Redecoration question.

[Manks]

We have a cottage that is mostly Georgian, but it has been messed about with over the years. We are about to redecorate internally. At present the doorframes and skirtings etc are not wall colour. However, I read recently that during Georgian times they would have been. Can anyone confirm this please? Or better still point me to some online reference for this sort of thing?

Many thanks

Manks

 

[Nemesis]

The Georgian Group has plenty of publications - but not online.


http://www.georgiangroup.org.uk/docs/home/index.php

 

[Nigel]

Manks

Based on various Georgian reference books I use, early/mid Georgian, up to say 1750/60 painted the skirting/cornice etc the same colour as the walls (solid, same colour, floor to ceiling), with doors painted brown/dark colours. From about then on the skirting/doors/dado were painted off white and if you have a dado rail, the area below the rail was also off white, with colour off choice above. The cornice then matched the ceiling colour, rather than that of the wall.

So depends on the date of your house. Charles Saumerez Smith -18th Century Interiors - is one of the best reference books as it is based on period paintings. Many other georgian books use up to date photographs, that may not accurately reflect decoration at the time.

Need less to say Farrow and Ball colours often indicate dates to which their colours relate.