1917 Color Chart

This is the third season that’s come and gone when we said we’d paint the exterior of our house but didn’t get to it. I want to go all pink and purpley, but the hubs wants something a bit more macho. He may get his way because I just found out we’re in a historic district.

I’ve been grooving to Charles Rupert’s Old House Colors website, which deals with both interior and exterior colors. He explains the “bullseye” method to finding the original colors of the house. Choose shaded and out of the way areas where sun or overenthusiastic painters haven’t reached. Sand a few areas, not just one, down to the wood. Various trim may have been different colors. After sanding, wipe clean with mineral oil to get a better idea of how it may have looked originally.

Old House Web is a great resource for traditional paint colors, including products from California Paint.

If choosing a color scheme is overwhelming, there are services that do it for you. Historic House Colors, based in Michigan, does consultations through the mail. Prices start at $550.