White Windows Threaten Brookside’s Charm
UPDATE – July 16, 2012: What a controversial subject this has been! Good thing I don’t mind a little controversy and neighborly discussion. Full disclosure: I own a white house with new white vinyl windows and trim with turquoise shutters. White has its place, and it is an important color in many locations and in many house styles. For example, in Brookside, white can be a very complimentary color in Colonials, Cape Cods, and even many bungalows. My beef with white windows lies particularly with Tudors, so-called “Ginger Bread Cottages”, and dark brick and stone homes. Thanks for reading folks, and feel free to weigh in anytime. -Sarah
I believe that a sense of place, beauty and enjoyment of one’s surroundings is important. Unfortunately, there is a spreading renovation trend in Brookside that is altering the oft-labeled “charm” of this neighborhood: white windows.
COLORED WINDOWS (IMAGINE THAT THIS IS A BRICK HOUSE)
WHITE WINDOWS (IMAGINE THIS IS A BRICK HOUSE)
COLORED WINDOWS:
WHITE WINDOWS:
Most of our homes were never intended to have white trim, windows, casing or windowsills. Brookside is filled with homes that were built with natural features and colors such as stone, brick and stucco. Many of these homes are in the Craftsman or Tudor style, which both have an earthy color palette. This harsh, high-contrast suburban trend of white windows and beige siding is encroaching into our older neighborhoods. It is an expensive world we live in, and I can understand that the cost and convenience of white vinyl windows must be appealing. I can also understand that someone would want to change or freshen up the color of their 80 year-old home; unfortunately, home owners often hire handymen to make these decisions instead of renovation experts or designers. There are also numerous programs and videos online to help you choose an exterior color palette such as this (fun program!), this and this.
And here are a few pretty homes in the Armour Hills subdivision of Brookside with gentle window colors. Aren’t they classy?
COLORED WINDOWS:
The homes in Brookside are beautiful! I love the charm of the color palette. I’m hoping the white trim is on it’s way out. I about died when my mom painted our 60’s northland home interior wood white.
You don’t have very good taste. The white trim looks much better than that ugly brown trim. Besides, it isn’t your house. Let people do what they want within reason and leave them alone.
If you spend some time really looking at a house, and thinking about what you see, it really does become clear that ultra white trim is a distraction from the home, rather than an “accent”. Why call such an observation “bad taste” without explaining why the more severe look is “good”? Don’t deprive people of your gift, James.
I love the old homes in Waldo and Brookside, but the earth tones are a bit too much. So much tan, brown, khaki, taupe, olive. Very boring and overplayed, I think. I have never been a fan of browns, though. I get excited at the rare home with lovely navy trim! I have noticed more and more homes with lighter, prettier colors, like pale blue or mint green, and I personally love white trim. I do argue that vinyl siding, in any color, is the bane of modern existence and has no place in these neighborhoods. But I don’t see any reason why homeowners shouldn’t install effecient modern windows with white trim or paint colors that aren’t brown.
Blanco…
Indeed, CB.
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I couldn’t agree more, unfortunately brand new windows were installed right before I purchased my home, and the owner wasn’t awesome enough to order the fantastic Almond color she *should* have ordered.
What can I do? I could use some advice. I attached a link to the picture of the front of my house in the website box.
Thanks