[ogre]

I am doing work on a custom home for a new contractor and friend. He has asked me to choose the colors for the home. Do any of you have any go to colors for houses going on the market? I have used BM navajo white walls and superwhite trim in the past with good results but i am looking for somthing richer. The goal is to have the color to appeal to as many people as possible. Thanks Mike

 

[timhag]

He has asked me to choose the colors for the home.

Thats a big risk you are taking.

 

[Wolverine]

The best thing to do is... DON'T pick the colors for your customer! That is what designers, acheitects, and dummies are for. There are more chances to lose than to win!

 

[vermontpainter]

I agree with Tim and Wolvie, and therefore have to say - especially if the goal is to appeal to as many people as possible - that 90% of the painted world is some shade of white/off-white. Thats the comfort zone. Stay in it. White ceilings and trim, linen white walls. Thats as custom as you want to get without a homeowner involved. You dont want to be the one everyone stares at when buyers start coming through and not liking the colors. Neutral works.

 

[EricTheHandyman]

No good can come from picking the color. I have a sign off sheet that I have customers fill out before painting. It lists each room, the color, the sheen, and the product. The customer signs it that they agree with everything. That way if they don't like it later my behind is covered.

 

[DeanV]

I agree with not picking out the colors as the painter, but if the contractor signs off and recognizes he is responsible for final color selections, by all means give him some ideas and put some samples on the walls to help. I would recommend more color than off whites on the walls of a custom home though. My custom homes tend to get around 12 wall colors (5-6,000 sq. ft.).

 

[vermontpainter]

Technically, its not a custom home until there is a customer. I think we are talking about a nice spec house. Let the homeowner customize.

 

[The paint whisperer]

Go and check out some of the model homes in your area. That should give you some ideas for color schemes.
Pick the one you like and go for it.:whistling2: If the new owner doesn't like the color schemes you picked, He can pay one of us to repaint it.

Good luck.

 

[cole191919]

Well you could play it safe because picking colors is a dicey thing to do in a home that is not yours and go with the whites and off whites and neutrals.

You could also check out the Benjamin Moore and other paint manufacturers sites and see what colors are popular lately. Pick up those color scheme booklets and brochures they offer too, and just take a browse, see if anything jumps out.

 

[bikerboy]

Tend to stay neutral in that situation. Bright white ceilings and trim, B/M China White or SW Dover White on walls.

 

[DeanV]

To me, nothing says boring and cheap like the white/offwhite color scheme IMHO, no offense to those who like it. If you want to be conservative, but still put an actual color on the walls, try BM Shaker Beige.

 

[vermontpainter]

Dean

Shaker Beige rocks! I did my living room with it 2 years ago. Still lovin it.

 

[thepainterr4you]

prime

prime the whole place and have in the listing walls are ready to be painted you choose your olor it is a great selling point

I am finishing up the new construction i am doing tomorrow primed everywhere and only painted the guest beds master beds and all other rooms will be painted whne house is sold

 

[Purdygirl]

I agree with the Shaker Beige guys, I haven't painted anything off-white in years!!! For me it is all about colors. I offer color consulting with every job and there are so many people that don't paint "yet" because they can't figure out a good color. BM's Arbingdon Putty is a good one, kind of greenish but looks awesome with hardwood floors and white trim, totally designer. Dunmoore Cream is another good one. I love Ben Moore's colors.
Sorry Yuba Guy.. BM's got you beat in the color dept. (your DTM kicks butt though.. )

 

[AALory]

Ben Moore offers so many combinations of colors. The two best and trendiest color catalogues I have seen are the Aura and Potterybarn decks. Check these out and you will be on cool color overload. And don't forget to charge that designer's fee.

 

[YubaPaintPro]

Sorry Yuba Guy.. BM's got you beat in the color dept. (your DTM kicks butt though.. )[/quote]

No problem! I actually agree w/ you on both acct's.

Hey for what it's worth, we are working on some new colorants and may launch a new color system in a few years. We will get the colors you are looking for in that for sure. If you haven't yet, go to a KM in SR or Ukiah or wherever you are and ask for the new Historical Color Brochure. IT IS AWESOME. Should be right up your alley. Again thx.

 

[MAK-Deco]

I agree with not picking out the colors as the painter, but if the contractor signs off and recognizes he is responsible for final color selections, by all means give him some ideas and put some samples on the walls to help. I would recommend more color than off whites on the walls of a custom home though. My custom homes tend to get around 12 wall colors (5-6,000 sq. ft.).

Couldn't say it better Dean.

We do color consults for our customers all the time and provide samples either on a board or directly on the walls and clients sign off saying that is the choice they want. We charge for our service based on the number of sample colors they choose or a flat fee if its worked out in advance. There's been plenty of times our colors were chosen over there designers colors usually makes me happy

There are plenty of neutral out there that will show off a custom home w/o creating a circus like atmosphere of colors...