Photoshop Redo: Coloring Inside the Lines of a Folk Victorian Farmhouse

A house goes from ghostly to gorgeous with the help of three earth- and sky-toned paint palettes

By Kathryn O'Shea-Evans

Tattered Folk Character: Before

"We bought a 1910 farmhouse that needs a complete remodel, including a paint job—help!" says Brandi Huff. She's working to make the Folk Victorian in Milan, Michigan, that she'll share with her husband and two sons move-in ready. We turned to architectural color consultant Bob Buckter for curb-appeal-boosting ideas.

Architectural Details on Display: After

"People choose white because it's a no-brainer, but these architectural details deserve to be highlighted," Buckter says. One tack: Use muted hues for the body and trim—such as the gray-blues, khakis, and pale yellows in the three palettes in this story—and contrasting colors to emphasize eye-catching features, like the fancy spindlework and turned posts. It's a modern way to apply historically inspired colors.

Brandi's reaction? "Looks awesome! We were so lost on what to do. The blue house is our favorite—it's so homey."

All-American Gray Blue Palette

An all-American classic, steel blue makes for a welcoming facade, especially when paired with ice-blue trim, azure gable ends, and wine-red windows and accents. A charcoal-gray skirt anchors the scheme.

All-American Gray Blue Palette: Wine-Red Windows

Olympic's Bordeaux

All-American Gray Blue Palette: Charcoal-Gray Skirt

Olympic's Granite

Earthy Warm Khaki Palette

Set against an earthy-brown body color, trim and porch floorboards in maroon and a door and windows in turquoise pop. Using a lighter taupe on the stickwork of the gable end sets it apart from the scalloped siding.