Showing posts with label exteriors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exteriors. Show all posts

Tuesday, 15 October 2019

UNBELIEVABLE Exterior Transformations

There is a whole host of companies, such as the fabulous Back To Front Exteriors, that work the most unbelievable magic on 1970s houses. These are some of the most incredible Before and After shots I've had the pleasure of seeing: a total visual feast for the eyes (and heart!). Read on and see what I mean....


Aren't they amazing? I found myself scrolling back and forth, back and forth so many times that I think I have RSI!! 

This kind of transformation certainly doesn't come cheap - that's a LOT of building work - but, oh, the rewards are enormous!

More exterior remodelling:

Careful consideration is needed before deciding to improve a home in this way. Many seventies houses are part of large estates, with near-identical houses in row after row. A transformation of this kind is best left to one-offs....the kind of road where there is a whole plethora of different kinds of architecture.

Exterior remodel:

That's where this kind of sorcery can really weave its enchantment to the greatest effect. If you're the lucky owner of such a house then the world really is your oyster....

Take Care Till Next Time,
Sarah


Enter your email address:

to subscribe to Modern Country Style





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

Enter your email address:

to subscribe to Modern Country Style





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

Enter your email address:

to subscribe to Modern Country Style





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

Enter your email address:

to subscribe to Modern Country Style





Monday, 21 August 2017

How To Choose The Perfect Front Door Colour For Red Brick Houses

Right, enough with the glorious Cotswolds (for now!!). Let's take a look at a few other different types of houses, and some of the best front door paint colours to not only complement your home but also to absolutely look the biz!! 

A putty coloured Edwardian front door
Try Fired Earth's Oak Apple for a similar front door

And where better to kick off by looking at red brick homes.... 


Now, there are as many types of red bricks as you've had hot dinners, and each of these needs slightly different treatment. If you're blessed with old and mellow red bricks then you'll have a much freer rein...


Try Farrow and Ball Ammonite and Wevet for a similar front door combo!

However, the main issue with red brick homes is when you're dying to go for a particular shade but are just not sure whether your red brick is going to dominate too much. This is good thinking. There's red brick and then there's red brick. You're first step is to determine where your house sits on the spectrum.

Zoffany La Seine Double would look gorgeous on the front doors and windows of a cottage like this

I've divided this post up into the main three issues that you might be facing with more dominant red bricks. Red brick houses can be absolutely stunning in their own right and are in no way to be sniffed at....just look at the gorgeous detailing they can provide:

I love a matching front door and gate: try Farrow and Ball Card Room Green
I love a matching front door and gate: try Farrow and Ball Card Room Green

So please don't be tempted to paint over your brick home. Take a look at this image below and see how much character the painted house on the right is concealing when compared to the one on the left...

Farrow and Ball Vert de Terre front door
Farrow and Ball Vert de Terre front door

However, because bricks are a dominant colour themselves, they can at first glance appear to limit your front door paint choices.
However, there are several ways round this if you have your heart set on a colour palette that's super subtle. The first works really well if you have some kind of substantial surround to your front door. 

Victorian Terrace Front Door, Hereford
Try Dulux Stone Green for this earthy paint shade

Think of when you want to wear a certain colour top that you love but may not be one that naturally lights up your face. You might choose to wear it anyway but to soften its impact with a scarf so that there is a break between your own colouring and that of the top. 

In much the same way, you can paint your door surround in a very neutral shade, super pale shades work well, which will dampen the impact of the brick on your front door.

Light green door
Farrow and Ball Blue Gray is a winner every time for me!

This is also true for not-so-subtle front door paint colours that might otherwise clash with your red brick:

Pink door & roses

The  barrier technique, as I like to call it, can also be used with lush green planting that creates a barrier between your chosen front door paint colour and the red brickwork...

Front door painted in zoffany
It's another gorgeous Zoffany La Seine front door!

Choosing prominent planting that ties in with your chosen front door colour can also go a long way into distracting the eye away from any dominant brick colour, by bringing other colour to the fore...

Beautiful coloured door with gorgeous white flowered tree outside

http://www.periodliving.co.uk/sites/default/files/0612barker-01.jpg

And it's not just the actual brick that matters, the colour of the pointing material, whilst often overlooked, can take a home in a very different direction. Let's take a look at some examples....

Here a deep greige painted front door (try Farrow and Ball London Clay) helps to pick out the colour of the pointing.


And here the cement grey pointing has been echoed in the door... 


www.moderncountrystyle.com
Farrow and Ball Manor House Grey will look like this

Or what about this creamy clay pointing....

Shutters
Little Greene Slaked Lime Dark would create a similar shutter colour

Another route to take is to introduce other materials that counteract the redness of the brick. Look at this lovely example. A mellow-toned stone path has been added so that the warm cream paint has something to hang against.

Afternoon tea

You may find, as in the dark grey feature bricks below, that there is another ornamental colour somewhere on your house that you can draw inspiration from...

www.moderncountrystyle.com

lavender path and lollipop topiary - perfect French garden detailing

And, frankly, if it's good enough for an ex-Prime Minister then it's good enough for me!!! (I have to confess, my eyes were more taken by the beautiful paint colour on the front door than they were of David Cameron!)...

David Cameron's home!

What about you? Do you have a red brick home? What would be your top tip to share with lovers of Modern Country Style front doors?

Take care until next time,
Sarahxxx


Images via :Voysey And Jones, Modern Country Style, Heirloom Philosophy, Claire Richardson, liesbetgoetchaickx, adam van gelderen, Arianna Belle, Rightmove, London Door, Photos From Winchester, I Cut And Stick, LisaMark Robinson, Carmen Monica, insparicionline, unknown, fabrice barbette, Claire Coward Williams, housetohome, Fleaing France, unknown

Enter your email address:

to subscribe to Modern Country Style





Wednesday, 26 July 2017

The Best Front Door Colours To Paint Cotswold Stone Houses (Part 3: Classic With A Twist)

Welcome to the final part of the very best paints for the front door of your Cotswold Stone house. This is a question I'm asked so often by clients because its an easy way to really oomph the curb appeal of your home. It's also pretty cost effective because it's only the front door and windows that need painting, rather than the whole house, as with many rendered properties. Cotswold Stone just keeps on getting better with age.

Cotswold houses

The last suggestion I want to make when choosing paint colours for Cotswold Stone front doors is to veer towards the traditional. If in doubt, choose classic....but with a twist.

So, while I'm certainly not knocking black, it can look gorgeous, though it's best if you have a house that has oodles of natural charm like the one below.....

Classic Georgian Cotswold house Black front door

..., you might, for example, consider choosing Farrow and Ball Railings....

Classic Cotswold house Farrow and Ball Railings front door

...Fired Earth Mercury...

Classic Georgian Cotswold house Fired Earth Mercury front door

...or Farrow and Ball Pelt, for a slightly smarter look...

Classic Georgian Cotswold house Farrow and Ball Pelt front door

The same goes for classic white front doors. Yes, if the house has more than enough welly of its own, then plain white can be a good way to go...

Classic Georgian Cotswold house White front door

...but for those looking for a way to stand out from long lines of same old, same old, how about the softest pink?

Classic Georgian Cotswold house Pink front door Burford

...or the gentlest of greens....
{Marston and Langinger's Silver Lavender would be great for this Cotswold home....}

Classic Georgian Cotswold house Black door Soho Farmhouse

I'm currently so obsessed with this property that I feel it's only fair to give you three images here... It's called Soho Farmhouse and is part of a full-on luxe Country Club based in the Cotswolds.

Classic Georgian Cotswold house Black door Soho Farmhouse

Classic Georgian Cotswold house Black door Soho Farmhouse

Pure White on all doors and windows looks utterly anachronistic on period properties: they never had access to the technology that gives us the whitest of whites that we're used to today; going down a softer route will give you a more authentic feel...

Classic Cotswold Cottage Putty front door

Off-whites, putties and stones will all hit the mark...

Classic Cotswold Cottage Soft Grey front door

Classic Cotswold Cottage Burford Green front door

...or even a soft white like Fired Earth Dover Cliffs...

Classic Georgian Cotswold house front door

And for those of you looking to create the perfect Country idyll, classic cream should most certainly be on your list...
Little Greene Woodbine is lovely...

Classic Cotswold house Cream door

I hope that gives you plenty of ideas to dream about if you have a front door to paint and a Cotswold Stone house. Three distinct routes to travel if you: the neutrals, the green-grey-blues, and here the classics with a twist.

Which is your favourite?  


Images via The Burford Experience, unknown, unknown, Farrow and Ball, unknown, Money Week, unknown, Soho Farmhoue, Soho Farmhouse, Soho Farmhouse, Home Way, Character Cottages, Coates Mill Cottage, unknown, Helena Bernald

Enter your email address:

to subscribe to Modern Country Style





Related Posts with Thumbnails
 
01 09 10