SFGate

Jill Jardie Could you go to a lighter tone in the covered area so it doesn't look so dark?

janishill I suggest you drive around the neighborhood and see what others are doing before you make a decision.

If you are going to live there it is one thing; if you are going to flip it it is another.

hparks74 I have not thought of that but I like your thinking. Got a color in mind. I actually was thinking of doing inside the porch in a horizontal cedar slat.

hparks74 It a very eclectic mix of home that are early to mis century. My last house which is one street over was a 1930's brick jazz bungalow.

janishill I understand the neighborhood is eclectic, but so is your house, for it isn't a cape.

Go with your gut then, for everyone on Houzz will have a different idea.

sherri curtis Brick is a beautiful thing. What about adding a low sheen toffreshen it and get white shutters and trim around the house. A brick painted wood porch with white fencing, and white wicker rockers in front. Plant white rose bushes along the front. Keep the charm......just a thought?????

hparks74 This is a cape remove my side wings and this is what my house looks like. You are not seeing the main portion of this house from these pics. I have consulted with two architects and yes they call it a modified cape. I have a story in a half with no eaves on the ends of my home.

hparks74 Thank you Sheri54, although I feel your comments would add value to any home I'm looking for a more modern look.

Ramona I love the color combination but feel like others it is dark. Can you use one of those paint programs at a paint store which shows you how the house will look?

janishill If I mentally take the wings off of your house it is still not a Cape Cod style home. A cape would have windows on both sides of the door. A half cape would have two seperate windows to the
left or right of the door. Your front window in a triple like those on a Ranch style house.

Often times people will call a house by a particular style when they are not certain what the true style is.

Why not do a little historical research on your house and see what you come up with? You will most likely find pictures that reveal its true style.

hparks74 If you removed the front we it used to have a window on both sides. Ok it is not a cape although two legally certified architects call it a cope. I was really hoping for suggestions on a unique and interesting paint palette not a argument as to what style it is.

hparks74 It's had three addition since 1945

Elise How about olive green paint on the shingle siding, with charcoal colored shutters and a plum/red door. Perhaps the darker olive on the base of brick siding and a lighter tone of olive on the upper addition. The white-trimmed windows will be a nice contrast.

For future resale value, staying away from the color plum that reads as purple to many people could help.

janishill You are in the south. It gets hot. A dark house is even hotter and more costly to cool. Your roof is dark enough.

Paint the body Pratt and Lamberts Lambswool and the trim BM Narragansett Green with BM Country Redwood for the front door...or BM China White and the trim BM Iron Mountian. Stay with the BM Country Redwood for the door.

If you must go with a darker color try a soft gray and use the color you like for the trim.

I wasn't arguing, just clarifying. Even an architect can be wrong. Especially if they are young and aren't from New England.

ispeakwhale I'm sorry, hparks74. :/ Regardless, I think you are trying to make it more appealing on the exterior?

I like the idea of the kalamata olive, but I think that the dark color would be best for trim and/or shutters. On the house this size (front elevation) it will make it look very dark and tiny.

Thinking...

hparks74 It's 2200 square feet.

hparks74 This is a house that I felt inspired by. It it's with my neighborhood and although I don't like black I love the dark rich tone and added textures.

onthefence That inspiration photo is great hparks. This is IMHO only - but I think dark colors like that really work best on MCM style houses. My inclination for your house would be a lighter color - primarily because of the white windows.

I think you can still make a major color statement there with your landscaping.

ispeakwhale Ok, I looked the color up - Benjamin Moore? It's not as dark as I imagined it to be!

The colors they suggest would be nice!

Kalamata exterior
cream for trim and the porch area (Barbados sand)
blackish door (Soot)

I like it!

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/kalamata#ce_s=kalamta

Elise Your inspiration photo looks like a charcoal grey color, which is very Cape Cod and would look great on your home. Definitely looks great with brick. Brighten up the white trim and sharpen the contrast against a dark color with crisp white shutters.

hparks74 Close but its actually by Martha Stewart it's called Kalamata Olive. And I like your thoughts.
http://rakstagemom.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/the-wizard-of-oz-warner-brothers-dorothy-in-poppy-field-wallpaper6_1024x7681.jpg

hparks74 Here is another paint sample

ispeakwhale The last pic is more the color I thought it was. It looks good there, but I think I like the idea of the cream trim better than grey. What door colors are you open to?

yvesun So I wouldn't paint the brick, instead I would widen the focasia board and casements and paint those in a dark grey like BM rocky coast 1595 and paint the front door grenada hills gold 229. It would add sophistication to the home. Is the wall of the veranda brick as well?

ispeakwhale I know! I know!

Kalamata Olive
a pale, pale regular olive trim color and porch area
Pimento red door - fresh color, or the roasted color (lol!)

Looks good!
http://www.marthastewart.com/338405/warm-marinated-olives

hparks74 Actually I was thinking a door in a deep turquoise with steel accents.

ispeakwhale 3rd one in top row, or
2nd to the end on bottom row

http://homedesign.marthastewart.com/2010/04/color-palettes-inspirations-and-aspirations.html

hparks74 I am kinda feeling the taupe trim

ispeakwhale I'm not getting the Oz reference. Poppy color?

ispeakwhale Ok, so you like really cool colors and a contemporary vibe.

Whatever floats your boat! You seem to know what you want. Do EEEEEET!

But, imo, if you like turquoise, I would suggest a deeper teal for the door, and if you like taupe for the trim I would suggest a greener taupe - closer to olive green. The colors would compliment each other better, ;)

hparks74 I won't be getting to the exterior color as the interior is gutted stem to stern. Spring after we move back in.

Bob Ybarra Building Designer hparks74
You stated that you were inspired and wanted a modern look. I then suggest framing out the windows with a wide trim painted white to match the vinyl windows. Leave the brick on the two gable ends but do some faux paint to give it a used brick look. The shaker shingle works but consider also a straight & wide horizontal lap siding. Modern uses strong horizontal or vertical lines (as in your pic). Your Kalamata Olive works well. But I suggest going with a higher quality paint like Behr paint rather than Martha Stewart label. Carry the color on the fascia (I would not enlarge) and same paint color over entry brick only. Makes sure you use the proper primer. Again wide white trim around the entry door & porch windows. But then select a contrasting color between the white trim and the new color for the front door to accent it. Next it is important to consider your landscape and approach to the house. I'd remove the large tree, add trees to the outer sides of the yard to frame the face of the home, then add color with the plants you use. Build from low ground cover to shrubs or hedges that will hide the raised foundation. Consider staining the concrete walk and porch and adding some walkway lighting. Porch lighting is important also to brighten the entry at night. The overall look will be an inviting entry and welcoming elevation. There are some good ideas in the exterior photos of Houzz. Hope this helps.