AN OLD LADY FINDS HER GROOVE……...

The exterior of this 1891 Queen Anne farmhouse suffered from 118 years of homeowner fixes and other assaults on its integrity. The original details, scalloped and clip edge shingles, horizontal datum bands separating clapboard from shingle courses and crown moldings had become obliterated in a field of white paint and green trim. A wrought iron railing on the porch and aluminum triple-track storm windows along with concrete slab walks, added in the 1950s, created more insult to injury.

A series of paint scrapings revealed the original colors - a misty green field with cream trim. After six weeks of labor-intensive prep work the final coats of paint, matching the original colors, were applied with a splash of Wedgwood blue added to the crowns and gable casings. Research indicated that the original windows with historically correct, wood storms, repaired and weather-stripped, would not only be as energy efficient as new windows but also sustainable. The financial payback on new windows, versus repairing the old, would have taken 250 years. With its iron railings removed and the concrete walks replaced with herringbone brick 'n sand, this once dowdy dowager was refreshed and renewed for 21st-century living.

Project Credits

Anne Surchin Architect

Harry Palarino Painting

Gray Masonry Construction