White houses with black window trim is a trend that isn’t leaving any time soon! This gorgeous combination pairs well with the modern farmhouse exterior as well as the coastal California look that has become popular in recent years. Get even more inspiration and paint color ideas in this post!
One of the best things about traveling is that you can find fresh and new inspiration. Or prove to your significant other that the inspiration you’ve known needs to be completed at your own home is viable and he can see real life examples to prove said point. In theory 🙂 We spent last week in Southern California and had some time to drive around Balboa Peninsula and it helped me demonstrate why white houses with black window trim are a good idea.
As you likely know, although we’re smack-dab in the middle of the country in Nebraska, my style is coastal inspired. I’ve known since the day we moved in that I would ultimately be updating our home’s exterior colors down the road. I’ve been longing to go with a white house with dark window trim for a more modern farmhouse/coastal vibe. And the trip to California may be just what I needed to get it done. It’s amazing how when Kurtis can see something in real life (rather than on a screen), he can get on board with an idea so quickly. He’s actually really pushing for a change now!
Today I’m sharing a beautiful collection of white houses with black window trim and some additional thoughts I’d love to hear from you about!
White Houses with Black Window Trim Inspiration Photos
Now, onto the inspiration! Following are some white houses with black trim that I’m loving lately! And if you’re looking for specific color inspiration, be sure to check out my detailed post on the best exterior white paint colors!
I saw this next home on a recent trip to Wilmington, NC and it literally stopped my car in it’s tracks. This is a white house with black window trim that nears absolute perfection!
This next home is a local Omaha favorite. This look incorporates white painted brick with black window trim and walnut stained shutters and beams. The color used on the exterior here is Sherwin Williams Pure White.
I love the combo of stone, white painted brick and varying trim colors on this next home.
A true modern farmhouse beauty!
Our overall vibe would likely look like the following picture, ultimately. The stone helps balance all the white, and the trim appears to be a rich gray rather than stark black.
Wood accents help to soften and warm up the look in this next home.
Our Brown Craftsman Exterior
Now that I’ve shown the white exteriors with dark window trim we long for, let’s talk about where our house currently stands. Here is a recent shot of our home. UPDATE: If you want to see the route we went, be sure to check out our Benjamin Moore White Dove Exterior House Reveal!
Our house is approaching the ten year mark and since we have wood siding in the Midwest, it’s about time for us to paint (and do minor repairs). Our roof is currently a mix of metal and asphalt shingles and we have no plans to replace it anytime soon. Fortunately for me, this is a very common pairing I’ve seen for the style I’m going for.
And just so you can see the details a bit better without all the trees, here was our home Christmas 2015.
Our intention would be to replace the orange/brown stone with something much lighter, but still with contract. We have a mix of board and batten and shaker style wood paneling around various parts of our home. So, if we didn’t opt to go all one color, this would be an easy way to add some slight contrast and additional colors.
I’ll be honest, I’m a bit nervous about the reaction we’d get from neighbors (our neighborhood is rather monotone currently with varying shades of brown/gray). I know some may think the white will be too stark but I think with the dark roof (shingles and metal) along with shutters and darker trim accents, it could work really well. It also helps that the front of our house really doesn’t have a ton of surface area that would be painted white because there is so much stone.
And because I’m not an exterior paint color pro, I’d probably seek professional help. I’d want a warm white that doesn’t completely blind you when the sun is shining. The reality is also that we likely wouldn’t go with black, but rather, a dark brown or bronze-tone color so the contrast is less harsh (and we don’t have to have our current window frames painted).
One of the areas that I think would have the most beautiful impact is our courtyard. The bright paint could inject new life into this area and let the plants and other features shine!
We also have some big plans for addressing that privacy wall fencing too if we opt to paint! But that’s a post for another day 😉
So, what do you think? Are you a fan of the white house with dark window trim look we’re going for?
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I LOVE this look and would really like to do it with our home too. (I hate the color of our brick.) But, like you I wonder how the neighbors would react. 🙂 Most homes in our neighborhood are brick – so mostly earth tones. And, we are on the corner so I’m afraid we would just stick out. But, maybe that would be a good thing. I think you’re home would look gorgeous!! The stone in the front would soften the look a bit for sure. I say go for it!!
Hello,
Did you paint your house yet? It’s ok to be the trendsetter!!!
Yes, we did about three years ago! You can see how it turned out here: https://lifeonvirginiastreet.com/benjamin-moore-white-dove-house-exterior-reveal/
LOVE LOVE LOVE The white with the dark trim!
Yes, I am a fan of the white house black window trim look. In fact, that color combination is what I have been thinking of doing with my house this summer, I live in Ohio and need to wait until I’m sure our weather isn’t going back to winter before I get out my exterior paint. By the way, love your blog; both interior and exterior projects.
Yeah I’ve actually recently decided that when we paint our brick this year (a lovely 70s orange/pink), I want to go white with charcoal shutters . It’s such a crisp yet inviting look! Can’t wait to see what you do with yours!
I love the white house black trim look, it’s so sharp ,clean, and the green yards stand out. Can’t wait to see the changes you guys make and watch the transformation.
I like it. I think Grey stone would mute the white a little bit, and I like the idea that you will stick with dark trim and accents. Go for it!
its definitely the “in” thing to do right now especially in our neighborhood…both with new builds and rehabbing older brick homes…if my hubs was on board with the budget i’d be doing the same thing. i love it…its fresh and clean although i have to say if we do it i’d go with a darker gray rather than black…just my personal preference.
LOVE this look! I think it will look beautiful.
Obcessed with the B&W! Can t wait to see how your home looks all painted up. Although it’s beautiful as is
If you are going to the trouble to update your exterior, I would either remove or relocate those trees in front. Trees should frame a house! If you notice all those photos of the houses your posted, none have trees confiscating the view of the home. We did this when we moved in to our home 12 years ago. It was the right decision.
I think thats a great idea!
We live in the same city. Seems to me I saw a model home with white, metal roofing, & dark trim in a newer neighborhood a friend moved into that is west of 192 and Giles (past Bellbrook).
We live in the same city. Seems to me I saw a model home with white, metal roofing, & dark trim in a newer neighborhood a friend moved into that is west of 192 and Giles (past Bellbrook).
We’re currently in the process of painting our entire exterior (brick & board and batten) with Sherwin Williams Greek Villa. We just thought our home was painted white, but in actuality it was a dirty grey.. The other whites we looked at were too “bright” and cold.
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll definitely have to check that color out!
We recently finished painting the entire exterior of our home. It was a washed out whitish grey color, that we originally thought was ‘white’. Our home is mostly painted bricked but the eaves are wood siding. We went with SW Greek Villa, which is actually an off white. It really brightened up the place, but it’s a warm white, not a cool white. Instead of SW paint though, we went with Behr Marque Satin and we couldn’t be more pleased. It’s a one coat wonder and no priming was necessary.
LOL, I see I’ve already posted here. Well, now that we’re done with the painting project, I can say that we’re extremely pleased with our paint and color choices.
Do you have a picture? We are likely painting white and I’ve thought about Greek Villa.
Could you please tell me what shingles did you end up using?
I really like the white house, dark trim look. We have a 70’s shed roof style home and we recently replaced some of our siding in the front and back of the home with tongue and groove cedar, natural stain. We are painting the body of our home a nice grayish white, White Duck. It’s a little cooler than Alabaster and because our house is nestled in the trees will brighten it up but not too bright. We are using Iron Ore as our trim color. Our painter just started yesterday, but unfortunately, we got a rainy day today (Oregon) which is a definite possibility when you live in the NW. It should be done in about 2 weeks.
I have a Victorian I am planning to paint a light to medium green. I would like to use black and white and possibly another color. Any suggestions how to beat combine it ? Especially wondering about the scalloped siding on the turret and above the garage.
I love love your initial idea and I think it’s a big mistake to start backstepping such as wanting to go not bright white because of what the neighbors might think or maybe going a lighter shade of trim rather than the dark gray or black that you really wanted you’re going to ruin your look and end up with something completely different than what you started with because of fear. Be bold it’s paint go with your first impression you were correct bright white with black or dark gray trim would be fabulous and paint everything white regardless of the type of siding brick veneer or paneling paint it all white and paint your trim dark! I guarantee your neighbors will be so j/ love it? Two tone houses with siding and stone veneers are so dated looking so 1970s style and it is rampant throughout the Midwest. Nothing is cleaner or crisper in the beautiful coastal contemporary farmhouse look of bright white with dark trim and you already have the perfect roof to pull it off.