Help Christa choose an exterior paint color for her 1961 house
pam kueber - Updated: April 1, 2011
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
Since moving into her midcentury modest house a year ago, Christa has been having a ball updating the inside to reflect its 1961 architectural roots. Now, she’s ready to paint the outside — and has asked for ideas. Note in particular the rock wall — how to work it in? Read on for more background… then share your ideas about what paint colors she should use to freshen up the exterior of this adorable 1961 home.
Christa writes:
Hello Pam,
I’m a long time reader and admirer of Retro Renovation. When we moved in to our 1961 Vancouver Island house last April, your site provided oodles of inspiration for me!
Christa says: My husband Garrett and 5-year-old son, Emmit. Here's one from an evening last Summer, when Emmit set up his toys so that he could put on a show for them 🙂
Since moving in, I have painted almost all of the interior, save for the staircase, and completed many small projects to rejuvenate our home with a bit of colourful 1960s flair.
It’s been a ton of fun, and now that we’re cruising toward Summer, I’m anticipating painting the house’s exterior so that the outside will match the inside in pizazz. I have been browsing your paint inspiration collections, Flickr, and my own collections of vintage house magazines, and I’ve got nothing- I need your help!
I’m inclined to incorporate some aqua or seafoam, and/or mustard, burnt orange, pink, even black — really I’m all over the map and coming to a place of confusion in regards to what will actually suit the house. What will help it ‘pop’?
And what do I do with the rock wall? Does one paint any part of it, or just leave it? I feel lost. Any guidance you, or your readers could provide would be SO appreciated.
Yours in thrifty mid century modest-ness,
Christa
Christa, you have a lovely house, it just seems so idyllic. And, Vancouver Island: One of my favorite places in the world!
Readers, what do you think? What paint color(s) should Christa use to add curb appeal to her 1961 house? And, how should she deal with the rock wall facade?
Fifth house picture down…the shaded area…..THAT charcoal!
Gavin Hastingssays
CHARCOAL GRAY everywhere gray exists currently, esp. the garage doors…Unification is key here. Do not touch the stone.
For the door….and a long, deep window box on the right- I would use a soft, PALE yellow. (like butter, not margarine!)
I think anything stronger will make the window casings dominant.
Enjoy years of fun in your new home!
Sara in WAsays
I ditto that exactly!!! Gavin is in my head.
Johnsays
Hi Christa, I painted my home last summer and I know how you feel. There are SOOOO many colors. I am in the process of testing new trim colors this spring as I’m not happy with the color I used last year. What I have found out is the color that appears on your house can be very different than the little color swatches you get at the paint store. I am on my 5th trim color test. Luckily most companies sell sample jars of paint that you can use for testing the color on your house in natural light. It may look funky while your doing your test but will pay off big time in the end.
Also look into the color combination’s that companies suggest as they have professional colorist that work out these combination’s and have tested them already. Love your home and the gardens look great.
Since your on an island and have Adirondack chairs perhaps a look that says summer cottage?
Good luck and above all have fun!!
Diannesays
By the way….love those gardens and pots on the steps!
Diannesays
If it were my house, I would paint the house a buttery-yellow color with white trim, a red door, and a red window box under the window closest to the garage. I am a sucker for yellow houses; they seem so cheery.
Rebecca Prichardsays
Thumbs up for Dianne’s idea. You need a color that CONTRASTS that awesome rock wall. Another gray? It will just get lost, more than it does now in blue.
Davesays
Christa, I think it would look good to paint the house a dark gray that closely resembles the mortar color in the stone wall. You could then paint the front door and sidelight a really fun color !
Margaretsays
I would leave the house gray with the white trim and maybe paint the door red for pop! Dont paint the stone. It looks like it belongs to the gray and blue family.You can always add pop with red door or blue door with a bottle tree with either red colored bottles for the red door or cobalt blue bottles for the blue door. Thats just me. 🙂
Please don’t paint that rock! I would choose a color that would really make the rock pop. There are several mid-century houses in my town that are painted a deep rich red with white trim. I have always loved this color combindation (the houses that are painted this color scheme have been this way as long as I can remember). I think with the color of your roof and the color of the stone, this might be just the thing to really pull the exterior of the house together. I’m including a link to a house painted this color scheme, although the house is not mid-century. It seemed to be a popular mid-century color combination in my area – has anybody else foud this to be a combination they see often on original mid-century houses?
Crista, your house is so cute! Have you considered a dark navy with a bright red door? I think it would look great with the white trim, existing gray roof and stones.
Amy Hillsays
What a cute little house! I wouldn’t paint the stone, I would paint the rest of the house light tan so the colors blend together. Where I would add some pizzaz is the carriage doors on the garage. Maybe add some trim to make them look like barn doors. Paint the trim on the house white with black accents.
You have a lovely garden in the back. I’m envious!
retrojansays
Seafoam or coral! And add some white molding to the garage door to make it pop! And add a couple pink flamingos to the flower bed in front of the rock wall!
Margaretsays
I also like the idea that someone said earlier with the seafoam or coral colors with the pink flamingos in the yard! 🙂
Since moving into her midcentury modest house a year ago, Christa has been having a ball updating the inside to reflect its 1961 architectural roots. Now, she’s ready to paint the outside — and has asked for ideas. Note in particular the rock wall — how to work it in? Read on for more background… then share your ideas about what paint colors she should use to freshen up the exterior of this adorable 1961 home.
Gavin Hastings says
Fifth house picture down…the shaded area…..THAT charcoal!
Gavin Hastings says
CHARCOAL GRAY everywhere gray exists currently, esp. the garage doors…Unification is key here. Do not touch the stone.
For the door….and a long, deep window box on the right- I would use a soft, PALE yellow. (like butter, not margarine!)
I think anything stronger will make the window casings dominant.
Enjoy years of fun in your new home!
Sara in WA says
I ditto that exactly!!! Gavin is in my head.
John says
Hi Christa, I painted my home last summer and I know how you feel. There are SOOOO many colors. I am in the process of testing new trim colors this spring as I’m not happy with the color I used last year. What I have found out is the color that appears on your house can be very different than the little color swatches you get at the paint store. I am on my 5th trim color test. Luckily most companies sell sample jars of paint that you can use for testing the color on your house in natural light. It may look funky while your doing your test but will pay off big time in the end.
Also look into the color combination’s that companies suggest as they have professional colorist that work out these combination’s and have tested them already. Love your home and the gardens look great.
Since your on an island and have Adirondack chairs perhaps a look that says summer cottage?
Good luck and above all have fun!!
Dianne says
By the way….love those gardens and pots on the steps!
Dianne says
If it were my house, I would paint the house a buttery-yellow color with white trim, a red door, and a red window box under the window closest to the garage. I am a sucker for yellow houses; they seem so cheery.
Rebecca Prichard says
Thumbs up for Dianne’s idea. You need a color that CONTRASTS that awesome rock wall. Another gray? It will just get lost, more than it does now in blue.
Dave says
Christa, I think it would look good to paint the house a dark gray that closely resembles the mortar color in the stone wall. You could then paint the front door and sidelight a really fun color !
Margaret says
I would leave the house gray with the white trim and maybe paint the door red for pop! Dont paint the stone. It looks like it belongs to the gray and blue family.You can always add pop with red door or blue door with a bottle tree with either red colored bottles for the red door or cobalt blue bottles for the blue door. Thats just me. 🙂
Missouri Michael says
Please don’t paint that rock! I would choose a color that would really make the rock pop. There are several mid-century houses in my town that are painted a deep rich red with white trim. I have always loved this color combindation (the houses that are painted this color scheme have been this way as long as I can remember). I think with the color of your roof and the color of the stone, this might be just the thing to really pull the exterior of the house together. I’m including a link to a house painted this color scheme, although the house is not mid-century. It seemed to be a popular mid-century color combination in my area – has anybody else foud this to be a combination they see often on original mid-century houses?
http://www.santafetrailresearch.com/research/little-red-house-06lg.jpg
Missouri Michael says
* combination and * found. It’s too early to be typing! LOL.
Jolene says
Crista, your house is so cute! Have you considered a dark navy with a bright red door? I think it would look great with the white trim, existing gray roof and stones.
Amy Hill says
What a cute little house! I wouldn’t paint the stone, I would paint the rest of the house light tan so the colors blend together. Where I would add some pizzaz is the carriage doors on the garage. Maybe add some trim to make them look like barn doors. Paint the trim on the house white with black accents.
You have a lovely garden in the back. I’m envious!
retrojan says
Seafoam or coral! And add some white molding to the garage door to make it pop! And add a couple pink flamingos to the flower bed in front of the rock wall!
Margaret says
I also like the idea that someone said earlier with the seafoam or coral colors with the pink flamingos in the yard! 🙂