Paint Palette

Published 11:07 am Thursday, September 24, 2009

‘The number one thing I tell people is that you have to go with what you like,” said Kevin Lovell, owner of Marysville Paint Store. He says don’t worry about pleasing the neighbors (well maybe a little) and don’t be afraid of change because color is no longer just for the inside of your home. It’s heading outside.

Lovell is talking about the wide range of exterior paint on the market today. If you want to paint your house, but don’t know where to start, Lovell has an idea that seems to work for many people. Start by driving around neighborhoods. You will be drawn to certain color schemes.

“Test drive colors on other people’s houses,” he said. And don’t hesitate to go up to the door. A simple “I love your house colors,” will get many people talking and most are happy to share the information.

You might be surprised that many newly painted homes have three or even four colors. Typically the main body of the house is one color and the trim another. But now you see that specific architectural elements like doors, shutters and window frames are painted with a third or even fourth accent color. Not only does this color draw attention to the important features of the house, but it can also give life to a somewhat neutral color scheme.

Jim Mallory, owner of Mallory Paint Stores in Lynnwood and Woodinville, agrees with Lovell.

“It comes down to personal taste,” Mallory said. Houses today are being painted with a lot of neutral tones, but they are deep gorgeous colors that change with the light of day. A variety of colors and hues in slate grays, rich taupes and earthy greens are popular choices. Complementing accent colors can be dark, breaking up the neutral tones. Or a shake accent in a slightly different color might be added to complement the main body of the home, Mallory said.

Matt Sanchez, who owns Sanchez Painting in Mukilteo, just finished painting a home with Sandy Taupe for the main body and Truffle Cream for the trim and door. He accented the house by staining its decks with a dark cedar color.

For the past four to five years, he has seen a trend of homeowners using darker-colored trim instead of the typical white or off-white. “We have bolder, darker trims that we can provide,” he said. Check out any home show for a variety of color ideas, he suggested.

If your house does not need to be completely repainted, you can give it a fresh look by adding a new color to an architectural feature. Front doors, window frames and shutters are all fair game. Drive around any neighborhood and you will surely see a black, red or maybe even purple front door accenting a home.

Lovell says the style of your home is not as important as it used to be when choosing paint. “You see color everywhere,” he said. Although, he cautioned, some homeowner association rules might dictate color parameters. If you have brick walls or a colored tile roof, you will want to consider their colors when designing your palette, as well.

Paint sheen is another consideration. Mallory says that low-sheen paints are popular with homeowners. “It’s similar to an inside eggshell finish,” he said. It works well because it doesn’t pick up as much dirt, and rainwater keeps it somewhat clean. “You will get better longevity with low-sheen,” he said.

On the other hand, Mallory said, that flat paint hides defects better. It’s good for defects in siding like the old LP siding many people still have.

To help choose your colors, you can find many ideas and suggestions at paint and building supply stores. Catalogs and brochures with three or four compatible colors are arranged by architectural style. “Color choices are basically unlimited,” Lovell said.

A good way to test color on your home is to buy sample pints of paint. Mallory said for around $6 you can take a pint home and try it on different areas of the house. He recommends putting splotches on the front and back and checking it out in all kinds of light. Also, stand back by the street to see how it looks from that distance.

Lovell discourages the use of digital programs to choose your paint. Computer monitors are all different and they don’t accurately reflect the colors, he said. Color chips and paint samples are the way to see the real colors.

If you don’t think you can pick out your paint colors, consider hiring a designer. It’s not expensive and Lovell said he has three or four he works with. In the end you’ll still get what you like, with the added assurance that it looks great.

Marysville Paint Store

1717-A Grove St.

Marysville

(360) 659-9200

Mallory Paint Store

3225 Alderwood Mall Blvd.

Lynnwood

(425) 977-4996

mallorypaintstore.com

Sanchez Painting

Mukilteo

(425) 346-1747

mattsanchezpainting.com