Transforming Our Ranch Home: A Dramatic Exterior Paint Makeover to a Farmhouse Cottage
After weeks of anticipation and sharing snippets of our journey, from detailed discussions on how we meticulously chose the perfect exterior paint color to the exciting new “family work day” tradition that saw all our trim beautifully painted, the moment has finally arrived. Today, I’m thrilled to pull back the curtain and reveal the breathtaking finished product of our exterior house painting project. Prepare to be amazed by the before-and-after photos and a comprehensive video at the end of this post, showcasing our dramatic home renovation.
To truly appreciate the scope of this house exterior transformation, let’s take a dramatic step back in time. Cast your minds back to six years ago, to the day we first moved into this property. It looked quite different then, embodying the classic, albeit somewhat unassuming, aesthetic of a traditional ranch home. Our vision for a charming farmhouse cottage seemed distant then, but the potential was always there, waiting to be unearthed.
Indeed, this image captures our home in its unadorned ranch-house glory. While functional, it lacked the warmth and inviting presence we yearned for. The front facade was particularly challenging, with the main entrance almost disappearing into the structure, making it less than welcoming for guests. If you’re curious to see the extensive remodeling efforts that preceded this paint transformation, including the exciting discovery and installation of our prominent front door, you can read all about our earlier renovation series.
Fast forward to just a few short weeks ago, and this is how our home presented itself. While significant progress had been made with additions like our beloved long front porch and clearer window views, the gray exterior still felt somewhat subdued. It certainly looked friendlier than its original state, allowing guests to easily spot the front door and appreciate the architectural details. And speaking of our long front porch, do I absolutely adore it? Without a doubt, a resounding yes! It’s become a cherished feature, offering a transitional space that invites relaxation and sets the stage for our home’s evolving character.
Over the years, we’ve poured considerable effort into this property, meticulously transforming it from a typical “run-of-the-mill ranch” into what we proudly call our “farmhousey cottage.” (Yes, “farmhousey” might not be a dictionary-approved word, but it perfectly encapsulates the charming, rustic-yet-refined aesthetic we’ve cultivated!). Each step, from the architectural modifications to the landscaping, has been a deliberate move towards achieving this desired aesthetic. However, I truly believe that this latest exterior paint makeover represents the single most dramatic and impactful change to date, elevating our home’s curb appeal to an entirely new level.
The Grand Reveal: Our Home Transformed with Behr Moonlit Yellow
Ta-Da! (Cue the celebratory music!) And isn’t it serendipitous that the sun was shining so brightly on reveal day, highlighting every glorious detail? The vibrancy of the new color truly pops, creating an instantly cheerful and inviting atmosphere. So, do I like it? That’s an understatement! I absolutely adore it! The chosen shade, Behr Paint’s exquisite Moonlit Yellow, has exceeded all our expectations. It doesn’t just cover the house; it practically glows, radiating warmth and happiness. This specific hue was carefully selected to perfectly complement our desired farmhouse cottage aesthetic, offering a harmonious blend of classic charm and modern appeal.
An unexpected but delightful side benefit of this exterior color change has been the noticeable impact on the interior of our home. I wasn’t anticipating much internal alteration, but the yellow eaves now reflect significantly more light into our windows compared to the old gray. This subtle yet powerful change has brightened our indoor spaces, creating a more airy and pleasant environment throughout the day. It’s a wonderful bonus, proving that exterior design choices can often have far-reaching positive effects.
From Unfinished to Fabulous: The Garage Transformation
Next, let’s turn our attention to the garage – a part of our property that, for a considerable time, remained in a rather unfinished state. I can almost hear our neighbors breathing a collective sigh of relief, finally able to put an end to their lingering question: “When are they ever going to finish that thing?” The garage’s previous condition often felt like an incomplete thought, detracting from the overall harmony of our home’s exterior. This painting project was as much about community aesthetics as it was about personal satisfaction.
Well, wonder no more! The garage now stands as a beautifully integrated component of our farmhouse cottage design. The task of covering the varied surfaces of the garage – from the old gray paint to numerous different primed shades – with a lighter yellow color was a formidable challenge. This is where Behr Paint’s Premium Plus Ultra Paint And Primer In One truly shone. This remarkable product, which is quite a mouthful to say, was perfectly suited for the job. Its advanced formulation tackled the demanding task of achieving flawless coverage over disparate base layers.
And perform well it did! The results are truly impressive. We found only a few minor spots here and there that required a second coat, a testament to the paint’s exceptional hiding power. The incredible advantage is that we didn’t have to respray the entire house, which, as anyone who has attempted to paint a lighter color over a dark base knows, is nothing short of amazing. This efficiency not only saved us time but also significant effort, making the entire DIY exterior paint project far more manageable and enjoyable. The garage now complements the main house perfectly, contributing to the cohesive and polished look of our newly transformed exterior.
From Drab to Dreamy: The Back of the House
Our efforts to infuse a more distinctive cottage-like charm into our home were greatly enhanced by the addition of the French doors at the back. These doors were a deliberate design choice, aimed at opening up the interior and connecting it more seamlessly with our outdoor living spaces. However, the omnipresent gray paint on the exterior continued to cast a dull shadow, preventing the house from fully embodying the bright, inviting aesthetic we envisioned. The contrast between the elegant French doors and the somber gray created a visual dissonance that was, frankly, bringing me down. We knew this area held immense potential for a dramatic house exterior transformation.
Well, no more! The transformation here is nothing short of astounding. I still can’t quite believe how merely changing the color could elevate the entire look to something straight out of a home design magazine. The soft, luminous yellow now allows the French doors to truly shine, highlighting their architectural beauty and enhancing the overall cottage feel. Of course, this magazine-worthy claim holds true if you manage to momentarily overlook the rogue green moss cheerfully growing on the market umbrella! That’s just a friendly reminder that even in our perfectly painted paradise, some elements of nature will always find a way to make themselves known.
Completing the Picture: The Back of the Garage
Above, you can see the back of the garage, an area that was undoubtedly in desperate need of a fresh coat of paint. It also served as our impromptu testing ground, where various color swatches were applied, each vying for the coveted title of “the final yellow.” This period of meticulous color selection was crucial, as we wanted to ensure the Moonlit Yellow we chose was absolutely perfect for our home’s exterior and suited the light conditions throughout the day. Seeing these test patches now, it’s clear just how much the overall aesthetic has improved.
Is that not the most cheerful sight to behold? Looking out onto this now vibrant and clean surface truly brightens the whole backyard. Although, the completion of this painting project has now brought a new task into sharp focus: I absolutely must decide on a permanent light fixture for this area. Our temporary one, which once blended into the neglected background, now starkly stands out against the beautiful new paint. It’s a small detail, but one that will further refine the overall exterior home design.
I am particularly pleased with how the custom green doors contrast beautifully against the Moonlit Yellow. This specific shade of green is a color I’ve successfully used inside our home as well, and replicating it with Behr Paint was no problem at all – they achieved a perfect match. What I especially appreciate about this green is its subtle yellow undertones, which, unlike a gray-toned sage, harmonize exquisitely with the yellow exterior paint. This careful selection ensures that every element, from the paint color to the door color, contributes to a cohesive and inviting farmhouse cottage aesthetic.
Doesn’t the crisp white trim and the lush green plants just pop with incredible vibrancy against the cheerful yellow? This stunning contrast truly enhances the home’s curb appeal, making every detail stand out. My overarching goal throughout this entire renovation process has been to create a more welcoming and inviting home, a place that feels warm and hospitable even before you step inside. And looking at the finished product, I am absolutely thrilled with how all the elements – the color, the trim, the landscaping – have come together to achieve precisely that. The transformation from a run-of-the-mill ranch to a charming farmhouse cottage is now complete, radiating warmth and character.
What are your thoughts? When you arrive at our front door now, do you feel an immediate sense of welcome? We believe this Behr Moonlit Yellow exterior paint project has truly made our home a beacon of warmth and hospitality.
For those interested in the nitty-gritty details of our painting process and to witness the final outcome in motion, the video below is a must-watch. It’s part of our ongoing painting series, chronicling the journey from preparation to the glorious finish. And let me tell you, I am immensely glad that the process is now complete and we can simply enjoy the beautiful results!
Click here to see this video full size on YouTube.
A heartfelt thank you goes out to the wonderful folks at Behr Paint for generously providing the paint that made this dramatic exterior transformation at An Oregon Cottage possible. They supplied the magnificent Moonlit Yellow paint from their innovative new Premium Plus Ultra Exterior Paint and Primer In One line. We are absolutely head-over-heels in love with the stunning results, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their support in achieving our dream farmhouse cottage look!