{"id":670,"date":"2015-08-19T21:23:37","date_gmt":"2015-08-20T01:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/?page_id=670"},"modified":"2015-09-01T21:44:37","modified_gmt":"2015-09-02T01:44:37","slug":"choosing-a-trim-color","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/?page_id=670","title":{"rendered":"Choosing an Exterior Trim Color"},"content":{"rendered":"<div><\/div>\n<div>Although the\u00a0trim color is typically the second main color on a house, it is often specified as an afterthought&#8211;&#8220;just white trim, please&#8221;. \u00a0 White trim, which became more popular in the 1920s (following darker trim tones in the earlier 1900s) can lend a crisp, \u00a0traditional look to the home. \u00a0When deciding to move away from &#8220;white&#8221; trim (and in that category, I&#8217;m including creamy whites), decisions need to be made about (i) how much, if any, and where,\u00a0white should be used on the house&#8211;even when a different color is used for most of the trim, white often remains in varying degrees on railings, columns, eaves, and (ii) whether white trim should be substituted for another color like a light-medium green, tan, etc (which I&#8217;ll call &#8220;substitute white&#8221; here). \u00a0A fully saturated look with darker trims and no white can also be beautiful. \u00a0There are all many variations that have a big impact on the overall look of the home. \u00a0Examples below (which include a mix of house styles) include classic white trim, variations on the amount of white trim with darker trims, &#8220;substitute white&#8221; trim and trims without light colors. \u00a0It can be helpful to look at these photos to ensure that all elements of a house are being considered and to figure out the right color for each element to achieve the optimum look.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>A few of the houses below are houses in my neighborhood so I can give close approximations on colors of the actual houses. \u00a0However, \u00a0with other houses, I&#8217;ve listed approximate colors based on the monitor (which in some cases, I know are not the colors of the actual houses&#8230;eg, based on reading the comments of the designer, Elise Moore, the first house below is a sage color, rather than a blue\/green as shown on the monitor).<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Classic \u00a0Light Trim<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div>First, below are examples of two foursquares with &#8220;white&#8221; trim (the more crisp\/traditional Americana) look:<\/div>\n<div>1.<\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci5.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/ZayX8xsls-nfp64BBIVQIMvb7HL7SWIOolUYV1n-720addJSRjVgvHALu4R7B6Bfa1766OqwJBSqOLfu1m8uf2ll-UYLWNPSGnd49r4LkE2RuWoQgF706TbUooCnOZ8eSjZ8vH2rpMsfT84iJw=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/12\/26\/72\/12267236c4b1b08ff9c22cbf1729361b.jpg\" alt=\"Traditional Exterior by Elise Moore Design\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/www.elisemooredesign.com\/portfolio\/drummond-house\/\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>2.<\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci4.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/p-zKfzqp_54ud_GHBdnHybH75VynY9XK2XFdnR_LZrJVCBuVn_ATKRa8TMuMM6hGfZodCpxYB4TWgcCYxCL3D8JT3TVCfQd-MXF3WB4umLkVYnaccOTUBmWYv0IIbMVrmC0HwAfrIjqmX0YsjRZK6hmb6ocdO6Tqe61OryrjTwnxl_HV7x_COpjAxL06yYEJ=s0-d-e1-ft#http:\/\/www.dailyarchdesign.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/shirley-maclaine-warren-beatty-childhood-home-in-richmond-va.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dailyarchdesign.com\/amazing-ideas\/this-classic-foursquare-was-shirley-maclaine-warren-beattyrsquos-childhood-house-in-virginia\/\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Limited White Trim<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div>The next three examples show different options for the amount of white trim on the house while substituting color trim in other areas.<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>3. \u00a0<b>\u00a0White sashes, columns, railings, eaves with dark trim, outline and accents around eaves:<\/b><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/sYJjiMlum4m78cLZQpMazZ25T1pj47eviuYbYakWYAnuMD__UOzb0bS-knpVx1AMSpACdLqeReYYfQjqwF59TwkVxmtRvyoUcprDffwDubwp9ImZjUnSYCeM-wVko1gI02CA-NNxJx_fCAqyEw=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/74\/ee\/25\/74ee25704a07897bdda6bb72d7536d6a.jpg\" alt=\"light railing; light sashes\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/historichousecolors.com\/historic-color-consulting\/project-2012-american-foursquare-decatur-ga\/\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><b>4. \u00a0Less white in this example&#8230;light\u00a0columns, balusters, risers, outline trim on eaves. \u00a0Dark window and outline trim, sashes, hand rails and detail on balusters:<\/b><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci5.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/wqCec-BZEcHPuVUZ01rdetjz0r-Cthj28HjxGge7q-X3ezEP5iKUAWrsfZ5WhmevteoUUCXaYCee0ju47En-E8LIQMUfKdP4tBQbILLBEoEnQWmDGIivns06hJYx6ixKRyyFFKqOCGQyS1WxJVG2VtlS=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/originals\/1b\/15\/31\/1b15315e9e87ab579e8c476026b7e2ea.gif\" alt=\"house-exterior-painting-ideas-paint-color-schemes\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/www.giesendesign.com\/design\/\/image-of-ideas\/image-of-exterior-paint-schemes-for-your-houses-30027.html\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>5. <strong>Very little white is used on the example below from Sherwin Williams&#8217; American Heritage collection. \u00a0White sashes and door (and furniture peaking through porch railings). \u00a0Da<\/strong><b>rk eaves, columns, trim, railing:<\/b><\/div>\n<div><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<div><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/mail\/u\/0\/?ui=2&amp;ik=7628815b60&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=14f47adc465adeea&amp;attid=0.2&amp;disp=emb&amp;realattid=ii_14f46c9251f2e59a&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ-hnswgC1bLuQphmyFUi_hlAyn4OyqddF5fdIlDOEpD3XrrNtfjaheIjOaY58OoMNafvRmzW56epKVRU7m-rtQ3JNPO7Cb2vMo-4Bmzgcvx-S5hmhyAG-h_JJo&amp;sz=w626-h322&amp;ats=1440024229579&amp;rm=14f47adc465adeea&amp;zw&amp;atsh=1\" alt=\"Inline image 1\" width=\"313\" height=\"161\" \/><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/www.sherwin-williams.com\/homeowners\/color\/find-and-explore-colors\/paint-colors-by-collection\/exterior-color-schemes\/americas-heritage\/\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">&#8220;Substitute White&#8221;<\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n<div>The next examples use a &#8220;substitute white&#8221;&#8211;a color trim (light\/medium green, tan) replaces white trim:<\/div>\n<p>6. \u00a0<b>Light\/medium green trim with wine sashes.<\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/zN99TtK97i1caBjxh9kl3hIZwNAm2HbBlnxaQ36z22BGnvjLffFZ05Net-_io-H6FFsGCbyJgkLhvrNhuXptA2FsIwuvBdtcSRGXWXeemWIEDn7wWYCFEyuVRIGP16N-GjMrVgAs-6IlM6MaFQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/c5\/69\/fc\/c569fcf2f666c685a891f122dc9dbded.jpg\" alt=\"Bowers-foursquare\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/historichousecolors.com\/portfolio\/victorian-3\/\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>7. Sandy tan trim with warm red sashes and doors<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci5.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/IfwBySf0O914TGwMnTu2BQ4JdNX-FOS76Ov465TBhJBYYXiNyhU-0uUXlI7m0qGp_CJilfiEY9B68FHp6Z9YFyaGYOlsAOue2QSiYSCtE9ioaOUvI0fkVfeEJqSVhGm_mZoAGbdIIj54DdwN7w=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/9c\/fa\/e8\/9cfae867d9f247dcd071c1345ad01903.jpg\" alt=\"craftsman house dark trim - Google Search\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/www.sortun-vos.com\/project\/16\/West-Seattle-Craftsman\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>8. \u00a0This house is an example of both a &#8220;substitute white&#8221; on top and in the accents in the eaves while employing green for most of the trim.<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci5.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/cB8Zqjz4TodQFqRdfRekbFerkRjmUFyseJTJnisHxomtrrSqeyW43uQ5V9vVg2RYtN0lQIbKj3KSyBvxvU8iTlaNDRIcP9fz6zyxo1Ar3lh8vuYzuhA_1TEkV7R_-9zEUVfb_z_JXdVIrAus1Q=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/13\/85\/00\/138500c528e77a25e6d7ff525aac5da0.jpg\" alt=\"craftsman four square\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/noehill.com\/noescripts\/one_picture.asp?theImageFile=%2Fco_la_plata%2Fimages%2Ffoursquare_craftsman_east_third_avenue.jpg&amp;theImageID=&amp;theWidth=800&amp;theHeight=716&amp;theAlt=National+Register+%2384000024%3A+East+Third+Avenue+Historic+Residential+District&amp;theServer=noehill.com&amp;theURL=%2Fco_la_plata%2Fnat1984000024.asp\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><strong>9. \u00a0This house uses a yellow rather than a white or creamy white as a &#8220;substitute white&#8221;<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci4.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/hJn6GVUobOMGsNozkDN_gDqXHB7h-NkMhGK5ZCYtkc0XgCvmd5wyop5TqK6vyYmWgaH6dEjJwb91WcUx5CxXCoyJKBxY9RGwxACnpvHs7psgCMuJwppGRzMvBARpTt6ahPELO7-KMQjopZesoQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/98\/0a\/b9\/980ab9df86dfb8cd9b58b62fc7918618.jpg\" alt=\"these are the colors i would love for the outside of our house. that blue does look great with the brick and deep blue shutters..BAM\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/www.designsponge.com\/2009\/10\/sneak-peek-chelsea-and-tec-petaja.html\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><strong>10. \u00a0Although the railings, columns and sashes read as white, they are light green and the remaining trim is comprised of several other greens:<\/strong><\/div>\n<div><img src=\"https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/236x\/e3\/12\/d9\/e312d9da5e00134fabb34ec8f1e8d6f9.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/www.houzz.com\/photos\/6650320\/Palisades-Neighborhood-NW-Washington-DC-craftsman-exterior-other-metro\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><b><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">No Light Trim<\/span><\/b><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div><strong>The final examples use no light (white or &#8220;substitute white&#8221;) trim. \u00a0These combinations frequently include green and red combinations:<\/strong><\/div>\n<div>11.<\/div>\n<div><img src=\"https:\/\/mail.google.com\/mail\/u\/0\/?ui=2&amp;ik=7628815b60&amp;view=fimg&amp;th=14f3e5ce36e3b42b&amp;attid=0.1&amp;disp=inline&amp;realattid=f_idgnnc2x0&amp;safe=1&amp;attbid=ANGjdJ_Xgwpx3vFnaqpIlvaBJURdRiYgq773F_exDS4NFTz9pGSX2SiQi6LrdmAFV3pr1JhMS5p2K0DjRrsBU_xD-vUnvNCJCy9r68obmfi-NTY3zuFjS4zrn0wqROo&amp;ats=1440024230146&amp;rm=14f3e5ce36e3b42b&amp;zw&amp;sz=w1338-h510\" alt=\"Displaying ann masters house.jpg\" \/><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u00a012.<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0\u00a0<img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci6.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/vRCZknUIavKLzJlhlBioTMQUXXaLevbAw2SXPpwTGyA77mhmTbzxK8r59Wxlq-SYM2wFYntUZ1LGBdsdN0Lzx8mFEwJQ_AcASOKDuGcFYc0-pbpyUr_BCEaoxmHXTkZUbyl06bHwjb5iTuGYRA=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/b7\/ec\/17\/b7ec173d612ffc663d356909fa8ace35.jpg\" alt=\"Enjoy your porch more by enhancing its look and comfort with ideas from these beautiful spaces.\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/http:\/\/proect-doma.ru\/letnyaya-veranda\/\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div>13.<\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci5.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/MCiSE3Ci5BKKQMZdhpZ-_w15ChogAs11Gs3HZbI__LcRU7UmBqXXjOrrcZLYb5dfT9NkHASe3bas49P0OcMdaWgzJxiH9Rm2V6CxHwFlqw7QZny6Kr7qWajYTwJcIc_dWd7fvc6Jz7pxh8T_sQ=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/a7\/c0\/24\/a7c02472f5c7457ba46db9ee742cb7f8.jpg\" alt=\"Painted Lady in Oak Park, IL\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/mick_chgo\/7478065084\/in\/album-72157630368014440\/\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>14.<\/div>\n<div><img class=\"CToWUd a6T\" tabindex=\"0\" src=\"https:\/\/ci3.googleusercontent.com\/proxy\/4uSiIowCI0PA21Gghk0j62Cdve_5Ew1yyEJRQXw18f1Ys7_ADnsu3cFWu0794HFNWZVgiXuRsbxkIJuEE7IeTu-bQVQSkz1xb-HKt3tPH9q3EwaPIMdIRR44YWgdyvqyXouKfhBjYs8m9JStvA=s0-d-e1-ft#https:\/\/s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com\/736x\/0f\/f1\/a6\/0ff1a6c18be27c6a5cd64b50b5648d58.jpg\" alt=\"Craftsman Bungalow | by bo mackison\" \/><\/div>\n<h5><a href=\"http:\/\/https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/twistedart\/3636973783\">Image Source<\/a><\/h5>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><img class=\"ajT\" src=\"https:\/\/ssl.gstatic.com\/ui\/v1\/icons\/mail\/images\/cleardot.gif\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Although the\u00a0trim color is typically the second main color on a house, it is often specified as an afterthought&#8211;&#8220;just white trim, please&#8221;. \u00a0 White trim, which became more popular in the 1920s (following darker trim tones in the earlier 1900s) can lend a crisp, \u00a0traditional look to the home. \u00a0When deciding to move away from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":205,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/670"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":740,"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/670\/revisions\/740"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/serpentinewalls.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}