From the article: Happy Colors for a Bungalow
Are historic colors always drab? What colors would you paint this featured Bungalow? The most interesting and most helpful color ideas will be posted on this page. Suggest color ideas
Happy, but conforming to heritage.
- ~ As some here have mentioned, the softer yellow varient would look great, and yes, I also agree with giving the historic/architectural review board a call. I bet you will be very happy with color options they can show you too. Ron. ( ;-} >
- —Moonpagan
Keep yellow, tone it down....
- I agree with going more earthy. Softer yellow, with soft brown trim would be perfect.
- —Guest guest
Just small changes
- I would keep the yellow, but maybe change the trim to a warm medium brown, soft copper, or olive green. Paint the porch columns in cream and you'd be quite in keeping with bungalow color schemes of the 1910s and '20s. See the book Bungalow Colors by Robert Schweitzer and grab the Sherwin Williams Arts and Crafts color samples, both interior and exterior, before you go chat with the historic folk: you'll be ready to support your choices!
- —Guest jeannet
Caribbean Classic
- Living on the Caribbean island of Curacao, I'm used to a lot of bright and happy colors on both historic and modern buildings. For your bungalow I would choose a shady green and dark purple trim. A second option would be a light purple building with white trim, probably better in line with historic guidelines....
- —Guest marjory
More Earthy
- Just to let you know, I'm an architectural historian and a Master's student in Historic Preservation. I can understand the complaint by the local historical board, because I agree that the colors are inappropriate for your house. They really fight against the house instead of enhancing it. I think there's nothing wrong with the color yellow on a bungalow per se. The problem is the bright color of yellow, and an even greater problem is the choice of black. Black is a cold color that never would have been used on a house like that. Plus, the black next to the yellow makes the yellow look more garish than it really is. My suggestion is to use a warmer, softer yellow, with a bit more beige in it (like http://tripolitile.com/filed%20color%20samples/soft-yellodark2.jpg), and then use a warm brown (like the color of leather) as your accent color. Your house would look lovely.
- —Guest Valerie
House in Durgapur, India
- I want to colour my house with a white background and BLUE stripes.
- —supriyo1972
Why do we HAVE to conform?
- Two (conflicting) thoughts come to mind here. No. 1 - when looking at the picture of this lovely little home, I see a horrific apartment building in the background - doesn't look too "historically correct" to me! Secondly, I agree that conformity needs to be 'policed' if you will, in neighborhoods - if for nothing else, to be pleasing to the eye of the general public, not to mention property values. My home has a large front window in the living room which looks across the street to a dumpy little house in disrepair - painted the gaudiest shade of blue I have ever seen!! When I bought this house in 1972, we had a lovely little neighborhood, but this one house has fallen into the hands, numerous times, of persons less and less caring, it seems. Sadly, one home not conforming to the neighborhood can reduce property values for all the neighboring homes! I do NOT mean to imply this one does, however.
- —Guest Jeanharpist
Patriotic Colors
- How about a more patriotic color scheme... but one that almost features rich primary colors? I'm thinking that if you paint every surface that is now yellow, a rich federal blue... then the surfaces that are now a dark green (?), a vanilla... then paint that front door a "Hey, look at me!" red... your city officials may feel less threatened. You might even paint the porch the same vanilla, but paint the steps and a wide stripe from the steps to the door, the red color you use on the door... sort of a red carpet that invites folks in.
- —Guest Pam
Pale Yellow
- How about a paler (much paler) yellow. I am sure it would pass muster (or mustard, haha) with the historic district. I live in an historic district, and I hate to say it, but if you had gotten a building (painting, or whatever) permit beforehand, you would have been directed first to the historic/architectural review board, who would have cheerfully given you guidance and saved you trouble. Those who reported you have an interest in making sure that guidelines are enforced in all parts of the district, not just their own streets. Any renegade paint jobs or renovations alter the character of the district and make it harder to enforce guidelines in the future. I am on the local review board and assure you that if you consult your review board or historic commission, they would be more than glad to give you guidance. They are a tremendous resource for the homeowner, not an adversary.
- —Guest Bobby
