After running around all weekend, entertaining guests and working on some killer new design projects (like this one!) by Sunday afternoon I was pretty pumped to prep and paint the porch in wickedly hot 95° plus temperatures. Pysch! Seriously, I wasn’t pumped at all.
Sometimes we have to do things even though we don’t want to (is that what the psychiatrist lady said to bratty little Sally on Mad Men? Which was AWESOME, BTW). Or maybe it came down to the recently purchased paint sitting on the porch for a week mocking me with our inefficiency.
The cool looking red robot? That’s a power washer. Best thing ever.
The ugly maroon paint? That’s about thirty years of ugly paint layers on the cement. Why couldn’t the P.O.’s just leave the cement alone? Jerks.
Check out my caulk. We caulked a bunch of cracks and holes and all the edging around the house. The boy swears by caulk and loves to prep everything with it because it totally works miracles. Caulk makes painted areas look a ton cleaner since it fills the gap between two unlike surfaces – which are usually riddled with cracks and weirdness.
Check out all that caulk!
We also scraped and sanded all the areas where the paint was flaking or scratched up. That was awesome fun.
So…
I gave up one important decision to The Boy. Of course, if you haven’t inferred this yet, I’m a bit of a design nazi when it comes to the homestead. That was always sort of my gig in the partnership. But The Boy has been going on and on and on about what color he wanted for the front porch. He wanted something dark, something to break things up, some color. My immediate reaction was CRAP, those are the three things I’m trying to avoid. I want light, lots of cohesion and a neutral backdrop for landscaping.
While we were painting his choice of color, he was like “You are going to put this on your blog and blame me if it goes bad.” Yeah, totally. Duh.
I mean really, he drinks tall boys of Bud Light (check out the photo evidence). This dudes choices are a bit suspect. I mean come on, he’s been with me for over eight years now and I’m a nightmare. So, like I said – suspect.
He picked Behr’s “Intellectual”. I kind of want to make clear why we always use Behr. It’s not because I love it, in fact I think it’s super crappy, but there is no Benjamin Moore or good paint within a fifty mile radius of the house and Home Depot is pretty much our main source for everything. Not a lot of demand in Hemet for the classier things, so we make due with the options available and the price is always right.
Anyhow, it was super hot and the paint was drying too quickly, so we had to wait till the sun went down to try and finish the first coat at dusk. We didn’t finish painting everything, but from what I’m seeing so far my big main concerns might have come to fruition.
I know it reads a bit darker because the sun was down, but that is DARK gray. Really dark. Like, looks like a battleship or a shark, dark.
We aren’t done obviously, that whole white bit of the planter will be painted out dark as well. I’m trying to imagine it with tons of Mexican Feathergrass billowing out of the planter and the landscape softening things up a bit…try imagining that too. I think I like it, but still feel a bit worried.
My question for you is this: Did The Boy do good? Or do I need to do the second coat in a shade similar to the roof?
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124 Comments
I think the dark gray will make a nice contrast to the future plant-life. But a slightly lighter color might be a good idea because the stairs seem like they might be hard to discern at night.
I’m loving it, the Boy did good! Stop being so hard on him.
My only concern with such a dark colour is that it will be very hot underfoot. Anyway, It will tie in nicely once you landscape.
I love it and think he’s right in every way – it sounds like you’re kinda being… controlling and rude. The better question is what are ya’ll going to do about that yard? If it were green, or even good, this would look AMAZING. Also, I would keep the planter the lighter shade matching the house for contrast.
I like the look of the dark, I do, but I’d be concerned that every dusty desert footprint would de super visible against the dark…
Oh, wow. Yeah, I’m a nightmare. I’m also pretty sarcastic…
I linked to our plan for the landscape, it’s going to be very xeriscaped. I’m just worried the dark color is going to show a lot of dirty filth. I think it would look really great with the feathergrass though.
We can always repaint if it doesn’t work out. No biggie.
She is not being hard on him or rude at all. The decisions around here should be 50/50, and she has valid concerns with everything. I do like the dark grey though, even if it is a little much with the light walls. Once the landscaping comes in it should be cool.
i thought that saying you were a “design nazi” made it clear that you know that you are controlling of the homestead…but i guess some people didn’t get that….
aesthetically i think it looks great. really works with the door. totally understand your concerns about showing footprints and such tho.
I vote that you go lighter and match the roof on the second coat. I think that would give the front of the house better symmetry. Being a fellow IE’er (Inland Emperor?), I also thing the heat might be an issue. And the dirt and visibility at night seem like valid points.
Uh i really love the dark colour -i think it grounds the house in a really good way!! – but then again im not good at thinking practical in terms of use
that looks so hot. oh man. and when you put in your landscape it is only going to get better. when do we start?! perhaps i can bring my boy and the two boys can do all the heavy lifting!
xoxo
hmm it is dark, but i do think it help anchors the front of the house & will look great against future landscaping.. some bright green agaves in your front planter would look awesome. my only problem with how dark it is, is where it extends from the rounded porch steps out to the driveway as a skinny path. i know this isn’t what you asked, but looking at these photos i thought that it would be nice to separate the porch from that path & then i wondered how difficult it would be to remove the path & perhaps just have some round stepping stone style concrete pavers towards the drive?
I think it’ll look fantastic with the landscape put it. It’ll stand out perfectly. BTW…Mexican Feather grass is highly, HIGHLY invasive. I actually want to pull ours out. it spreads like wildfire and I’m constantly pulling out the seed pods. Just fyi. I know there are other grasses with the same look but less damage but I need to do more research. Will pass on any info I find.
It looks perfect !! (in my opinion). It will look absolutely stunning once you landscape. We recently landscaped our front yard, and painted our boundary fences in charcoal as well as the retaining walls and its amazing how much your eye is drawn to all the plants and follage in the garden. I loved our garden but love it even more since i painted the retaining walls. We have a contrast with large natural toned rocks. Seriously with each bit of landscaping you do the more you will probably love the colour. I think the boy made an excellent choice !!!
Don’t laugh. At my suggestion, that is.
I like the dark gray but I think the sidewalk itself needs to be lighter, perhaps match the roof? The stairs disappear with the sidewalk and stairs being the same color.
It’s fine, not at all offensive. But seconding Benita, footprints could be a problem.
I reckon it’d look awesome if the roof were dark grey too.
ok – been thinking on this a bit and now i agree with Rina – maybe lighten up the footpath. The dark will look awesome with plants.
Very unusual color, it looks really impressive! Another great job!
Looks amazing as your whole house does!
The comments do prove my point that 90% of Americans don’t understand sarcasm!
Just my opinion; but I think it needs a second coat in a shade similar to the roof.
The porch looks good in the dark. The walk way, not so much.
I feel your pain as we have been painting our house exterior for the last 3 weeks. I think that the porch is too dark. You could have achieved the contrast with a lighter grey. The porch and walkway disappear. I would go a shade or two darker than the roof. Good Luck!
Allow me to introduce myself, I’m the secretary and president of BTOB*. We are based in the far-of country of South Africa. Renowned for it’s public road-roaming wildlife and of course the recent, and very successful, FIFA World Cup.
*BTOB of course being the Better Treatment Of Boy committee. I think the name says it all.
In our opinion the VERY dark colour choice of Boy came as no surprise, we think it speaks of his dark state of mind, no doubt due to your ongoing, and self-admitted, ‘nazi’ behaviour.
Aesthetically it might not be the first choice, but I do believe there is merit in his choice. We are very comforted by the fact that you did indeed allow Boy to make the decision – we see this as a first, and very big, step in the right direction. Hopefully one of many to a newer un-nazilike you
Sincerely,
BTOB
Secretary & President
Never commented here before, but I love reading about all the changes you’re making to the house! I think the dark gray really does look good. Very sleek and will be much less “harsh” when you have some landscaping. That being said-just a random thought here…won’t the dark color make that surface about 6 million degrees where you live? Just wondering if it will be like stepping on a hot skillet. Although if its that warm all the time, maybe it doesn’t matter? Either way-like the color and think it will look great when the yard is done.
MC/BTOB Is hilarious. I think the color looks good…Nice choice Boy! Yes, it might show foot prints, but I think that matching the roof color might not have feel as rich that this color does. It’s a helluvan improvement and if the footprints bug you after you’ve landscaped, deal then, but I think it will be OK.
i think it looks great, and wouldn’t lighten it. once the plants are in it’s going to be brilliant!
I think that the boy done good! Nice color choice. Cant wait to see the exterior completed with all the landscaping ideas you have.
I vote to do a lighter second coat. The rounded art-deco-like detail on the stairs is great, and now it’s invisible. I also liked the contrast of the light paint with everything else, vs. this.
Sorry, Boy.
I had always imagined you were going to go with light(er) gray similar to the roof. I think a light(er) gray would look better and be more practical for the reasons others have stated : heat, foot prints,visibility, etc.
But, I feel bad knowing that he wanted it enough that you gave him the final decision. It doesnt look terrible obviously, but that dark shade is liable to cook your porch and heat up the entire front of the house, which defeats the purpose of the slat screen to cool it off.
Leave it for a while, put some plants in, and see how it looks. As you said, it can always be repainted, no biggie.
Dark, rich, black hole loveliness. That is one sexy porch. How awesome is the new door mat going to look (the one that you’ve been using to plot against poor Iggy)? I think it’s way sharp and looks great with the wood.
I love the drama of the dark color but I’m not sure it quite ties in and I think it will show traffic terribly. Nonetheless, I’d wait to get that wonderful landscaping in before undoing anything.
Next year is our year of the Exterior so thanks for cutting your teeth on it first.
Waiting to see how you feel about the paint in a little bit might not be a bad idea…esp once you get some of that lovely vegetation you are talking about.
oh and nice caulk…
But my first feeling is that the dark sidewalk is too dark…porch seems okay as dark…but the landing strip might be a little too dark…
but great job
By the way, LOVE the power washer…that would do wonders on our stained stucco as well as poorly painted concrete porch.
Do you have any helpful hints about the powerwasher…pros/cons/ lessons learns?
The color chosen really stands out, and I must say it was a good choice. Once the landscaping is finished it will be perfect.
I really like the dark porch, but the pathway not so much. My main concern is that it will draw heat, and from what you have said you live in a hot climate?
I think I kinda love it.
It adds great contrast and depth, and I do think it sort of disappears. Live with it for a few months, and see.
Like it but it’s too dominant right now. Definitely needs some landscaping to get the focus off of it.
I love the contrast of the dark color for the porch deck and stairs. But I think the sidewalk needs to go lighter and agree about the dusty footprints issue. But I really, really like the dark steps.
the boy did good. It’s a gorgeous choice!!
I like the dark porch…but I agree that the walkway needs to be lighter.
I think if you’ll put the Bud Light can back out on the porch, you’ll see what The Boy saw from the start: nice contrast-y colors. The blues, reds and silvers of the can against the dark gray of the porch? It works. That Bud Light can against a lighter gray just would not do.
I’m totally digging the dark. Get the plants in and then judge.
I think it looks good – I can see why you’re worried – it is certainly dramatic, but in a good way I think. If you can resurrect your grass, then it will look awesome.
I’m definitely in the “it’s too dark, go lighter to match the roof” camp on this one. I thought I was liking it at first, but that’s only because the roof wasn’t showing.
I really like it. I think it adds a nice foundation color, as you look at the front as a whole. Plus I think it makes the front porch enclosure really pop, and with look nice with whatever furniture you put out front.
Go lighter…that color just comes outta nowhere and makes the long walkway look like some lunar landing platform now…
Even with landscaping (xeriscape heheheh) the visual focus is going to be on the cement, which is a weird thing to focus on.
I think right now it looks too dark — but broken up with a row of something vibrant green in the planter, it would be killer. If you’re not doing vibrant green though, and doing a softer-tone grass, I’d go lighter on the porch paint.
Just my opinion
. Either way it’s better than before!
Functional considerations aside, I think the darker color visually grounds the house…which I like.
My vote is with the boy’s choice. I think the dark grounds the house. I’m sure it’s just me, but I don’t like houses that appear to be floating in space. Just me, right? Anywayyyy…I like it. A. LOT.
You gotta know when to hold em,know when to fold em, know when to walk away, know when to run.. which is worse, a sad boy or a hot porch?
I think the dark grey looks great. I share the concerns about showing the dirt, though. That aside, I was wondering if you thought about painting the chimney the same dark color. With the house being so light, painting out the door, porch, and chimney begin to call attention to the architecture and interest points of the house. I know how long it took to paint the chimney the first time, but just a thought. House is looking great.
I also love your sarcasm- keep it coming!
I dunno … some pix of the color in the daylight might help. Maybe it looks lighter in full sun?
I love it.
The boy did good, the darker color tends to accentuate the form of the house, break up the composition nicely, and it blends nicely with the front door, even if they are technically different colors.
We’re getting ready to repaint our porch a similar color. While, the super dark gray doesn’t bother me immensely, it does really seem to highlight that path too much. It’s like someone went over it with a Sharpie. But maybe that’s just how it reads in the lighting of the photo?
The color itself I love, but I’d probably go lighter.
Kelly
I’m not feeling the dark gray – not at all. It’s too DARK making the wooden slats on your porch look like they are constantly sopping in water. This of course, shall I restate it, clearly isn’t your fault. Who can make good decisions while intoxicated, anyway?
Still, stick with the gray, perhaps just a few thousand shades lighter? :/
Wow, your caulk is so big!
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
I think The Boy was in the right neighborhood with this one, but that paint mega dried down on him. It will be hot and dusty in 10 seconds.
Fantastic Mad Men episode indeed ! And digging the ‘classic’ shot of the boy bending over
No clue about the colour however… like you said, one can always repaint if it doesn’t turn out right.
I think it’s too dark.
I love the dark. I just painted our concrete patio dark dark grey and it’s lovely with the greenery around it. Once you get stuff landscaped the dark color is gonna pop beautifully.
Great job but, sorry Boy, it’s too dark.
Ugh, I have a mouse!
i like the dark! it looks dramatic and sleek. it will look great once you have the grasses and other landscaping in. i also think it would look great lit up at night. job well done.
I LOVE IT!! the boy did an awesome job in picking the dark color ever the light. it will lookvery modern with the plants you have in mind. very sleek:)
I think it’s too dark. I vote for a lighter second coat to match the roof. When comparing the pre and post pics of the house the massiveness of the black on the entire porch and walkway seems to take something away from the cool modern look you have going. It looked better when the largest area of dark (black) paint was the front door.
I have to give props to the Boy… I like the dark porch. I spent years helping my mom paint our porch every two years, and it was this light gray shade (like your roof) that makes me want to strangle myself even thinking about. The dark gray is unique, which is what I love about your homestead. Maybe not entirely practical, given other people’s concerns mentioned above, but you can cross that bridge when you get to it.
I like it. I think once you put some greenery in there somewhere it will all tie-in and look amazing. Keep it up
I think it’s ok. Huge turquoise plant pots would look nice, I imagine. But my heart says… Go for the roof colour girl! It will look more homogenous.
I vote Boy. I like the dark. Charcoal is a great color as a background to plants, and I think you should get on to the landscaping before you make a final decision on leaving it or repainting. I think once it’s offset by gravel, which will be lighter, and has plants it will look even better. Also, since your plan involves “piano key” concrete pavers going out to the street, which will probably be lighter, I think the darkness on the walk to the driveway will de-emphasize it and make the new path stand out more. (And I apologize for the “piano key” term, I’m sure you hate it as much as “mood board”– but it the most descriptive I could come up with). As for it being too hot, lets be honest, in 100+ temps all concrete is hot. Its not a space that you’ll be running up and down barefoot all the time, and the porch is shaded by your lovely new screen.
The comment above about Mexican Feather grass being invasive is totally correct though. It has tiny seeds and spread everywhere. With your admitted tendencies to want to control everything you will hate it. It will not stay in those lovely orthagonal rows you’ve drawn in Sketchup. If you have weed cloth under the gravel its easy to pull out, but still a giant pain in your unshaded yard.
I’m in the go-lighter-to-match-the-roof category. I like the dark, but I don’t love it. Looking at the last picture I feel my eye staring at the dark paint and not the beautiful slat wall that you guys built, but maybe once the landscaping is in it will all come together for me…
I am trying to find the black chairs next to firepit. Can anyone help? P.S. Love the dark porch.
I like it. And… well, paint tends to fade a bit in the sun over time. So it might lighten up a bit down the road.
I like it a lot, though I agree with the heat concerns expressed in previous comments. (I suspect you don’t/won’t spend too much time out there when it’s blazing hot anyway.) Nevertheless, I do think the color looks good and I fear matching the roof would be a disaster. Honestly.
dude,
and yes , you are.
you know you are always right..
and Boy – u know i love you too!…
Honestly, I like it also I’m also picturing it with feathergrass and it looks damn good! It really grounds everything. Great color choice if you ask me.
Cannot wait to see what is next, I’ll stay tuned.
I love the contrast of the dark and the light. I truly think it looks really good – keep it that color.
I agree with the hot under foot comment, but I think the color is great! gives some contrast to the outside, which I like. I think if you did it the same shade as the roof, the house would looked boxed in [by the two similar colored parallel lines]
xo
It’s not so dark in the daylight (of course – obvious assessment). Still on the fence…might need a few days and a finished coat.
I like how it looks, but I do worry about the practicality of it. Your planter is going to heat up a lot in the dessert sun, which means the plants inside it may not be too happy. Also, if you do ever sit out there, it’s going to be mega hot.
Please keep up the sarcasm. I get and love it (and any boy who loves you gets it, too, I’m sure). I am having the same gray v. white debate with my boy on a project. He loves his gray.
I think you were closer–this seems too harsha against the roof and the wooden slats. A lighter coat would do the trick!
Man! Thay looks tons better! Too bad the side walk couldn’t be left natural though.
I am not a fan on Behr paint either. Luckily, my tiny town has two paint stores and I am less than 15 minutes from a town with 4 more.
Keep up the good work and, PLEASE try and convert the boy to drinking good beer!
I’m loving it and Mad Men, why hasn’t the girls who plays Sally been nominated for an Emmy? She’s amazing!
lots of comments. Like the dark color on the porch. The walkway would look nice in a lighter color, maybe even white.
I like the dark color. It seems like a good shade that is in between the roof and the door color. At least The Boy didn’t want to bring back the previous maroon color!
me likey!!
I had definitely envisioned it as a lighter grey. Right now it looks too similar, but not exactly the same, as the door color. Maybe you could keep the rises on the stairs the dark color and paint the horizontal surfaces a slightly lighter grey. That way the cool deco-ish step detail would stand out more.
yep. i’m thinking HOT, like some of the other commenters.
You are just going through colour shock – I actually cried when we painted our house black but now I love it. The neighbours don’t but who cares? Wait a while and see how you feel. I think it looks great and grey or black really does set off any kind of green you have in the yard.
I like that dark gray color. I think it would work really well if the sides of the stairs were painted a tad lighter (maybe a gray similar to the roof color) that you envisioned in your original landscape design sketchup. That might break up the ‘darkness’ and help with not tripping on the stairs.
My boyfriend is a caulk fiend too. The man loves his caulk.
By the way, we are wearing winter clothes in Oregon so I’m totally jealous of your HOT weather.
in my opinion the boy did good. i think it looks great,i think painting the porch the color of the roof would be too matchy, still incredibly monochromatic, looks good!
I vote for matching the roof on the next coat. However, if it were my house I would probably sit with it for several years before changing it because a) I’m lazy, and buying the paint and getting on the first time around was tough work, and b) My hubby likes to be right sometimes. It builds his confidence and allows me to put him to work on future projects.
When your ready for plants let us know and we will hook you up.
C, Melissa & Baby Grayson-In Fallbrook.
Agree with everyone that loves it on the porch but is iffy on the walkway.
I think the porch looks pretty awesome now and once the landscaping is done it will look perfect.
However, I think in a weird way the porch and the walkway both being such a dramatic color kinda does a disservice to the porch. It kinda confuses the eye, if that makes any kind of sense. Which, again, should be helped greatly with the landscaping.
I wholeheartedly disagree with matching the roof. I think it would just make it look like a sandwich.
The dark terrified me a first, but I’m thinking once you get the landscape in that the dark color will contrast nicely with your pea gravel colors and the green from the plants. I agree with what Gesikah said about the roof sandwich, that would be icky.
i would rob that bertoia chair from your front yard. just sayin’.
i would keep the black until the boyf decides its not going to work. i would couple this with dusty foot prints. its best to let them come to the conclusion on their own that you are Always right.
I agree with Helloshiella – let the boy come to it on his own
It is beautiful but I am always practical – disclaimer if you want to stop reading now.
The dark is fabulous to anchor but heat, footprints etc would drive me crazy…
I love the dark. And wanted to point out that we have unpainted concrete on our stoop, and we still get footprints. I know they might be worse on a dark color, but lets be honest, do you really have a lot of foot traffic on that walkway? Enough to make a paint color decision for? And as for the heat, as a Georgia girl, we don’t stick around outside when it’s hot as balls. That’s what the AC is for. Duh. The porch is mainly used in nicer times of the year for our non-kid-owning friends to smoke on. And as a vantage point for us to casually spy on the neighbors. When it’s hot enough to be uncomfortable up front, you’ll be in that sweet stock tank pool out back. Preferably in a lawn chair and drinking Bud Light.
Just my humble two cents…
I think the problem is that The Boy has red hair. We ALL know that red headed people can’t make good decisions AND they’re color blind! But seriously, it looks good but I would lean toward the people saying it should be a tad lighter…BUT, I also think it could just be standing out so much because of the clean slate around it. Landscape and then see.
Signed,
A Fellow Home Decor Nazi
Lighter would be better, but I think you went through a good process together. Way to give it some heart, Boy!
Regarding the hot underfoot issue. Wear shoes made of bread and cheese. Add butter if you like (I don’t). This should prove the hot under foot concerns to be meaningless. I’m with the guy drinking the tall boy.
I love the dark, I think it looks great with the house and the slatted wall but that’s just me. I do like the idea that once landscaping is done, it will look even better but hey, it’s your place!!
personally I like the dark grey, it really anchors the place. it’s probably more noticeable due to the lack of vegetation and ornamentation around but I think it’s worth testing out for a while.
Without a doubt, it is gorgeous. Beautiful contrast between the warm wood sun shades.
!!! c’est beaucoup trop foncé, on dirait l’entrée d’un magasin de pompes funèbres! ça manque vraiment d’originalité et de caractère, j’aurais préféré une couleur plus audacieuse qui claque, qui pète, un turquoise, un pink un jaune acide… et puis faites quelque chose pour cette pelouse minable qui gache tout.
courage te bravo pour le reste
love the dark grey on the porch, not so much on the sidewalk.
I like the dark on the porch, paint the sidewalk a lighter color. I think it needs a breaking point between the porch and sidewalk.
That looks fan-freaking-tastic. Great job!
Looks good!
Good. It anchors the house. Yes, it will show dusty footprints but you won’t have a dirt yard forever, right? Yes, it could be a little lighter but it would be less dramatic then. Think of how exciting it will be to art up your porch now with silver and white objects!
Hi. The dark shark color ‘grounds’ your house I think. Gives importance & interest to the wooden lath screen structure. I would leave the garden bed small lite grey strip unpainted- or 1 small 3″ width dark shark painted line– as it will show off plantings nicely. walkway will also blend in with small size plantings around its shape…or gravel on either side to accentuate the path “flow” attaboy and attagirl 2 you both.
Sorry… but the boy was right!!!! Looks great~
Mmm, I had to wait to comment because I wasn’t sure of my opinion either. At first I really loved it, and how it kind of goes better with the black door. But on the wide picture, it’s a bit too much contrast with the roof for me. I say a slight shade lighter on the second coat…but that’s just an opinion!
I’d like to qualify my dissenting vote.
I imagine in your region that the heat and light start to “get” to you. With that in mind, I can see what the allure of darkness holds. It’s emotional/psychological and also, with light eyes (assuming you are a blue-eyed red-head like me) it’s a visual balm. It’s appealing.
But it doesn’t work for me. I am thinking of the darkness attracting the heat, the contrast between the wood tones of the screen which read brown/red(I’m not a colorblind red-head btw), white of the walls, black door and light grey of the roof tiles as too contrast-y and confusing. The dark walkway is especially distracting. Maybe when the landscaping is finished it will make more sense visually or some other idea will blossom.
I see where you’re going. I like the colder, crisp tones. But then the screen with its lovely warmth and organic tone is like listening to some hardcore with csny blaring from the neighbor’s garage. A bad analogy, yes…but that’s what I’m thinking.
What about painting the front door wall a darker shade to visually recede that portion of the house and to create a respite from the sun? Maybe that would mediate the dark grey of the porch floor?
Oh gawd, now I’m on a roll…my apologies.
Another thought about the painting…sorry, I know this is a sore spot for you both.
I’m thinking of reflection and the idea of cooling things down since you’re often blogging about the need for this.
How about painting the underside of the porch roof, the eaves or overhang, or whatever the term is, a darker shade so that the reflection isn’t so glaring? Reflecting is good if it’s off of the building, right? Reflect back on the building is good in the north where light is more valued, so a light colour on the underside would be helpful. But in your situation, it seems that the dark tone would help. It’s not directly in the sun so I’m thinking that it wouldn’t attract light and heat but instead would bring down the reflection.
I’m not a designer or a home owner so I have no practical experience with this. This is just an observation from your photos.
What do/did traditional people who live/d in this area do for relief?
I dig it.
Bookmarking yet another post from The Brick House in my ideas folder.
although i like dark gray (my house is dark gray) i think this may be a tad too dark. especially with the kind of heat you get down there. i think the paint over time will get so hot that it may bake it’s self off and burn your little feet. it will look amazing against feather grass but i say repaint it lighter and tell the boy he did good with color choice but maybe not with the location of said color choice ; ) your house is lovely in deed!
Don’t win the battle to lose the war.
I’d keep it. It’s a worthy concession.
Haha, I’m a design nazi too! You have to give men choices like you would a toddler… that is, let them choose between two options that you’ve already chosen. That way you get something you can live with, and they get to feel like they helped (and controlled a design decision).
That being said, I do really like the dark colour!
Just an FYI: Mexican Feathergrass will likely soon be listed as an invasive plant by Cal-IPC
Love, love, love the charcoal grey!!!!!!!!!!! I think you should leave it as is. You are giving us the incentive to downsize from our large 50′s ranch. (think house on the original Miracle on 34th Street) We want to find a smaller ranch with good atomic bones. We’ve got the furniture… we just need a smaller abode.
the boy did good. period. once you get your grasses and everything in, it will look perfect. i love it.
Hot? What do you people know from hot? I’m in Yuma, Az(aka Hell on Earth)and I know hot! So your bare feet may get gently warm? It certainly won’t be scalding. The color is gorgeous and dramatic. I love it. Does the Boy do freelance work? I could use some help.
I have been obsessivly reading your blog for a couple of months now… and I’m still madly in love with your house! I have a 60 year old Stucco place with a very similar front porch and I think I may steal your slat idea.
Thanks for keeping me entertained during my long, boring work day.
Way too dark
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