My TOP 10 Real Home Exterior Makeovers: Before & After
Online Color Consulting: My Top 10 Exterior Painting Projects
Are you struggling to find inspiration for the exterior of your home? Are the homes on Houzz a little ‘out of your league and budget?’ I hear you, so I’m here to share some REAL home exterior makeovers with you, to get those creative juices flowin’ and paint rollers rollin’ (creative juice in our house is always mixed with wine).
Sample photos from a client’s E-design consultation
What’s a REAL HOME?
Well, it’s not that fancy-schmancy homes aren’t real – they are, but they aren’t always ‘really applicable’ to the average homeowner. Sometimes, it’s nice to see a home similar to yours that’s undergone an affordable and FABULOUS color makeover!
‘Because not every home comes perfectly coordinated, sometimes you have to find a happy medium between what YOU want and what your home can handle based on its existing finishes.’
Sherwin Williams Alabaster siding with Aloof Gray shutters
EXTERIOR MAKEOVER 1: CLEAN COLORS VS. DIRTY COLORS
This first one was tricky – I had to put on my serious drinking thinking cap. My clients hired me to pick a new garage door color, but looking at their photos, I knew there was no magical color that would pull everything together – the right bones weren’t in place.
- While the beige of the trim was fine with the stonework, it was too dirty looking for the yellow siding (clean and dirty colors don’t always love each other).
- There were both beige and white on the trims (beige main trims and white gables).
I never like to see clients waste money on painting projects when we aren’t fixing the REAL problem – even if that’s not the main thing they hired me for. So, I went out on a limb and asked if they’d be open to painting the trim – as well as the garage door, and freakin’ hallelujah, they agreed (I assumed painting the siding was a bit much to ask, and I didn’t think we needed to go THAT far to get great results)!
And look at her now…
It’s like the whole home breathed a sigh of relief (as well as me, because it IS all about me, right?). Not only does the yellow siding look better with the stonework, but the home now has a thoughtful palette that looks purposeful and intentional rather than accidental.
EXTERIOR MAKEOVER 2: NOT SO GREEN WITH ENVY
This project had me twitchin’ in my seat. My clients were looking for just the right paint color for the cedar shakes on their home, but I couldn’t suggest a single color without seeing the trim and shutters painted first.
Why?
You can’t fix it if the foundation isn’t solid (or at least close to it).
Let’s spend a moment with the green on the trim and shutters…
Are you feeling nauseous yet? The two greens were fighting each other big time. While the green of the shutters was okay with the brick, really, nothing was working, and the home was at a fraction of its potential. However, I knew that with the right palette, this home could make a shocking turnaround.
After, holy friggin’ CANOLLI…
I know it all costs money—I get it. But sometimes, if you can spend smart money, you’ll add visual, emotional, and ACTUAL value to your home rather than making things worse. My clients were getting their home ready for sale, and I can say without a doubt that the curb appeal doubled on this beauty.
The Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door
EXTERIOR MAKEOVER 3: PAINTED BRICK MID-CENTURY HOME
Those who’ve been with me for a while (thanks for drinkin’ the Kool-aid) know this one will always be near and dear to my heart…
This home had great lines and the potential to be a real show-stopper – look at it NOW…
Did you sneak a peek at the orange front door? Let’s take a closer look…
See ALL of this project HERE
I LOVE IT! While the owners made a few structural changes around the front door, we chose Benjamin Moore Ballet White, Willow, and Sherwin Williams Determined Orange for the paint palette.
EXTERIOR MAKEOVER 4: A HOT MESS OF THE WRONG COLORS
I fell in love with the curb appeal of this country-style home, but not the colors…
It’s hard to say where the inspiration for this color palette came from. A lot was going on between the violet-tinted brown shakes, orange siding, and red front door (and none of it was good for this home).
By tuning into the needs of this gorgeous home (the roof and stone), we hit the perfect combo…
A home like this can handle a stately black door (shown above) or a beautiful mid-toned blue-green-gray. It all comes down to the homeowner’s tastes!
Let’s check it out from another angle…
The Best Medium-Depth Neutrals: Beige, Taupe, Greige & More
EXTERIOR MAKEOVERS 5, 6: Ink Pink, You Stink
Pink is, hands-down, the number one color/undertone haunting my Online Color Consulting clients as they look to update and modernize their pink brick fireplaces, countertops, carpets, and exteriors.
While the before photo of this first home is a bit blurry, you don’t need rose-tinted glasses to see the pinkalicious vibe of the stonework…
After, it looks like a brand new home with the charcoal roof coming to life in juxtaposition to the warm wood garage doors and creamy warmth of the painted stone and siding.
From the suggested palettes, my clients chose Sherwin Williams White Duck, one of my favorite warm off-white paint colors (I’m also a big fan of it on walls and cabinets).
As for this next home, it’s that DARN PINK BRICK!
And after, what a cutie-patootie! Again, a soft shade of warm off-white hits the perfect spot (actual ‘white’ can be pretty stark on some homes).
While the front patio still has pink brick, the Benjamin Moore Sioux Falls is the perfect, gentle complement, while a stronger teal could’ve bounced too hard off of it.
EXTERIOR MAKEOVER 7: Brand Spankin’ New
My next clients were looking for a white exterior paired with shutters that would complement their metal roof and warm-toned brick. Naturally, being new construction, there aren’t any ‘before’ photos of this bad boy.
But after photos? HELLS YES!
We went with Sherwin Williams Alabaster for the siding and Dovetail on the shutters, a soft, medium-toned, warm gray. A cool white would have been too stark with the warm-toned brick (on the foundation and chimney), but we also didn’t want to go so warm that the house turned out ‘cream’ or overly yellow.
The 8 Best White Paint Colours
EXTERIOR MAKEOVER 8: Brown Brick Beauty
I love brick. I mean, I don’t love ALL brick, as there are some pretty fugly ones out there, but this was one I wouldn’t dream of painting over…
However, the homeowner was bored with the lackluster beige on the siding (Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth) and wanted more interest while still humoring her home’s needs (roof/brick/exposure)—and she got just the interest she was looking for with Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray!
At first, she chose not to put the shutters back up…
While her home could’ve easily gone shutter-free, we both agreed they would be the perfect finishing touch. I don’t have full home shots with them installed, but I do have a close-up and a shot of the detached garage (Minwax Dark Walnut).
The Best Exterior Paint Colours: Why Your Home’s Exposure Matters
To see more colors like Gauntlet Gray, read this post HERE
EXTERIOR MAKEOVER 9: SHUTTER LOVE
Shutters can make or break a home – consider this next home ‘made.’ While I don’t have ‘before’ photos of this project, I’m super happy with how it turned out in all its teal and gray glory!
You’re looking at Benjamin Moore Gray Owl on the siding with Sherwin Williams Drizzle on the shutters.
How Exposure Affects Exterior Paint Colors
A light color like Gray Owl can be challenging if your home receives a lot of south-facing or afternoon western light, as this depth of color can wash out. That’s why it’s important to partner it with clean white trim to show contrast.
The Best Teal and Blue-Green Blend Paint Colors
EXTERIOR MAKEOVER 10: TELL OSCAR THE GROUCH I SAID HI
I love a unique home, and with its green and teal palette, this one was an eye-catcher!
It was important to take our color cues from the driveway, as the roof wasn’t visible, and there wasn’t any stone or brick on the home to humor. Now, let’s see how she turned out…
We chose a palette of Sherwin Williams Polished Concrete, Pure White trim, and the glorious Sherwin Williams Still Water on the front door.
The Best Navy and Blue-Green Paint Colors for Your Front Door
READ MORE
4 Tips to Read Before Picking Your Exterior Paint Colours
The Best Shutter (& Front Door) Colors for a Brick Exterior
How to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home’s Exterior
ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2021, UPDATED IN 2024
I so look forward to your every post. Refer to them all the time and also send to friends and family when they are choosing paint colors. Can’t wait for your exterior package as I am thinking of painting my ‘70’s accent brick on the front of my house and painting my front door.
Hi Kylie,
Fantastic transformations! Did the neighbors from house #10 shower you with thanks and wine?! The house went from Green Machine to Queen all the way! It’s so pretty. I adore the MCM in house #3. The white is so sharp. Did the owners get new gutters? I’m wondering why they didn’t paint the downspouts white. Love your blog, read every post!
Thank you Laura! I just LOOOOOVE the transformations, paint is so amazing and that Green Machine is a Queen, you’re right! Now re: the downspouts, that’s actually a super popular treatment, to have the downspouts popping/contrasting with the home, especially when the windows are dark. There are some homes I DON’T love it on though, so it really does depend on the home :). And thank you for commenting with so much thought :).
I desperately need help. I paid $10,000 to have our house repainted and hate it. It doesn’t feel like me or look rich, it actually looks lost. I have since been furloughed and now sitting at home it depresses me even more. I really need you help and talent. How much do you charge for exterior paint tips?
Oh boy. So, you’re looking to have your exterior painted again? Why don’t you send me an email with some photos. I’m happy to take a quick look to see what the main problem is and at least get you pointed in the right direction!
kylie@kylieminteriors.ca
Do you offer a package to pick more than the front door currently? I am needing front door, shutters, and trim but don’t see a package that fits. Thanks!!
Hi Alison! Unfortunately, I don’t as they are more time-intensive and I had to narrow my consults down to manage things!
Great transformations! Your color combinations are always great. The color consultation you did for me for my living/dining turned out perfect.
I noticed on the split level the shutters were removed. Were shutters original on mid century split levels? I have a mid century split that I am updating and desperately want to remove the shutters. I think the shutters make it lean towards colonial. However I feel like the house looks unfinished without them. Is that because I’ve been looking at shutters on every split level forever ? I don’t want mid century modern, just an update mid century split. I thought building up the trim/capping might be the way to go.
Hey Kylie! Thanks for sharing these, amazing transformations. I’m wondering if you can reveal all of the colors used in the “pink brick” transformation that used Benjamin Moore’s Sioux Falls on the door? I love the whole look and would like to know what was used on the brick and the shudders as well. Thank you!
I’d be happy to share those with you!
We ended up using SW White Duck and BM White Dove with the Sioux Falls door – SUCH a pretty combo, isn’t it?
Hope it works for you :), and I’D LOVE to see how it turns out! If you’re comfortable, take some before and after photos and send them to kylie@kylieminteriors.ca :).
Hi Kylie,
Will you share what the colors are on Makeover #2? It turned out so pretty. Thanks!
I was wondering the same exact thing?!?! I love the trim color.
Kylie,
I have read nearly every word you have ever written (LOL). Thanks to you, I study every LRV of every color I look at! I have been searching and searching for an exterior color scheme for inspiration. When I came across the SW Alabaster exterior with the Aloof Gray shutters (at the beginning of this blog post), I stopped dead in my tracks! What a GORGEOUS color combo! (And come on! Those shutter hinges are just too much!) The subtle contrast of the white windows is so pretty! What color white did/would you use on those? Thanks again for educating and sharing your knowledge with us!
OH, what a great comment to get, thank you, Susan!
Now, the windows were already white, but I’d say that SW Extra White would do the trick 🙂 While Extra White is a cool white at heart, due to the way it’s formulated in trim paint, it comes up a wink warm (strange but true).