design by committee

[ljn]

I've been renovating the front of the house - in Photoshop -easy to finance even during a the credit crunch and no listed building consent required.
I need to paint the woodwork and am wondering if the existing brilliant white makes the building look a like a wedding cake?

Dark woodwork, stone coloured stucco, the window above the porch replaced with a sash, the balustrade reinstated on the porch (found in the outhouse) and a front gate with piers and stone pier caps (haven't done the gate yet). Maybe some railings...

Well, I'm actually thinking of doing the work and would appreciate any opinions. Do be offensively honest.

The colours would be something like F& B
"Carriage Green" for the woodwork
"Stoney Ground" or "String" for the stucco

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[Gervase]

Your photoshopped version looks much more distinguished. I agree that the white is a bit garish - much prefer the suggested options. I'd use the buff colour for the wall as well.

 

[worms]

Shame it lost the garden and trees (presumably as part of road widening).

the window above the porch replaced with a sash

Is it not a centrally-opening side-hung casement in the old photo (there must be a correct technical term for this sort of window)? Helps to give it a more distinguished, continental air.

 

[ljn]

Yes, it definitely was a french window. There is no trace of what was there other than the photo which isn't very clear.
I tried doing a version with a french window but it looked a bit out of place because the horizontal glazing bar and the vertical central joinery have no correspondent in the other windows.
The idea of replacing with a sash window could be a lazy solution.

The garden was lost to the widening of the road. Highways has now narrowed the road, leaving an absurdly wide pavement. We contacted the council and highways about getting part of the garden back. They said OK in principle, but wanted £5000 on deposit for "legal and admin" Then the utility companies had laid cables. EDF wanted £10,000 to look into the matter, British Telecom just said no. Se we decided to work with what we've got.

Last week I had an olive tree planted in front of each bay to give a bit more privacy, a cherry tree creates a bit of continuity with the orchard garden on the right (used to belong to our house many years ago) and a wisteria planted on the right so it can grow up the building and across to the porch. Piracantha lines the inside of the garden wall, maybe avoiding the need for railings. The plants have much to grow, but they have already created a soft buffer between the house and street.

The railings in the old photos are quite particular.

I came across a similar design at the nearby Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex Park http://www.flickr.com/photos/63392103@N00/2955583443/ I like them because they have a less "prison like" aspect, but I haven't seen them in any period ironmongery catalogue.

 

[Nemesis]

It was probably a French window to allow access to the small balcony above the portico.

 

[Penners]

Well, Philistine I may be, but I prefer the white version. I agree that the brilliant white is a bit stark, but perhaps if you used an "Old English" white it might look a bit softer.

I find the dark olive rather gloomy.

 

[Feltwell]

I wish I was that clever with Photoshop!

We have a similar bay to yours, and debated about having it as all one colour (as you've shown) or having the sliding sashes a different colour to the frame - another one for you to think about.

I agree the white is a bit garish, but our windows are currently a similar green to the one you propose, and we're not keen - it does look rather drab. Neighbours house is a cream colour which looks better, so that's what we are in the process of changing to:-

http://www.holkham.co.uk/linseedpaints/p_buttermilk.html

But, no right or wrong answers in these matters, only opinions!

I can recommend an excellent blacksmith if you need the balustrade repairing / modifying or want railings making. In fact, I must put a post up about him - just done some curtain poles for us, he's done a great job at a very reasnoble price, including messing about making very awkward bespoke brackets and a five-sided bay pole.

 

[Tom]

I agree with Penners; I prefer the lighter colour. But, as he says, not garish white.

Jaqy

 

[Nemesis]

However, the CO might have some views on the matter, there may be local policies in place which restricts what can be done with paint.

 

[skier-hughes]

I'm a white man.

Can I say that :wink:

 

[Penners]

"of Caucasian ethnicity" might be more PC.

Not a very catchy name for a paint colour, though.

 

[chuckey]

The dark green looks very drab to me, remeniscent of a WWII officers accomadation. I think that white gable end is wrong, it seems to have been turned to brick in picture 2. Thats the only thing I would change. Also the door I think could be brighter, say buttercup or a leaf green, sort of two shades lighter then a green line bus. Going back to that gable, it seems to have some wooden framing on it?, perhaps that could be paint the colour of the door.
FWIW I had a 1930s semi with the "stuck on" wood on a front gable like yours, I painted the front door and the gable woodwork (only) in buttercup. It looked really outstanding but not tooo garish. The paint work still looked good when I re-visited the property 3 years later.
Frank

 

[ljn]

The gable is stone. But painted white. the inside of the pediment is brick. I was looking at the old photo where the area was clearly not painted.
The old picture shows the windows as dark.

I love the look of the buildings in Spitalfields. I guess it must have been controversial, but I couldn't imagine those buildings pained white.

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Guess I could go for a less drab colour -i could try a browny red...

 

[Nemesis]

Yes, I like Spitalfields too. Rescued from certain death by the Spitalfields Trust, there are pics in the SAVE office of a young Dan Cruickshank (long hair and moustache) occupying buildings with sleeping bag to stop the bulldozers.


Try a scrape and see what the original colour was? Possibly dark green or brown is there somewhere, but maybe not so 'drab' as the Geo Spitalfields ones.

But - talk to the CO before doing too much planning.

 

[Nemesis]

And:

http://es.homesandproperty.co.uk/property_news/articles/spitalfieldsbulldozers.html

 

[yamin]

Another vote for a 'subtle' white here.

 

[ljn]

Seems like the committee is concerned about me starting painting without consulting the CO.
I would point the Committee members to the original post: "renovation in Photoshop requires no Listed Building Consent"
Most of the windows have been changd at some point, the older ones reveal a dark green colour.
The CO won't say yes or no until I submit an application, they let you amend after submission. I'll play around in Photoshop and get quotes before applying.

The listed buildings restored with grants in the town centre have all gone for georgian colours like Spitalfields, i guess the CO will have had a say.

Near my house, most windows are white, but then it's difficult to get UPVC in F&B colours.

 

[Nemesis]

It might be worth having an informal chat before applying, if you are considering altering the colour, was the point I was making. The CO might have some ideas too. There may even be a list of 'approved' colours.

Spitalfields is Georgian, and the Spitalfields Trust very particular about appropriateness etc, but colours did alter somewhat during the 19th century as paints developed.

Margate Renewal Area:

What works are included?
The Renewal Grants are being offered to improve housing and environmental issues within the declared Renewal Area in Margate Central and Cliftonville West. With this in mind the Renewal Team will focus on works that will improve the overall appearance of your property and the local street scene. This includes external decorations, window and door repairs, minor roof repairs and guttering works, repairs to paths and driveways and renovating front boundary walls, fences and gardens. The Renewal Grants are discretionary and other improvements that might be considered are crime prevention and security measures. Repairs to the rear of the property will only be considered if the front exterior of the property is of a decent standard.

What colour can I paint my property?
If you live in a listed building and would like to change from the existing colours, you will need to apply for Listed Building Consent and receive approval before your grant can be approved, like wise if you live in the Margate Conservation Area you will need to follow the guidelines set down by the Conservation Department for more information contact 01843 577141.

For all other properties, your chosen colour scheme should blend in with your neighbouring properties, i.e. natural colours like beige or cream and contrasting colours for the woodwork. For more prominent colours especially where there is a change of colour, you will be required attach a sample of the paint colour(s) to your estimates and/or notify the Renewal Area Team who can advise you accordingly.

Many places have lists of 'approved' colours. As a friend who was a CO in Lunnon said - it's to stop people painting historic buildings all manner of sh*te colours.

So don't bet on daglo orange.

 

[skier-hughes]

I found a photoshop print helped speed along my BC application.

 

[Nemesis]

EXTERIOR DECORATION

Exterior woodwork was usually decorated in a green colour - one of the Bronze Greens or Brunswick Greens - to blend in with foliage and in the case of the Bronze Greens to resemble weathered bronze. Purple Brown was also used for exterior woodwork - one contemporary specification for a small house calls for the front door to be painted green and the windows Purple Brown.

Exterior masonry - or stucco - was generally painted in imitation of local stone in colours such as Buff and Yellow Ochre, Stone and Dark Stone... bare brickwork would never, and should never, be painted

http://www.terracedhouses.co.uk/index5-paint.html

Mid C19. 2 storeys and basement brown brick. Stone parapet with dropped
moulded eaves cornice. Central pediment. 3 sashes without glazing bars.
Ground floor has 2 3-light canted bays. Central porch with 2 Greek Doric
columns and Doric pilasters.