Monday, 7 October 2019

Perfect Painted Modern Country Exteriors....

Last post covered some general rules for helping you find the finest paint colours for your Cotswold Stone house. Today, I'm focusing further, for those of you who are still in a quandary, on my absolute favorites: soft putties and gentle greens and blues.

Perfect Painted Modern Country Front Doors

Take the example of the painted front doors below. Two very different homes: one a classic Cotswold Country getaway, which, to be honest, would take a bin-bag to make it look bad....but the other? Well, imagine that house without the painted brickwork and perhaps with a thick, sticky coat of old orange wood varnish and you'll see what magical wonders a coat of paint can bring...

Perfect Painted Modern Country Front Doors


Perfect Painted Modern Country Front Doors

The paints shown in this post form a perfect blend of muted tones, inspired by nature, which call to mind the relaxed feeling of the Cotswolds, no matter where in the world you live.

Perfect Painted Modern Country Front Doors

Perfect Painted Modern Country Front Doors

These colours work just as well when combined with painted render, or, indeed, the smart mellow yellow of London-stock bricks.

Perfect Painted Modern Country Front Doors

Perfect Painted Modern Country Front Doors

Gentle greys, soft putties and cheerful blue-greens will give you, your families and your visitors the warmest of welcomes.

Take Care Until Next Time,
Sarahx

Images via here

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Thursday, 26 September 2019

How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint

Choosing the right front door colour for your home is not a matter of simply succumbing to the latest fashions. I want you to have a house frontage that makes your heart skip a beat every time you return from a long day at work, and that means putting aside other people's ideas of what's on-trend and focusing on what makes you happy.

Front Door Painted In Little Greene Lead Over ON Modern Country Style: How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint!

This is easier said than done with the myriad of paint shades available but that shouldn't make you feel despondent. I'm here to help ensure that the colour you end up with is one you really love. With that in mind, here are some questions to set you on the way to your perfect front door.

Are you drawn to warm or cool colours?
Don't restrict yourself to colours that are typically linked to 'hot' or 'cold' climates. Every colour can have cooler or warmer undertones, (or, for that matter, be thoroughly neutral).

For example, here is a picture of a front door painted in Little Greene's Celestial Blue. Although blue is traditionally thought of as a cool colour, this particular shade is warm and lively.

Front Door Painted In Little Greene Celestial Blue Over on Modern Country Style: How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint!

Conversely, see how this front door below leans towards the cooler end of the red spectrum, with its blueish undertones. Try Farrow and Ball's Brinjal for a similar look.

Front Door Painted In Farrow And Ball Brinjal Over On Modern Country Style: How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint!

Do you want your front door to stand out or to blend in? 
If you're stuck with a not-so-pretty look then pick out a colour which blends in with your exterior walls so that there is no stark contrast between the different surfaces.

This essentially means that the eye can move seamlessly over the front of your house, without noticing specific details, but taking it in as a whole. Try Paint and Paper Library's Estuary for the toning look below.

Front Door Painted In Paint And Paper Library Estuary Over On Modern Country Style: How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint!

Or is your front door particularly lovely? If so, make the most of it by picking a brighter shade. For a smart, bright red, perfect against pale walls, choose Farrow and Ball's Blazer.

Front Door Painted In Farrow And Ball Blazer Over On Modern Country Style: How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint!

How often do you plan to repaint?
This is time to be frank with yourself. If the answer is infrequently then I would definitely advise choosing a classic colour that won't date, such as Dulux Gloss Black, which is hard-wearing and timeless. You'd certainly be in good company...

Number 10 Downing Street Front Door Painted In Dulux Black Gloss Over On Modern Country Style: How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint!

However, if you're happy to redecorate often then why not choose something a little more daring? I love it that these owners have created a look they adore by picked out Little Greene's Eau De Nil and Little Greene's Garden. 

Front Door Painted In Little Greene Eau De Nil and Little Greene GardenOver On Modern Country Style: How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint!

My last paint-picking question for you is this:

When looking at other people's front doors, which are the houses that make you want to stop and stare?
Search out beautifully decorated houses that are built from similar materials to yours, and, if possible, face the same direction, as paint can look surprisingly different depending on the quality of light it receives.

Be brave! Knock and ask the owners which paint they have used....though it's always worth trying a sample size out before committing to a full tin.

LOTS of sample pots on Modern Country Style: How To Pick The Perfect Front Door Paint!

Of course, I am well aware that these questions overly simplify the whole angst of picking the perfect paint for your front door but I hope they have given you a good starting point, as well as an idea. 

For a more personal discussion, feel free to contact me personally, for the front door colour of your dreams.

Take Care Until Next Time,
Sarahx


Images via Farrow and Ball, Little Greene, Farrow and Ball, London Door, Interior Domain Designs, Maison Classique, Welsh Heritage, Sanderson

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Thursday, 12 September 2019

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses

One of the questions that I'm most frequently asked by local clients is for help choosing the best front door paint colours for their Cotswold stone houses. The classic, warm but muted honey tones of Cotswold Stone need careful consideration to bring out their very best. So, let's cut to the chase, and pick out the very best Top Ten Modern Country front door paint colours for Cotswold Stone houses, perfect for those of you who are all of a fluster with your sample pots...

1. Farrow And Ball Ball Green

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Farrow and Ball Ball Greeen

2. Farrow and Ball French Gray

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Farrow and Ball French Gray

3. Farrow and Ball Lichen

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Farrow and Ball Lichen

4. Farrow and Ball Bone

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Farrow and Ball Bone

5. Farrow and Ball Old White

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Farrow and Ball Old White

6. Dulux Lizard

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Dulux Lizard

7. Little Greene French Grey

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Little Greene French Grey
  
8 Little Greene Mid Lead

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Littlle Greene Mid Lead
  
9. Farrow and Ball Pigeon

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Farrow and Ball Pigeon

10. Dulux Heritage Stone Green

The Top Ten Front Door Paint Colours For Cotswold Stone Houses Dulux Stone Green

The paint colours listed here will all look absolutely fantastic on Cotswold Stone front doors: their perfect blend of muted tones, inspired by nature, perfectly call to mind the relaxed but sophisticated Country feel of the Cotswolds.....BUT please do take into account the direction that your home faces. What do I mean by that? Ah, well that would be spoiling the next post!!

Take Care Till Next Time,
Sarahx

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Friday, 30 August 2019

Swedish Country Style Dining Ideas...

On this lovely summer's day, can you imagine this being your al fresco-type dining space? Whiling away the hours, devouring delicious meals and being distracted by the driftwood grey of the ceiling; the sunlight streaming in makes it an easy journey in my imagination.


 In my mind, it's over-looking the most divine Modern Country garden, tumbling roses, and smartly clipped topiary. I'm having a moment for taupe-y grey gingham: small touches here and there make me smile.

Take Care Until Next Time,
Sarahx

Image via Susanne Kings

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Thursday, 11 July 2019

A Budget Modern Country Makeover

Before I start on our gorgeous new building work reveal, I thought we'd step back in time and look at our last kitchen, where the basics where in place for a Modern Country Style shakeup...

I get endless questions about this, so why don't you come on over, sit down and let me make you a drink of something delicious, whilst we have a recap...


 Modern Country Style is all about taking the very best of 
Traditional Country's warmth and comfort, 
and combining with a muted, pared-back Modern look. 
Want to know what I mean?
Where better to demonstrate that than in the heart of the home: 
the kitchen?

Here's the hideous before from when we looked round. 
It was like being in a giant egg yolk. 
Harsh but fair.


When we first viewed our house, the kitchen was one of the rooms that I knew would be high on our priority list to change. I thought I hated everything about it until I realised that underneath the lurid colours and dated decor was actually quite a nice kitchen, waiting to be unearthed.


We decided to keep the beech wood worktops and the cream Shaker units but everything else HAD TO GO.

I was astonished how lovely the worktops looked once we'd finished. They changed dramatically from reflecting the walls in a very orange way to having a lovely mellow golden warmth.


We used Farrow and Ball Blue Gray 
and Farrow and Ball White Tie on the walls. 
Have you used Farrow and Ball paints? 
To. Die. For. 
Yes, they're more expensive but the 
Modern Country colours are worth every last penny. 



 I chose cherry red accents, to perk up the soft grays. 


I love simple blocks of muted colours, 
highlighted by the crisp, sharp contrast of white glossy woodwork. 



We had the boiler moved upstairs, which created a space that was just
perfect for a bit of open shelf action. 


The shelves let me display things that I love to have around me. 
{So I can do a spot of ogling any time I please.}


We don't have a table and chairs in our kitchen, so, in the dining room next door, I've used a paler version of the Blue Gray to bring unity to the two spaces. 


I can never get enough of the Modern Country look 
and its delicious yet delicate use of winter seascape colours. 


If Modern Country is a look you love too, 
then stick around and have a good snoop at the tabs at the top....


Take care until next time,
Sarahxx

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