Time to paint

[kathyd]

This is my foursquare from 1890. It's badly in need of a paint job. I've located a painter who prefers to use Sherwin-Williams paint. I've been looking at their historic color collection, maybe Needlepoint Navy, or Indigo Batik from their HGTV Home Collection. Anyone have any other suggestions? The trim will remain white and the pink door has been replaced with an oak door with a stained glass window.

[cadrad]

Does the house have a belt course between the first and second floor? It might add some interest to do a two tone body with the dark blue on the top and a taupe/greyed tan down below

[Sashguy]

I can hear the candy above the porch saying "Please highlight me".

[eperot]

Have you considered painting your trim a color? Please take this as just my opinion but houses look so much better with colored trim. On our street which is all old houses every house has white trim but ours, and it makes the others just look a little boring.

[Josiecat]

You can use any color you want to. Sherwin Williams can match any color if you bring a sample.

[eclecticcottage]

Have you played with the visualizer on their (sherwin williams) site?

I love dark colors, so both sound good. White trim will pop, but if you use the visualizer it will suggest complimentary colors and sometimes they can really look good (and others you will wonder why they are suggested, lol).

I have used it for rooms, for the outside siding and roof, for a fence...you just need to upload your own pic and outline what you want to "paint". It can be kind of addicting, actually!

[kathyd]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I have played with the visualizer. Trim will probably come later. There is a band between the two levels. I hadn't thought of the possibility of different shades.

Right now I have a estimate that I can handle with an established painting company. He has good references online and has shown me two houses he is painting up the street. He has been professional, gotten his estimate to me quickly, and answered my questions. The Sherwin-Williams store knows him and has no complaints. My house sits on a highly traveled street in one of the town's historic districts, so will be great advertising for him. His estimate was reasonable.

I have two others, both much higher. One from a guy that just stopped by and keeps revising his estimate when I have balked at the price (much higher than the painting company). He has pestered me with phone calls and stopped by again. He wanted a 50% deposit and wanted me to commit to him right away.

The third guy was out of the newspaper. He had said he would have his estimate to me in 6 days, took 11 instead. It was very high.

So I am planning on going with the painting company.

[sooth]

Wow, what a great little house! Any interior shots? I can't remember if I had seen any. I am particularly fond of Foursquares since I live in one myself.

Colour suggestions: Generally, older houses were not blue since blue paints tended to fade. If you are not concerned with historical accuracy, and you just want ideas for a nice, historic looking colour, I'd suggest a mustard-gold, light green, pink, light yellow. Any of these would look nice. There's also nothing wrong with the current blue.

For the trim, if you want the house to look crisp and fresh, keep it white, but if you want it to look a bit older (more vintage), consider an off-white. Others have suggested highlighted trim, but I find that the effect looks better on fancier Victorians than on a simple Foursquare. It's up to you. If you do want to highlight the details, I'd aim for a subtle difference, like a cream for the details (over an overall white background).

Side note: Do you have a t-g porch ceiling? If so, and if it's already been painted (white I'm assuming), you might consider repainting it a medium brown to fake the effect of the original stained wood. If it's already stained wood, congrats!

[PowerMuffin]

I love the idea of a dark blue. I wouldn't do it at my house because it is too dusty here in farm country and that dust just ruins the look of dark paints. We have the same roof color as yours (actually had a light blue paint when we moved in too) and one option you may consider is to paint the gutters along the roof line a darker or richer color, which will make the roof look less washed out. I agree that it would be pretty with a lower-level darker color to ground the house and a slightly lighter or different color on the 2nd floor and the dormer. One of our neighbors has a medium green on the first level and a lighter version of the same green on the upper level. It looks very nice. Also, I hope you can have the painter pick out the wonderful trim details that you have.

One other practical note: When I was presiding over our architectural committee in a 1970's neighborhood, dark blue and dark brown paints were always the first to fade and look chalky. This was about 10 years ago and it may be that these colors are just as long lasting as others now.

Your house is so pretty, I cannot wait to see it finished.
Diane

[kathyd]

Here are some photos of the interior: