Nordic Tugs seem have a lot of charm painted bright red with black below the waterline. My suggestion would be to paint the taupe red and the blue black or other dark color. The area on the side above the lower windows would lend itself nicely to a white vinyl-lettered name. I think the white trim would be a nice contrast.

I would paint the horizontal "trim" a gray that matches the decking and roof color, and the body a slightly darker gray. This will give you a clean, linear look and make your red accents stand out.

How about a nice yellow? It is the Sunshine after all :)

I am jealous! What a cool pad!!! I would go with a gray on the bottom - maybe Benjamin Moore 'Graytint' and a sunny yellow for the upper areas... maybe Rlaph Lauren 'Goldfinch' or for something a little more muted: Benjamin Moore's HC125 for the bottom & HC-4 for the top. Good luck!

i say take a cue from your neighbors and go bold (not obnoxious though ;) maybe keep the taupe and paint the bottom part red. lovely place by the way!!!! very cool!!

I think red and black sounds great.

I could see it in a light, warmer-toned gray with the trim in a bolder color choice--maybe something between orange and red. You mentioned that the trim isn't the vessel's strong suit, but maybe if it's just used around the windows...?

Have you looked at any images of houseboats in Amsterdam? This might be helpful.

I would love to see a house tour!

Oh man, if I had this boat I would try to take inspiration from the modernist camouflage used on ships in WWI. A bold geometric pattern would make your barge look really unique and modern.

Some pictures of what I mean:
http://www.darkroastedblend.com/2007/11/modernist-art-in-camouflage.html

http://twistedsifter.com/2010/02/razzle-dazzle-camouflage/

I have no ideas for the color, just loving that you live on a house boat!

House tour, please!

I was about to say a clear, singing grass-green - not like a primary green, but a clear green, if you get my drift. (Sorry, can't make brand suggestions, that's as descriptive as I can get.) But then I saw that the railing is now red, and that would look a bit Christmassy. But if I were you I would paint the boat the abovementioned grass green, with all trimming in a light off-white. That would look great with all the veg on the deck, and REALLY make that sign pop if you were to hang it on the outside.

Um. Brain fart. I know that green isn't a primary colour. But we all know what I meant, right?

I like the idea of a bright bold golden yellow as well but perhaps with a navy bottom and white trim?

My suggestion would be a mustardy orangey yellow like the smokestake of the ship in the background with an aqua trim -- the green/aqua should not be too pastel. I think that would be fitting to surroundings and a little bit edgy without being TOO over the top!

You are lucky living is such a wonderful place and surroundings! What a beautiful home.

i'd second (or third) a blue black below the horizontal deck line (choose the color right and your boat will appear to float above the water line).

above i'd go a rusty red/orange. think golden gate bridge, which looks great against the cold water or gray fog and glows in the sun. i'd also paint any trim the same color as the siding.

Thank you all for your suggestions, you are giving me a lot to think about!

kdegenhart- Those pictures of modernist camouflage are awesome! I don't think I am that bold, but looking at those photos was a great little history lesson. If I REALLY wanted to disguise the somewhat awkward shape of our barge, I now know just how to do it.

To all of you who would like to see more pictures...have patience, I think the place will be ready for a house tour in a couple more years ;-)

As a Seattlite born and raised I say no to the sherbert or ultra bright colors - it just really doesn't fit in with the look and feel of our city. I say dark blues/dark greys with a hit of red would be beautiful with our grey skies and dark blueish grey waters.

BTW, I love your place! I lived in Seattle most of my life and have never been on a house boat - lucky you!!

Please post pics when you get it finished.
-Sara

I agree with kdeganhart, think abstract, I love the camouflage idea.. I'd go more Mondrian (since the houseboat is boxy and has so many planes) and paint them in primary colors, red, yellow and blue with some white planes and black trim.. if not, then I go with the sunshine yellow.. and crisp white! Sounds a bit Doris Day in the Glass Bottom Boat (am I dating myself?).

I'm tempted to recommend a shade of jealous green... just kidding.

I think with grey skies you should steer clear of any grey or blue colour. Pretty much any shade of yellow always looks good in the rain (I speak from Irish experience). And it would also fit in with your home's name :)

Here's another vote for camouflage. The shape of the boat is perfect for it. Thanks, kdeganhart, for the links to the camo boats!

On the one hand you live in Seattle so the colors that come into my mind are cool and unsaturated, on the other hand you live on a house barge(!) so I think that you can go with something a bit more adventurous than traditional house colors. I think that the taupe that it is currently painted is too much of a traditional exterior house color.

I like the idea of a medium gray (RL Mt. Rainier) with a dark blue that has a lot of gray in it (RL Cardiff Blue) with yellow accents (RL Mango Gold).

You're living my dream! Well, in the dream, actually ;o) House boat! Yay :o)

Since there is water all around, and different light and bad weather gives the water any color between gray, blue, and green, I'd personally go with something from the other side of the color wheel. Maybe an egg yolk orange, a really light yellow, a dark wine red, or a muted pink. I'd then paint the accents (such as the railing, window frames, steps etc) bright white or light gray.

Color examples from Benjamin Moore (since you asked for specifics): wildflowers, mushroom cap, new dawn, fruity cocktail, tucson red, geranium, ladybug red, drop dead gorgeous, mardi gras, aniline red.

Pink.

PS. To look up the paint names I mentioned, go to www.benjaminmoore.com/virtualfandeck

bepsf - That is exactly what my husband suggested, although he is mostly joking. I like the lightheartedness of pink, but I'm not sure it would be a good choice for the neighborhood. The couple who live in the pea-soup green boat behind ours painted it that color to remedy the "dreadful pink" chosen by the previous owner (a woman of ill repute).

doro - Thank you for going to the trouble of looking up specific colors. I like wildflowers quite a bit, but I'm afraid such a light (and yet not white) color might make the barge look bloated. As with fashion dark colors are slimming right?

I am assuming you mean just the portions that are now taupe, and not the area that extends down toward the water line, correct?

I'd go muted. Industrial. Dark.

Charcoal gray, gunmetal, a MUCH deeper taupe.

But with warmth in them, so it does not read "Battleship Gray."

As little contrasting trim as possible to "clean up" the look.

The only exception: Paint the "tower" (far left towards the back in the main picture) a grayed-down barn red. Or clad it in galvanized metal. That piece, to me, is your opportunity for an architectural/color statement.

If you want something more colorful, I always think of Seattle as having a gorgeous signature palette of umbers, olive-y moss greens, muted brick reds and "wet stone" colors... so check interior magazines.

patrick (the other one) - I'm thinking of painting the taupe parts and the white trim. I don't find the gray on the roofs to be very objectionable.

I'm looking at RL's Vintage Masters and liking violet driving coat...is that the sort of darkness that you have in mind?

I second the yellow and grey comments. Also, *squee* I love that you live on a houseboat. I want one so bad, I've read all the books about them, but I can't afford to buy, and no one rents houseboats.

KimberlyM - Here in Seattle there are city laws against short term rentals of houseboats (too much partying) and most of the marinas have rules against longer term rentals too. Maybe it is the same in California? Anyway save your pennies and keep your eyes peeled...a very small houseboat on our dock recently sold for 40k. If the romance of living in one is enough to keep you satisfied you can save a lot of money just from the size of the place inhibiting your buying. (this doesn't work for everyone though...mini storage is just too easy to find)

I did a quick render of your boat with the razzle dazzle camo.
Camo Houseboat
I hope it gives you an idea of what it could look like.

Thanks Keith!

I will show my husband. He generally loves the 80's much more than I do, so he might actually dig this, who knows?

It wouldn't cure the multiple personality problem, but it would make the houseboat more fun to come home to :-)

I would look into Ralph Lauren's finishes line called Regent Metallics. All their colors are available online. My suggestion would be Golden Buttermilk (RL number: RM 37) with a Ambassador Sterling (RL number: RM 14) trim. Best of luck! :)

Seattle has far too many buildings painted grey and taupe already. Saturated and bright sounds good to me - Bumblebee yellow and black! Butter yellow and barge blue! Tangerine and sage! Spice it up.

Nancy--

Interesting that Pink was your husbands first choice (even if he was kidding)
If you chose a pale pink and stuck w/ that lovely pale turquoise for the hull - think 1950's Oldsmobile - the folks in the pea green houseboat probably wouldn't mind so much.

Here's a photo of another pink boat:

http://wearecunard.com/2010/02/cunard%e2%80%99s-president-and-managing-director-joins-in-the-celebrations-down-under/

(Yes, it's lights and not paint - but nevertheless pretty cool)

I don't know about a specific colour recommendation, but one thing occurred to me when I was reading other people's colour ideas: if you don't want people looky-looing at your house all the time, don't go with one of the bright or mod ideas! People really gawk at stuff like that - I'd feel my privacy was on the line, personally, in a small place accessible via pier (unless your dock is inaccessible to the public). But I'm a very private person, so that

My first thought was a soft Pacific Coastal-ish blue....almost a slate but not quite. Are you painting the hull? Sorry if this is answered and I missed it....

While I'm all for minimalism, I disagree with not wanting to use a bright color, or a sherbert or dark gray. You live on a houseboat, not a tract house. As gray as Seattle light can be, and how glorious it is when it's sunny, a monochrome look would be stunning. Water-borne takes that offer trim colors, tired red and black, et al., are boring to look at, forgettable, and will immediately become so to you. Go for it and have fun with a pastel sherbert, an all dark grey that will not just pop, but will be elegant, simple, and noticeable as unique. On the dark gray, I can just see the interest a simple use of orange or aqua canvas chairs on that deck would generate, or a pallette of purple flowers in the nicer months. "Have you seen that cool houseboat in the lake?"

Oh, I lived there for years, and I can tell you the most elegant houses in the city are the dark monochromes or the bright colors, not another taupe.

What an opportunity. Good luck.

Nancy_Claire--

Looked at that RL paint color online, and it could work... as long as in person, out of context, without a name attached, it's sort of unidentifiable as any one color. If it still looks "purple" then maybe try again.

I think (unless it's an art deco hotel or a San Francisco painted lady or a Key West row home... or a barn), colors you can easily name aren't the best path for exterior paints (HIGHLY personal, I know!)

And I'm with minimalist1 (on half of the argument at least!) that what life and the seasons add to the boat are the color story here.

But I could TOTALLY see, on an all-over monochromatic and dark palette, a front door that's the color of a sunny-side-up egg yolk... fitting tribute to the boat's name. And nice to come home to.

Yes! Yellow and aqua!

How exactly does one go about painting a house barge?

Go bold! I would opt for a bold red & charcoal, or yellow & charcoal, or royal blue. It would look awesome.

patrick (the other one) - I find it interesting that houseboats aren't on your list of dwellings appropriately painted a color with a name. They are so often bright and whimsical, like gypsy caravans on the water.

Nancy_Claire--

These types of houseboats are uncharted waters (couldn't resist!) for me. I come from South Florida, where boats are shiny and fiberglass and white. Unless they are Candy Apple red Cigarettes. :)

Still trying to remember the name of the Seattle interior designer who uses a great and (to me) quintessentially northwest palette...

Thanks for the conversation! It's been fun. Let us know what you decide. I promise I won't be offended if you decide on "Gypsy Caravan Peach." ;)

RL's Driving coat is as close to coboalt as you might be able to find and a dlecious, delicious color. Would be wonderful.

Also, not on the RL Regent Metallics - no longer at Home Depot (pulled for MS line) but should be at regular paint shops still.

hth.

what poor typing - sorry!

I agree with the earlier comment about Mondrian. The configuration of this boat is a unique opportunity to play with cubist color arrangements. There is no point, in my opinion, in going boring with such a terrific canvas to paint upon.