A Craftsman Pallete Part II

 Hi Christine,

I ran across your blog and I was wondering if you might be interested in weighing in on possible color choices for our 1912 craftsman. As you can see from the attached photos, the 'before' colors are absolutely appalling. I just want to make it clear that we didn't choose them, it's the previous owner's fault!

One of my main struggles is that the previous owner also replaced a lot of our windows with vinyl, so we are stuck with keeping white for the 'inner' trim on the windows. A lot of the most attractive paint jobs I've seen on craftsmans often use a darker shade of the main siding color on that inner trim, with a contrasting color on the outer trim around the windows, knee braces, and fascia. But that's not really an option. :(

Another thing to note is that we are having the shingles replaced with a more traditional 5" lap horizontal siding, sort of like what you can see on our neighbor's house in one of the pictures, but not quite as narrow.

Clearly any colors we choose will be a vast improvement, but colors aren't really my strong point. I'm partial to grey-greens, while my husband leans towards the grey-blues, but the only color I'd rule out entirely is yellow...any brilliant ideas for us?

Thanks!
Jess

I hope everyone read that, and knows that Jess DID NOT SELECT these horrible colors.  ;-) 

What a great opportunity you have to transform your home!  I want you to consider a few things.

1.  A traditional Craftsman pallet.

2.  Blend with your white windows as to not draw attention to them.

3.  Make sure you paint the home correctly- having different colors where you should have differennt colors, etc.

First of all, I will discuss the traditional Craftsman pallet.  The Craftsman movement, also known as Arts and Crafts, started in England in the mid 1800's by William Morris.  The whole idea of it was an attitude of rejecting modern machinery, and a return to handcrafted ideals.  The architecture is simple and unadorned.  And so, when you are painting a Craftsman home, I would use subdued, natural colors.  Shades of browns, grays, and greens would be very appropriate.  Pink and blue- not so much.  ;-)  Not that blue is a bad color, actually, but it should be very grayed, not pure in color. Stay away from bright colors. 

Secondly, let's address your white windows.  The key here is to have them blend in, not stand out.  That is made possible with a low contrast trim color, in other words, light, close to white colors on the window trim.  (off white is fine- don't think you have to match...)

 

Last, but not at all least, make sure you paint the home correctly.  I addressed this in this post a few weeks ago.  Since I already addressed it, instead of going over it again, I will give you a little test.  See how you do.  (Peak at the other post if you want to cheat).  What is wrong with this green home below?

Answer:  The columns should not be the same color as the field of the house.

OK- how about this house, how is it painted incorrectly?

Answer: The eaves are painted the color of the body of the home.  This is fun huh?

How about the yellow home?

Answer: The horizontal siding is painted the same color as the shingle portion.  Keep in mind- I am not saying that they need to be totally different colors- even a subtle color difference is a great idea.  (Ideally, or course, the shingle portion would be stained.)

Did you want some specifics?  Ok- I will go ahead and give you a plan that goes with your husband's idea- since I just posted a green one last time.  I like this one:

 Sherwin Williams Paints:

Body- 6205 Comfort Gray

Trim: - 7008 Alabaster

Door: - 2802 Rookwood Red

OK- are you all experts now?  Go outside, look at your home, and see if you should make some changes with the next paint job.  What do you think?  Does anyone agree with me?  Does anyone think I am way too picky with all of my little painting rules?  Can you tell the difference between the homes that I said were painted correctly, and those that were not?  What do you think?

What to do with the Ugly Fireplace?/ AND Elevation Selections

What do I do with my ugly fireplace?

- Launa

Hi Launa,

From the small amount I can see of the rest of your room, (your mirror, vase, purple walls) I can tell that you have a more contemporary look.  With that said, a fireplace is an extension of the architecture.  If you have a Victorian home, it would be totally wrong of me to suggest you replace your insert with a modern contemporary fireplace.  Do not create this huge juxtaposition with your interior and exterior architecture.

(photo from tiekbuilthomes.com)

If your architecture is traditional- your fireplace should be traditional as well.  In fact, I will go even further to say that if your architecture is Victorian, your fireplace should be Victorian, Craftsman, Craftsman, etc.  In other words, without seeing the front of your home, I am not going to tell you how to update your fireplace.  Even then- I would need to see more pictures of your interior as well.

(photo from remodelista.com)

(photo from younghouselove.com)

Take a look at the room above.  I can tell from the architecture that the home is a Bungalow.  The decor, on the other hand is more contemporary.  The fireplace, however, is still architecturally consistent.  This is the way to do it. 

So- what is the rule?  If it is attached to the home, be true to your home.  (This includes kitchen cabinets, fireplaces, built-ins, and bathroom furniture)  If it is free standing, you can show your personality.

If you really don't like this theory, you probably purchased the wrong home. 

Now- let me add another question to this same post- as my advice is really the same.

Hi Christine,

I truly appreciate having the opportunity to ask your opinion about which elevation to choose.

We are building a production home, that is, it is not custom.  We have the choice of 5 elevations, and I have narrowed it down to 3 elevations:  2, 3 and 5.

Elevation 2:  Italianate.  It is shown with Hardi-plank siding and brick ledge.  We can add brick or stone at added cost.

Elevation 2:  Colonial.  It is shown with Hardi-plank siding and brick ledge.  We can add brick. I was thinking of adding brick to middle 3 sections, or even more.  Do you think the columns are odd, that is 1 on one side, and 2 on the other?  Any color recommendations?

Elevation 5:  French Eclectic.  This is stone front, with stone ledge.  This is probably my favorite, and of course it is the most expensive.  Do you think it is odd to only have a stone front and ledge, with no stone going up sides of house (except for ledge)?  Any color recommendations?

I understand that you are very busy.  Therefore, any advice would be most appreciated.  I would like my house to look timeless and not trendy.

Thank you so much!!
Lori

Hi Lori,

I looked at your elevations before I read your e-mail amd my immediate favorite was #5.  But- that is just my opinion- now I would like to give you my advice.  I would say the same thing I said to the gal with the ugly fireplace.  Your fireplace and kitchen and built-ins of every kind, ideally would be consistent in style with your exterior architecture.  And so, with that said, I would take a moment to think about French interior architecture, and make sure you like it as well as you like the exterior.  Talk to your buildier, they probably have different fireplaces for the different elevations.

Personally, I am a huge Mansard roof fan...  It is my favorite roof pitch of all time.

You don't have to have French furniture and patterns, but it is something to consider.  I would definitely think about what type of flooring you plan to install.  If it is Saltillo tiles, perhaps you've selected the wrong home.  Hardwood floors or hand chisled stone?  Then you've made a good slection.

(floor above is Du Chateau)

To further answer your question, my second favorite was #2.  ;-)  Looks like a beautiful home!  Enjoy!

George and Judy from Maine

Hi Christine

My wife and I would love to get some advice re. some our remodel project here in coastal southern Maine.

We were trying to give some character to a very boring and box like house. We recently added a full front porch with hip roof, tapered columns with stone column bases and have given the house an "Arts and Crafts Bungalow style" look with which we are extremely pleased.

As we move to the interior, we'd love to continue with an Arts and Crafts Bungalow style look, but we don't really like the dark, oak, "Mission" style look often associated with this style.

Is it possible to bring in a brighter and lighter painted "Cottage" style look which we really like that would work with the tapered columns and other A and C details we used on the exterior? Are the 2 styles compatible?

Any suggestions/resources are welcome and will be appreciated.

George and Judy

Wells, Maine

Hi George and Judy,

Absolutely you can combine the two looks you are describing. They are both still traditional and casual- very compatible with one another.

Bring in your cottage elements in your colors and furnishings- but keep your interior architecture consistent with your exterior architecture.

Whereas a traditional bungalow will have lots of wood work- keep that consistent- but go ahead and use a paint grade material- and have it painted a nice white. Your interior architecture will include all things attached to the home- the trim work- the moldings, the windows- the flooring- the ceiling.For example- if you have an Arts and Crafts Home- use arts and crafts wood work, wood floors, arts and crafts windows, baseboards. With that done- go ahead and use lighter colors. Don't feel like you need to use any mission style or other Arts and Crafts furniture or fabric patterns- you can if you choose- but it is absolutely not necessary.

In a nutshell- the interior architecture should be consistent with the exterior architecture.

The interior decor and furnishings can also be- but do not have to be style consistent with your architecture.

Photos from Coastal Living

The Rest of the Victorian Era...

A reader asked me in yesterday’s post on Queen Anne architecture, what other types of architecture fall under the Victorian Era. I thought I’d quickly answer for her.

1. Carpenter Gothic: This style is identified by its steep gables with bargeboard or vergeboard (shaped wooden edging) under the gables. This style, to me- is the quintessential gingerbread house. When you go to decorate yours this year- you can tell people that you've used the Carpenter Gothic influence in your high pitched gables and bargeboard, and whimsical colonettes and detailing. I am sure people would be very impressed.... :)
2. The Italianate Style: Generally speaking, these are usually cube shaped houses with a square tower, called a cupola, or observatory on the top. You will also find Italian arches and columns used.
3. The Mansard style is one of my favorite. I absolutely love Mansard roofs. These are generally rectangular buildings with tall French windows and quoining. The roof is frequently topped with iron cresting and finials. This is sometimes called the Second Empire or General Grant style.
4. The least common of the Victorian styles is the octagonal style. In fact, there are only a few hundred remaining homes standing. As the name suggests, it is characterized by its eight sides. It is frequently topped with a cupola, a low-hipped roof, and decorative features found on other Victorian styles.

So- there you go- there is more than just Queen Anne to the Victorian period in architecture. Notice the commonalities of the intricacies in the architecture. I would describe all of the styles as feminine- with great attention to small detail. Anyone have a favorite style of the group? I would have to say that the Mansard is my favorite.

The Queen Anne Style

Today’s post is a continuation of the two I did last week-( see here and here) in preparation for the Girl Scout meeting that I am in charge of- where I will teach the girls about a few styles of architecture. I thought the Girl Scout troop would enjoy learning about the Queen Anne style of architecture- since the characteristics are so common in their Barbie houses and princess castles. The Queen Anne style was prominent during the late 1800’s. It is sometimes referred to as Victorian- but Victorian is not actually a style of architecture- but rather a period of time, which encompasses several styles of architecture. The Queen Anne was the most whimsical style of the Victorian era. Some characteristics indicative of the Queen Anne style include:

• Decorative wood and plaster details, including gingerbread detail, festoons, spindles, and patterned and fish scale shingles. The photo above is an example of a festoon- it is an applied molding that is usually a group of flowers or fruit.
• The homes have variable heights and shapes. The architecture tends to be complex and asymmetrical.
• Wrapping porches are common. Porches are often circular, with colonnettes and turned railings.
• The most distinctive feature is the circular or square tower with cone shaped roof.

Any fans of the Queen Anne style out there? Does anyone live in a Queen Anne home? I really like the asymmetrical ornate quality of the exteriors- but find their interiors to be a little too intricate and fussy for my taste. What do you think?