“The beginning of Spring, for me, tends to signify the start of the season for exterior painting, whether it be your customer’s house, shed, out-house or garden, there is a pill for every ill in the exterior diagnosis”, so says, interior designer Patricia Wakely, who has been an independent consultant for 20 plus years and formerly creator of PLUSH Interiors.
When considering the exterior of your customer’s home, apartment or shop it is wise to consider the entire picture taking all elements into account. I like to apply a general rule of picking a particular colour or style for the main portion, harmonising that with a lighter or darker similar colour and lastly creating a pop or feature colour with the front door, windows or garages. This being a general guide you can choose different combinations relative to the impression you would like to create for your customer or the style or purpose of building that it is.
The current trend in exteriors is quite reflective of a change in colour depths used in the interior, in that more rich and moody colours are the choice of the trend-conscious homeowner. Deep greys, blues and greens are much more popular now than ever before and thankfully we should be all aware that virtually any colour that you can imagine is now available as an exterior masonry paint. For the more conservative taste who wish to make a statement only in their doors and trims, dark and rich exterior trim colours are now more sought after and can be found in a rich eggshell, satin or gloss finish. Colours like Virtuoso, Dawson Street and Ballet Blue are now featuring in the exterior brochure from Fleetwood as an indication of what is possible.
Traditionally the urban home and commercial properties can be seen in vibrant cheery colours, but this is slowly creeping into a nationwide choice. A home can really reflect the personality of the homeowner within, and I say, why not embrace the dark side? As a guide for a two-storey townhouse, for example, colours like Kingston Lafferty Taupe for a mid or Sligo Abbey for a deep main colour, and with trims in a soft neutral like Victorian White or Cotton Gin will add a sense of heritage and prestige. If you decide to choose this richer look then let the main body of the house do the talking and use a dark neutral like Midnight from the understated, elegant Ventura range from Arlene McIntyre to use as a gloss finish on the doors.
This deeper look can also be embraced in many other styles of building from the single storey to the brick or stone clad semi-detached home. If considering a customer’s home with brickwork, I would always recommend balancing the warmth in the brick with a green based neutral like Ashford or in the case of homes with warm stone portions then consider colours like Killiney Hill or Shannon River Fog and door colours like Virtuoso or Paperweight.
Thankfully, we can now add colour to more surfaces than might have been possible in the recent past such as windows and downpipes etc. More and more often you may see that owners are updating the look of their homes by using a deep grey on their exterior windows and whilst this does truly transform a building, why stop at deep grey? Definitely encourage adding more personality to these details, this can really make a home look more considered, especially when retaining a neutral modern colour for the body of the building.
Consider choosing something like New Moon as a window and door colour, with design studio grey as main masonry paint just remember to prepare correctly with a primer like Bloxx – it tinted to the finished shade for the ultimate deep finish.
Thankfully, there is an amazing selection of colours for all surfaces and it is worth advising your customers to step slightly outside their comfort zone to reflect their own taste and personality. Don’t believe me? Just give it a go!
For further inspiration ask your local Fleetwood account manager or call 049-854 7209. Fleetwood Paints, Virginia, Co. Cavan. www.Fleetwood.ie
Originally a graphic designer turned interior designer Patricia Wakely has been an independent consultant for 20 plus years. Formerly creator of PLUSH Interiors, working on commercial but predominantly private and domestic projects she provides a wide range of services from imaginative concept design to project management, individual colour consultation to personal shopping and bespoke soft furnishing advice.
