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GROOVING OFF THE ROOFING!

By
Home Stager with CurbAppealForDummies.Com

GROOVING OFF THE ROOFING!

Ok, here's another trick from the Curb Appeal 101 Group http://activerain.com/groups/curbappeal101 and www.curbappealfordummies.com:

Whenever someone needs our help choosing a color scheme for exterior staging, the first question we ask is "What color is the roof?"

Why is the roof color of primary concern? Because it can, in some architectural styles, attribute up to 65% of the overall color palette. Yet, it is often rarely given any consideration at all!

original scheme without consideration of roof color

The point is to determine if the roof color has a warm or cool undertone, and to choose colors that are going in the same color direction that the roof dictates. The above picture is a prime example of how a scheme can go astray when the undertone is not considered.

The color of the roof is a "cool" taupe, meaning essentially, it displays very little yellow in it's undertone. It's a actually grayish-taupe with hints of violet. The brick is warm, the shutters and portico are also sunny, Tuscan-esque hues. Lovely from the trim on down, but the whole plan goes terribly awry once the roof is factored in, and the yellow becomes antagonistic.

This scheme below stays neutral, to compliment BOTH the roof and the brick, making the entire look nice and tight. Perhaps it's a little boring, maybe, but not ugly!

cohesive color scheme factoring in roof

And "boring" just needs a few accent colors brought in through the landscaping...

Voila! A lovely, cohesive color scheme that brings all the elements together!

landscaped

If you like what you see, please go see our website to find out how we can do this for you to excite and encourage your clients to tackle their curb-appeal issues!   www.curbappealfordummies.com

Jim & Maria Hart
Brand Name Real Estate - Charleston, SC
Charleston, SC Real Estate
Great point-of-view, Sue. I appreciate you sharing this with everyone. All my best, Jim.
Apr 19, 2008 06:41 AM
Pam Faulkner
Faulkner House Interior Redesign - Herndon, VA
Room Transformations Fairfax & Loudoun Counties VA
I lived in Dallas where a home's roof can be exactly as you describe.  It's an excellent point.  Unfortunately, sometimes an ARC maintains a tight control on color changes from what the builder put on. Had a problem with that with one home because the original color had faded over many years and was awful with the brick and roof.  The original colors were a little off but the faded colors were worse.  The volunteer ARC wanted the home to be painted in the current colors!  Took a little convincing and some color 101!
Apr 19, 2008 07:04 AM
Brad Taylor, REALTOR® for Toledo, Ohio
DiSalle Real Estate Co. - Toledo, OH
Nice...I am going to be putting on a new roof.  This helps me.
Apr 19, 2008 07:18 AM
Michelle Molinari
CurbAppealForDummies.Com - Lafayette, LA
CurbAppealForDummies.com

Jim & Maria: Thanks for the encouragement!

Pam: Those associations can really put a damper on a decent plan! Glad you were able to help them see the light. Talking about color is one of the hardest things to do. Conveying the strength or weakness of a color palette is the biggest hurdle I have had to overcome. The fact of the matter is, some people literally perceive color differently than the rest of the population. So how does one convince another that one color is a better color choice than another?

It ain't easy! My hat is off to you for convincing an association to change their mindset!

~Sue

  

Apr 19, 2008 05:21 PM
Michelle Molinari
CurbAppealForDummies.Com - Lafayette, LA
CurbAppealForDummies.com

Brad: Whenever you finally decide on a roof, ask the salesperson for two pieces of the roofing in your color choice. Keep one for your file at the house, and keep one in your car for when you go color-shopping. It will make everything SO much better.

Also, one of your best resources for 100% FREE color advice is your local upper-end paint store. I prefer the color consultants at Benjamin Moore stores, but sometimes Sherwin Willliams has a decent color consultant on-staff. Or, go to BOTH. Show them a pic of your house, and your new roof sample, and hear what they have to say. Just don't go to Home Depot or Lowe's. It is completely expected to talk at length at an upper-end store about color, only to leave with sample chips. People take a long time to make color decisions, and better stores with more discriminating retailers KNOW this, and see the same customers week after week, for months, before some of them buy any paint at all. Take advantage of this, and juice them for color advice-galore.

Or, better yet, use us! www.featurethisdotdotdot.com. We will be ready when you need us.

Good Luck on your project,

~Sue

 

Apr 19, 2008 05:32 PM
Pam Faulkner
Faulkner House Interior Redesign - Herndon, VA
Room Transformations Fairfax & Loudoun Counties VA
Thanks Sue, it was a learning experience, believe me!  I was armed and ready, or so I thought.  It was like giving a Color 101 seminar to a brick wall.  Funny, though, one of the members gave me a referral almost a year later.  I was in shock.  You never know, do you?  I haven't had another situation like it since.
Apr 20, 2008 05:01 AM
Tori Lynn Wallitsch
Prudential Ambassador / Ross Designs, LLC - Omaha, NE

AWESOME info!  Thank you so very much. I have not had to select very many exterior colors yet but am thankful to have your info to help guide me should the situation come up again. I may or may not have realized that on my own, so thanks!

Apr 20, 2008 06:02 AM
Michelle Molinari
CurbAppealForDummies.Com - Lafayette, LA
CurbAppealForDummies.com

Thanks for your appreciation, Tori-Lynn!

We are FULL of all kinds of specific curb-appeal advice. It is our passion! If it doesn't turn 'em on from the outside, they won't even slow down the car, let alone view the inside.

Please consider joinong our new active-rain group. We post two or three tips from the front-lines every week, and they aren't the same old ideas "repackaged". www.activerain.com/groups/curbappeal101

~Sue Eldredge

www.featurethisdotdotdot.com

Apr 20, 2008 03:34 PM