painting a historical home in the twenty first century
8.14.2019
@blackhouseseven
PAINTING A HISTORICAL HOME IN THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY
Paint colors are an extremely subjective topic. As many hairstyles exist there are likely just as many opinions on color and what is a ‘correct’ choice. It is often times the aspect that creates the single most impact and evokes the strongest emotion in a space. So when it comes to the exterior of your home, the part of your home that is on display to the world, you can see why the decision deserves its own conversation.
When working with historical homes specifically, it is a decision that many of our clients felt obligated to a choice that was not their preference but what they thought to be ‘right’. If you have worked with our firm, or even had a casual conversation, you know that it is our goal to inject who our client’s are into their homes each and every time. Although we love a pureist we don’t believe that if you aren’t, it negates your ability to live in and honor your historical home. You can live in a home built in the 1800’s and still keep your love affair with chartreuse. Our speciality is that we are masters of mapping the delicate dance between what came before, while adding YOU to the, hopefully, long story of your home.
The painting of our Tudor Revival has officially begun! Due to the presence of lead (the ugly part of living in an older home) we are breaking up the painting into two phases. Phase one will include the trim, all windows (YAY!) and the soffits. Phase two will be stucco, and the brick will remain untouched. When deciding on color we looked at endless ‘inspiration photos’ , but felt completely uninspired. A tudor or tudor revival is a very distinct style. Usually including a brick or stone first level, with a second level of wood trim (which actually was the supporting timbers in a true English tudor) and stucco. The paint choices were always a combination of dark trim (maroon, black, brown, even dark green) and a lighter tone of stucco (yellow, or white). In a true English tudor it was more a result of practicality versus an intentional design decision, but nevertheless carried through. It is painfully obvious that this high contrast is an expected element of a tudor. The problem is, none of them looked this us. Beautiful, historically accurate, yes, but none of them gave us the butterflies you want when you pull up and see ‘home’.
HISTORICAL HOME OVERHAUL
Solution, we began looking at what did excite us! What colors, and what combination did feel like ‘home’ even if they weren’t tudors. We quickly, and easily discovered what we wanted. Black, black, everywhere. Surprised? The next part of our solution process was ‘how do we make what we love complementary to the historical aspect our home evokes? I didn’t want it to look ‘new’ but I did want it to look like us. We will be painting the trim and all the windows a combination of black (Valspar Caviar) and a dark muddy grey (Valspar Fired Earth). At the completion of phase one it will still look very much like a traditional tudor, the stucco will still be light with the trim, although a different hue, still the contrasting darker shade. However, once we touch that stucco with the black paint… gamechanger. There will still be contrast, although not a high, it will now become the modern interpretation of a tudor revival.
Perhaps it is because our home is already a ‘modern interpretation’ of a tudor. Built in 1908 in America it is based upon the English tudors built in the 1700’s. There are many aspects of our home that weren’t true to a English tudor. We now view those 1908 modern changes just as precious, but they are a direct representation of someone building upon something that came before. I strongly believe that our interpretation - 100 years from now - will be seen as a progression, in no way negating the past but building upon it. Honoring the architecture of our home, without feeling obligated or constrained by it. Owning an older home should be an exciting privilege but be careful that your own voice is not muffled. Your voice is important, it should be heard, and those that will one day fill your shoes will cherish them!
Owning an older home should be an exciting privilege but be careful that your own voice is not muffled. Your voice is important, it should be heard, and those that will one day fill your shoes will cherish them!
