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Architecture/Help with exterior paint colors and style of house

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Expert: Rikki Nyman - 6/22/2011


Question
Savannah house
Savannah house
Hi there!  I am in desperate need of exterior paint scheme for house we are moving to in Savannah.  To the best of my research, it appears to be colonial revival / queen anne -- has the simplicity of the colonial revival but the asymmetry, etc. of the victorian.  I want it to be stately, classic and elegant so have been working with grays and taupes but have not yet found "the one."  Don't want it to be green.  Have seen a grayish turquoise in a picture but have NO IDEA as to a color that might work and be elegant and not "too much of a good thing."  Please help me!  I need this in a few weeks!  (The picture below makes the house look really big but the view from the front is really rather narrow.) Thank you so much! -- Nancy

Answer
Your house, which is gorgeous, is often referred to as a Queen Anne Free Classic.  After the Chicago Exposition in 1893, many people fell in love with the classical details of the White City and incorporated them into their Queen Annes. It accounts in part for the resurgence in classical architecture, particularly the Colonial Revival, that came to dominate the first half of the 20th century. Even with the popularity of the bungalow and the romantic styles, traditional and classical details were consistently popular for more than 60 years.

Modern palettes often get overly fussy with Queen Annes in my opinion. Since you are leaning toward grays and taupes anyway, aim for the warmer tones. Don't rule out warm buffs or latte (coffee with cream) hues.

You don't say if the roof will be redone or if it stays. Take a good look at the colors in the roof and play off those.  

If you want to incorporate your grayish turquoise, look for a body color that supports it. You could use a warm gray for the body, an ivory for trim, and the turquoise for sashes. Use a clearer turquoise for the front door, or choose a brick red for the entry to tie in the brick.  For details like the liner trim on the molding at the eave I might use the color used on the front door. You'll also need other colors such as the porch floor, which I would paint a slightly darker shade of the wall color.

Is there any way to get out and take pictures of other beautiful homes in the area for inspiration before you make a decision?

Because it sounds like you want to have the house painted and ready before you move, I think you should look for a color designer in Savannah who is knowledgeable about the area and what tends to look well over the years. Light and environment play a huge role; colors that are gorgeous in the North don't look as well in the South.

For a classic, elegant color scheme, less really is more.

Good luck with your move!

Best regards,
Rikki Nyman
www.antiquehomestyle.com
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you very much for your very informative answer. I really appreciate it!


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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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