Hosam Haggag and Fatima Rahman bought a fixer-upper in a historic neighborhood in Santa Clara, Calif., for $415,000 in 2011. Because of its shabby condition, the house was a rare bargain in Silicon Valley, where Mr. Haggag is a product manager for a large technology company. As part of a 2½-year renovation that cost almost as much as the house, the exterior got a new coat of colors: yellow, pink, blue and green with orange trim—hues that mimic the house in “Up,” a popular children’s movie.
“We drove our 3-year-old daughter by the house and said ‘That’s our house. We’re going to live in it,’ ” said Mr. Haggag. “And she said, ‘Yes, and then we’re going to fly away.’ ” It was a joyous moment for Mr. Haggag, 29, who said they chose the look to delight their two young daughters, and because it made them and people who passed by the house happy.
As the housing market and broader economy have recovered, some luxury homeowners and residential developers are going loud and proud with exterior colors. The playful palettes are a form of self-expression for families that want their house to stand out, and a way for urban developers to broadcast youth and trendiness.