Saturday, August 10, 2013

A Whole New Look For A Grand Old Lady

This 107 year old lady just got an updated, youthful look.
A new roof and new gutters, plus new paint, dramatically changed the appearance of our home.

The biggest change is the black doors and window sashes.
It's like I put eyeliner on the house!

Here is the BEFORE photo with just two colors on the exterior.
Notice the gutters that don't belong on the house of this age and style...

...and the AFTER photo with darker taupe stucco, black windows and new gutters.
Notice under the eaves are now white--as it should be.

BEFORE

AFTER

 BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Ok, so there are a few cons to the black paint.
For one, it gets dusty very fast.

It also highlights imperfections like this old French door's glazing.
However, it also frames the view inside.

It's like putting a frame on a piece of art.


You really notice the window coverings now.
I love how the bamboo shades look with the black windows.

I even had them paint the garage doors black.
We are now referring to them as the "black holes" and are always thinking the doors are open.
Painting the eaves white also made such a difference.  
Before they were the same color as the stucco, blending and disappearing.  
Now the architecture of the house is highlighted.

The plants are also highlighted.
 I found myself at Home Depot buying more red geraniums because they really stand out now.

The biggest challenge though with two crews working on the house--five guys on the roof and three guys on ladders, was Oscar.  I think he escaped at least three times a day.  
He's an escape artist and will run away if given the opportunity!

A final shot of the house before with its red roof and old gutters and original paint.

A whole new look for a grand old lady!

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50 comments:

Cyndy said...

Delores,
I loved the house before and now it looks even better! You really have a great eye for seeing things how they should be and I find myself coming to your blog for ideas frequently as I redecorate my own house!
Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!
Cyndy
Akron, Ohio

Anonymous said...

I loved seeing The Grand Old Lady at every angle. She is gorgeous!

Stacey said...

It just doesn't get any prettier than that. The windows are amazing. Love all the ivy and greenery and it really does show up more now.

Kathysue said...

You are so right, you house now has eyeliner. Love every single element. You hit out of the ball park on this transformation. It makes her look even GRANDER!!!
xo Kathysue

PS I was grinning throughout the entire post, so happy for YOU!!

Anita Diaz said...

Delores, what a gorgeous makeover!! Love, love, love the black trim and all the little details. What a grand house:-)

cardinalkay said...

Nobody loves black window sashes + doors more than I do!
We're re-doing a Dutch colonial foreclosure, + I insisted on black doors.
I had to show you-know-who photos of said-same before he'd agree!
Kudos on the beautiful home!
K A Y
Redbirdv.wordpress.com

Thehouseofhampton said...

I have always said " a can of paint can change your life". Of course having style and guts helps. Some advise for Oscar: you may to think twice before running from that home, you just never know where you'll end up!
I absolutely love the the transformation. Oscar stay put. You look good in that home!
Sharon
@novaraway

Splenderosa said...

I am a total lover of black paint, and it is like eyeliner isn't it?
Perfection! Of course. xx's

Low Tide High Style said...

Delores, I thought your home was beautiful before but now...wow, truly stunning! The black looks wonderful, and I'm glad sweet Oscar didn't get too far!

Kat

Meg@OliverandRust said...

i am agreeing with what everyone wrote. i have been content to just wander around your interior but now think it would take me hours just to get inside because i am in love with the exterior of your home. the gorgeous topiaries everywhere really set the tone of the house. fantastico!

ℳartina @ Northern Nesting said...

BEAUTIFUL transformation!! I love the darker color stucco along with the black trim!

Phyllis @Around the House said...

wow the black trim makes such a difference, I love the new more current look of the home..just beautiful...

Kim @ Savvy Southern Style said...

Delores, I love the black. What a difference that makes. Wish I could do that on ours, but our window grids are between the glass and white.

Judy said...

i've always loved your house but now its even more beautiful! we had our brick painted several years ago the darker taupe color your chose...my shutters and front door are black and my french doors on the patio/deck area are black. i love our french doors but noticed they are blistering in our southern summer heat and need to be scraped and repainted...that will be a job!

your home, inside and out, is simply stunning!

Toni said...

Your house looks amazing. I recently spent the weekend in Santa Barbara and walking the streets of neighborhoods with the lovely old stately homes was my favorite part. SO MANY of them also had black windows and trim or doors which I noticed more because of your post that you were in the process of changing them and when I saw them I thought.....genius! They are gorgeous!

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Your house is gorgeous and the neew paint is beautiful. Hugs, Marty

Anonymous said...

Hi Delores! Oh, how beautiful your home looks. I love the new touches of color. Those many paned windows are just gorgeous.
be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Constance said...

You did an outstanding job, it really made an impressive difference. Great vision on your part to know how to make those changes so well.

Shenita @ Embellishments by SLR said...

Delores, the black trim looks amazing! Your home was beautiful before; but, the accents are gorgeous now!

Unknown said...

Beautiful! The black really makes everything pop and stand out. Love it!

Martha said...

I like what you did!

Sarah said...

Delores, you home is so distinctive. Love the new details, but this grand old lady would look terrific with or without "eyeliner". '-)
You did a great job! Thanks for sharing the before and afters, so we can truly appreciate the changes.

Silvia said...

hi there!! your home is truly y dream house :-) BEAUTIFUL!

Southerncook said...

All the changes you have made are FABULOUS!!!! I too loved it before but the changes are so very dramatic. Bravo, great changes.

Carolyn/A Southerner's Notebook

gme said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Unknown said...

Beautiful! You live in a work of art! I love the black accents and think that they will be well worth the extra dust.

Alison @ The Polohouse said...

Looks gorgeous, Delores!
Every single view//// loving it all.
xox
A

osageacresfarm said...

The new look is age appropriate for your home and spectacular! Well done. I even love how it shows the imperfections of the glazing! Lovely

Unknown said...

Beautiful transformation, Delores! I love the black accent!!~~Angela

Libby said...

Really nice Delores! The black just makes it. And what a lot of work...but well worth it!

Marlis said...

Delores, your gorgeous home is now all dressed up for any occasion. I do love the black "eyelashes", the white eves and the new roof.. She certainly is a grand lady!

Just Spiff It said...

Your house looks incredible! A very classic beautiful. I loved looking at all your photos.

Anonymous said...

That looks very nice!

cindy hattersley design said...

What a difference1 I absolutely adore the color combination and you are right...the eyeliner did the trick!!

Betsy Speert said...

I approve!
It looks great with the black details.

Anonymous said...

I love love LOVE the new color scheme! You did exactly the right thing!!

So few old houses have the right trim!!

Genius!! And I even love the imperfections on the old doors!! That is "patina"!!

BRAVO!!!!

Victoria said...

It was a beautiful home before, Delores, but the changes really highlight the architecture perfectly. Congrats on your choices.
XO, Victoria

Debra@CommonGround said...

she's beautiful, and you're right, like eyeliner to define and show off the wonderful details!

Mary Ann Pickett said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! When I was just in Boston, I noticed how pretty the windows and door looked with black accents....you are a genius!!!

Chatfield Court said...

Love the black accents on the windows and the new roof...what a difference!

Kristi

Sheila said...

Your house has always been beautiful but it does look better with the crisp white eaves and black sashes. So elegant!

Unknown said...

Just absolutely amazing!! Love the black!! Gorgeous!!

mamaroses said...

Gorgeous house! Great eye!
Now, after this I wonder if I will be able to settle-in on buying a new place quickly enough.

Anonymous said...

My guess is that was the original trim color on the windows!

Most people......completely miss the research on the old , and original trim!

All it takes is sandpaper!

I restored a "Spanish Colonial Revival" house in Pasadena; and no one wanted the "turquoise" trim on the windows!

Guess what? When they sanded them.........the color I selected for window "trim." was the exact same color!!

Not for the outside......window trim.....for the muntons and inside trim!

find out the right way to do it! And then do it the right way!!

Penelope

Unknown said...

So, things really went as planned, eh? I love the new look of the house too! And yes, indeed, the black roof gave the whole house a whole new appearance, which is amazingly pleasing to the eyes! I congratulate you for accomplishing this project, and is happy to see you happy with the result! Good job!
Allyson @ Affordable Roofing Systems

Tiffany Larsen said...

I thought the red roof looked fine until I took a closer look at the before and after pictures. The gutters looked just about ready to fall off, so the home improvements came just in time!

Ginger said...

Wow! Stunning! Great job! Delores, did you also paint the inside of all the windows and doors black?

Paige said...

Hi! What color paint is on the stucco? Love it, and we are having a hard time finding a good stucco color.

Paige

Amy & Murray Williams said...

We love the color combination and are looking to do something similar with our 1915 colonial revival home! Beyond the black, could you please let us know the color you used for the stucco and what shade of white is used for the trim? Thanks much ... it looks beautiful!

Unknown said...

Great color combination! Thank you for sharing!

We have brick similar and would like to know the color of the stucco and white trim.

Thank you!

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