Exterior paint scheme for 1902 Colonial Revival - colors? With pics!

last year

Hello -

We are repainting our 1902 Colonial Revival and would welcome some help with suggestions for color. It has been Montgomery White (BM) with Essex Green shutters for all 20 years we've been here - we are ready for something different! Does anyone have a suggestion for what these colors might be in my inspiration pic (green and cream)? I will post a pic of our own house, below, just to give you an idea of what we are working with! TIA

Featured Answer

Jilly

last year

last modified: last year

Your house is so wonderful. I like the idea of green, and one to consider is Benjamin Moore Louisburg Green. It’s shown here with Standish White trim —

More photos: http://www.ornamentalist.net/2009/08/exterior-color-noe-valley-victorian.html.

Searching the color brings up lots more.

Of course the tones will vary based on lighting and such, so just throwing it out there for consideration.

ETA: Just realized it’s the same house you posted, Red! I was slow posting this and didn’t see yours first. :)

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Comments (40)

emily9972
last year
I think your inspiration pic is beautiful as is your house. I like the cream you have too but understand the desire for change and more color.
18florence thanked emily9972
18florence
Original Author
last year
Thank you, Emily! I'm getting a lot of pushback from our young adult kids, but I am determined to finally do something different! :)
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Olivesmom, you do have many choices, but you may be best served by some further study as to what you really prefer. The three photos are very, very different architectural styles, and have quite different interior spaces. For example: --The Williamsburg Colonial: a handsome example of the Colonial Style with upgraded details and materials. Colonials tend to be simple rectangles, 3- or 5-bays wide, with a simple gable roof whose ridgeline parallels the front elevation. Decoration and self-styled carpenter details are minimal. Interiors are seldom deeper than two modest rooms--they were Colonials after all! Growth and expansion typically took place off one or both ends, and/or a perpendicular wing off the rear elevation (sometimes 2-stories); --Second example: This may be called a "cabin" style, but it's really just a builder's approach to a woodsy vernacular from the region. The many gables parallel to the front and the heavy fascias, plus the natural stain colors, characterize this as a house in the tradition of areas where there are lots of woods (and lots of carpenters)! The direction of the roof suggests the house is much deeper than it is wide. --Third example: Again, this is a sort of "hansel and grettel" carpenter's or builder-style house (certainly not Colonial in any fashion) with a most odd "tobacco-shed drying roof", common in southern tobacco growing regions. The partial end gables were used to allow air to enter and circulate in the building's interior to help dry and season the hanging tobacco leaves. Such a roof on a house of this size, and in a western forested setting, is ill-proportioned for this structure and historically a bit ludicrous, IMO. The rest of the exterior has various moutain/western region detailing, ie, porch roofs and supporting columns, etc. I think your search for your "perfect house" might be aided by a good guide book, such as A Field Guide to American Houses, by Virginia and Lee McAlester. It's a well written and illustrated small paperback book that's excellent in describing the various styles of houses. Good luck with your project!
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emily9972
last year
Just remember those days when your kids never listened to you and turn the tables:-)
18florence thanked emily9972
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BeverlyFLADeziner
last year
last modified: last year
I always liked this combination
18florence
Original Author
last year
I like that, also! One of my contenders has been Revere Pewter with White Dove trim - I think that's not that far from what's pictured here!
chloebud
last year
This combination might also be nice.
18florence thanked chloebud
RedRyder
last year
The soft green combination would absolutely work on your stunning, interesting house. Your adult kids don’t get a vote, but everyone (of course) has an opinion. Use something that makes you happy.

Make sure the shade of green works with the amount of sunlight your house gets. Many soft greens could work on the exterior. And navy blue trim with some white.
18florence thanked RedRyder
ShadyWillowFarm
last year
You can compromise and do a very soft sage grayish green. It’s a beauty! Your young adult kids can paint their own houses whatever color they want and you promise not to criticize.
18florence thanked ShadyWillowFarm
RedRyder
last year
Some color combinations for you.
RedRyder
last year
More. The last one is more olive-y.
18florence thanked RedRyder
nickel_kg
last year
last modified: last year
What a handsome home you have! I like your inspiration pic's colors of pale green with creamy trim. Per this website (Architectural-Patterns---Colonial-Revival ) sounds like they are appropriate for Colonial Revival homes: "When painting any Colonial Revival house, softer colors should be used. Trim is typically painted white or ivory since this style reflects the return to classical motifs, and yellowish whites simulate ancient marble. Golds, greens, and grays are also used. Shutters are often painted green because it resembles the bronze shutters of Renaissance buildings. Doors are often painted the same color as the shutters or other trim. ..."
18florence
Original Author
last year
@chloebud I LOVE that combination - I could be convinced to go in that direction, also! And that's good advice, @RedRyder - ours is a south facing house in Boston; we get a good amount of sun on that side of the house, for sure.
18florence
Original Author
last year
@Jilly I'd seen that one, also - absolutely love it! When i pull up Standish Cream on my computer it seems very yellow compared with that pic, but that could very well just be a trick of the eye or a problem with my monitor. @nickel_kg that is so interesting to see that description of what are thought to be appropriate colors for a Colonial Revival! Thanks so much for sharing it!
18florence
Original Author
last year
@ShadyWillowFarm Exactly!! I don't know why they are being so rigid - change is good! :)
RedRyder
last year
@18florence - Now I'm full-on jealous. You have an historic house in BOSTON!! Great city. You need to get some Samplize of the greens and creams in consideration. Lots of sun will "wash out" some of the colors so make sure your intensity matches your natural light.

I think this combination is classic AND classy.

@Jilly That house is so beautiful we both posted it!
18florence thanked RedRyder
res2architect
last year
You should be looking for appropriate colors for Italianate style houses rather than Colonial Revival style houses.
18florence thanked res2architect
18florence
Original Author
last year
@res2architect The first house (creamy yellow) is mine; I've never heard it be described as Italianate, only Colonial Revival. What of its features suggest Italianate, to you? Many thanks for your input!
18florence
Original Author
last year
@RedRyder I really appreciate your point about the colors being washed out in sunlight - these paint chips are looking fairly dark to me now - they might look totally different in natural light/real life!
chloebud
last year
Ben Moore’s Saybrook Sage is nice but could lighten up quite a bit on the exterior.

https://reneerenovates.com/2022/03/26/my-top-5-green-exterior-paint-colors-by-benjamin-moore-and-what-i-chose/
Debbie Downer
last year
last modified: last year
A midtone gray-green or olive is very nice (as in RedRyders #1 pic above), but this reader would be SOOOO disappointed if it ends up boring old plain wimpy gray and stark white. Not on this house, please, I beg you! What can I say, I have a really boring life so Im relying on you to help get me through my boring day LOLOLOLOL.

Plain gray and stark white is SOOO overdone, as is the current fad du jour, stark white and black. Your original colors I really like though because the heavy cream-yellow of the white gives it this aged look which is totally fitting for this house. IMHO, if you need a change (understandable) hope its something with a bit more pizzazz and historic appropriateness than washed out plain gray and white.

What specifically do the adult kids suggest, or is it just they dont want to see their childhood home change in any way? It's not their decision to make but maybe they have some good input?
18florence thanked Debbie Downer
18florence
Original Author
last year
@Debbie Downer lol my kids have offered no useful input other than to say, "You can't change it!" I hear you on the gray (though I confess I like the crispness of the look! I am really hoping to find a green and cream combination that works!

@chloebud thanks so much for that link - super helpful! I love saybrook sage, but do agree I should take a look at what happens with it in the light!
chloebud
last year
The exterior light can really make a difference. We used SW Repose Gray which reads very light, but I knew it would after testing.
18florence thanked chloebud
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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Beautiful house!

I might go with a light gray blue for the exterior, with a bright white for the trim and black shutters.

BM Van Cortland Blue for Siding

BM Chantilly Lace for the trim:

BM Iron Mountain for the Shutters:
18florence thanked Sabrina Alfin Interiors
18florence
Original Author
last year
@Sabrina Alfin Interiors that's a beautiful combination, thanks for the suggestion!
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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Sure thing! I like using colors from the historical color palette on older homes. They fit nicely.
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HALLETT & Co.
last year
It doesn't really matter but your house was built during a transition period so like many houses has a little of this and that. Your porch and balustrade are in the then emerging colonial revival style, the heavy bracketed cornice and the bays are in the then fading Italianate style.
18florence thanked HALLETT & Co.
houssaon
last year
I love Saybrook Sage and also wanted to suggest it. I love this combination.
chloebud
last year
Love the combination from houssaon. Saybrook Sage can work nicely with navy. I had this pic saved of SS with a navy door.
RedRyder
last year
Start with Saybrook Sage and move to other greens. Place all the colors under the overhang AND in direct sun.

The second and third colors (cream and dark blue) can be chosen after you nail down the green. @chloebud’s door color is a winner, too.
18florence
Original Author
last year
@RedRyderThat's a really helpful suggestion - I will do just that!
18florence
Original Author
last year
@HALLETT & Co. Really interesting info regarding the style/type of the house - thanks so much!
18florence
Original Author
last year
@Celery. Visualization, Rendering images love those examples, thank you!
Melissa L
last year
The best color combination on a Victorian/gingerbread-y house I have ever seen was near Pac Heights in SF—dark purple with black trim. Go bold! the Victorians (Edwardians :) ) would have!
res2architect
last year
last modified: last year
"What of its features suggest Italianate, to you?"

Low sloped hipped roof.

Center wall dormer feature with a jerkenhead clipped gable.

Vertical siding with a decorative bottom edge.

Large open cornice overhang with brackets.

2/2 windows, not paired, some narrow.

Paired entrance door.

Bay window design.

What's not chacteristic of the Italiante stye is the plain window head trim and the date of construction.

The house is bit of a mystery but I would not be looking for Colonial Revival colors.

This is the Italiante house across the street from my house:
18florence thanked res2architect
18florence
Original Author
last year
@res2architect fascinating! Thanks so much for sharing this!