Siding decided

Ohhhhhh how it pays to just sit with a beer with your architect in front of the computer.  We all met together, tossed some ideas around then slapped a test 'belly band' on the design and fell in love.


Then we went outside and checked on color options and all fall in love with the same colors...and wha-bam
...DONE

Although belly bands are frequently considered a 'traditional' element, we believe here it will look  a little like a shadow cast on the tall wall.  I like how it breaks up the structure.  The belly band would be the same color as the center portion.  (the belly band is the stripe around the far right tall chunk of the house)

  

Hope you like it too.  The shadowing by the program makes it look pretty dark.  The colors are right....but the lighting is off.

 So the left piece is channel cedar siding (5" reveal)- far right piece is 5" hardi lap siding (Homestead Brown), with a 12" belly band (Sealskin).  Center portion is large hardi panel layout (Sealskin).  Most of the soffits are clear cedar (4")

approach to the house

back of house

front corner- 1st to see as drive toward the house

back of the house

Siding woes.....

Quick  Note:

Our woes are simply because we can not make a decision....the construction of the project is on time and perfect and everyone that has been working with us has been simply splendid!

So the whole house is up...in fact, it has been up for 3 weeks now.  We have been trying to make final decisions on the siding now for 3 weeks.

windows are going in.

back of the house

Yes- we had a plan from the start, but as the project has evolved we are starting to change our attitude about the final 'look'.  As stated earlier, we are moving more toward a contemporary home and trying to 'fit in' with some of the neighbors.  The homes around us are all quite fabulous and range from traditional craftsman to tall contemporary to novel mid-70's abstract.  Nothing on our block is 'run of the mill'.  I think our biggest fear is that our house will be the 'bland house' as someone once described the piece of work that stood there before we knocked it down 4 months ago.  I think we have removed ourselves from the 'bland' category with the very unique architecture, but I also feel that we can truly screw it all up with poor siding choices!  I have paced the streets of Seattle on my bike, by foot, and in the car, toting around my toddler.  I have done this for 3 months....On average 4-5 times per week.  I have a folder on my iphone with the label "house ideas" that has 231 pictures of homes I like and homes I don't like.  So, yes...I have looked at other homes.  Our structure is just so different than any of the others that I see.  And it really is hard to picture what the siding will look like once there is landscaping around it.  Models don't seem to do it for me either.  It is a bummer we can't try it on like a pair of jeans- if it doesn't fit- grab another style or size or color.  It all seems so permanent.

Are you starting to see what I dream about??  Don't worry, I do keep things in perspective- we are very fortunate and siding is a pretty small facet of our lives and happiness.  Listening to the world news is a fabulous way to remind yourself of how lucky we are.

I believe we have narrowed down the layout of the siding (see below) and we have a color pallet that we like.  I can show the colors online, but it doesn't do it justice. 

Front of house- faces East

back of house-faces West

Left side of house-faces South (shaded by trees)

Right side of house- faces North- sees little sun

Front of house-full on-view. 

I have also included some homes we really like.  We can't seem to decide on the size of the lap siding- Do we want 4" reveal on the lap siding or a 6" reveal.  I don't know.  After taking a survey of local reveals that I like, I find that I like the 5" reveal.  I need to call the contractor on that.  I wasn't given that option....does that mean 5" becomes custom?  Who knows?  It probably does since I like it!  I don't want custom.

Shiplap cedar siding with 5 inch reveal.  Love the color.

Showing the detail of mitered corners of the shiplap siding- another must.  Looks really nice (if you look at it, that is)

 So - right now, as I type, I think I am convincing myself of 5 " reveal clear coat cedar siding on the left portion of the house.  Upkeep- every 2nd year.  We will need a painting plan....  I will check if I can get 5" reveal hardi lap siding for the right portion of the house, center portion will be (very affordable) large hardi panel siding.  In addition there will be 4" clear cedar soffits.  I think the plan is to have dark bronze flashings to match the trim of windows.  The front door will be fir in order to match the fir glulam beams that are sticking out here and there. 

If the cedar starts to turn, we can always stain it to a dark charcoal color - such as they did below.  It looks sweet!

So, Please send me your thoughts or ideas - Although I say we are decided....who knows....

I might change my mind after lunch!

house near us- 2.5 yrs old-- stained cedar shiplap siding- still looking great- In general love the colors on this house...and the nifty stairs!