Would you paint your house barn red (or despise a neighbor who did)? archived

mergele

May 5, 2012 at 11:29am

We're in the process of taking bids for a whole house paint job later this year and DH and I have begun debating color. The house is a 5-bay colonial with portico and sits on a corner lot. It's currently a very drab grey with (peeling) burgundy shutters and door and white trim. The roof (only 5 years old, so not changing soon) is dark grey. For the most part, other homes immediately adjacent are in very muted whites and yellows or brick with white. ...and, yes - we'd like ours to stand out a bit.

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?

sac

May 5, 2012 at 11:31am

I would not paint my own house barn red, but I would not despise my neighbor for doing so.

metaphysician

May 5, 2012 at 11:32am

Not at all. I know someone who painted their house purple. Yes, an ex-hippie, and yes, it probably was too much.

Scully

May 5, 2012 at 11:32am

You're asking the wrong person, I just LOVE red houses... question

mergele

May 5, 2012 at 11:33am

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 grin

PeterWick

May 5, 2012 at 11:35am

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.

kthnry

May 5, 2012 at 11:38am

There is a barn red house in South Orange on the corner of Prospect and Third that I admire every time I drive by.

mergele

May 5, 2012 at 11:42am

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.

dobler88

May 5, 2012 at 11:49am

Do you mean a more earthy red? I'd love it!

PeggyC

May 5, 2012 at 11:49am

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.

susan1014

May 5, 2012 at 11:50am

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.

mammabear

May 5, 2012 at 11:51am

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.

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.

mammabear

May 5, 2012 at 11:52am

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!

mergele

May 5, 2012 at 11:52am

Peggy - the one on Ridgewood is the other example I used in showing my DH what I meant by 'barn red'.

PeggyC

May 5, 2012 at 11:54am

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.

cody

May 5, 2012 at 11:59am

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!

meandtheboys

May 5, 2012 at 12:15pm Edited

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.

cynicalgirl

May 5, 2012 at 12:18pm

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.

honeydo

May 5, 2012 at 12:33pm

Have you seen that house on Ridgewood in Maplewood with the purple and orange gables? I say go for it!

case

May 5, 2012 at 12:37pm

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. cheese

debby

May 5, 2012 at 1:06pm

I think it could look great. I would worry that it might fade in the sun, as cars do.

hamandeggs

May 5, 2012 at 1:32pm

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.

PeggyC

May 5, 2012 at 1:38pm

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?

hamandeggs

May 5, 2012 at 1:44pm

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.

PeggyC

May 5, 2012 at 1:47pm

It could be that darker colors take the sun more seriously.

nan

May 5, 2012 at 1:51pm

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.

Ecogirl

May 5, 2012 at 2:13pm

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.

TigerLilly

May 5, 2012 at 2:19pm

What's wrong with red? I think it's great. Go for it.

mommyrock

May 5, 2012 at 2:27pm

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.

metaphysician

May 5, 2012 at 2:48pm

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.

crazy_quilter

May 5, 2012 at 2:48pm

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...