I'm being very brave here today, and I am sharing photos of my cottage in it's current "Before" state.
(Scary, I know.)
I'm sharing this with you because I am at a stand-still trying to select a colorway for the outside of my diamond in the rough. I getting ready to tackle some of the outside issues, and I want it to reflect my style, and say who lives here.
My own personal style is cottage with a side of farm house. When I googled up Chip and Joanna's farm house, (The folks on my favorite HGTV Show, Fixer Upper) I was immediately inspired, because what I saw there was a house in the before state that looked quite honestly like much more of a project house than what I am tackling.
Here was their farmhouse from the front, in it's before state.....
and the rear as well...
It looks pretty daunting, doesn't it?
But, my-oh-my, just look at it now. Here is the newly restored front....
...and the ash-mazing new rear..
See?
Inspiring, for sure.
(Squeeee! I love that metal roof!)
Both time and money are challenges for me in regards to breathing new life and lots of love into my little cottage. Here it is in it's current state....
What?....Why yes, that is an old school TV antenna on my roof. (If you are lucky enough to be under 35 you might not know what that is.)
You can tell it's mine by the attempt to foofify the all-too-ghetto front porch.
(Just you wait. It won't be this way too much longer!)
Anyway, I am now choosing colors for the exterior of my soon-to-be jewel of a cottage, and I am desperate for your input. You see, my cottage sits on a nice big corner lot, and I'll be getting a new privacy backyard fence here in a couple of weeks, followed in mid-September by the guys certified to do lead based paint removal. (Can you believe it? There is a wait list that long!)
Once that step is complete, I will have the exterior painted, and adding a new front door and shutters. I am getting a new roof, so I don't have to take that into too much consideration, although that will be another decision. (Color of roof? Shake, shingles, or maybe even a metal roof?)
That is where your two cents is needed. I have so many ideas, and I am not at all sure which way I really want to go. Do I go with a grey house, white trim, dark grey shutters,,,
and a fabulous green door? I think the green adds a fresh look...
...or do I stay with the white, only brighter and all fresh and clean, with red accent shutters and doors? (In this scenario, I would paint the old 50's brick on my cottage white as well, so it would be invisible)
Cheerful and happy, no?
(Although, maybe not quite this much red in the details...)
As long as I am considering white, what about a simple black and white with the unexpected pop of black and white awnings? Many of the larger homes in my sweet neighborhood have them, and I do love the look, plus they block the strong sun on the front of my cottage...
....or do I really step out of my comfort zone and try this Robins egg blue with white trim, and red door?
I am really torn here, as I want my house to reflect me, and I want it to be a showpiece on the block.
(Currently I am the ugly duckling in case you had not guessed. The rest of my neighborhood is filled with everything from charming smaller cottages and stately larger homes. It's a fabulous little spot, and I want to make my lil' home the jewel of the street.)
I would truly lov your ideas, and input on color selection...please share!
