Hi again- I have been looking at Benjamin Moores colors and have chosen a few you might look at. My technique for color choices is to buy several large sheets of MDF from the hardware and several paint samples that I think will work. Grab a plain white sample pot as well and just play with colors; if what you thought looked good in the shop and doesn't look good in reality, just add a bit of the white to lighten it and use the darker tones to deepen. Once you've found the color you like paint it on one of the large MDF sheets and live with it for a day or two and see how it looks morning,night, south side of building,northside of building. If the color that you like is one that you've mixed yourself, just go back to the paintshop as I'm sure B Moore would have the right shade so you can match it. Do you know the color name of the roofing? Is it IRONSTONE or MONUMENT? I'd be tempted to use that same color for the windows. My personal trick for contrast and trims is to take the main color and ask paint shop to make it up in 1/4 strength even lighter if need be. Good luck and post pictures when it's finished.

paint the pergola. frame out the windows and paint those leave the house white and add some colorful pots and some patio furniture. where is this house?

First of all I would like to say it looks like your parents have brought a lovely looking home. The colouring of the outside of the house it typical for it's age. I would like to suggest that you stick with a light tone for the outside but is the Yellow / Cream isn't working then perhaps consider going for a White with a tiny tint of pale green .... this will blend in nicely with the garden, window joinery and roof but it will not be stark white. Internally I am a bit of a cream on cream kind of a person because I like to add colour through my furnishings, knick-knacks etc but I have to say I did move into a home with a mint green carpet which suits my personality but is not all together practical with pets coming and going and a lounge painted a medium to dark mint and I really love that colour. Originally the hall ways and other room where a butter / cream and just making it a off white really boosted the light and spaciousness of the home. The lounge is still the same minty green and I think I will repaint it a similar colour as it is very relaxing and "natural". So go for something that is restful inside and something clean and almost white outside. Hope that helps.

An old post , so sort of sorry to revive it ! The lighter shade looks a lot better , but something doesn't gel with me -- it looks like a beautiful Million Dollar house , let down by someone trying to save $10k . IF it was my place , the 2 things I would do is change ( or hide ) the round pillars , and the relatively cheap looking brickwork . I'd go for quality stonework in place of the brickwork , and carry the theme through to the pillars -- probably 'squaring' the pillars . In fact , I personally don't like the slightly strange 'extra' pillars -- I'd try to 'cut back' to 4 pillars , in a quality natural stone . Once I had done those 2 'improvements' , I'd sand back and restain a darker brown the entrance doors and surrounds -- that golden look screams 1980's IMO . I realise they tie in with the existing colours , but I'd want to get away from that look . Maybe I'm strange . . . . . . .