SFGate

hotdrysunny I'm not really answering your main question, but the contrasting colors on the window frames seem to be over-emphasizing the length and narrowness of the windows, making them look a little odd for such a big house. Board and batten may help to visually widen the windows, or make them appear more in keeping with the dimensions of the house. But I definitely would paint. I always like crisp colors with a lake-side or seaside setting so white with the right trim color might be the way to go.

Sue Lee Thank you! I like white also.

judyg Love this modernized raised ranch. You don't have stone, but this pix gives you an idea of what you could do with two colors. Notice the trim on the upper level windows and the soffit is not accentuated. That in itself seem to bring the house more up to date. Then the lower level has some trim the color of the main body of the house.

decorateme123 I suggest painting your home a sandy brown and trimming it out with large decorative moldings in white.

bevballew If you kept the gray a darker gray I think would look good around the windows.

Keating Design Studio Judyg is on the right track...first and second floors should have a color change so it doesn't look so "big n boxy"....it will add interest without having to introduce another material. I generally choose house exterior colors based on Feng Shui principles, but since I have no way of knowing the type of house this is, I'd stick with earthy tones that go well with the coastal environment....that's always safe. Use the pic that judyg posted to make some obvious color choices....light ecru/taupe on bottom and a little darker shade on top, with a nice cedar color trim. around doors, windows, porch & eaves. If you want to know what it will look like, I think the Benjamin Moore site has an app that allows you to import the picture of your room or house, and then you outline the areas you want to paint and select a paint color to use. It at least gives you something to work with. Hope that helps a little.

Danita_Furr Hinson My suggestion is costly. Besides paint, I'd change the windows. The windows that you have now do not go with the house. Look in some house plan books for some that would look more appropriate.
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Vicki Lenard_Moyer I think something like a satin white, with black shutters, and maybe a red door. I have a picture of a house that might do some justice to look at, but other than that you could do just about any color shutter with a white paint.

mdamron61 Cultured stone on the bottom portion would look awesome.

Greg Gilmore This should link a color scheme and example photo. :) You could do a bright yellow door, garage door black. keep the grey, paint the green to white and maybe do the two windows above the garage in a charcoal (or white like the rest) http://bit.ly/XlsrEN

Debbie Nance gray stone and a soft yellow on the windows and doors which will make your house stand out above all your neighbors.

Vicki Lenard_Moyer the picture didn't attach. I cannot get it to attach, but I do think the white paint, with black shutters, and maybe a red door. I also agree about the windows. You might check into some other ones that fit the house better.

Marla Christiansen The window trim on the second story is way too heavy. Consider change the window trim on all the windows to a size that is closer to the large window on the side of the home

Anchor the garage by adding a wood stained trellis surrounding the garage. Change the garage door to a wood stained door that will be a bit darker than the trellis

Irregular sized stone on the first story will give the house a presence and will look great with the wooden garage door and trellis since it looks as if the garage is the first view of the home from the street.
Painting the home a contrasting color to the stone and lighter window could then be a bit darker than the body color.

Keating Design Studio I agree that different windows and the introduction of another material on the first floor would be great...but if you don't have a budget for major changes in the architecture be creative with paint to minimize the undersized, unusual windows and break up the boxy architecture with color changes. If you do have a budget for such things, consult with a proper contractor who can assist you in the selection and installation of windows and applied materials. Employing the services of a contractor/designer will save you a lot of grief and $$ down the line. Good luck with your project!

Christine Curry I would step away from the gray that's currently on there. It's too close of a match to the roof, making it look drab.

Remove the grates off the garage door window panes and leave them bare. The squares will make it a little more contemporary. I'd also remove/replace the screen door.

Change the body of the upper part of the house maybe to a brown and bottom half in light taupe with a complimentary trim in a deep green. I'd also do the garage door and entry door in the same trim color.

bevballew Greg picked a beautiful theme. Clean fresh and cheery!

Darlene Rantala there are some great ideas. somehting not shown is your landscaping..rock gardens, patio blocls,,,feed somw color from that. your lower section would look much richer if it was darler than the top, ground it a bit, the opposite of judyg's photo. the size of your home can use the volume, also your garage door needs to be painted to show off for more curb appeal.shingles could rich in tones like the pic as well. there is alot going on with windows etc, how about shutters,,,seems like the house is being faded out by painting everything the same color which does nothing for this amazing house. someshrubs and cedars along the side or between the 2 windows would show off the wall much better. good luck with your project :)

bevballew Judyg always picks beautiful ideas. I liked her picture and Greg's.

steppingstone I also dislike the sunburst design on the garage doors; they have to go. The screen door also should be replaced with an 'invisible' screen or more mordern door. The light fixtures are way to small and need to be something large and really interesting. The front door should be a contrasting colour do it stands out and landscaping should lead to it and frame it.

Bonnie It would help if you have another photo showing your home during the summer too. All the snow makes it look very bland. Also, your current windows, do they give enough light inside your home on a dark and overcast day?

The trim on the windows are what makes them look strange. The windows look too small for this size home. I think because you do get snow, I would pick 3 colors when painting the home. I would go with a light blueish grey for the house, and a darker blueish grey for the trim and would paint the garage door and your front door white or even try a red color just to make them stand out a little more.

yvesun I'm visualizing a light coloured Ledgestone pix attached on the bottom half of the house and also bulking up the bottom of the porch supports replacing the top half of the posts with cedar posts. A cedar door pix attached. The house painted a warm cream such as Cream Silk 2146-60 and the trim a butterscotch colour such as Honeymoon AF 345 both Benjamin Moore paints.

Sue Lee I love this vision!

The Color People Since your first consideration is simply painting, you are correct in assuming you can do a lot for a little doing this. First thing is paint it with warm colors. You can see from the photos how cold in looks in the snow. Also don't use the trim for a punch color. The house separates into upper and lower sections quite nicely so you could use a darker mid tone color on the bottom and a lighter value of the same color on the upper section. This would not divide the house as separate colors might. Paint the garage door in the upper body color. Then change the trim color to a warm off white, painting the window/ door trim, fascias, gutters and soffits, porch posts etc in the trim color. This will all carry around to the rear as well. Finally pick a bright fun color for the front door to focus the eye on the entry. Since you lived with the teal blue I assume you like bright colors so have fun with the door and use a high gloss finish. Use satin finish for all the rest.

I would suggest some sort of earth tone that will go with your deck in the rear. You will also want to consider the roof color in your selection. With the snow I can't see what it is . If it is a light color make sure to use lighter body color so the roof blends with it. I think with this treatment you can have a very attractive home without spend gobs of money.

Sue Lee Thank you! We purchased the house a year ago and wanted to paint it right away but things come up and the project continually gets pushed back. The roof is now a pale green but is not in good shape, so a new roof will also be part of this project.

Sue Lee The windows that are on the 2nd story do not let in a ton of light. We would love to replace/ change out all the windows in our house but, as my husband reminds me daily, it's just not part of the budget. Unfortunately, landscaping will also have to wait. Currently it is bare with only a few young hedges planted in front of the kitchen window. This house needs a lot of cosmetic work but we do love living in it :)

bevballew Your house will look great just by,painting it. If the windows are good windows why bother now. If you soften the color around the windows it will look much better. No rush to get everything done. I think painting will make all the difference.

yvesun thank you, Sue. When the time comes to replace the roof, I would recommend a "tin" one. They come in an array of colours and are better suited for lake homes. They are a bit more than the conventional style, but over the long run will out last. Have fun with your investment!

Sue Lee I think we may be on the same page. I have been researching metal roofs on and off for the past couple of months. I love them but, again, the budget...