The color scheme on this brick house started with, alas, the bricks (one of our bloggers sent this in). From the variegation in the pile of burgundy bricks, the homeowners picked a medium charcoal roof color (it’s in there), a burgundy front door color (it’s definitely in there), a bright white for trim to optimize the contrast against the brick and accentuate the beautiful architectural features, a coordinating specimen tree for the entryway (very nice touch), brass metal for the front door (it picks up the grout color and adds depth) and wrought iron for the lights (the dressy jewelry of the house).
If you have a brick house and are stumped by what colors to use for the trim, roof, front door, and any other siding around the house, start with your brick color(s). If you pull the color scheme out of the bricks, the whole house will come together.
A note of caution: Since many brick styles have a variety of colors in them, you may start with quite a large palette of colors. In that case, I suggest sticking only to that palette. But if your brick is monochromatic (for example, all the bricks are exactly the same one color), then you can introduce one or two other coordinating colors into your palette and avoid looking too busy. Click on the If I Can Help You page if you need help and we’ll work together.
Barbara,
Please HELP. I live in Dallas Tx and I am getting ready to paint the trim on my cream (monochromatic) brick ranch style home. AT present I have a green (with a tint of blue in the green) and black roof which I have to live with. There is two large picture windows and two smaller windows in the front and all are trimed with a wooden box around each window. I am stuck on what color to go with…should I say with a lighter green around the windows or should I pick up another color.
Also, one quick note..I have new windows in the front which will be installed this week and they are a beige aluminum clad which will match the brick. Please help since my painter is getting anoyed with me and I need to pick a color.
Thank you
Diane
Hi Diane,
The photos really helped! Thanks for sending.
Here are my thoughts. With all the luscious landscape greenery in your front yard, I think that your green roof is enough green. I would abandon all attempts to find another green for both the front door and the window trim.
How about painting the window trim a medium sandy neutral like Ben Moore’s Butte Rock (AC-8). If that seems too light, you can bump it up to Nugget (AC-9). Either of those colors will pull out the various shades in both your brick and your stone walkway, which iw quite beautiful.
Then to further warm up the house, how about painting the front door Copper Mountain (AC-12)? It will contrast with the roof as well as the landscape plantings and will make the entryway more inviting than more green.
If you get an opportunity to replace some of the metalwork out front, you might consider replacing the lights and the fountain with bronze. That will update the house immensely. Also putting white flowers in terra cotta pots by the front steps will beef up that area and draw your eye to the plantation shutters in the windows (I’m assuming those stay).
So what we’re doing is pulling colors from your hardscape (the bricks and stonework) and moving them to the trim and door. The roof will simply cap off the house and tie in with the rest of the yard. But I don’t think adding more green to the house is the right direction.
See what you think. Hope that clarifies my last email. And thanks again for visiting my blog!
-Barbara
Your Home & Color Coach