Well hello there. If you've been reading this blog for awhile then you know I really don't like the fact that my house is painted red. I've always envisioned it white or gray or even black. This waffling over paint colors has gone on for the 6 years we've lived here. We do know that this house was pink at one time and I guess I like the idea of returning it to one of its former colors. The house is 125 years old so I know it has probably been quite a few different colors. Anyway, my mind has been made up. Pink it is! I know it is a far cry from white, gray or black but I think it will be perfect. Above is just a small sample of Lady Pink by Valspar.
As you can see in this photo, the pink to the right is one of its former colors.
The house needs painted in the worst way so all I have to do (besides gather the $) is narrow down the color. I want it to be a pale pink but not peachy. I think if any house was ever gonna be painted pink this cottage would be a good candidate plus pink is really just red's little sister. I'm sure the neighbors will still freak out because everyone seems to love the red besides me but you know what? They are just gonna have to get over it.
One of my favorite historic homes in our neighborhood is painted in a shade of pink (it's probably cream with a pink undertone, but it looks soft pink to me). It's quite lovely with creams and soft greens. Looking forward to see the newly painted cottage! ox
ReplyDeletewe almost bought a historic home here many years ago and it was pink. still is.
DeleteOh my gosh....Janet, my very favorite house down here is painted pink! I kind of stalk it...whenever we're in that town I make Chad drive by and come to a stop in front of it so I can stare at every little detail. Last week the owner was out and stopped to talk to us. She told us that it was originally painted a pale pink, but the historical society said to be more historically correct, she needed to go brighter. She has lots of roses too so I can only imagine yours is going to be just as pretty. I am so excited for you to start! I can't wait to come over and have coffee on the front porch of a pink house. :)
ReplyDeletewhat a compliment to that pink house. i'm hoping the landscape will stand out against the pink too. coffee is on!
DeleteLove pink. Your house is going to look amazing, can't wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteOur landing walls are painted in Ointment Pink, which was a fashionable colour in Georgian England and as our house was built in 1760 is age appropriate (something I don't approve of for humans but houses, yes!) xxx
you are funny vix. :)
DeleteI'm really liking Lady Pink, I think it will complement your garden well. I can't wait to see how it turns out.
ReplyDeletethanks so much. i think it will go well too. x
DeleteWow Janet! I'm pleasantly surprised about the pink, and I think it is the perfect color for your little piece of paradise. I have been wondering when you were going to paint the house, but I guess you needed the time to come to the perfect color. Now it will be known as the Little Pink Gardener's Cottage :) Deni
ReplyDeletethanks deni. i'm kinda surprised by it also but i just feel it's right.
DeletePaint strips make me swoon! I love obsessing over colors. Why don't you paint several stripes on the back of your house and look at them in various lightings. Lighting can make all the difference when it comes to picking a shade. Pink will look great on your house!
ReplyDeletei really have been obsessing over pink since i've made up my mind. can't wait to actually start painting.
DeletePink will be perfect!! I adore pink houses.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Amy Jo
thank you amy jo. x
DeleteIt will be absolutely lovely! Looking forward to seeing the finish products:)
ReplyDeleteRM
thanks for the vote of confidence rm. :)
DeleteYou are right, the colour of pink on the door in my post today is perfect!
ReplyDeleteyes, i couldn't believe my eyes.
DeleteI agree and I think pink is the one colour (in the realm of possibilities) that has the most downside when you miss. That dusty rose pink of that door looks ideal as anything darker requires a flock of pink flamingoes on the front lawn...now Tabs would be all over that!
Deleteit is indeed a tricky color but i'm determined to get it right. and yes...tabs and flamingoes...
DeleteLOVE the pink. I've been looking at colors for our Florida House. I kept telling my husband it should be pink only to find a historical photo of it and sure enough....it was pink.
ReplyDeletethanks chania. i think your FL house would be perfect in pink too.
Deleteon the street where I grew up there was a little pink cottage and it was divine!
ReplyDeleteseems everyone has a memory of a little pink house. i know i do too. thanks wendy!
DeleteWhat a surprise! I would have guessed you would finally have given into the black. Having said that, I think it will be lovely in pink and look forward to seeing how it turns out. How fun!
ReplyDeletei know me too melodee. after touring the gardens of england i really really thought it'd be black but i just feel pink is right. :)
DeleteI'm sure the shade you choose will be lovely, unlike a large house in our town that's known as the Pepto-Bismol house for its garish pink color. I have no doubt your house will be beautiful, especially surrounded by your gorgeous gardens.
ReplyDeleteyes i want to make sure it is not the pepto bismol pink. i want a soft pink for sure. thanks!
Delete!!!!!!!!!!! Yes. I'm not keen on the red either. Of course a cute house is a cute house regardless. But I am so excited for the pink! Whatever the shade's name, you're going to need to call it peony.
ReplyDeleteOR
Are there any roses in your garden that are an appropriate pale pink? Then you could match it! And probably add 25%. But it would still have the essence. So exciting!
thanks SA. i do have a few beautiful pink roses i could take to the paint store, that's a great idea. !!!!!!!!
DeleteBy 25% I meant 25% white. Apparently I've been hitting the paint fumes too hard.
DeleteLooking at the picture of it's previous colours I think the pink was probably used as an undercoat when changing the colour.
ReplyDeleteUnless of course you've got photos showing it was once once that colour.
it could be but all the insides of the rain gutters are painted pink also so i'm thinking it was at one time pink.
DeleteOh, I think it will be pink perfection. Think of how it will pick up all the colors of your garden flowers. There was a pale pink cottage from the 1800s just down the street from where I formerly lived. It had white, scallopy, Victorian-style trim but the boards were deliciously pink. When her fruit trees and other ornamental garden bushes popped with pink and white blossoms in spring, I would often stop the car...and just gaze, it was so heavenly.
ReplyDeleteI think of red as being more rustic. Pink is dreamy.
The charming movie with Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo (he was so hunky when it was filmed ten years ago; I heart him) has the sweetest ending scene with them moving into their fantasy pink dream house. But I know your pink will be less cupcake pink and more lovely conch shell pink.
I remember when our veterinarian moved into new clinic digs, she had the walls painted a shade of pink which was said to provide 'calm,' so she thought it would be good for both humans and canines/felines; something about it having to do with hemoglobin(?). I could swear we all had a discussion here once about pink, of how a certain shade in jail cells has a similar calming effect on inmates.
Pink is good.
thanks vicki. yes i think the garden has a great deal to do with this choice. i love mark ruffalo too but i'm not sure what movie you are talking about. will google. yep, pink is good! x
Delete13 Going on 30. 30, Flirty and Thriving. Jenna Rink. Mattie, you're my best friend. (I know you know this movie!)
DeleteI cannot wait to see the finished product. I have seen several old homes painted a very pale pink and they are gorgeous. That is the beauty of living in an old home, you can use some great colors. Mine is 65 years old and we did a very light sage green with white trim, black shutters and a raspberry front door.
ReplyDeletesharon your house colors sound so pretty. i can't wait to share the after photos either!
DeleteYes!!!!! I can see it pink. Cannot wait for the reveal.
ReplyDeletethanks dianne. me too!
DeleteLove the pink! Much more interesting than white, gray or black.
ReplyDeletei agree priscilla. i think it is a bit eccentric and i love that!
DeleteOh I think pink will be charming! As long as it's not "Pepto" pink. :) xx
ReplyDeletei'll make sure of that mona!
DeleteSo looking forward to the after pictures, Janet!!
ReplyDeletethanks catherine. me too!
DeleteI didn't know your house was red, but pink suits you. Pink is a challenge for me when trying to find the exact right shade of pink, but you're an artist, so you probably won't have any trouble. I'm eager to see it.
ReplyDeleteKaren
oh i wish i were an artist karen but i do trust my paint guy so fingers crossed.
DeleteIf you cannot find the right pink, then go white.
ReplyDeletepve
patricia i know! i have that most amazing drawing you did of my house in white. maybe one day you can tint it pink?!
DeletePink gets my vote! Years ago I lived in a pink cottage - and have wanted another pink house ever since!
ReplyDeleteoh good to know you miss it. thanks!!!
DeleteI love a pink house and wanted to paint mine the color of Monet's with a blue door but my ex husband nixed the idea and I had to settle for a creamy, light yellow. Your house will look wonderful in this color with all the surrounding green and roses and maybe some black wicker! Jealous!!
ReplyDeletethanks eileen. larry has no problem with the pink so i'm super grateful for that! black wicker for sure!
Delete"Little Pink Houses! john mellencamp. Lisa
ReplyDeleteyes! i posted a clip of that on IG !!!
DeleteWhen I painted my house, I enlisted the help of a designer who works for the local independent Ben Moore store. She nailed the color I wanted perfectly and was a joy to work with.
ReplyDeletethanks linda. i love my BM paint guy. he's so good!
Deleteoh nooooooo
ReplyDeleteoh yessssss!
DeleteMy immediate thoughts scream "undercoat". Not sure about the States but here in Australia wood paint undercoat used to always be that same shade of pale pink (due to the red lead component).
ReplyDeleteI vote for white or grey, either of which I think will look sensational but it's your house and, like the neighbours, I'll just have to get over it :)
Spud.
haha spud. i've discussed this idea of it being an undercoat with my paint guy quite a bit. we are both convinced it isn't an undercoat but i guess we will never know for sure.
DeleteI am so happy for you that you are finally getting to paint YOUR house...not the neighbors house..hehe. Although I like red, it is a strong and chaotic color...my opinion. White is simple and calming, just what I believe the both of you having been working on. Pink will be a good compromise. All your flowers are really going to pop now with that pink in the background.
ReplyDeleteblessings, jill
thanks jill. i really think the pink will be great on this house. like you say between white and red...pink!
DeleteI love pink but there is a part of me that is sad it won't be black! But pink will be stunnng too. And peacful.
ReplyDeleteAre you doing it yourself? xxx
i know what you mean re the black. that day in the hicks garden really made me want a black house but oh well. :)
Deletea friend of ours that is a painter will be helping us.
Can't wait to see your house in pink! So my question is...are you hiring someone or are you and Larry taking on this project yourself?
ReplyDeleteOur house really needs to be repainted, especially the east and west side that get more sun. But for now all of our extra $ is going to the wedding. Maybe next year!
One more question, what type of grass are you using in your yoga garden? I see you have a lot of shade there. We need to redo the grass in our front yard but we need grass that will still grow under our big tree.
Thanks!
Linda
xo
linda not sure of the exact name of the grass but it is a drought tolerant tall fescue. once established will only require water twice a week. a painter friend will be helping us. thanks!
DeleteAs much as I love white on my farmhouse, and very much like the black on Lauren Liess' house (laurenliess com May 27, 2014), if I had your house, pink would be my choice, too! Your red is/was cheery, but your pink is wonderfully peaceful and uplifting! Enjoy!
ReplyDeletethank you paula. the indecision re the paint color of this house has almost driven me mad but i feel at peace with this choice. and i love a white farmhouse!
DeleteI think it will be just adorable! How exciting, Janet!
ReplyDeletethank you t. x
DeleteI always had a thing for red houses, but in the case of your beautiful little cottage pink will be perfect!
ReplyDeleteDarby
thanks darby...i hope it will live up to all these expectations!
DeleteWhen working with pink on a house exterior, one trick for picking paint is to start with the light gray paint chips and work with samples of the pinker tones. Because pink paint outside on the house gets WAY brighter when used in large areas. You might actually need to go a lot grayer with the paint to achieve the final pink color that you want. Or depending on the light, you could look at cream colors with pink undertones. Those will become soft pinks outside. True pink paint color painted on an exterior can look candy/ice cream/Easter egg very easily. Good luck!
ReplyDeletethanks for the tips elizabeth. i will take these thoughts to my paint specialist.
DeleteI'll take anyone's advice that's funding the project. If I'm paying, I saying! Tell the neighbors to take up a collection and they can pay the painter! Enough said. They'll zip it quickly!
ReplyDeleteexactly hilary!!!
Deletethat will be very pretty! make sure the pale pink you pick has a cool undertone. pale pinks with cool under tones work well in a natural setting and keep from ever looking peachy in different sun lighting. I learned that when I painted inside of our backyard patio fence many years ago. a pale cool toned pink looks great against a beautiful landscape and your home has that.
ReplyDeletethanks elena. your suggestions are appreciated. x
DeleteI dream of having a little lavender cottage someday so there's absolutely no shame in having a pink cottage in my mind!
ReplyDeletethere is a little lavender cottage in town that is adorable. it's so cute!
DeleteI think it will look fabulous! It's funny I have been thinking of painting my front door a magenta color to match some of the tropical plants in my landscaping. I am all for being a little bit different and I think your cottage will look great in pink. Please photo the process as it happens!
ReplyDeletei will take thousands of photos! i really think the pink is going to enhance the garden too.
DeleteNever would I have imagined you would think pink. But that's why I keep coming back, you always surprise and inspire me.
ReplyDeleteYou go with that pink ,girl.
It's gonna be fabulosa.
xo J
thanks jane. i've surprised myself too.
DeleteJanet, Take a look at Loi's latest entry on his blog, "Tone on Tone." There's a photo of a lovely pink cottage in Maine. So sweet!
ReplyDeleteSally
thanks sally. i did just that and wow, it's beautiful! thanks for the suggestion, his blog is beautiful!
DeletePink? Pink! Yes yes yes!!! For some reason I never imagined that color for your cottage but now that's the only color I can see for it. I am so excited for you and can't wait to see it. We don't get many (or any) little pink houses around here. And not just any house can pull off pink but your house was built for it. Oh, I can't wait.
ReplyDelete~diane
diane, that's exactly how it came to me too. i never thought about it and now in my mind it's perfect. x
DeleteI second Elizabeth's comment about starting with gray-to-the pink. After decades of trial and error, I know how bright paint can become. You probably know this as well, and your eye is, of course, wonderful. I lived in a cottage so similar to yours and it was red, too. I never really loved it. I do like the idea of of pink, though it never occurred to me for your house. But with black wicker--yes!
ReplyDeletethanks swissy. the black wicker will be essential!
DeleteHi, Janet!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do paint it pink! It will look amazing with the garden - love pink and green!! We need to paint our house in Maine but, sadly, I'm going with boring white. Perhaps I'll have fun with the front doors and paint them sunny yellow.
Cheers,
Loi
thank you loi. i don't think white is boring at all. love your blog.
DeleteThanks, Janet! Glad to find you :)
DeleteOur house is painted Sherwin Williams 2148. Everyone loves it. It's a pinkish color that looks like the center color on the right paint chip in your picture.
ReplyDeleteoh thanks for that tip. will look into it. good to know you are happy with the pink.
DeleteTotally indulgent comment right here ----> I grew up in a Midwestern town of less than 9000 people. My Gram lived on the "bad side of the tracks" in a teeny tiny light PINK house. Everyone in my family was born and raised there up to and including my dad's generation. As I was growing up and until this very day, I can say to anyone in the area..."Oh, my Gram lives on the South Side of Town," and the reply will be: Anywhere near the Pink House? To which, I delightedly say, "IN the Pink House!" Its sort of our "signature," if you will. LOVE this! Love, love, love-ity, love it. And I know you will too! CanNOT wait for the After pics. XOXO
ReplyDeleteoh what a darling story. thanks for sharing lor. i hope one day people will refer to my house as the pink house in the park. :)
DeleteI would love to have a pink house! I can't wait to see your finished color! :D
ReplyDeletethanks suzy. i'm loving it too.
DeleteMy childhood home was painted pink at one stage and this is the colour I remember when I think of that house. Pretty much the same pink as in your first photo. I agree with the idea of painting a couple of boards in each of the colour tones you are considering. I did this for my house (blue hues) and waited a few days for all the different lights - and neighbours comments. The decision then made was so good I repeated the same blue 15 years later when repainting. Pink is the only colour I would consider apart from that blue in future. Good luck with your paint job, looking forward to the photos.
ReplyDeletethanks so much for your thoughts and advice. x
DeleteAm I the only one who likes your current red? I can't picture pink looking good on a house exterior, but maybe I'll be surprised. Is your husband okay with living in a pink house?
ReplyDeleteoh no lots of people are going to be crushed when the red is gone. you are not alone. larry loves the idea.
DeleteWhere we live at the top of one side of the Thames Valley you can see the other side of the heavily wooded valley. In the middle of the trees sits a lovely stucco house, known by everyone for miles around as the the pink house. Maybe once the neighbours get used to it yours too will become a land mark?
ReplyDeletethank you lilac. i hope so too. the pink house in the park has a nice ring to it.
DeleteJanet, have you searched "pink house" on Pinterest? So many lovely shades come up....like it!
ReplyDeleteoh yes lumen, i have a file on pink houses now. there are so many pretty shades!
DeleteDear Janet
ReplyDeletePink will look so pretty with your beautiful garden and the roses. One of the loveliest pink houses I ever saw was David Niven's former house on Cap Ferrat near St Jean. We had a holiday in Beaulieu for several weeks about 6 or 7 years ago and often used to walk along the footpath and admire it. I think now (looking it up on Google) it's been re-painted a slightly different pink that's not as pretty. When we saw it, the pink was softer and a little faded and patinated - and just so exquisite. I can still see it in my mind. If you Google it and look up old photos from some years ago you'll see what I mean. There was one in a piece called 23 Things to do in St Jean Cap Ferrat by Virtual Tourist which shows it in the beautiful soft pink. Best of luck in choosing the right tone. I like the idea of taking a pink rose you love to the paint store. Best wishes, Pammie x
hi pammie! i will google it and find it. so glad you like the idea of pink as i know you to have beautiful taste. yes, i will bring my favorite pink rose to the store also. off to google now. x
Deleteok just googled. gorgeous! the old and even the new looks pretty. but what a house and setting. my little place will be more of a challenge maybe? not sure but my confidence is growing.
DeleteOh how yummy... I'd love driving up to my house every day and find it happily wearing a pretty pink coat... Deee.Lish.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Spencer
thanks spencer. i'm so looking for the drive up too. so exciting.
DeleteNot many homes can pull this off, but your sweet cottage can. Go for it Janet!
ReplyDeletethanks emily. i think it was made for a coat of pink.:)
DeleteYou could knock me other with a feather. I'm shocked--but excited--you're going this direction. I think pink is a tough color to get right but I really like the sample you showed. I'm sure you'll do it right. Scary, though, I'll bet!
ReplyDeletea little scary but less and less each day. i think it'll be pretty.
DeletePink? What a great surprise! I love your cottage in red, but I can see how it might be hard to live with... I can't wait to see the pictures. It sounds so fun.
ReplyDeletei know, i'm full of surprises right?! lol the red is just not me.
DeleteGoogle Suffolk Pink cottages. You will find many, many images. I grew up in Suffolk in England so pink and cottages go together like scones and tea as far as I'm concerned. Inspired choice. It will be beautiful.
ReplyDeletethank you louise i will google that. it must be so lovely.
DeleteI was born in a pink cottage. My father had also been born there, so it was in the family from the early 1900s. My Dad told me that the pink colour came from ox/cow blood added to the limewash. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteoh now that is a little morose right? but i bet the color was pretty.
DeleteHello again! Just wanted to let you know I spotted a picture of a pink historic cottage on Loi's Tone on Tone blog, and I thought of you (cheery pink on an historic cottage is just so charming!) Have a lovely weekend, Janet xx
ReplyDeletehttp://toneontoneantiques.blogspot.com/2014/07/welcome-to-castine-maine.html
thanks yuko. a few have already told me of that photo. love his blog! thanks sweetie.
DeleteI saw your comment there a second after a sent you the link. Lol!
DeleteDefinitely go super light. Soft, soft soft PINK. Beautiful. I'm late to the party and haven't been keeping up!
ReplyDeleteit will def be a soft pink lisa. :)
DeleteReally cute bag in the last post , while touring the botanical garden. Any deets?
ReplyDeletekaren
i got it at target. :)
DeleteI saw a pink house in Key West. It was amazing. Go pink!
ReplyDeleteI love pink....ever since I first read this post a few days ago I've been seeing adorable pink houses. I think it was meant to be pink and it just took a little time to get there...probably.
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog ~ what a delight! Love that you will paint your cottage pink. I live in a little pink cottage as well. Our house is well known in the neighborhood, people use it as a reference when giving directions. "Just go past the little pink house..."
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!