Coastal Cottage Exterior Makeover

This Rhode Island coastal cottage exterior makeover features bright and fresh paint colors with classic finishes.  When we pick exterior paint colors, we consider the roof, landscaping, exposure, and most importantly the client’s tastes. Read on to discover how you can create this look for your house.

The Renovation – Before and After

For this online color consulting project in Rhode Island (far from Colorado), our client renovated this coastal cottage from the studs out.  Every surface was replaced.  The roofline was updated with new dormers and a roof, a front porch, and a dining room addition.  New landscaping with sod, plantings, and brick sidewalks brightened the front yard.

The homeowner asked us to pick their paint colors, which was right up our alley! We chose a coastal paint palette for the exterior with our online paint color consulting service. The results were amazing, even though we never visited the property. We will share the interior update in a later article.

Color Palette for a Coastal Cottage Exterior

Our coastal paint palette was classic and traditional.  The Owens Corning Slatestone roof and James Hardie Arctic White siding were picked by the homeowner.

We chose SW Extra White (a clean white) for the trim.  Clean whites can be used next to cool whites such as the Arctic White siding.  When you place a cream or off-white color next to a cool white it makes the creamier color look yellow. The shutters feature a dark navy blue, SW Anchors Aweigh.

Our favorite touch was the traditional Southern front porch with SW Tradewind for a “haint blue” ceiling and light blue-gray deck.

The mid-toned wooden door and brick sidewalk warm up the exterior.

Traditional Southern Porch with “Haint Blue”

Since Colonial times in the US, Southern porches had ceilings painted “haint blue”, the color of the sky  This tradition is mixed in myth and folklore, and a classic element of a coastal color interior palette.  A popular theory is that wasps won’t build nests with a blue porch ceiling because they think it’s blue sky.  Southern folklore teaches that a blue porch ceiling will keep a family safe from “haints” or evil spirits.

In this case, we painted the front and back porch ceilings with SW Tradewind (blue-green).  The deck floor is painted with SW Zircon (blue-gray) and the light reflects onto the roof.  If we had painted the ceiling with blue paint, it would have looked dingy and dull.  These results are very different from the color on the swatch. Don’t forget to test your paint colors every time before you paint.

The back porch also has the “haint blue” ceiling, painted with SW Tradewind.  The red geraniums brighten the entrance.

Check out the back deck with SW Zircon also painted on the deck and SW Extra White on the trim and railings.

The side entrance to the mudroom and butler’s pantry has a simple white roof. It features mirrored windows, a SW Extra White door, and beautiful black lanterns from Northeast Lantern in New Hampshire installed on all the entrances.  The door hardware is also black.

Navy Blue Shutters Give a Nautical Vibe

The shutters were painted with SW Anchors Aweigh, a deep navy blue to coordinate with the blue undertones of the Slatestone roof and the HardiePlank Arctic White siding. The navy blue color added to the coastal paint palette.

The shutters were ordered from Shutterland with black hardware to tie in with the lighting and the door hardware.

The Verdict

Consider a coastal color palette for your house, and don’t forget to include a beautiful blue ceiling for your front porch! A “haint blue” porch ceiling is a lovely and charming tradition for this New England coastal cottage.  We can’t wait to see if they scare the wasps away from their front porch!

This palette is perfect for homeowners who want a classic exterior and fresh crisp paint colors. Don’t forget to test your paint colors – our directions are here.

Online Color Consulting

If you still need help with paint colors, check out our Online Color Consulting packages or an In-Person Color Consultation in the Denver Metro area.

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Michelle Marceny, founder, owner, and Principal Color Designer at The Color Concierge. I believe a fresh coat of paint can completely transform a space. The Color Concierge was born out of my drive to help clients fall back in love with their homes. My clients trust me to help them find the perfect paint color for their home – whether it’s a whole-house paint color scheme or ideas for a single room. 

Since The Color Concierge was founded in 2017, we have completed over 3000 color consultations, both online and in-person.  I am a Certified Color Expert with 7 years of experience creating interior and exterior color palettes throughout North America.

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