DILEMMA
Our home, built in 1925, is situated in a very quaint, historic neighborhood. The coach house is aluminum-sided in white, attached by a breezeway. Is it important to keep the prime color of the main house white? What color or series of colors should we paint our home?
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– Molly Rice, Lake Forest
SOLUTION
Deborah Reinhart finds the Rice house absolutely charming, part of its appeal being a mature, evolved look. An exterior face lift for it depends on several philosophical considerations, she says. Respect for the architecture is what will ensure the rehab is complementary to both the house and the neighborhood. The personality and taste of the homeowners will direct the design style, i.e., a formal versus informal look, a conspicuous versus subtle impact. A more practical consideration is the budget. Reinhart would accent the architecture of this house with a combination of shake, shutters and stucco. The only drawback to the house’s architecture is its mix of surfaces, such as brick and aluminum, which need to be unified, she says. For color, she suggests a deep charcoal roof contrasting the eaves and shutters with a white/cream combination for low impact or white and yellow for a higher imact. Her last suggestion is the historically correct combination of white with gray-blue trim. Test color combinations on photocopied images of the house.
MORE ABOUT REINHART
Area covered: North Shore and Chicago.
Style: Combining different styles as “transitional eclectic” is a favorite challenge.
Design philosophy: The personality of the client or architecture should be highlighted by the project.
Approach: “I think color is your best friend,” she says.
Pet peeve: “Design should always support the lifestyle of the client and not the designer’s ego,” she says.
Observation: “Many homes now have computer-operated appliances. . . . the role of the designer today, (is) to tastefully integrate technology, make it look good and make it function.”
Call: 847-501-2844.