Exterior Trend. Monochromatic.
Monchromatic home exteriors have always called to me. Throughout my childhood we visited a coastal community in Sonoma County, CA called Sea Ranch. Born in the 1960’s this area developed with the vision to preserve the region by using ecological building principals that would minimally impact nature and the surrounding landscape. The homes in this development are all built with strict guidelines using monochromatic exterior schemes and incorporating natural materials. What always resonated with me was how quiet these homes are in their presence and yet how elegant and modern they stand in their simplicity.
I find many homeowners today are stuck in the 90’s style of adding as many colors to their home exterior as possible. I remember looking at new home communities during that time period where homes had multiple trim colors, body colors and extreme contrast ruled. This has changed thankfully and most homes, with some exceptions, are best updated with a maximum of 3 color selections. Body, trim and front door. Today we are even seeing more homes that are using the monochromatic approach of having one body color, bringing that color through the trim either in the exact same tone or a slight lighter or darker one and then using natural elements on places like doors to continue the monochromatic look while creating some interest with different materials. So many homes can be updated with just one paint color and this simplistic look can create a really modern and updated look.
Monochromatic exterior looks can take on many different approaches. Here are some of my favorites.
Moody. Moody almost foggy monochromatic homes have historical roots and many parts of the country feature homes old and new with this look. My hometown of Marin County, CA has many homes with this look especially in the coastal border communities like Mill Valley. What I like about moody homes is that the dark color scheme really reveals the accents nicely, hardware and lighting that can make a ho hum home a real showstopper. The use of wood tones can set off the moodiness and give it a slight brightness to keep it warm and inviting.
Farmhouse White. Forget the choppiness of the modern farmhouse, for now we are focusing on the classic white farmhouse. These homes use white to create clean, timeless homes that reflect nature and their surroundings. The white classic farmhouse ranges from crisp whites to warmer ones and often use brick and wood to showcase details. White homes are perceived to be elegant and sought after and welcome their residents and visitors with it’s casual and pristine characteristics.
Warm Tones. Warm tones are really in right now and one of the reasons is how easily many styles of homes can be updated by using a monochromatic warm color scheme. This Tudor home was instantly updated when the stripey Tudor trim was toned down using a similar warm beige white to the house body color. The trim that makes this home decidedly Tudor is still visible without being overwhelming and with new accents and lighting the overall vision is one that is fresh and gorgeous.
Black. Similar to the moody trend we discussed earlier, black exteriors are here to stay. Black homes have a mysterious, austere presence that makes them a coveted style reserved for the most bold and discerning owners. Black is powerful and while it makes a statement it does respect its surroundings by allowing the landscape to shine. Black homes can create some interest by using different exterior materials, metals, stone, brick and siding.
Green. Green is in right now and subtle gray green homes have been on my mind for a while. This example showcases a modern greige green color used on both the body and trim of the home, even the roof and stone work blends into this monochromatic look that blends with its gorgeous lake side setting while also making a statement. Green has so many different tones it can be used on basically any home.
While the monochromatic look might not be for everyone, I hope it’s a trend that stays around for a while. It definitely has the innate ability to blend seamlessly with nature and allow homes to become part of the backdrop without commanding too much attention right away. Then when given more focus, the quiet elegance of the monochromatic home is one most can’t easily forget.
