Advice please on what colours for back of house (outside)

[Mumblechum1]

I hope these photos come thru; if not I'll put them on my profile.

so, I'm torn between:

1. Painting the walls cream and the windows and doors (3 external doors plus sliding patio ones) either all a nice soft F&B colour such as lichen or dix blue
   

or

1. Leaving the brick walls as they are, and painting the window frames and door frames white and just the doors in a nice colour
   

1. a combo of the above.
   

Any ideas please?

[Mumblechum1]

Anyone? xx

[wowfudge]

If you paint the brickwork there's no going back really. Has anyone with a similar house nearby done the same thing and what does it look like?

Window frames, etc - I hate dark wood window frames as they remind of 1980s houses when dark, hard wood window frames were in for new builds. Painting them will certainly change the look, just remember that white and light colours draw the eye and the window frames will stand out more than they do now. If the frames don't need to be painted now for maintenance reasons then I would look at introducing colour in other, easily changeable ways.

[Mumblechum1]

That's what worries me a bit. We have painted the front and it does look a lot better. Almost all the other houses are pretty brick and flint in a Chilterns village) so we're never going to blend in.

I totally agree about the horrid mahogany stained windows.

So if we keep the brick would you recommend something like f&b French Gray? For all the frames and doors?

It's N facing so always in shade

[wowfudge]

That changes things then if you've already painted the front - can you post a photo so we can see what it looks like?

Not sure about the colour choice - F&B website states French Grey can look green depending on the light and that wouldn't be to my taste. The shop assistants are really knowledgeable though so I'm sure they could help you choose something that will work if you are set on F&B.

[grumbleina]

I wouldn't paint the brick I don't think, just the windowframes, but I'd probably do them darker than the brick - a dark dark grey I think, though I might be tempted by a dark marine blue. And the bit over the window with the white patches - would those clean off or would it have to be painted?

If the doors are solid I might be tempted to paint them each a different cottage flower garden colour, but I'm a bit like that. Anything with glass would be the same as windowframes.

Then again if you've done the front already... what colour did you do that? Might be best to keep the back the same.

I think your house is gorgeous btw.

[Mumblechum1]

This is the front (sorry its so titchy)
The front is cream brick, white windowframes and garage door and Dix Blue frint door.

[Variousrandomthings]

A red brick house near me has painted all the windows and doors a dark grey and it looks stunning!! I always admire it

[wowfudge]

Your garden is beautiful! Okay, so if you've already painted the front then why not do the back too? I would just go for white window frames though, possibly with dark grey sills. I wouldn't paint roof tiles though, although it looks as though you have done on the porch so maybe replicate all the way round.

[Kitsmummy]

Red brick and mouse's back is a lovely combination.

Personally I would paint all your white woodwork a different colour at the front too.

[RoganJosh]

I would try and find a light to medium (bluefish?) grey that would look good with both brick and cream. I would then to all the woodwork, front and back in that and see if I could get away with not painting the brickwork.

[Mumblechum1]

Hmm dark grey sounds rather classy.....

[Mumblechum1]

Thanks all. I'm not really bothered about matching the front and back (am also too lazy!)
So gen opinion seems that some sort of grey is the way to go. Think i'll go to F&b today for some testers

[grumbleina]

Front looks lovely too. Look at your gaaaarden! -wails in envy-

Maybe the solid doors at the back the same as the front door? Then dark grey frames and leave the brick as is?

Good luck!

[Variousrandomthings]

My personal favourite F&B grey is down pipe. Might be worth looking at that?

[Variousrandomthings]

Grey for doors and window frames that is. Not masonry

[Variousrandomthings]

Little greene are my preferred paint brand though. They might have some nice greys?

[Mumblechum1]

Thanks. The garden is all DH, I'm afraid I can't take any credit!

[Variousrandomthings]

What did you go for?

[Mumblechum1]

Too rainy to go out today in the end.