SFGate

Sharon Goldner Black door/ garage (sealed drive way look)

Sharon Goldner darker shade of grey door w black door (sealed Driveway look)

Sharon Goldner dark grey garage and front door with white accents

Stanton Designs-online design services I like the black doors! It's bold and gives it a clean look!

Sharon Goldner Thanks you Stanton. Any thoughts on the window trim? Leave it white or do black trim there too?Here is an example.

Rayco Painting To complete this contemporary color scheme, you should consider Kelly Moore Swiss Coffee for the trim

Bonnie Ross Black doors and window trim looks great! Perhaps changing out the lights beside the doors to a black and larger ones. Also, a half-moon shaped canopy in either a dark blue or burgendy over the front door would draw attention to it as well as rounding out the walk from the garage door to the front step with landscaping around it. If you ever change your roof, you could go black.

bhelmore I like the 3rd option of the dark gray. If you have spiders in your area (most of us do), they will massacre the door with horrible droppngs and it will wind up polka dotted - and so hard to get off.

Continue the dark gray trim to the windows and think about a yellow, orange or chinese red front door.

Some dark steel mission type lanterns (much larger than what you have) on the garage would be beautiful!

Soften up your sidewalk with planters or flowers at the angles, and a tree to the right (facing) of the garage. Maybe a crepe myrtle depending on your climate? Or a white birch?

dlangan I think leaving the garage door color as it is now and just accent the front entrance door and architectural lines of the house will make it stand out more. To me, visually, a black garage door emphasizes the focus on the garage too much rather than the whole house.

You were only asking about paint color but if you are more concerned about overall appeal, I believe that painting is just one step. You may not be into plants as I see in your photo but I suggest a huge planter with simple hardy plants by the front door will move the viewer's eye towards the left side of the house since the garage is nearer the road on the right side.

I do not have Photoshop - so pardon the rough sketches ;)

hegets agree with the dark gray garage and trim could go lighter or darker. I agree on adding bigger lights on the garage and entry. I would consider popping the front door with a different color, like a red or whatever you like, it will break up the colorscheme of the house and invite the eye and your guest to the entry. It is hard to see from this picture but you may consider putting a shudder on either side of the front door, paint same as garage door. I would also add a planter box under the front lower window.
...and perhaps a little bench on the area leading up to the front door

busybee49 busybee49
Congratulations on your new home. I like the existing neutral color palette and would not further emphasize the garage door color. I would go with much larger lighting fixtures in a stainless steel-like/dark gray finish. The door hardware finishes should coordinate with the new lanterns. I would use estate/larger sized hardware to dress up the door; lush seasonal wreaths/swags; and a good quality doormat. You may even try painting the door a totally different accent color of your choice. I believe that lush/four season interest landscaping at the corners of the house, flowing continuously to the large windows, is key to maximum curb appeal for your new home. You might enhance the bed with small hidden landscape lighting sources. A bubble gum pink crape myrtle or yellow floral accents would be very complementary to the existing color palette. Hope this helps.

beachbum72 Only in cold weather areas have I seen that black driveway. I don't like what it does to the curb appeal and I certainly would not decorate my home around it! If there is a way to do concrete with stamping over it, everything would look better immediately. Also, get a sample of your roof tile and pull out colors from it for siding paint choices for siding and trim. The roof is often noticeable yet people choose colors that clash with it. Then pull a pop of a fun rich color for the door. If the garage door is baked on paint, don't paint over it unless you want to create a maintenance problem. I would consider adding a window panel to it to create interest and provide light into the garage. Then update lighting and plants as noted in discussion. Make sure you include a pop of plant color that goes with the door. Ideally, you would create a sitting area/porch in front of tall windows and under shade tree, where you can enjoy your front yard as well as make it look more inviting. Use a hose to lay out a more organic curved area from the side of driveway, front step and then in front of windows. Be sure to prune shade tree before it gets too big and keep it off the house.

Sharon Goldner Thanks all for such great ideas. I appreciate the work and thought all of you offered. It really helps the process and decision making.

chindowney SoCal Greetings-

Here are a few suggestions in order of importance and expense....

1. Don't change color of garage door substantially. Any significant color change will attract more, not less, attention to that feature. (That was cheap and easy wasn't it!)

2. Expand molding round front door to complement large molding around windows, match the texture and color white or another color if you prefer.

3. Add large pot for seasonal color to the left of the front door. (If your climate precludes year-round plants at that location you can simply drop in inner pots of color,)

4. Add a small patio or deck in front and to the left of the front porch. (These kinds of spaces seem to be coming more popular serving as a replacement of the large front porches of 100 years ago. A couple chairs or benches, some potted plants, or a planted border or even a low wall or fence defining the space would be inviting, draw the eye from the garage door to the entry and balance the "weight" of the garage..

Let me know if you have any questions re any of the above....

CH in Downey CA

Sheila Steelman I like the color as it is. Add some landscaping and upgrade the lighting. Very nice home.

anitajoyce I like the garage door color. How about a darker grey on the house. Did you consider painting it again? Place flowers in pots on the left and right of the garage, by the door also. Plant a taller shrub on the right corner of the house, or add more plants in general to both sides of the house for more curb appeal.

victorianbungalowranch I think the black makes a dominant door even more dominate, especially since it doesn't have any windows in it. The darker grey is OK--not as heavy looking. A brighter front door, landscaping and perhaps black or darker trim (depending on the material--if vinyl, probably shouldn't be painted) would help give some definition.

ttass You have a nice home with lots of potential. I like the idea of accenting the trim and definately change up the light fixtures. Landscaping would obviously pick up the appearance and if you are smart about it you don't have to spend a lot to add wow factor. Go for colourful trees such as a japanese red maple which are bright red and interject a much needed color distraction. Unfortunately the garage door is all that is in your face now so why not replace it with a newer style and if that is not in the budget google window inserts. You can cut in a new set for a few hundred dollars. If you utilize a nice square lined set it will break up the blaw look of the door.

Good luck.

cyn222 I would do something around the entry door and leave the garage door lighter. Maybe you can add some stone or brighten the area with white slats. Nice home.