HomeMy ProjectsExterior ColoursE-DESIGN: My TOP 10 REAL HOME Exterior Makeovers – Before & After

E-DESIGN: My TOP 10 REAL HOME Exterior Makeovers – Before & After

Posted on October 3, 2020 by KylieMawdsley

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, which is why 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).

How to pick the best exterior paint colours with stone, brick, roof and windows. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint colour consulting and advice blogger

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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, and sometimes it’s nice to see a home similar to your own, that’s undergone an affordable and FABULOUS colour 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’

Alabaster exterior home, shutters, Sherwin Williams Aloof Gray, green gray. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, modern farmhouse exterior

Sherwin Williams Alabaster siding with Aloof Gray shutters

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #1   Clean Colours vs Dirty Colours

This first one was a TOUGH one – I had to put on my serious drinking thinking cap. My clients hired me to pick a new garage door colour, but looking at their photos, I knew there was NO magical colour that was going to pull everything together as 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 colours don’t always love each other)
  • there were both beige and white on the trims (beige main trims and white gables)

Exterior with stone and yellow siding BEFORE edesign

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…

Sherwin Williams Whitetail exterior trim with yellow siding and stone. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, update ideas blogger

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.

BTW, my blog relies 100% on photos from my Online Paint Colour Consulting clients, so thanks to everyone who’s sent them in! 

We also refreshed the front door with Sherwin Williams Cyberspace, as yellow, white and navy is ALWAYS a classic combo…

Front door painted Sherwin Williams Cyberspace, navy blue with yellow siding. Kylie M INteriors Edesign

The Best Teal and Navy Blue Front Door Paint Colours

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #2   NOT SO GREEN WITH ENVY

This was another project that had me twitchin’ in my seat. My clients were looking for JUST the right paint colour for the cedar shakes on their home, but there was NOOOO way I was going to suggest a THING without seeing the trim and shutters painted first.

Let’s spend a visual moment with the green on the trim and shutters…

Exterior brick house before paint with Edesign, Kylie M Interiors

Feeling a wink nauseous yet? The two greens were fighting each other big time. And while the green of the shutters was oooookay 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 FREAKIN’ CANNOLI…

Exterior, shakes, shutters. Sherwin Williams best gray, Knitting Needles, Wrought Iron and Pure White trim with dormer windows. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color advice (2)

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.

Exterior brick house before paint with Edesign, Kylie M Interiors

Exterior with brick and gray roof. Cheating heart painted front door, Pure White trim. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting advice

The Best Paint Colours for Your Front Door

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #3    A Mid-Century Marvel

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…

Brick split level BEFORE painting

This home had GREAT lines and the potential to be a real show-stopper – look at it NOW…

Exterior split level, painted brick and siding. Cream, brown and orange palette. Kylie M Interiors E-design. Subtle mid-century style

Did you sneak a peek at the orange front door? Let’s take a closer look…

Exterior brick and front door BEFORE painting

Black windows, painted white brick mid century, white, orange, brown, Kylie M E-design

See ALL of this project HERE

LOVE IT! While the owners made a few structural changes around the front door, for a paint palette we chose Benjamin Moore Ballet White, Willow and Sherwin Williams Knockout Orange on the front door.

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #4    THIS EXTERIOR HAD ME WEEPING (you’ll get it shortly)

The colour on this next home was just a bit too warm for the roof, and the front door was too garish for the classic design of the home. And while you can’t see it from far away, the mortar was applied to the bricks in a weeping style, creating WAY more visual texture than the standard application…

Before edesign, exterior with weeping mortar brick and roof

After, the home is sitting pretty with Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray on the painted brick, Extra White on the trim/garage door and Tricorn Black on the shutters and front door…

Exterior brick with weeping mortar painted Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray with Kylie M Interiors Edesign, black shutters and front door (1)

Here’s a better look at the weeping mortar if you’d like to shed a tear or two…

Exterior brick with weeping mortar painted Sherwin Williams Dorian Gray with Kylie M Interiors Edesign, black shutters and front door (3)

The depth of Dorian Gray keeps the shadows created by the weeping mortar at a minimum, blending in the texture a bit more, with the black shutters and front door drawing the attention.

EXTERIOR MAKEOVERS #5 & #6    Ink Pink, You Stink

Pink is hands-down, the NUMBER ONE colour that haunts my Online Colour Consulting clients as they look to update and modernize their pink brick fireplaces, countertops and carpets and exteriors. And 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…

1960 or 1970 exterior with stone BEFORE edesign with Kylie M

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.

Exterior 1960 stone painted cream off white paint colour, wood look garage door, dark gray black roof. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting and diy decorating advice (1)

From the palettes suggested, my clients chose Sherwin Williams White Duck, one of my FAVE warm off-white paint colours (I’m also a big fan of it on interiors).

Exterior 1960 stone painted cream off white paint colour, wood look garage door, dark gray black roof. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting and diy decorating advice (2)

As for this next home, again, it’s that DARNED PINK BRICK!

Exterior front door with brick, before painting

And after, what a cutie-patootie!

Kylie M Interiors Edesign. Exterior painted brick rancher house with off-white, white etrim and greige shutters, blue-green front door. Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paint colors

While there’s still pink brick on the front patio, the Benjamin Moore Sioux Falls is the perfect, gentle complement to it, while a stronger teal could’ve bounced too hard off of it.

Benjamin Moore Sioux Falls blue green front door, Sherwin White Duck off white painted brick exterior. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, curb appeal and online decorating ideas for paint colour

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #7   Brand Spankin’ New

My next clients were looking for a white exterior, partnered with shutters that would complement their metal roof and warm-toned brick. And naturally, being new construction, there aren’t any ‘before’ photos of this bad boy…

Exterior new construction framing phase (2)

But after photos? HELLS YES!

Exterior, best white paint color, Sherwin Alabaster. Grey metal roof. Gray shutters, pink toned brick. Kylie M Interiors E-design, online paint color consulting

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, best white paint color, Sherwin Alabaster. Grey metal roof. Gray shutters, pink toned brick. Kylie M Interiors Virtual Edesign, online paint color consulting

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #8    Brown Brick Beauty

I love brick. I mean, I don’t love ALLLL brick as there are some darned FUGLY ones out there, but this was one I wouldn’t DREAM of painting over…

Exterior Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth, taupe before Edesign. Kylie M Interiors

However, the homeowner was bored with the lacklustre beige on the siding (Benjamin Moore Stone Hearth) and was looking for more interest, while still humouring the needs of her home (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…

Exterior, Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray, gray roof and gables. Wood shutters minwax, brown brick, white trim. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting
And 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 as well as a shot of the detached garage (Minwax Dark Walnut).

The Best Exterior Paint Colours: Why Your Home’s Exposure Matters

Exterior, Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray, gray roof. Wood shutters minwax, brown brick, white trim. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color consulting

Exterior siding, Sherwin Williams Gauntlet Gray, Pure White trim, brown brick, wood shutters minwax. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color coach advice

To see more colours like Gauntlet Gray, read this post HERE

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #9   Shutter Love

While I don’t have ‘before’ photos of this project, I’m SUPER happy with how it turned out in all of its teal and gray glory!

Exterior siding painted Benjamin Moore Gray Owl, white trim, teal blue green shutters, grey metal roof. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color expert

You’re looking at Benjamin Moore Gray Owl on the siding with Sherwin Williams Drizzle on the shutters.

Exterior siding painted Benjamin Moore Gray Owl, white trim, teal blue green shutters, grey metal roof. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint color expert (1)

A light colour like Gray Owl can be a tough one if you have TONS of south-facing light or afternoon western light shining on your home as this depth of colour can wash out, which is why it’s important to partner it with clean white trim to show contrast.

The Best Teal and Blue-Green Blend Paint Colours

EXTERIOR MAKEOVER #10    The Green Machine

I love a unique home, and with its green and teal palette, this one was DEFINITELY an eye-catcher!

Exterior that is green and teal and not good before being painted

It was important to take our colour cues from the driveway, as the roof wasn’t visible and there wasn’t any stone or brick on the home to humour. Now, let’s see how she turned out…

Exterior painted gray with purple undertone, blue green front door, Folkestone stairs, white picket fence and white trim and garage. Sherwin Williams Still Water, Polished Concrete siding, Pure White trim Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint colour consultation.

Kylie M Interiors Edesign Exterior siding painted Sherwin Williams Polished Concrete with Pure White trim, Still Water front door and Mink painted patio floor.

Exterior front door painted Sherwin Williams Still Water, Pure White and Polished Concrete, mid century house numbers. Kylie M Interiors Edesign, online paint colour consulting blog

We went with 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 Colours for Your Front Door

READ MORE

4 Tips to Read Before Picking Your Exterior Paint Colours

E-Design: A Brick Exterior With a Fresh New Look!

How to Add Curb Appeal to Your Home’s Exterior

Quick & Easy Rancher Paint Colour Update

What is Your COLOUR IQ?

The best paint colors for front door exterior. Benjamin or Sherwin. Edesign, Kylie M Interiors Colour consulting and home decorating and diy ideas blogger.market

CLICK HERE OR ON THE ABOVE IMAGE TO SEE AVAILABLE PACKAGES

Chat soon,

Kylie M Interiors, decorating blog, e-design, online colour consulting expert. signature

 



Comments

  1. 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.

  2. 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!

    1. Post
      Author

      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 :).

  3. 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?

    1. Post
      Author

      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

  4. 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!!

    1. Post
      Author

      Hi Alison! Unfortunately, I don’t as they are more time-intensive and I had to narrow my consults down to manage things!

  5. 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.

  6. 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!

    1. Post
      Author

      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 :).

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