San Francisco Bay Area - Need help with updating my home's exterior

by corhouse

Need help with updating my home's exterior

I'm hoping someone may have some suggestions. We just bought this house last spring and this summer we want to do some updating to the outside. We're on a very tight budget so we need to try to get the most bang for our buck. What bothers me the most is the two "shutter doors" on the top floor between the windows. They're just decorative and don't open. I suspect they were originally placed there to balance out the two bedroom windows on the left and right. There was no option for a big matching window in the middle because the shower is right behind that wall.

Overall my thought was to repaint all the dark brown trim, those decorative shutter doors, the shutters, and the garage door a creamy off-white to lighten things up. I'd also like to change the main body paint, but it's in good shape so I think we'll just have to leave that for now. Another option was to remove some or all of the shutters to make the house look a little more current and then look into installing some nice trim around the windows. At the very least I think I'll want to take off the shutters beside those decorative shutter doors, although I hope the middle won't suddenly look too "empty." I definitely want to paint the brick around the garage door to match the main body colour of the house.

Does anyone have any other thoughts about this plan, what to do with those decorative shutter doors in the middle, or further suggestions? Thanks for any help! Corinne

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wniez Changing the color of the brown trim would definatelty lighten up the look. Painting the garage door to match would be ideal or else the overall appeal might appear distracting

3 months ago · Like ·

AMN I agree with changing the trim color.

Wow. That center shutter/mini fake door thing is very unfortunate. I'm having trouble understanding what I see. I understand the fake doors, the shutters and the brick texture, but what is at the top of all of that -- immediately under the facia/soffit?

Maybe just paint all of that to match the body? Really not sure.

3 months ago · Like

corhouse At the top of the decorative shutter doors is a narrow horizontal window which lets a bit of light into the bathroom.

3 months ago · Like

AMN Okay. well that's good to have!

3 months ago · Like

Greg Quagliara Is it aluminum siding? Can you take the shutters off and run matching clapboard across that unfortunate area?

3 months ago · Like

Greg Quagliara You might also consider just changing the second tier of your home like they did 100 yrs ago. Shakes, board and batten, etc. Btw, I think a sage green color would be a nice contrast to cream trim.

3 months ago · Like

claudiann If you took off the shutters then reprinted the top floor including the fake shuttered area all the same color I don't think it would be as noticeable.
. I would take the hardware off as well

3 months ago · Like

corhouse The area around the fake shutter doors is actually brick that was painted by the previous owner to match the house. You can't really see that in the photo. So running more board across the area would be difficult. I'd also worry, I think, that having nothing between the two windows if I did just cover the area with board would give a really empty look, like something should be there (like a window), but isn't. By the way, thank you to everyone for the suggestions so far. I really appreciate the feedback.

3 months ago · Like

JWinteriors You have a lovely home. If you are going to go through the whole process of taking down the shutters to paint them...paint the siding at the same time. 6 gallons of paint and an entire weekend devoted to this project, will make you very happy for years to come. Soft tan siding with Library Pewter from Sherwin Williams for the shutters would look stunning. Library Pewter is a brown gray with a hint of green. Its a deep base that will contrast nicely with the tan. Keep the trim around the windows white, again for contrast. When you lay out your flower bed along the driveway...make it at least a 4-5 foot wide bed. Plant the bushes dead center. Those babies are small now, but the will grow. You don't want them scratching your cars when they grow up. I would continue that bed across the entire front of the house, giving you a second elevation of flowers...softening up the brick planter.

3 months ago · Like

gielliott The fact that the shuttered area is not centered really throws the whole second story off and the shutters on the two windows are much too small. I would lose all the shutters and trim the windows out with nice trim detail. If you could remove that brick or cover it with something that extends farther left so it is centered evenly between the windows. Look at old barns that have a hayloft door under the peak and they usually have a little door that closes over it. I think that is the look they were going for but it is very awkward being asymmetrical like it is.

3 months ago · Like

misecretary Are you putting on new shingles? Those look as if they are due to be replaced.

3 months ago · Like