What a pretty house! Maybe a light grey color for the stucco with white shades? It may be my computer screen but the green shade in the photoshop image is looking a little newborn-nappy brown to me.

orangey-pink with black shutters.

or just a medium-dark pink.

Black and white -- with a red door -- is classic. The green you picked will look nice in autumn, but terrible the rest of the year.

Also, you've added a lot of English Georgian-style trim to what was a Norman French house, and now it's sort of a mishmash. Sticking with a classic black-and-white will help the two styles blend. The Photoshop image, with the accentuated window and shutters, isn't the way to go.

I really love the white! I'd just change the shutters.

That green looks nice! I'd say just go with that if it's your first instinct. I just did this same obsessive dance about exterior color last year. At last, I painted it. And once it was up on the whole house, it didn't look anything like I thought it would. I obsessed some more. This year, it's completey grown on me and I love it! Whatever color you choose, it's going to brighten it up so much and make it better than it is now. You'll be happy. But if you're anything like me, you won't be sleeping much until the paint has actually been purchased. Good luck!

I actually like the current scheme. I'd just update the door colour, amp up the landscaping, and change the light fixture. But the black and slightly off-white scheme is timeless.

I think the width of the shutters needs to be increased. They need to look like they'll actually cover the windows if closed. Based on your sketch, it looks like you already know that.

Good luck with whatever you choose. Your house is lovely.

Where are you located? I always think house colors should be chosen with the climate in mind.

i actually like it the way it is but if you must change i agree with the light gray stucco and white shades. Or a darker blueish/gray with white shutters(i'd do a red door but thats just me, the natural wood would work too).

a very pale pink would be perfect!!! keep the shutters black and replace the urns with larger ones

Like the current look.....just change the door to red or kelly green.

light yellow, with deep red shutters.

Agreed -- the shutters are indeed too small, but the current color scheme is timeless.

I like the white. I'd pump up the shutters (red!). Also, I agree that the shutters should be bigger. With the greenery you want to add, I think it would look great.

That green scheme is kind of out of place here. It would be better on a craftsman home.
Because your house has such a Normandy feel I would go with something in the french gray family and an off white trim with natural shudders to match the door.

I also think the new light fixture looks too large in your design. If you are switching it out think about flanking the doors with smaller sconce lights. This will help play up the symmetry of your house and maybe even accent the two chimney's.

I'd stick with the black and white, and paint the door red, as mentioned above. Put some bright red flowers and cheery green foliage in those planters above the door, and I think you'd have an awesome look. I'd probably throw a couple tall topiaries or tall skinny evergreens in those urns by the door, and maybe add a couple more urns on the step(s) below filled with trailing plants, and call it a day. (Well, you could always do more landscaping, but you weren't really asking about that.)

Keep it, just brighten/freshen it up. I'm actually in the red door camp, too, though a darker natural wood would look good as well.

I like the before, frankly. Simple white.

Tell me--did your house once have real shutters? Are the metal hinges still there in the window frame? I think a better investment (over painting the house and adding window moldings, which don't complement the French house) would be better.

All black would be super hot... it would be the coolest house on the block!

I would experiment with very pale ochres and terra cottas for the stucco, and maybe olive green for the shutters and a deeper terra cotta or turkey red for the door.

I think the colours as they are, with a bright red door, would look fantastic. Also, I think that once you've invested some time and effort in to the landscaping (lush greenery, a large tree in the front yard, etc.) it will greatly improve the overall look and you may find that painting the house is unnecessary. If you do want to paint, I would suggest doing some research and using a heritage paint colour in keeping with the syle and period of the house. Good luck!

Nice house! My favorite paint color right now is Farrow & Ball's "Light Grey". I'd use their "Pitch" for the shutters. White for the windows. And a subtle orange for the front door.

Since it leans more toward Georgian now, and is black and white, it looks like a thousand wonderful houses you'd find in the English or Irish countryside. I'd say leave it the classic whites and greys that it would have if it were there, and accordingly paint the door one of the classic and glossy bold reds, blues, greens, or yellows.

i agree with some of the other comments that keeping the house white might be the way to go. Painting the shutters a dark blue-gray or black is classic.

The door would look awesome in a very vibrant color, like red. I think turning the door back to natural wood would not work well. Definitely needs a pop of color there.

It's an awesome house!

what a lovely house. like a pavilion. what would the 18th century do? Warm it up. A warm golden lion pelt color. A magic hour raspberry. The blue you wish the sky was. Your house is a poem.

I actually like the white paint, too. What about putting some bright color in your shutters & door?

Also -- your house looks like the kind that ought to have beautiful bright flowers streaming from the windows. I bet flowering plants would REALLY pop against the white background!

I made it a point to decide on the color I would like before I looked at the comments and I was very validated to see I'm not the only one who thinks something in the pink family would be awesome. The color I'm thinking of would be like a light brick. Black shutters and black on the grid thing above the door (I assume that is wrought iron) and a front door in a beautiful wood like mohogany that will complement the pink.

I would also put in bimorphic shaped gardens instead of the formal row of plants as shown.

I hope you will tell us what you pick and send a photo. This is a really cool looking house.

...and replace the iron thing on top of the door with a more historic type. Then, you might want to consider replacing the curved walkway with a straight one, lined with...boxwoods? They're a bit English, though. My landscaping is weak.

Again, I'd rethink that window trim. I don't think it is appropriate for the style of the house.

Your house is just lovely! If I didn't like it so much I wouldn't have so many suggestions. :)

I like it white. I think it'd look awesome with a super bright red door and shutters, or another bright, primary color on the door / shutters / trim, as suggested by other commenters. Gorgeous house!!

I'm with alot of the others in that I love the current look of your house. I think a brightly colored door and some expert landscaping could make this house even more amazing without having to paint the house itself.

I would vote for:
house body: a medium grey leaning toward the lighter end of the grey spectrum
shutters: dark grey or black
trim: white (windows and portico)
door: red or a dark-stained natural wood
hardware: black iron (on shutters, windows, door, lighting)
landscaping: classic shrubs like boxwood and masses of blooms in either red or deep pink (whether roses, gerbera daisies, poinsettias at the holidays, etc)... classic, mass, plantings will offer the most visual impact
Overall it's a classic combination, suited to the architectural style of your house, and shouldn't present any resale problems.

A Limestone color with off white trim, black door, black gas light, add cast molding around the windows in simple square geometrics like the door moldings. Maybe even top the sides of the house where it juts out with column moldings to mimic the door moldings (maybe?) and paint as trim. Get rid of the fake shutters, do not stone the fireplace but keep the same color of the house and add chimney pots. The house is great.

Just as an aside, I'd keep the chimneys the same as the rest of the stucco. The faux stone cladding in the Photoshop is wrong for the style of the house.

Call me crazy -
- But I like it the way it is.

Perhaps a red door would be nice

I love it the way it is! But I like the classic, crisp look. I'd change the door to red, and leave the rest as it (or larger shutters, but same color!)

...and oh yes, do not stone the chimney. The photoshop alterations you have made are georgian English, while your house is French. Do not give it a multiple-personality disorder!

I would suggest doing a bit of research on the style of your house from a architectural book, not a decorating one.

This is a beautiful, classic home. I'm sure it is wonderfully built, solid and well laid out. My point being these homes are all about the integrity of materials and how they work with their surroundings. These homes usually have pretty extensive casual English style gardens.

Having said that:

I would paint the house back to the natural color of the stucco which would be "cement" grey/beige.

The shutters (which should be sized to cover the windows if closed) and door would be great in wood, left to the elements to "silver" and have a weathered patina. Forget the faux stone, or faux anything, keep it simple and let this beautiful house speak for itself. Then, get planting!

Light grey with white trim and yellow door.

I definitely prefer the original. I think it's true that the second would like nice in the Fall and not so nice for the rest of the year. The combo of white with a dark blue or black looks great with a vibrant green lawn and all different types of plants and flowers. Also those colors seem to keep better with the style of the home.

So I think..refresh the colors, get some bigger shutters, make your front door amazing, and then invest your money in majorly beefing up the landscaping.

I think I would paint the door and the window shutters on a bright yellow;)

Hmm. I think I'd go with a very light, smokey, grayish blue for the house and a midnight blue for the shutters and door. And I agree with those who vote for wider shutters.

I think the house is fine white but that you could spruce things up by focusing on the windows, shutters, and door. I could see brown or natural wood for the front door and entrance as well as the windows. The shutters would also look better if they were wider - sized so that they could be real, even if they aren't. The shutters could stay black or dark grey, or could even go into a fun color.

Buttercream with slate blue shutters and trim.

The stucco is a warmer white than the trim around the door, the only thing I don't like is that the two white clash (to me, anyway). I'd paint the trim around the door and leave the stucco alone, it's the easy way out, and I agree also, the house looks pretty good black and white. I suppose a red door would be ok, but I like the black door, myself.

Beautiful bones on this house. Leave it white and black, and put in a glossy red door, as others have said. Very classic, very chic.

I'd remove the over-the-door planters entirely; they distract from the elegance of the façade.

I have to agree, I love it the way it is, with a bright door. Then some climbing roses or ivy on trellises or box hedges would soften it immensely- and give an organic feel. Even topiary could be fun! If you do go for a color, I'd go for a color matching the natural stucco, with darker complimentary window shades. Speaking honestly as a therapist, all that extra moulding and recovering of the chimneys, and blaring white paint on the window frames you have in the second picture is very cluttered looking and not in keeping with the style and era of the house at all.

I agree with most other comments. The white and black seems to keep to the period and seem timeless. If you are truly daring, I would paint the door a very bright color, and add in some lush landscaping to match.

If it were my house, I would keep the white/black and paint the door a very bright hot pink, and add in pink flowers around the exterior. My husband would come around...

I'd also stay with the white and black/dark grey shutters. Just choose a fun deep jeweltone color for the door, replace the shutters with appropriately-sized ones, work a bit on the landscaping, and it'll be grand!

I actually am not very fond of the green you chose. It's pretty blah and just looks dingy to me.

Mskk has a point. It sort of seems that you don't like the style of your house, and are trying to make it something else. But the "before" is perfectly proportioned (except for the shutters) and elegant. Adding on decorative flourishes, you run the risk of McMansion mishmash.

I love the green of the stucco, but I think the green shutters are too much green. I'd go with the charcoal grey for the shutters or a white. But i love the shade of the green stucco and the natural wood door and white trim.

I vote for a light grey or keep the white. New board and batten shutters in black. My husband made out shutters out of boards from home depot and they look great. You can make them the size that best fits your windows by adding a board or two. You can order them custom too but much more expensive. We did the whole house for $300. I stained them black before we put them up. A splash of color on the front door would be nice. You can always bring in color with flowers or a wreath on the door. Vines climbing up the front portico would be nice in the spring and summer but may look bad in the winter. You have a lovely home!

blue with red, white or black shutters

I agree with most of the posters here . . . keep the house all white and just add a red door. I would even lighten the shutters color to a medium-dark grey instead of dark grey or black. Adding a little bit of flowers or a small tree out front might help too.

I vote for a light grey too, make it look like real stucco looks - warm gray. Keep the rest with the same colors, some potted plants in the tiny balcony would be nice. I like red doors, but for some reason I am fed up here in the US - people seem to think the only color that looks good in a door is red. What about a nice prussian blue, mellow yellow, bright green (none of that lame forest green). Please paint the door any color other than red :-) - it is such a pleasure when one strolls in the villages of England and France and the doors are so many different colors. Oh and if you go with a stucco color, then please paint the white trims an off white with grey tones. It will make the house look a whole.

that new window trim will be a mistake...I think you're trying too hard to turn it into "french country" when it really isn't that

Add quoins.

Keep it classic -- blue-tinted gray, white trim, dark (black, DARK gray, etc) shutters in proportion to the windows, a lovely mahogany door (or black to match the shutters).

It seems like you're drawn to the "craftsman" neutral colors, and while I agree that they're lovely, your home will look much better if you keep with the style that it is in its bones, embracing it and working with it.

My mom has a theory about hair color -- go a little darker, or a little lighter than your neutral shade. God gave you that hair color for a reason, and it "works" for you. If you're naturally a light blond, it will be noticeable and not always pretty if you decide to dye it bright auburn red. Love that old school French stucco style home, embrace the gorgeous bones it has.

Agree with sousa609. If you haven't yet done the window trim, don't. It really spoils the line of the facade.

I think the house is striking as is, but I disagree with those who say do the black/white/red door scenario. It's been done. Frequently. I would want something more unique for myself. I agree with the french grey stucco color, maybe a very creamy white trim, and for the shutters, either the natural wood or a dark warm charcoal (not black).

You really have a beautiful home and once this is all finished you will be thrilled, whatever your decision. Best of luck!

I'm with the others - light gray for the house, and then maybe really dark green (almost black) for the shutters, with a muted white trim and then experiment with a terra cotta shade of red for the door. Farrow & Ball's palette is very hot right now and the online tool has great suggestions for the complimentary colors.

Oy vey, if I had such problems!! Good luck.

The house is wonderful as it is: gracious, sophisticated and elegant. You could imagine Grace Kelly opening that glossy black front door and bidding you welcome. But I appreciate that it may feel a little hard and cold in its beauty.

Three options:

1. Use a warmer white on the walls and a lighter grey on the trim to soften the severity of the monochrome.

2. Paint the walls a sandstone colour, and the trim a dusty blue-grey for the French Provincial look.

3. Instead of painting, spend the money on doing something special with the garden (lights, paving, sculpture, trees) to soften the lines of the house.

Lastly, while I like the idea of a bright red door in principle, I don't think it'll work in this instance. It'll make the house look like an immaculately dressed woman wearing lipstick that's just a little too loud.

What does the inside of the house look like? If you have a favorite color that repeats itself all over the house, maybe just paint the door and shutters in that color or similar ones. I like the black and white, and if this was my house, I'd change the light fixture, paint the door and the shutters a dark turquoise, and plant some trees.

Don't worry too much -- and please post after pictures :-)

We had the exterior of our stucco home painted last year and I went through the same color exasperation. I was leaning toward a green similar to yours and we ended up choosing Benjamin Moore's Wethersfield Moss. I love the shade--it's less brown and more green than your photoshopped color, but you should definitely check it out. It's a great color for an exterior and stucco especially. Looks wonderful with our white trim and black lighting/hardware.

Is the house a historic house? The double-hung windows seem to indicate that it is, however, the stucco finish (especially the pasty flourishes) don't seem to match the rest of the house. I'm not familiar with the vernacular of your house or community, but I am guessing the stucco was one previous homeowner's attempt to simplify maintenance or modernize... You may want to do some digging to find out what the original facade material was.

In any case, I agree with you that the off-white is too stark, and that painting the stucco would make the texture of the stucco less noticeable. Check out the colours from Farrow & Ball -- specifically, Lime white, Ringwold Ground and Farrow's Cream. They also have some great colours for the shutters (Off-Black, Studio Green, etc.). Stripping the door to it's wood finish would be gorgeous.

Good luck; it is a lovely home.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
I really appreciate all of you diagnosing me. I have a great eye for design -- when it comes to other people's homes. With my own I completely self destruct. Whoever said I was trying to turn this house into something it isn't hit the nail on the head. I love arts & crafts and georgian architecture - and after that comment I fully recognize this is completely wrong for this house. I think my problem is that I love so many different styles that I try to integrate them all while claiming eclecticism -- but in reality it just looks bad.

I tried out some suggestions of losing the black grate above the door, widening the shutters, smaller light fixture, losing the window trim all together, going with a more natural stucco color for the walls and it looks much better. The faux stone chimney actually isn't faux, under the stucco the chimneys are stone. We have a stucco repair specialist fixing all the cracks and damaged stucco. He discovered the stone and is going to expose it for us.

Thanks! I will definitely post some pics once we finish!!

I think it looks fine the way it is. Just replace those suburban shutters with some operable ones and you'll have a really nice house.

dont paint it another color, the house looks great with the colors it has now and you can always add the plants as intended but keep the colors as is.