Tattered Folk Character: Before
“We bought a 1910 farmhouse that needs a complete remodel, including a paint job—help!” says Brandi Huff. She’s working to make the Folk Victorian in Milan, Michigan, that she’ll share with her husband and two sons move-in ready. We turned to architectural color consultant Bob Buckter for curb-appeal-boosting ideas.
Architectural Details on Display: After
“People choose white because it’s a no-brainer, but these architectural details deserve to be highlighted,” Buckter says. One tack: Use muted hues for the body and trim—such as the gray-blues, khakis, and pale yellows in the three palettes in this story—and contrasting colors to emphasize eye-catching features, like the fancy spindlework and turned posts. It’s a modern way to apply historically inspired colors.
Brandi’s reaction? “Looks awesome! We were so lost on what to do. The blue house is our favorite—it’s so homey.”
All-American Gray Blue Palette
An all-American classic, steel blue makes for a welcoming facade, especially when paired with ice-blue trim, azure gable ends, and wine-red windows and accents. A charcoal-gray skirt anchors the scheme.
All-American Gray Blue Palette: Steel Blue Facade
Olympic’s Silver Blueberry
All-American Gray Blue Palette: Ice-Blue Trim
Olympic’s Rendezvous
All-American Gray Blue Palette: Azure Gable Ends
Olympic’s Blue Cloud
All-American Gray Blue Palette: Wine-Red Windows
Olympic’s Bordeaux
All-American Gray Blue Palette: Charcoal-Gray Skirt
Olympic’s Granite
Earthy Warm Khaki Palette
Set against an earthy-brown body color, trim and porch floorboards in maroon and a door and windows in turquoise pop. Using a lighter taupe on the stickwork of the gable end sets it apart from the scalloped siding.
Earthy Warm Khaki Palette: Brown Body Color
Behr’s Mississippi Mud
Earthy Warm Khaki Palette: Non-Basic Beige
Behr’s Gobi Desert
Earthy Warm Khaki Palette: Maroon Trim and Floorboards
Behr’s Chianti
Earthy Warm Khaki Palette: Turquoise Door and Windows
Behr’s Agave Frond
Earthy Warm Khaki Palette: Deep Brown Skirt
Behr’s Butternut Wood
Pick a Palette: Creamy Yellow
The warmest palette of the bunch: a French-vanilla body shade, with cinnamon accents and contrasting cool-blue windows.
Creamy Yellow Palette: French-Vanilla Body Shade
Glidden’s Popcorn White
Creamy Yellow Palette: Hint of Gold
Glidden’s Golden Bamboo
Creamy Yellow Palette: Cinnamon Accents
Glidden’s Classic Brick Red
Creamy Yellow Palette: Cool-Blue Door and Windows
Glidden’s Rich Navy
Creamy Yellow Palette: Grounded Brown Skirt
Glidden’s Le Chateau Brown