Live in a house in Georgia built 1817 I want to paint it but I was wondering what colors were popular then?

Question

I just need to know what colors were available then and popular for the inside of a house in 1817 in the southern United States. Not a real fancy house just your typical farm house...white picket fence,wrap around front porch. I live in a historic district and thought it would be fun to have the house done as it would have been when it was built!

Answer 1

i asked mom--lol-she said white with green trim-whitewash was popular back then

Answer 2

I-mail this guy, John Barrett, Historian

Southeast Regional Office

National Park Service

Atlanta Federal Center, 1924 Building

100 Alabama Street, SW

Atlanta, GA 30303

404-562-3117; fax: [phone]; [e-mail]

He should be able to help.  You may be surprised at the number of colors that were available, even in the 1700's  If I remember there were 52 coats of paint on the walls of one room at Independence Hall in Philadelphia.

Answer 3

Talk to your local historical society and/or historic district board.

Answer 4

There probably weren't many to choose from back then...hope you like the ones they did have!  Paint didn't use to be available off the shelf and had to be made from scratch so some colours were only available to those with a little money to spend. Yes, if you have a local historical society, they may know. Cool idea.

Answer 5

Your house is right on the border of being a Federal period home and as such, these were frequently painted white with black or dark green accents. You indicate that there is a porch which I am assuming is not original to the house.

It would be helpful to know the style of the house.I am assuming also that it is a Cape style home. What looks very period prior to Federal style is to have the body and the trim be the same color.It is always surprising to most people to learn that there were indeed some lively colors used...it is only that those colors have faded over time giving us the false impression that historic colors are muted ones...this is a misnomer. Deep reds, ochres, muted blues, charcoals...all of these are generic solutions without my knowing what your roof color is and if there is any brick or stone work around the house.

You have many choices but these may be tempered by the restrictions of the historic district you live in. The committee may have a list of their approved colors from which you must choose. Good Luck.

Best,

Rodd

http://www.exterior-house-paint-colors.c...

Answer 6

Any good paint store would have paint chips for different time periods for houses. back then houses had lots of different colors on them. the Victorian Painted Ladies Houses sometimes had up to 13  different colors on them. Good Luck and Have Fun. I am restoring a 1917 house right now'