door is original.  Many of the homes in my neighborhood have the exact same door.  MTS is right, it's not very energy efficient.  You could say the same for all of the windows in the house, they draft like nobodys business.  We will definitely be painting the door, no doubt about it.

 

This is sort of a goofy question, exactly how "hoopty" does the house look?  I look at it every day, so I may be numb to it.  Every once in a while I get the feeling that it's border line crack house.

 

I would replace all the windows, unless you have cash to burn.  You can find window replacement company's that deal with historic homes.  It will cost but over the long run, its cheaper than giving it to the utility company.

Yes the sash are the windows.

 

I would NOT replace the windows. A common myth is replacement windows are efficient. A properly caulked and glazed historic single pane window has a R rating of .89 a double pane insulating window has an R rating of about 1.92. It is not worth the thousands you will spend and you will never get the moeny back in energy savings unless you plan on living there for 30 years AND most replacement  double panes start failing after 7-9 years.

 

Take your time and start rebuilding the windows one at a time takes a few  hours to rebuild a window. 1 TIP: when you replace your sash cords buy some PVC pipe bigger that the sash weights and put those in the window cavity. You will have to take your trim off from the inside.Insulate around the tube with fiberglass or Foaming insulation.If you use the foam let it cure thoroghly then put your trim back on. Your window weight travel through the PVC and now your window is properly insulated.

 

MOST of the drafts comes from that area NOT the glass. Also make sure your stops ( the trim that holds the window in place are snug so the window doesnt have ton of play.

 

You will be surprised how much more efficient they will be and you heat bill will go down. BTW insulating your duckwork and taping the joints really helps too.

Yes the sash are the windows.

 

I would NOT replace the windows. A common myth is replacement windows are efficient. A properly caulked and glazed historic single pane window has a R rating of .89 a double pane insulating window has an R rating of about 1.92. It is not worth the thousands you will spend and you will never get the moeny back in energy savings unless you plan on living there for 30 years AND most replacement  double panes start failing after 7-9 years.

 

Take your time and start rebuilding the windows one at a time takes a few  hours to rebuild a window. 1 TIP: when you replace your sash cords buy some PVC pipe bigger that the sash weights and put those in the window cavity. You will have to take your trim off from the inside.Insulate around the tube with fiberglass or Foaming insulation.If you use the foam let it cure thoroghly then put your trim back on. Your window weight travel through the PVC and now your window is properly insulated.

 

MOST of the drafts comes from that area NOT the glass. Also make sure your stops ( the trim that holds the window in place are snug so the window doesnt have ton of play.

 

You will be surprised how much more efficient they will be and you heat bill will go down. BTW insulating your duckwork and taping the joints really helps too.

 

Are you sure?  I'm asking not arguing.  Also, is his home in a historic district and what does the city say?  All those things come into play. 

 

My parents had to replace about 40% in the windows in the house.  We had ivy all over the house and it bore thru the brick and the wood framing in the house.  It cause significant damage to the house over the years.  They couldn't just replace the windows they had to replace with windows that were architecturally correct for the house.

That is GREAT advice about the weights!  I had a friend tell me to just pull the weights and ropes out and cram insulation in that void, naturally I did not want to lose the function the weights provide.  That sounds like a really great option, I'll start with the main rooms.

 

The only regulation for my neighborhood is the grass cannot be over 12", other than that knock yourself out.  We live in Canton, sort of close to downtown.  The nice thing about the small size of our city is I can ride my bike almost anywhere I want to go.

 

I think our neighbor may be in violation of the grass height.....

 

Of course it finally got cut yesterday and the bushes were removed today!

That is GREAT advice about the weights!  I had a friend tell me to just pull the weights and ropes out and cram insulation in that void, naturally I did not want to lose the function the weights provide.  That sounds like a really great option, I'll start with the main rooms.

 

The only regulation for my neighborhood is the grass cannot be over 12", other than that knock yourself out.  We live in Canton, sort of close to downtown.  The nice thing about the small size of our city is I can ride my bike almost anywhere I want to go.

 

I think our neighbor may be in violation of the grass height.....

 

Of course it finally got cut yesterday and the bushes were removed today!

 

Child is that wild kingdom??