How to Pick the Right Exterior Paint Colors
Pure Patina
“Charleston is all about patina. As these colors wear over the years, they'll look even more beautiful than when they were first applied.” –Mark Maresca, Maresca & Associates Architects, Charleston and Greenville, South Carolina
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Pure Patina Paint Palette
Body: Weatherboard (DCR103) by Duron; sherwin-williams.com.
Doors: Historic Charleston Green (DCR099) by Duron; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim: Palladian Blue (HC-144) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Fresh & All-American
“For a traditional American home, try a deep green or baby blue on the shutters and a high-gloss dark red on the front door. Paint all other solid doors to match the shutters. Have French doors and trim matched with an opaque sample of the whitewash. The combination is light and fresh with high contrast and punch.” –Charles Heydt, Pak Heydt and Associates, Atlanta, Georgia
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Fresh & All-American Paint Palette
Body: Whitewash
Shutters: Black Forest Green by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Doors: Classic Burgundy by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Classic White
“This off-white palette has roots in the Southern Colonial style but with a twist—the tone-on-tone scheme creates soft shadows that bring forward subtle texture variations from the materials of the house.” –Ruard Veltman, Ruard Veltman Architecture, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Classic White Paint Palette
Body: White Down (970) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Shutters: Manchester Tan (HC-81) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Velvet Brown
“This paint palette is reminiscent of Scouts at summer camp—dark uniforms all alike with bright green scarves tied at the collars.” –Bobby McAlpine, McAlpine Tankersley Architecture, Montgomery, Alabama
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Velvet Brown Paint Palette
Body: Black Fox (SW7020) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim: Sassy Green (SW6416) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
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Coastal Charm
“Dark and muted blues and greens reflect the colors of the Gulf Coast. This palette is quintessential for a Southern-style beach house. The look is warm and inviting.” –Michael G. Imber, Michael G. Imber Architects, San Antonio, Texas
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Coastal Charm Paint Palette
Body: Cromwell Gray (HC-103) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Trim: Narragansett Green (HC-157) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Doors: Country Redwood (HC-183) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Warm Yellow
“We like a warm yellow paired with a classic ternemetal roof and red shutters, for projects in locales where there is a lot of red clay in the soil, such as in Middleburg, Virginia, to make the house look more natural in the landscape. The warm palette also favors the Lowcountry feel.” –Anne Fairfax, Fairfax & Sammons Architects, Palm Beach, Florida
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Warm Yellow Paint Palette
Body: Warm Yellow (9036) by Keim; keim.com.
Trim: Incarnadine (No. 248) by Farrow & Ball; farrowandball.com.
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Rich Timelessness
“There is a rich timelessness and a patina to these colors that reminds me of the many great homes where I grew up in Florence, Alabama.” –Michael Franck, Franck and Lohsen Architects, Washington, D.C.
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Rich Timelessness Paint Palette
Body: Blackened No. 2011 by Farrow & Ball; farrow-ball.com.
Shutters: Railings No. 31 by Farrow & Ball; farrow-ball.com.
Porch ceiling: Parma Gray No. 27 by Farrow & Ball; farrow-ball.com; Clear Skies (2054-70) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com
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Simple & Clean
“This scheme is very simple and clean and is especially well suited for home designs that are influenced by English and European styles.” –Hank Long, Henry Sprott Long & Associates, Birmingham, Alabama
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Simple & Clean Paint Palette
Body: China White (74) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Trim: Iron Mountain (2134-30) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Coastal-Inspired
“Painted brick has a particularly Southern feel when paired with contrasting working lowered shutters. The effect of this palette is one of a warm-weather location.” –Bill Ingram, Bill Ingram Architect, Birmingham, Alabama
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Coastal-Inspired Paint Palette
Body and trim: Lambswool (2269) by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.
Shutters: Blue Spa (2052-40) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Bright & Cheery
“A friend of mine insists that people who live in yellow houses are happier. For a more traditional look, try a dark green on the trim. For a less traditional accent color, we like a dark red.” –Jane Frederick, Frederick + Frederick Architects, Beaufort, South Carolina
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Bright & Cheery Paint Palette
Body: Yellow Jasmine (DCR009) by Duron; duron.com.
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High-Contrast Color
“High-contrast color schemes look best on cottages. The stone color is used only at the front door to add a subtle punch of color to the otherwise austere scheme.” –Norman Askins, Norman D. Askins Architect, Atlanta, Georgia
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High-Contrast Color Paint Palette
Body: Iron Mountain (2134-30) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Trim: White (01) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Doors: Carrington Beige (HC-93) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Touch of Blue
“This palette of Wedgwood blue and bisque blends naturally with the big sky. Paired with a wide front porch, this palette feels classically Southern.” –Jim Howard, James Michael Howard, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida and Atlanta, Georgia
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Touch of Blue Paint Palette
Walls: Swiss Coffee (OC-45) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
Shutters: Iceberg (2122-50) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Burst of Color
“The crisp white trim enhances the cottage-style details and provides a strong contrast to boldly colored siding. Don't be afraid to pick another fun color for your front door.” –Bill Curtis, Curtis & Windham Architects, Houston, Texas
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Burst of Color Paint Palette
Body: Sedona Clay (SW2313) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim: Pure White (SW7005) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
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Casual Cream
“These subtle, creamy shades take on the effect of an old limewash when paired with hand-molded brick. We've been using it for years, and it never looks oudated or out of place. It's a classical palette that can be seen on raised cottages from Louisiana to the Lowcountry.” –Jim Strickland, Design Principal, Historical Concepts, Atlanta and Peachtree City, Georgia
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Casual Cream Paint Palette
Body: Roycroft Vellum (SW2833) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim: Classical White (SW2829) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Shutters: Andiron (SW6174) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
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Modern Monochromatic
“Buildings of a more modern, pared-down aesthetic and smaller structures, such as weekend cottages or outbuildings, lend themselves to the deeper tones that allow them to sneak into the landscape. With this color palette, we prefer a monochrome look.” –Philip Dufford, Dufford Young Architects, Charleston, South Carolina
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Modern Monochrome Paint Palette
Body and trim: Copley Gray (HC-104) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com.
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Charming in Green
Taking cues from Mother Nature's favorite neutral (and to best complement the flower-filled yard), architect Sam Greeson suggests siding a bold green and the shutters a deeper, nearly black green. Then he recommends using crisp white paint to highlight the trim and exterior details.
Archictect: Sam Greeson, Meyer Greeson Paullin Benson; mgpb.com, Charlotte, North Carolina
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Green Paint Palette
Siding: Vine Green (2034-20) by Benjamin Moore; benjaminmoore.com
Shutters: Roycroft Bottle Green (SW2847) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com
Trim: Alabaster (SW7008) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com
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Natural & Harmonious
“This natural, harmonious palette reinforces the colors of slate roofs and limestone. The tone-on-tone look is very pleasing to the eye and fits well within the Southern landscape.” –Stan Dixon, D. Stanley Dixon Architect, Atlanta, Georgia
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Natural & Harmonious Paint Palette
Body: Relaxed Khaki (SW6149) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
Trim and shutters: Universal Khaki (SW6150) by Sherwin-Williams; sherwin-williams.com.
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Earthy Tones
“This palette updates the colors of Colonial Williamsburg, the richly saturated, earthy mineral paint colors used in the 18th-century Virginia capital. These classics are always appropriate for a new old house.” –Russell Versaci, Russell Versaci Architecture, Middleburg, Virginia
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Earthy Tones Paint Palette
Body: Ludwell Tenement Sage (CW417) by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.
Shutters: Chowning's Tavern Brown (CW121) by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.
Trim: Outside White (CW712) by Pratt & Lambert; prattandlambert.com.