Slide show: Street-wise first impressions

Sylvia O'Brien
Colour Specialist: Colour Theory, Toronto
“The paint colours I chose are a spinoff of the brick colour with a nod to the dark grey roof. The front door should be the focal point; the simplest way to highlight it is to paint it an accent colour. In these examples, I've echoed this accent colour on the shutters as well. If you want to strengthen the presence of your front door, consider enhancing it with a more elaborate trim. I've made the garage door similar in tone to the brick. It's essentially a darker version of the siding colour, which keeps the palette simple.”

Front door, shutters: Benjamin Moore Evening Dove 2128-30 exterior semigloss
Garage door: Pittsburgh Paints Jute 314-5 exterior semigloss
Siding: Pittsburgh Paints Spiced Vinegar 314-4 exterior satin
Trim: Benjamin Moore Abyss 2128-20 exterior semigloss