"New" Old Home

Last Thursday I was fortunate to be part of a fun "Spring Fling" event in Winchester, Massachusetts, which featured a property for which I had been hired to select both interior and exterior colors. After seeing a post about the event on my Facebook, a client asked me to share some more of the photos on my blog.   Here are some photos from this "new" old home.

(All photographs are courtesy of Alan Myers.  Check out his work at www.bostonimagemakers.com.)

The Exterior Body Color is a Benjamin Moore custom-mix.

The shutters are painted California Paints "Fieldstone" and the front and side doors are Martha Stewart Living Paints "Gabardine."  I really wish that you could see the door in this photo, it's a wonderful denim blue color with a hint of green.

 

When doing color consultations for spec homes, or homes purchased by builders with the intent to renovate and resell, I have to take a different approach with my color selections as the home(s) need to have mass appeal. I aim to give the feeling of "move in" quality to help the buyer envision their belongings in the new space. I have to be careful in my selections as people have very different emotional reactions to color and ultimately the goal for houses on the market is to have them sell quickly.

In the interior photo, below, the main entrance has a warm yet neutral color. With all of the beautiful woodwork and glass leaded windows it was better to accentuate the architectural details rather than have a bold color detract from the unique features of the home.

The walls are painted Benjamin Moore's "Manchester Tan," a historical color with a warm undertone for this historic and prominently located home.

This home had AMAZING original woodwork in the dining room (below) with a built-in leaded glass china cabinet. The wood itself was in fantastic condition so the builder thought well enough to leave it alone. I suggested a pearly white on the ceiling and limited wall space to illuminate this otherwise dark room located in the back of the house. It is a beautiful room but as you notice the floors were much lighter than the paneling so anything other than a neutral color would have really made the room feel choppy.

I had fun selecting the color for the third floor Billiards Room.  It had a built-in mahogany bar and somewhat of a men's club feel.  The green walls were intended to mimic the felt on the top of the pool table.

Walls are painted Benjamin Moore's "Peale Green"

 

 

While the bathrooms still need to remain somewhat neutral, tiles can certainly dictate color direction.  In this photo, a blue with violet undertones team up well with the Carrara Marble floors.  This hue might suit both teens and adults.

The beauty of paint is that when you are working with older homes, it can showcase your best architectural elements or divert attention away from unusual issues or building designs. 

Finally, I must confess, these pictures don't even tell half the story as they were taken before the home was staged for the event.  Ellen Fador of "Spectacular Spaces"  (www.spectacular-spaces.com) did the staging and she did a wonderful job.   (When I have a chance I will take some more pictures of the rooms and share them as well.)

Once the paint and the staging were completed, this old home felt new again.  Let's hope an offer is forthcoming!

(A picture of the back of the house. With no flowers budding and the shrubbery hidden beneath the snow, the custom-mix yellow color brightens the bleak winter scenery in New England.)

 

If you have a home in the Boston area that you are getting ready to sell, I would love the opportunity to work with you.  Check out www.suecolor.com for more information.