Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' house color is a hit with landscapers and real estate experts – here's why
The couple's New York home offers a lesson in more than just curb appeal
Hollywood power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds may know how to make headlines in Los Angeles – but they choose to reside on the other side of the country, in the leafy Pound Ridge neighborhood of New York.
Glimpses of their home are often shown in the backdrop of the couple's Instagram – from their tiled-bathroom ceiling to their country-style wood-paneled living room that pays homage to their home's rural zipcode. It is Blake and Ryan Reynolds' curb appeal ideas (or, more specifically, their chosen paint colors for the exterior of the house), however, that get designers and realtors alike excited.
In the post, Ryan (best known for his roles in Deadpool and Free Guy) is pictured outside their home alongside his mom. The image reveals the couple's gray-painted façade that celebrates one of the biggest paint trends of the past few years and perfectly complements their lighter-toned wooden door.
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Joanna VonBergen, a master gardener from Gingham Gardens, has 'first-hand experience' of working with a gray-painted façade such as this – including its (somewhat) surprising advantages. According to Joanna, gray exteriors allow landscaping to 'pop' – as is the case with the surrounding trees in Ryan's post. However, its benefits are more than aesthetic.
'Another huge benefit of gray is that it does not show dirt or dust. Similarly, a gray-colored home does not show water spots if your outdoor water is hard,' Joanna says.
The color's low maintenance has also not gone unnoticed by realtor expert Josh Dotoli, the principal of Dotoli Group. He says that decorating with gray is the perfect way to complement any home with ease.
Josh Dotoli is a real estate writer and principal of Dotoli Group – a company engaged with the buying-selling industry. Josh and his South Florida-based team handled over 200 million South Florida residential real estate transactions in 2022 and work alongside COMPASS, the country's #1 residential real estate brokerage.
'Gray paint is often used to provide insulation to a building due to its ability to absorb heat and reflect light rays away from the home,' Josh says. 'It can add an elegant touch of sophistication to the front of your home, especially when done correctly with the right fixtures and materials.'
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Josh adds that gray paint can add curb appeal –ensuring your home 'looks more appealing and inviting from the street level' – which is good to consider if you're looking to add value to your home. Though, its advantages don't end there.
If you're looking for ways to cut energy bills, the expert says that gray paint can, in fact, help reduce energy costs (when properly applied). This is 'due to its ability to prevent solar radiation from heating up your walls too quickly during hot summer months.' Inspired? These three shades are a great place to begin:
1
This pure, neutral gray is designed to withstand outside elements. We love that it applies easily and is washable.
Aura Flat paint by Benjamin Moore is designed with 'remarkable durability' and offers an advanced way to bring color to life outside.
3
Durable, breathable finish for exterior wood and metal. It lasts up to 6 years and has a beautiful 20 percent sheen.
Granted, it's not a quick and easy job, but we see no downside to following in Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' lead.
Megan is the Head of Celebrity Style News at Homes & Gardens. She first joined Future Plc as a News Writer across their interiors titles, including Livingetc and Real Homes, before becoming H&G's News Editor in April 2022. She now leads the Celebrity/ News team. Before joining Future, Megan worked as a News Explainer at The Telegraph, following her MA in International Journalism at the University of Leeds. During her BA in English Literature and Creative Writing, she gained writing experience in the US while studying in New York. Megan also focused on travel writing during her time living in Paris, where she produced content for a French travel site. She currently lives in London with her antique typewriter and an expansive collection of houseplants.
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