If you live in a historic home there is a very good chance that the exterior of your home has been painted over on more than a few occasions. In fact your current exterior paint palette is probably vastly different from the original color scheme that was applied when your home was built. If you are interested in restoring your home to its former glory using historical paint colors, you will certainly add to its individuality by departing from the neutrals and earth tones that are so popular with many decorators today.

Historic House Paint Color Charts

If you are concerned about the cost of restoring your home, many communities offer tax credits to help restore older homes and buildings to their original condition. Many incentives are available and can cover the cost of as much as 45% of the total expenses, so it’s definitely worth putting in some time to do the research. If you are concerned about choosing your historical colors, a great resource to help you determine an appropriate color scheme is your local historical society. The experts in your area will consider the year your home was built and the style and structure of your home to help them determine which colors were popular during a particular era.

Heritage Consultants Can Remove, Test & Match Paint Samples from Your Home

If you are really serious about determining the exact paint colors of your home you can hire a heritage consultant to carefully remove paint samples from the exterior which are then sent to an independent company to be analyzed in a lab. Once the analysis is complete, a list of the closest color matches from modern paint manufacturers will be provided to you. Working with heritage consultants has many benefits including their experience which allows them to adjust for variables including fading, soiling and multiple layers of paint typically found in older homes. The end result is a remarkably accurate color substitute. Hiring a consultant will also protect you from the risk of exposure to lead paint, which was used to paint the exterior of many building prior to 1978.

Professional Painting Companies, such as the Experts at L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc have Experience in Working with Color Palettes for Many Styles of Historical Homes Including:

Colonial Homes Styles – Colonials are either one or two stories and have identical sets of windows on each side of the home. Typical colors are deep and earthy in nature including umber, ochre, indigo, and red.
Colonial Revivals in American Architecture – Colonial revivals were popular between 1900 and 1940. Some of the most notable features include multi-pane windows, gabled roofs and classical details including columns and moldings. The most popular colors palettes include blue, brown, and grey.
Federal or Adams House Styles – This particular style of architecture was popular between 1780 and 1830. The most notable features include fan shaped or circular windows, and low, flat roofs with shutters and arches. Colors palettes include: soft blues, sage green, pumpkin and cream. Many of these homes have brick facades so color was generally limited and painted on doors, trim and shutters.

Historic Paint Color Consultants, Residential House Painters & Commercial Painting Contractors in Amagansett, East Hampton, Southampton, Wainscott, Bridgehampton, Montauk, Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, Watermill, Westhampton & The Hamptons New York

Whether you have researched historical paint colors and found the perfect color palette or decided they are just not for you, or even if you haven’t yet begun your research; consult with the knowledgeable painting artisans at L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc to help you find the perfect colors to complement your historical home. Contact the professionals at L.W. Winslow Painting, Inc. today to schedule your appointment.