The Color Issue
When Client Vision, Exterior Paint, and Design Judgment Collide
If you’ve been following the progress of the West Asheville Overhaul, you probably know that we were trying to land exterior paint colors for this house for quite some time. After more than several trials, we finally landed on Sherwin Williams – Really Teal (6489).
Although the original design lent itself to a white exterior to accentuate the black windows, doors, and cedar shakes — giving it more of a modern farmhouse look — the clients had something very different in mind. They wanted a vibrant blue, southwest-inspired exterior, and I was tasked with finding “a turquoise or similar Mediterranean color.”
As a designer, one thing I know and take to heart is this: you have to stay fluid and open to the client’s desires. Even when their choice leans outside the expected. In this case, the color felt incredibly non-traditional, but being in West Asheville, I knew we had more flexibility to make a bold, unconventional exterior work than we would in another part of the city.
The Reality of Choosing Exterior Paint Colors
Color can be incredibly fickle — especially outdoors. It changes depending on the time of day, weather, cloud cover, or the surrounding landscape. What reads as rich, saturated teal in morning light can look dull or green-cast at sunset. Exterior color is a balance between intentional design and potential regret.
Color is also deeply emotional and personal. What feels energizing and joyful to one person can evoke completely opposite feelings for someone else. I once spoke with a massage therapist who repainted her studio several times because her original shade of green triggered a client’s negative childhood memories of Catholic school. Psychologically, green is calming. But context always matters.
Design Isn’t About Designer Ego
The truth is: good design is subjective, personalized, and client-led. A skilled interior designer knows how to guide, advise, and show outcomes — without making the project about whether it will create a perfect portfolio photo.
And yes… people had opinions.
From the construction crew to passersby, reactions were split evenly between:
“Oh my gosh. They aren’t going to keep it that color, are they?” and
“I love it — it’s so unusual!”
In the end, how I feel about the final color doesn’t determine whether the project is successful. What matters most is that the clients love coming home to it — and that I honored both their taste and their trust.
Not every project ends up in a glossy magazine spread. Not every home makes the portfolio. But my work isn’t about curating images — it’s about creating spaces that reflect the people who live in them.
My highest goal isn’t applause.
It’s satisfied, happy clients.
