Would you paint your house barn red (or despise a neighbor who did)? archived
May 5, 2012 at 11:29am
I would not paint my own house barn red, but I would not despise my neighbor for doing so.
Not at all. I know someone who painted their house purple. Yes, an ex-hippie, and yes, it probably was too much.
Oh, if it were entirely up to me, it would almost certainly end up some shade of purple. DH couldn't stand that though - even for a second 
What about a deep colonial blue, almost Navy Blue? There was this stunning house out in Concord, MA I used to ride by all the time like that. It also bucked convention and the main color was in gloss while the shutters and trim were of a flatter finish. Awesome.
There is a barn red house in South Orange on the corner of Prospect and Third that I admire every time I drive by.
I know which one you mean. That color has a lot more red in it - almost cherry - than I'd go for. But there's one on Richmond between about Coudert and Montague that I admire regularly and that's a lot closer to the color I have in mind.
There is a dark red house on Valley/N. Ridgewood near the border between S. Orange and W. Orange that I love. It also has the black shutters and white trim. I've admired it for years, and I'd say "yes" to a red house, as long as it wasn't a shrieking shade.
There is also a maroon-red house with white trim on West End in South Orange...a surprise when you first see it, but striking and appropriate to the home's style.
Our current house is red and we love it. It's a deep true red. If you'd like an alternate with a pop of color, try a dark gray (cool tone) with black shutters, white trim and red front door. My old house was this combo...Montrose Avenue between Grove and Woodland Place.
That is NOT Red. It's a magenta-ish color, way too cherry. That is a color mess up IMHO.
kthnry said:
There is a barn red house in South Orange on the corner of Prospect and Third that I admire every time I drive by.
That is NOT Red. It's a magenta-ish color, way too cherry. That is a color mess up IMHO.
mergele said:
I know which one you mean. That color has a lot more red in it - almost cherry - than I'd go for. But there's one on Richmond between about Coudert and Montague that I admire regularly and that's a lot closer to the color I have in mind.
Do they have a splash of blue accent? If so, I know the owners. And I too, like that house!
Peggy - the one on Ridgewood is the other example I used in showing my DH what I meant by 'barn red'.
I love that house. I would definitely consider that color if we were changing ours. We have a green/grey house with white trim and a cherry stained door.
I probably wouldn't paint ours red, because I don't think it would go with the style of the house, but I like the look of barn-red houses and wouldn't mind having one near me. I think it would look lovely. There are a few with the color combination you mention in town and they look very attractive.
I like barn-red (red shading towards the brown spectrum) more than the very bright fuschia-red (like the house on Prospect/Third), but what's important is that you like it!
I like barn-red (red shading towards the brown spectrum) more than the very bright fuschia-red (like the house on Prospect/Third), but what's important is that you like it!
Would I paint my house barn red. Not likely. Would very much depend on the house.
Would I despise a neighbor for doing so. Nope. I think a barn red house is lovely. Be warned, however, that a barn red house may require more coats to adequately cover than with a less saturated color.
Would I despise a neighbor for doing so. Nope. I think a barn red house is lovely. Be warned, however, that a barn red house may require more coats to adequately cover than with a less saturated color.
I think you should go for it. Our last house was somewhere between brick and barn red, and neighbors were pale grays, tans etc. Granted, it was a '70's development but still. No one disliked, and it looked nice against the grass and dogwoods.
Have you seen that house on Ridgewood in Maplewood with the purple and orange gables? I say go for it!
Absolutely do it. If anyone dares complain, hand them a tube of chap stik; when they ask why, explain that you prefer they use it before they kiss your ass. 
I think it could look great. I would worry that it might fade in the sun, as cars do.
Absolutely! But, as others have mentioned, red is a little more high maintenance than some neutrals. You may find that the side of the house that gets a lot of strong sun becomes a different shade than the other sides.
I think that happens with all paint... we had trouble matching a new paint to what was on the walls when we had some touch-up work done recently, because of sun fading. It's not a perfect match, but you have to look hard to tell, and it will most likely even out over a year or so of sun. But perhaps reds are more prone to noticeable fading?
In my experience (limited, but still...) the side of the house and the garage that get the strong sun have faded to another color. It's not bad at all, and maybe only I notice it.
I suspect that reds, like I have, are where you notice it more. When the house was yellow, I wasn't aware of it as much.
I suspect that reds, like I have, are where you notice it more. When the house was yellow, I wasn't aware of it as much.
Great idea! You should pick the trim color carefully though. Some whites go better than others. Also you can use a greenish-black for the shutters.
You could try painting part of the back of the house first to make sure the shade is what you want. Choosing exterior colors indoors is tricky.
go for it. i LOVE a red house, almost as much as i love yellow houses. and if your neighbors don't like it, suggest they pay your property taxes for you and then they can have all the opinion they want.
case said:
Absolutely do it. If anyone dares complain, hand them a tube of chap stik; when they ask why, explain that you prefer they use it before they kiss your ass.
Don't let them use Trader Joe's chapstick. It's spearmint-flavored and would probably burn.
mergele said:
I know which one you mean. That color has a lot more red in it - almost cherry - than I'd go for. But there's one on Richmond between about Coudert and Montague that I admire regularly and that's a lot closer to the color I have in mind.
this house looks classic to me, doesn't stand out or draw attention. our house used to be that color before we bought it. when we bought it, it was sort of mauve.
go for the red! but I think you could be a little more creative with the shutters...
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Both DH and I are fans of deeper colors, but we've agreed to limit our selections to something that will work with white trim going forward because we're not fans of that look where the cream / tan / vanilla trim is marred by white storm windows.
I keep coming back to barn red with white trim and black shutters, but have some mild concern about just how in-your-face that would end up. Would appreciate the wisdom of MOL on this one. Is barn red just too much?