Paint can be tricky. Add to the mix the lightening effects of painting exterior surfaces, and I become frozen with indecision. Whatever I choose, I’m stuck with it, and so is everyone who drives by and/or visits my barns. So here I sit, paralyzed with indecision as the warm summer painting season passing by.
A mere six years ago, when we purchased this property from my family, we had the barns painted. Feeling nostalgic and wanting to honor the past, I simply had them repainted as they had been all my life:
Classic white with dark green trim. If you travel up and down Buckeystown Pike, you’ll find barn after barn painted this same way.
But the job was done poorly, and now, after only six short years, we’re faced with the need to paint again. And I’m itching for a change.
I’d really like to move on to this look:
Farrow & Ball’s Railings is an great choice. I attended one of F&B’s color seminars, where I learned to go 2 tones darker for exterior color, as the sun washes it out, making it appear much paler outside than it does indoors.
Here’s Railings as a trim color – so beautiful.
There is no comparison for richness and fullness of color to the Farrow & Ball paints. And here’s another choice – but paler: Downpipe:
I really like this color in combination with the red brick. Our house (which could also use fresh paint) is red brick, and I’d like consistency throughout the property.
This image above is F&B’s Downpipe against Cotswolds stone. But doesn’t anything look beautiful against Cotswolds stone?
And then there’s Benjamin Moore’s Amherst Grey. So elegantly sharp with it’s crisp white trim.
Or, Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal. This image gives you a great look at how color can change. On the cards, Kendall Charcoal is darker than Amherst Grey, yet if you compare these images, they appear to be almost the same color.
And here is Benjamin Moore’s Black Forest Green. Try to envision this barn with crisp white trim framing the small door, and outlining the detailing on the large barn door.
You see how it goes? I just need to choose and get on with it. But whatever I choose, it necessarily eliminates all those other beautiful, tempting choices.
It’s just so hard to decide . . .
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this vexing issue!
Thanks for reading,
Virginia