Exterior Paint Colors - How To Choose?

"Dupioni"; "Faux bois"; "Intaglio"; "Pulmonaria"... Rare tropical diseases? European politicians? Expensive appetizers?

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Nope, they're paint colors! If you're thinking of painting the outside of your house you might be wondering whatever happened to red, green, and blue!

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Paint Paralysis

The dizzying array of color choices and their associated names are enough to give a homeowner a case of Chromophobia - the fear of colors. How do you decide what color(s) to use when there are so many options?

At a gallon or more for quality exterior latex, you can't afford to make a mistake. And if you don't like the colors, your neighbors probably won't either; colors have public impact - you're not the only one who has to live with them. But a little research and planning can help you get started with the confidence that the final paint job is one that you - and your neighbors - will be pleased with.

Field, Trim, and Accent

An existing house isn't a blank canvas - after all, you're not changing the color of the roof, the brick or stone, and maybe not even the windows (if they're vinyl or aluminum clad). Roofs and masonry walls are large areas of unbroken color and natural starting points for creating a palette.

An exterior paint scheme should be made up of at least three colors: the field - large areas such as walls or roofs; the trim - corner boards, window trim, fascias, rakes, etc.; and accent - specific elements including doors, shutters, and other architectural features.

Field colors make up the majority of what you'll see on the house and will lead you to the choice of trim and accent. Are you trying to make your house look a little more prominent on the street? A lighter field color will make it look larger; a darker color will visually shrink it. "Unattractive" elements - gutters, downspouts, etc., should also be painted the field color to help them "disappear" into the background.

But it's the trim color that can make or break the scheme. Painting the trim the same color as the field can work in some cases, but it can also give the house an "unfinished" or "wedding cake" look. Darker trim - especially around the windows - can cause a "frame" effect, where the windows look like pictures hung on a wall. Keeping the trim lighter than the field is almost always a safe bet.

The accent color is where the excitement is. Once you've chosen an attractive combination of field and trim, make it "pop" with an eye-catching accent color. It's a tool to give life to an otherwise muted color scheme and draws attention to the important features of the house. The front door, shutters, and the windows frames (not the trim) are good places for accent colors. Windows painted with accent and trim colors together can be the most interesting part of the composition.

Choosing a Paint Scheme

The two most important considerations in choosing a color scheme are the architecture of the house and the neighborhood context.

Historic architectural styles, for example, look best in their original color schemes, although these can vary quite a bit. Original Colonial and Colonial Revival homes were often quite colorful on the inside, but less so on the exterior. Often they were painted in a single color for the field and trim, with a second color for an accent. Combined with prominent red brick chimneys and a brick or stone base, the effect is a three-color scheme.

Victorian homes - often referred to as "painted ladies" - sometimes showed off six or more colors of trim and accent. Making that look good today takes the services of a color specialist and a lot of time. But a similar effect can be had with as little as three colors if they're well placed on the house.

The Craftsman style of the early 20th Century sported a darker, earthier color scheme using deep browns, greens, and reds. The current popularity of the style is making more homeowners consider richer color schemes for their homes.

Take cues from the other houses in your area - a house should have its own personality and style, but houses don't look good in "party dress" all the time.

Final Coat

Whether you're comfortable with choosing colors or not, you have several resources that can make the decision much easier. Many paint manufacturers have produced pre-selected color palettes arranged by architectural style or color range that specify compatible field, trim, and accent colors. They're available at paint and building supply stores and most are very well done.

Many paint companies have online paint selection programs that suggest proper color combinations - some even allow you to preview colors on photographs of real houses, or on a digital photo of your own home. Sherwin-Williams.com and Lowes.com both have excellent online tools.

Plan ahead, be bold in your color choices, and use paint company resources. But don't ask for red, green, or blue in the paint store - they won't know what you're talking about!

Exterior Paint Colors - How To Choose?

Richard L. Taylor, AIA is a published author and recognized expert in Residential Architecture. He is President of Richard Taylor Architects, a 5-person firm in Historic Dublin, Ohio. Residential Architect - Luxury Home Plans

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Why Choose French Doors?

The true door connoisseur knows that few things speak more to taste and class in home building than French doors. French doors add a touch of elegance to almost any home design. In fact, they can be works of art in and of themselves. Even modest and moderately priced homes can see a significant increase in value simply by being outfitted with artfully crafted French doors.
 
French doors are characterized by the incorporation of glass panels in a frame. Typical French door frames are made of some type of wood, though other materials can also be used. This is particularly true for commercial French doors, which may be made of aluminum or steel. For residential use though, the frames are most often made of wood. 
 
French doors may be made with a single solid panel of glass, or they may be constructed with multiple glass panels which are incorporated into the frame. In the case of exterior doors, the glass is usually double-paned for keeping weather out and heat and air conditioning inside. Sometimes a decorative grille is embedded between the two panes of glass, creating an extra layer of security. Interior French doors are usually single-paned.  French doors are often confused with double doors. While they are often installed as double doors, they can be a single door as well. Frequently single French doors are used for interior doors and double doors are used for exterior doors.
 
The glass in French doors can be as transparent or as opaque as desired (though no glass is truly 100% opaque.) They are sometimes rated for transparency from a one to a five (five being the most opaque and one being the most transparent.) Exterior doors are typically crafted with more opaque glass (level three to level five) for reasons of security and privacy. Sometimes a combination of transparent and opaque glass is used, especially for interior doors where privacy isn't an issue. The glass in French doors may incorporate one of a number of design elements. Glass may be beveled, etched or textured in some manner, or simply left smooth.
 
Homeowners tend choose French doors mainly for their aesthetic quality. They add sophisticated beauty to large and smaller homes alike. Naturally, the prolific use of glass allows more light to penetrate, particularly when it comes to exterior doors. Allowing more natural light to enter the home sometimes means a reduction in the use of electricity, plus, natural light brightens a home in a way that no light bulb can compare to.
 
While they are chosen largely for the beauty that they add, French doors are also functional. Homeowners can have customized security features built in. Doors can also be accessorized with hardware (i.e. door hands, etc.) that matches both interior and exterior décor and style. Once installed, they will last for years and add unbeatable curb appeal to any home.

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Why Choose French Doors?

Steiner Doors: Manufacturer of Architectural and Custom Aluminum doors.
http://www.steinerdoors.com/

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How to Choose the Right Door For Your Home

Buyer's guide to doors

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Whether for outside or in, create the right first impression with a statement-making door...
Opening up a whole new opportunity to express your individual style, we've found doors to suit every home. Choose from striking modern designs to easy updates.

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Exterior doors

There's plenty of choice, from glorious wood and sexy metal to a door painted in a hot hue.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT DOOR

'A front door should give your home wow factor while also providing security and insulation,' says Elizabeth Assaf, co-founder of Urban Front, which specialises in modern, designer-style front doors. 'Consider the outside of the house - is it rendered or brick, traditional or modern; is there a wooden or tiled floor in the hall?' Although panelled doors will never fall off the style radar, you don't have to adhere strictly to the age of your home. Don't be afraid to create a contrast between period architecture and a contemporary door. The latest trends include:

Wide doors Regular doors are 830mm wide but if your current door has enough room on either side to accommodate a wider frame, 950mm door can make a real impact. Full-height glass side-lights can also help to flood a gloomy hallway with natural light.

Solid woods Oak used to be a hot favourite, but rich golden Iroko and striking American black walnut are increasingly becoming the popular choice. Jeld-Wen is using engineered woods for added strength and security, and Urban Front's solid wood doors have a steel reinforced core to prevent warping.

Simplicity 'A modern door can create a cool contrast, even on a Victorian or Edwardian home,' says Nabil Assaf, also of Urban Front. 'Concealed hinges and subtle stainless-steel inlays help keep the look modern but minimal.'

Pivot doors 'Bespoke pivot doors are popular as they can be made wider than they are tall,' says Mark Dyson of Enclosure Architects. 'There is no "bending moment" when the door opens, which takes the strain off hinges, so pivot doors can be made up to 4m wide.'

PAINTED DOORS

For red-brick and Georgian houses, Farrow & Ball's director Sarah Cole suggests using Black Blue (£44.99 per 2.5l) - it's neither truly black nor blue and gives a smart look. Midnight Blue is elegant on a white-fronted period house.

For something classic, green or grey works well; go for gloss on a townhouse or matt in the countryside (Carriage Green, Studio Green and Off-Black are currently Farrow & Ball's most popular shades.) 'For more complex colours, deeper tones work better on front doors,' suggests Louise Smith, colour and design manager at Dulux. 'My favourites are Cocoa Blush 1 or Maraschino Mocha 1 for a decadent look and Tarragon Glory 5 or Red Stallion 4 (£16.99 for 2.5l) for a more intense look.'

nternal doors
'These days, a door doesn't just let you into a room: it can be made of steel or glass, or act as a wall or a window. Press a button and bingo - it's no longer there! There are even ones you can make disappear into the floor,' enthuses James Wells of Wells Mackereth Architects. Increasingly, doors inside your home no longer block one room from another, but instead allow for flow of light and movement throughout a space.

Glass A hot trend is for sliding and panel doors in glass with barely there fixtures and fittings. Good suppliers include The Disappearing Door Company, Innerdoor and Dorma.

Sliding Gone are the days of wobbly sliding doors - the new pocket doors literally disappear into the wall. 'They are a complete system to which you can add you own door, leaving no need to compromise on door style,' says Padraic Healey of The David Barley Company, distributors of the sleek Eclisse range of doors in the UK. 'They're also ideal as room dividers between living and sleeping areas,' says James Fletcher, MD of Draks.

Invisible Curved or flat seamless doors lend continuity to a space. Try Dooria and Doorhaus.

Textured wood Try doors in dark grainy woods. Barausse's Panama range uses coconut shell tiles and the Tetrix range boasts teak, stainless steel and leather.

FIRE SAFETY AND SECURITY

Fire prevention
When replacing a door, inside or out, be aware of fire regulations (visit the professional section about Part B regulations at planningportal.gov.uk). Generally, this applies to any door that leads on to what is deemed a fire escape route. Royde & Tucker has created a discreet fire door system called SmoClo as an alternative to self-closing fire doors. It can be easily fitted to existing doors as long as it is part of an existing mains-operated smoke detection system. Visit firesafety.org.uk for more info.

Home security
Ensure any lock fitted meets the British Standard five-lever mortice deadlock system - a Yale-type rim latch cylinder lock on its own is not sufficient protection,' says The London Door Company's Kerry Walters. Security specialists Banham recommends a combination of a latch lock and a deadlock (try a Banham M2002 cylinder mortice deadlock and a L2000 rim deadbolt, which are both insurance approved and to British Standard 3621). If you live in a high-crime area, investigate the benefits of a reinforced steel front door. For added security, opt for laminated security glass. For more advice, visit securedbydesign.com.

Door accessories

HANDLES AND HINGES

Front door detail The current trend is for plain, brushed stainless-steel knockers, letterplates and numbers. Try SDS London or Architectural Components. For an alternative to metal house numbers, try a contemporary Perspex or stainless-steel plaque by Abode Plaques.
Multi-textured handles For internal doors, HAF Designs and Turnstyle Designs have unusual handles combining sleek metals such as steel and bronze with wood and stitched leather details. Holloways of Ludlow is a good source for traditional knobs, knockers and locks. B&Q supplies a collection of good-value, contemporary and traditional door handles

DECORATIVE TOUCHES
Use decorative film for a quick, modern update on glass panels. It can be cut to provide interesting patterns, words or numbers. 'The opaque finish of frosted film gives privacy while still allowing light through, and really makes your door stand out,' says Karen Lansdown, co-founder of decorative film company Brume.

REPAIR OR REPLACE?
'Doors are key to the energy conservation, security and aesthetics of your home,' says Mark Roberts, product manager for Jeld-Wen. Consider its condition - if moisture has entered the door, it may have caused it to expand, discolour and crack. A carpenter can assess whether it has weakened the door beyond repair, or whether a sand, varnish (or paint) and re-alignment can sort it. A good door also helps energy efficiency: if there is a draught, it may need to be re-aligned or a frame improved, or a weatherstrip at the top or bottom might help. Ensure glass is double-glazed and fitted well.

How to Choose the Right Door For Your Home

You can find more information on interior design and interior design ideas at Livingetc.

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Aluminum House Shutters - 2 Different Types to Choose From

Are you looking for a great way to add more cosmetic value to the exterior of your home? If so, then you should consider looking into fitting your home with aluminum house shutters. These shutters neatly frame your windows and are just as functional as they are stylish. There are lots of benefits and features of aluminum home shades that are important for you to know about before you consider buying some. Lets take a look at a few of them.

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Stationary Shutters

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Traditional window shutters are placed on the left and right side of the window. They typically are there more for show than they are for functionality. This type of shutter is called stationary (also called fixed). One of the main things that you want to keep in mind when getting stationary shutters is that you want to get ones that are build with a great deal of durability. They need to withstand the elements of the outdoors that include rain, snow, and wind. They last thing you want is to get a nice set of window shades and find that they start to show signs of wear and tear after only a few years.

Functional Shutters

These shutters are the opposite of stationary ones. They are fitted around the window on the interior of the home instead of the outside. There are lots of similarities between the two, but these aluminum shutters have some distinct differences as well. The main purpose that people use functional shutters is to add some extra privacy to their home.

These shutters can be opened or closed with hinges that are installed on the sides of them. This lets you control how much or how little you want to be able to see out and also controls how much people can see in. Another reason that people use functional shades is to add cosmetic value. You can get all kinds of modern styles and designs that will surely make the rest of the interior of your home really stand out. Finally, another benefit is how much you add increased air circulation within your home.

You can open or close the horizontal slats of these windows and that will let fresh air into your home. It is nice to be able to do this while still maintaining a nice element of privacy.

If you are looking to get aluminum house shutters then your best bet is to check out some on line vendors or go to home stores such as Lowes and Home Depot. Once you have a nice set that perfectly accents the rest of your home you will surely not regret it.

Aluminum House Shutters - 2 Different Types to Choose From

Charles Mullin writes about window shutters, shades, home interior ideas, and more at http://www.WindowShuttersReview.com

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