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About Rikki Nyman
Expertise
Residential architectural questions concerning houses designed between 1900 and 1950, where the question pertains specifically to styles, designs, plans, building materials, color schemes, paint colors, interior finishes and so on. I am NOT qualified to answer engineering questions or issues involving construction methods, plumbing, electrical and the like. For example, I can describe what an appropriate color scheme would be for a vintage 1920s kitchen, or sources for plans for Storybook Style houses. I can not tell someone how to replace the electrical wiring in their old home.
Experience
I have been researching old houses and writing about them for more than five years. (See www.antiquehomestyle.com, which is my site.)
Organizations
Oregon Historical Society
Architectural History Center, Portland Oregon
Publications
www.antiquehomestyle.com
Education/Credentials
B.S. History, Minor in Architectural Design
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You are here: Experts > Arts/Humanities > Visual Arts > Architecture > Exterior paint color help needed
Architecture - Exterior paint color help needed
Expert: Rikki Nyman - 9/29/2008
Question
QUESTION: Would you please define the style of my house, and how would you paint it (we're in a middle of exterior painting project - I'm totally lost. We used to have white siding and black and white shutters on the front windows - I want to bring the charm add some colors)
Here are some pictures of my house:
http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc34/fayusik/MyHouse/
Thank you
Faina
ANSWER: I can see why you are having difficulty with your house. Stylistically, it doesn't fall neatly into a specific category. When that happens we call it "eclectic." That just means it's a combination of styles. Its basic shape draws from the Colonial Revival or classical tradition. Details like the 8 over X windows, bay window, half-round fan and keystone over the upstairs window in the facing gable are a few clues. It appears that the side walls above the brick are stucco?
It lacks the symmetry of most Colonial Revivals though. The facing gable is more modern. You don't say how old your house is, so I'm going to guess it was built between 1930 and 1940. I think the shutters were probably original and, if so, they should be retained. (At least store them in the basement.)
The covered front porch isn't original and it's causing problems. It competes with the bay window and messes up the balance of the facade.
Is your chimney painted white? To synch it up with the facade, paint the chimney the trim color...that would be the simplest solution.
That said, as far as vintage color schemes go, white with brick has always been common. A peach color (on the stucco portion) was popular in the 1930s with brick; trim was painted rich brown. A pale gray or steel blue on the stucco with a charcoal trim might be attractive. Or khaki green on the stucco and a deep brownish-red (like mahogany) trim might work.
Anything that reduces the contrast between the white trim and the brick is going to be less distracting. Because Colonials are generally simple, the color scheme should also be simple ... three colors max.
I hope this helps.
Rikki Nyman
www.antiquehomestyle.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Hi Rikki
Thank you so much for your reply. Let me give some more details - our house was built in 1937. We have shutters - we just took them off during construction.The wall above the brick is a cedar siding (and the rest of the house exterior is a cedar siding)
Porch is original - the only changes were made - railing and pillars - it was just Xs instead of vertical pillars.
What do you think if I go with Netsuke color for siding to match the grout and then Bronze green for trims, Rustic red for the door. The biggest challenge for me how to paint all deatils the porch, bay window and half-round fan...
Would you please help me with this - I need more details
Thank you
Faina
Answer
Faina --
That the porch originally had just the railing with the X-pattern makes sense. The octagonal hood was what I was referring too. Sorry to be confusing. Because of its strong Colonial influence the front entry might have had a small hood, but it's possible it was just a trim surround almost flush with the face of the building ... attractive but annoying in bad weather.
Many period homes had green trim but I have generally seen it when the the trim around the windows was more minimal and the whole house is brick. I think the bronze green might be really beautiful as a trim color, but remember you are going to have a lot of it. And you'll need to come up with a color for the chimney ... brick red maybe.
I'm not sure what color Netsuke is ... ivory? So you are looking at ivory for the upper portion, the brick facing, and green for everything else (i.e. the fan, sash, and all trim)?
Let me know. I need more info about what you are thinking.
Rikki
www.antiquehomestyle.com
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