New Exterior Paint Colors

After many years of enjoying Behr’s Mermaid Net on our front door, I decided I was ready for a more traditional color!  So many of you have commented and messaged me on social media about that pale aqua door, and I’m so glad you loved it well, too. It’s still a beautiful color!

I rearranged our back deck when I found a nice rectangular aluminum outdoor table & chairs. We still have Behr’s Mermaid Net on the bench and Adirondack chairs, but the bench is now back in the garden and the chairs are in the backyard. I’ll share the back porch and new table at another time!

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links which means that I might receive a small compensation on any items I share & recommend that my readers might purchase. I’m always transparent with my readers and will only suggest products that I have used and think my readers might enjoy, as well! All opinions are my own. )

I decided on a dark gray for the front door and shutters: Sherwin Williams Iron Ore.

Along with changing the front door and shutters color, I also knew I wanted to update our exterior lights on either side of the front door. I wanted larger lights for better scale/proportion and I knew I wanted them to be an antique copper color.

I originally found this Quoizel exterior light on Amazon but later found one at our local Progressive Lighting Store. They have a backroom that’s an outlet, but they only had one! (I think it is now discontinued at their store) I bought that one, then bought a second one on Amazon. It’s such a beautiful light! Nice and large. Dimensions are approximately 24″ H x 10″ W.

This is the original color called “Copper Bronze,” but I wanted a more true aged copper appearance, so I painted them.

I started with FolkArt Antique Copper, (painted one is left in above picture) but it was way too red and not the look I was going for. I sanded it off and sprayed it with Rustoleum spray paint in Hammered Copper. This is a tried and true color I’ve used a lot on different projects, and it took the color more in the direction I desired.

Finally, I mixed some black latex paint I had on hand with a little water and washed it over the whole light, then wiped off excess with an old white cotton T-shirt.

Tip: a dark paint wash is a great way to tone down a too bright color and a white wash is a great way to lighten a too dark color. I sort of estimate but usually do equal parts paint to water.

I love the way they turned out! Just the color/finish I had hoped for. I wanted to imitate real aged copper and I think it came pretty close. 

Mark installed the lights after Thanksgiving so I could have them up for Christmas and about a week later, my painter was able to paint the door and shutters. (So grateful my Chemical Engineer husband is also a great handyman!) 

I use these silicone lightbulbs and LOVE their look! They don’t flicker, but they give that gas lamp look and are the perfect amount of light for good ambiance. 

The Iron Ore paint color was just what I was looking for-a good-looking, rich, dark neutral that gives more of a traditional feel!

We got a new roof a few years ago and chose GAF Timberline Shingles in Pewter Gray. What a difference a new roof makes! And the architectural style shingles add so much detail and style to the house. We love the change!

I like the way the dark, neutral door looks opening into the foyer better now, too. Since the Persian rug in the entry is so colorful, it needed that visual “rest” to be more appealing.

I think exterior to interior paint colors should flow just as much as interior room to room should! It makes for a well thought, cohesive design plan. 

After I’d figured out the paint color and lights, I knew I needed some type of door hardware to make it all come together and add that finishing touch. Cue this large horse head knocker I scored on eBay! I originally was looking for a hunting dog head door knocker, but when I came across this, I loved it. Our neighborhood is rural countryside and where the houses are now used to be old farmland. ( I think the exterior colors, decor, and plantings should be reflective and stay true to the environment/setting of the land around it.)

You might find a similar horsehead knocker on ebay like this one!

You can also search: “cast iron horse head door knocker” on the Internet. (Not an affilitate link, just a resource you may find helpful)

It was pretty in the original verdigris finish, I wanted it to be a shinier copper finish.

I sprayed it with the same Rustoleum hammered copper and black-washed it just a bit.

He really added that perfect finishing touch! I love him so much. (I guess it’s a “him.” Maybe I should name him?)

Spring came and the redbuds put on a show as they always do. I love their pretty pop of color so much and especially with the all neutral house colors now!

I decided on Kimberly ferns this year. I wanted simplicity and I just left them in their original containers and dropped them down inside the urns.

It’s only been a few months and they’re getting enormous! They’ve proven very low maintenance though. A finch built a nest in one of them right after I bought them in April, so that always makes watering fun…

Below is an quick reference to our updated exterior paint colors. The only thing that changed from my last exterior paint colors post is the roof and the door/shutter color. Largest color on left is our Hardiplank siding color Duron Pewterworks (image source) and then pictured (clockwise) is GAF Timberline roof shingles in Pewter Gray, Behr Swiss Coffee (all front door trim and moulding), Duron Builders Masterpiece in Bright White ( stairs and all other porch railing) Sherwin Williams Iron Ore (front door and shutters) and Winchester (porch floor color-Rustoleum Restore paint color mixed in Behr Deckover) at the bottom. To read more details about each of the existing colors, you can read this post.  ( Notes: Duron paint colors can be mixed at any Sherwin Williams stores; the link to the Behr Deckover formula above is a different formula than we used in my original post here.)

Whether your home is new or older, regular simple changes can yield big results and help keep your home’s exterior updated and add great curb appeal!

Hope y’all are having a good Summer so far!

XO