Exterior Decor

ChrisA1993

So,
I live in a small one bed terraced bungalow. The front exterior needs to be updated as it is looking really rundown. At the moment the front consists of one bay window -rosewood frame and the front door which is white PVC. The house is painted white but needs to be done and unsure whether to stay white or go a different colour. To put into context, the other houses are either white or a beige/brown colour. I am terrible at picking design ideas so would love some help. I don't have a whole lot of money to work with but any ideas would be much appreciated if there are any budding designers out there. 

frogglet

I'd go with white, I'm not keen on houses who are similar in design to the neighbours but decide not to stick to a theme.

ChrisA1993

My main problem is that I feel the white goes well enough with the white door but doesn't go with the rosewood window frames. My door will soon need replaced and was planning on getting a rosewood composite door to match the window frame, however I'm not sure the white will go with this?

EssexExile

Beige/light brown of some sort. Goes with wood and white plastic. Please not grey like everyone else.

Doozergirl

I've used Sandtex Sandstone on a few houses.  

I think it's just a little more interesting than magnolia.  I'm not one for white house with white windows and doors, I think a little bit of contrast goes a long way.  
 

Jeepers_Creepers

Any chance of a photo of your house, Chris?

And what is your window frame made of?

Do you have cast cills under the windows? If so, that's an opportunity to add a feature colour.

ChrisA1993

Sorry, image isn't great as was taken a while ago when roof was getting done. My original plan was to get a country style rosewood composite door to match the window frame but I'm a bit worried that against the white it's going to look a little strange. I can't afford to get windows replaced otherwise I would have replaced with white. Any further ideas?

Doozergirl

Magnolia with Sandstone painted on the mullions and window cills, and around the front door.  

Jeepers_Creepers

Ok, that's a lot more character than I was expecting :-)

You have nice cast surrounds to your windows as well as textured 'block' walls.

I'm lousy at coming up with decorative ideas - I always have to resort to Google and pinterest amongst others. However, I think I'd be looking at taking advantage of what you have there, and perhaps consider a colour for the window surrounds whilst keeping the pure white for the walls. You'd have to be brave/foolish to do this, tho', unless you have seen an example that makes you go 'Yeeaaahhh'.

The rosewood frames look very dark - which I think is a good thing - but I'm not personally keen on rosewood myself (unless it's on a fretboard). If this were my hoosie, I think I'd be looking longer-term when these windows will be replaced, and I don't think I'd necessarily be lining up white frames for them unless the smooth surrounds are given a contrasting/highlighting shade - white walls, white frames, white surrounds, white cills... That's white.

BUT, I'd need to see this somewhere to know it's the right thing to do.

You have dark grey roof tiles? And dark grey vertical slates on your dormer?

I think I'd be wary of committing myself to a rosewood door as well - unless you really love the rosewood colour?

Spend some time coming up with what you really want to end up with, and plan for that, changing things as you can. 'Rosewood' can always be painted if needed...

ChrisA1993

Thanks for your suggestions.
The problem I have is that I have no plans to replace windows unless I have issues with them, therefore I could be looking at another 10 years of having the rosewood window frames. The tiles are indeed a grey colour and that along with the rosewood and white walls are not complimenting each other. Ideally, I would paint the walls a nice colour and get a new door, however I can't think of a colour door that would match everything together? Part of me though a light beige/clay colour and then painting the house a sandstone to tie everything in but I'm worried the door and window will look strange. Sorry for being a bore, problem is I am not a decorator and ideally would like to go with something and get it done.