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Paint Design Dilemma Exterior

Help with '50s weatherboard paint colours

June 24, 2019

last modified: June 27, 2019

Hi all,

I'm really struggling with paint choices for our "new" house. It's a '50s weatherboard but with '80s aluminium windows and a roof that's not really visible from anywhere (although we are painting that too).

Can anyone suggest some good colours or schemes that might work here? We were really keen on something like Ironstone or Prestige Blue for the boards, with a white (or whiteish) eaves, trim etc, but are a bit nervous on how such a dark colour will perform. (it's in Hobart, and not particularly sunny) At this stage we'd like to keep the bricks natural.

Thanks in advance for any help! The forum has been a wonderful source of advice so far :)

Cheers

Dave

Comments (14)

PRO
Dr Retro House Calls
Congratulations on your new home. Your home was built in the mid-century years, possibly late 1950s or 1960s. During this time these houses were often quite colourful, usually with white trim, such as Dulux vivid white, colourful weatherboards and a pastel coloured eave. As you are maintaining the brick I would be considering some soft greens rather than anything too contemporary such as Ironstone.

With a house like yours you have the opportunity to use paint colours that are appropriate for the style of the home, and not use the conservative (and boring) colours that so many homes use today.

Best of luck,

Dr Retro

of Dr Retro House Calls
June 24, 2019last modified: June 24, 2019
Dave Unwin thanked Dr Retro House Calls
Dave Unwin
Thanks for taking the time to reply Dr! We had thought that the 80's windows etc meant that the retro colours might not work so well anymore but will take your thoughts on board. There's a 60's house nearby that uses the green you posted and it looks great.
June 24, 2019
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Is there part of the house we can't see? Where is your front door? Just the double frontage like that is plain, but that was the style and not much you can do about it. The homes you are looking at do have a lot of features with opportunities to bring in other colours but there is nowhere with yours to do that and if you try it usually cheapens it. If you take the triple fronted house you posted, I would do the lighter green on the weatherboard and the deeper green like they have used on the window frames, I would do for the baseboards and the front door. I would keep the window frames and eaves white and paint the guttering to match the roof. Are you country? Are here any water issues for the garden? Instead of trying to do something with the house, I think I would be inclined to give it all a cottagy look with a picket front fence, nice entrance, a lush lawn and lots of plants for colour and lushness. The dark green baseboard will be a nice background for some small shrubs in front of the house. Weatherboards really lend themselves to that look. Don't forget the addition of old tyre swans - lol I notice you have small awnings over the windows - maybe replace them with some striped canvas ones in greens and terracotta - if you can get the combination. [houzz=]
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Just me , but I'd start at the front , and just take the 'small steps' approach . The basics look well done . I'd go for repainting the front door in a 'popping' bright colour ( a bright red seems logical to me , as it would tie in with the 'plum' colour around the guttering ) , and see how that looks . The door does have the advantage and disadvantage that it is in the shadow most of the time , so it needs to be bright to be noticed , but you'd have to get the colour right . If that worked , I'd then be inclined to do the front and side window surrounds in the same colour as the front door , but initially only 30mm wide ( use making tape ) . The ones along the front and rear may look okay with the whole 80-100mm board painted , but I suspect the side windows would look overdone and out of character , So start smaller , stand back , wait a month , and modify if need be . Another thing , the 2 concrete 'bases' in front of the front door may get an uplift by doing just them ( they look like maybe 800mm tall by 300mm wide ? ) in the plum colour of the guttering -- ties the top and the entry together ? The pillars above them and across the front of the house , I'd leave as they are .
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Thank you for these colours Lesley! I MUST put a verandah though - the front garden is heavenly - 9 metres to the front with roses and fruit trees (though it looks rough here) and is high up opposite a park for a view. I plan to play guitar here of an evening and add more white, blue & purple flowers to the middle and a pergola with climbing roses for a Moon Garden.
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me me
I agree with Retro, use colours of the era.Will make your house look exciting, rather than boring.
June 24, 2019
Dave Unwin thanked me me
siriuskey
This has your brick colour and white windows
June 24, 2019
Dave Unwin
Thanks Siriuskey. I have to admit I'm not the biggest fan of the facia colour, but maybe I need to think outside the box a bit! Cheers
June 24, 2019
siriuskey
Hi Dave, check out the following site for ideas

http://www.midcenturyhome.com/stunning-eichler-home-orange-county/
June 24, 2019
Dave Unwin thanked siriuskey
legendaryflame
My thoughts are you could follow Dr Retro's colour scheme with colours of your choice including the dark wall colour. So dark walls, white trim and pastel eaves. A modern twist on the mid century colour ways. Dark colours should be perfect in Hobart.
June 24, 2019
Dave Unwin thanked legendaryflame
kbodman14
For something out of the last field box - Dulux Forest Blues, thus having the white framed window making a stunning statement. The blue would sit well on their brick plinth.
June 25, 2019
Dave Unwin thanked kbodman14
Dave Unwin
That blue is an amazing colour, thanks Kbodman!
June 25, 2019
kbodman14
I think that it is an awesome colour, and the white would compliment well. I love the linear look of your house, it looks cosy with plenty of glass for sun to penetrate. Best of luck
June 25, 2019
legendaryflame
I love that blue, kbodman!
June 25, 2019
Souzette Lovell
I like Dr Retro's logic. Go for colour instead of the blandification that seems to be sweeping the nation.....
June 27, 2019
pottsy99
Picture 1 , I can't tell if that is tree branches or timber rot showing on the front right area ?

Anyway , I quite the colours , they are quite period and suit the house . Having said that , if you do have to replace weather boards and repaint , then my response would be different , BUT assuming they come up okay with a pressure wash , I'd stick with them .

What I would change is the barge board around the top , and the wrought iron -- I'd go charcoal on both . I just feel it would freshen and balance the look .

Then I'd do some landscaping -- 5 or 6 two metre tall shrubs/trees , maybe a bark garden or white chip stone . Wait a year or two , and re-evaluate .
June 29, 2019last modified: June 29, 2019
PRO
Timandra Design & Landscaping
Always retain, externally, the original period of your home. Check out colours relevant to the period and styles used. I don't believe that rendering would have been used then.
And dont put in a trendy garden, because it will devalue your home.
It's a great home. The skillion roof is fantastic.
June 29, 2019

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