Beach Cabin Exterior Paint Colors: White and Green
The Beach Cabin Exterior is Painted!
The Beach Cabin is painted and I finally took photos! The exterior paint colors are perfect for this Lake Michigan cottage. The antiqued white color and the magical green that changes throughout the day are such a classic combination.
This was not an easy decision. Although interior paint is a fairly inexpensive and easily remedied situation, exterior painting is quite the opposite. Getting it right the first time was a must.
As a reminder, this was what the Beach Cabin looked like prior to its new colors. It was actually a beautiful taupe color when we bought the cabin. However, years of fading gave it a slightly purple hue. Also unfair is the fact that we took this “before” photo out of season. Nonetheless, let’s continue.
Exterior Paint Color Options: Dark Paint
We began to put up samples in the spring of 2021, thinking that a dark exterior was the way to go. If you are interested in 524 inspiration photos, you can check out my Beach House Exterior board over on Pinterest.
Paint was swatched all over the cabin, creating a patchwork quilt exterior. North, south, east and west sides got samples. They all took on a slightly different look in the shade and sun and from different directions. (And of course, wet versus dry. It is not always easy to watch paint dry before snapping a photo!)
Right Side: Benjamin Moore White Dove
A few more options are never too many at the Beach Cabin…
Right Side from Top: Benjamin Moore White Dove (2), Farrow & Ball Down Pipe
Left Side from Top: Benjamin Moore Graphite, Soot, Deep River
Exterior Paint Color Options: White Paint
We had to cut down some trees on the property, creating more of a sun-soaked situation on one side of the cabin. Without central air conditioning, we worried that a dark exterior would cause the interior to heat more quickly.
So, I threw up a bunch of white paint samples (as I do). I loved a particular one but then when I came back a week later, it had a pink hue to it.
The Combinations
Various color couples were also considered and a few (many) renderings were drawn up with different color combinations. (Thank you West Egg Designs!)
Some colors were vetoed. They will stay in the sample basket for future use somewhere.
In the end, it came down to Sherwin Williams Illusive Green on the body of the cottage with white trim -OR- Farrow & Ball Studio Green on the trim with a white cottage.
The Final Decisions
A white and green cabin was at the top of the running from the beginning. And, after a year and a half, the Beach Cabin is white and green. This feels like a very classic Lake Michigan cottage color choice. Selecting the right white paint color and green paint color were the main factors in creating this idyllic cabin exterior.
Because the cabin was built in 1913, a bright white didn’t feel quite right. Some white paint colors that are not bright white on interiors were showing up very bright white on the exterior. In an attempt to avoid a yellow white, a few light gray paint colors that looked fairly white on the cabin exterior were sampled. Gray can sometimes feel tricky because it can turn pink or purple with time and potential fading. We ended up narrowing the choices to Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee, Sherwin Williams Alabaster, and Sherwin Williams Greek Villa.
Alabaster was looking very bright and clean on the exterior while a slightly more antiqued white was the goal. Because our painters use Sherwin Williams paint, we ended up going with Greek Villa. It turned out to be a beautiful choice for this turn of the century cabin. The screened in porch is looking particularly inviting.
Choosing the green was fairly easy. The process of trying many, many green paint samples had already happened when choosing a kitchen cabinet color a few years ago. Having lived with color-matched Farrow & Ball Studio Green, it was evident that this was the green color. This green is just as amazing on the exterior as it is on the interior. The deep green that almost looks black at times is perfect for the beach cabin exterior. It even looks nice next to the brick chimney!
On one final note, the painters were wonderful! They had years of experience and made some necessary judgement calls that took thought and were absolutely the correct way to go. The painters even went the extra mile in ensuring the color match to the Farrow & Ball Studio Green sample pot was exact. They brought back a sample board demonstrating how they had worked with the store to move through three attempts to get the right color. Needless to say, the bill was paid and then a request was made to quote our Colonial Home for next year!
A Few More Photos
