What is the Story Behind Charleston Green?
Our fair and Holy City of Charleston, South Carolina, is painted with dabs and dots of a single signature color, which is commonly referred to as Charleston Green. It's a color that could dress up the shabbiest Charleston single house, and aggrandize the smallest freedman's cottage.
A green so dark it appears black, it lends an air of subtle chameleon mystery to streets with light streaming through moss draped trees. The color changes as you move and elevates what might have been a simple flat black to a rich and dignified tone.
The History Behind Charleston Green
Charleston Green lends a formal sensibility, but the purported history is more rebellious. The origin of the color is contested, but the story goes that after the American Civil War, the Union sent buckets of plain black government-issued paint down to Charleston to gloss over what war had done to the city. But Charlestonians, less than impressed with boring black, added yellow and blue (or green, depending on the source) to make the deep forest green now named for the city where it originated.
How to Use Charleston Green on Your Home
If you're strolling Downtown Charleston on the brick, pavement, or cobblestone streets, you'll notice the hue applied to front doors, window shutters, Italianate trim and even balustrades. There's no right or wrong way to use Charleston Green, but do remember that direct sunlight will heat the dark color and could cause it to bubble, or even be hot to the touch—a danger those moss draped trees can alleviate, since the Charleston housing market is quite hot enough on its own.
This deepest-deep green hue can be used in a variety of different exterior color schemes. The most classic is off-white with Charleston Green shutters and doors. Green shutters can compliment a lighter green home, a yellow home, or even a pink one.
If you'd like to add a touch of black-tie class, but don't want to darken your overall palette, try painting just the front door, or brushing the window sashes with Charleston Green while the casing remains white. Some homes paint only their front steps in the color. Window boxes are a nice place to add a deep green to bring out the green leaves and flowers and provide a visual anchor to the shape of the windows. Think of them as the strong brows on the face of your home.
You can also pull the color inside by using it on an interior staircase or in a study. Give a high-style makeover to a small half bath with a stunning high gloss enamel finish or treat a mantle to a stroke of dark green.
While the color chip is readily available from Historic Charleston Foundation's collection at your nearest Sherwin-Williams, you could also mix your own using a local recipe:
DIY: Charleston Green Recipe
10 ounces black paint
4 ounces green paint
½ ounce yellow paint
Now that you know what to look for, the next time you're walking South of Broad , you'll more easily spot the difference between a true black hue and the trademark tint that we call Charleston Green.
Looking for something different? See below for current listings downtown Charleston!
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251 Meeting Street UNIT #6
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 24010376 / Active
Charming 2nd floor condo in the heart of the historic district! This unit is fully furnished & fully updated w/ refinished historic 'heart of pine'...
251 Meeting Street UNIT #5
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 24010375 / Active
Charming 2nd floor condo in the heart of the historic district! This unit is fully furnished & fully updated w/ refinished historic 'heart of pine'...
12 Limehouse Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 24010305 / Active
Experience the epitome of Southern charm at this extraordinary historic property nestled in the highly sought-after South of Broad neighborhood, th...
8 Pitt Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 24010304 / Active
Located in downtown Charleston, 8 Pitt St stands as a historic gem, offering two charming three-bedroom units. With its rich architectural heritage...
7 Doughty Street UNIT F
Charleston, SC 29403
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 24010223 / Active
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! Nestled quaintly between the College of Charleston and MUSC, this charming townhouse would make a great investment f...
7 Doughty Street UNIT C
Charleston, SC 29403
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 24010221 / Active
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! Nestled quaintly between the College of Charleston and MUSC, this charming townhouse would make a great investment f...
7 Doughty Street UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29403
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 24010217 / Active
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!! Nestled quaintly between the College of Charleston and MUSC, this charming townhouse would make a great investment f...
48 Gibbes Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 24010196 / Active
The owner truly put together the dream team when creating this masterpiece. Designed by architects Dufford Young, built by Tre Sheppard Constructio...
59 Anson Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 24010098 / Active
This exquisite historic home is nestled on the corner of Anson and Society Streets in the heart of the charming residential neighborhood of Ansonbo...
59 Barre Street UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 24010090 / Active
Harleston Village, one of downtown Charleston's most popular neighborhoods, boasts Halsey Park, a new classically designed enclave. 59 A Barre Stre...
114 Queen Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 24009998 / Active
This historic Harleston Village home is located in the heart of downtown Charleston and within walking distance of restaurants, shops, galleries, p...
9 Brewster Court
Charleston, SC 29403
Midtown
Residential
MLS# 24010057 / Active
Sophisticated contemporary townhouse located in the Midtown community and close to some of Charleston's favorite restaurants, bakeries, and boutiqu...
71 Vanderhorst Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 24009924 / Active
Presenting 71 Vanderhorst, a fully Renovated Triplex in Historic Radcliffeborough Downtown. This charming property, originally built in 1870, featu...
33 Lockwood Drive UNIT Lu224
Charleston, SC 29401
The Harborage At Ashley Marina
Residential
MLS# 24009799 / Active
You won't find a better slip in all of Charleston. Slip T-17 is 90ft x 22ft yacht-sized wet slip at the end of the marina, in the premium Harborage...
65 Vanderhorst Street UNIT C
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 24009912 / Active
Welcome to your cozy urban retreat! This delightful ground level condo is nestled in the vibrant heart of the city, just a stone's throw away from ...
3 Queen Street UNIT #201
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 24009878 / Active
Nestled in one of Historic Charleston's most coveted neighborhoods~ The French Quarter~this is Downtown Living at its Finest. This two-story elegan...
166 Wentworth Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 24009676 / Active
The historic Job Palmer House at 166 Wentworth Street is a stunning Charleston Single home that was built circa 1809 and previously restored in the...
38 Hasell Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 24009653 / Active
Welcome to 38 Hasell, a classically elegant, astonishingly grand solid brick estate offering 14 foot ceilings, intricate historic mouldings, period...
15 Colonial Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Residential
MLS# 24009551 / Active Contingent
Located in Charleston's most exclusive South of Broad neighborhood. Steps from Colonial Lake and a short walk to everything the lower peninsula off...
301 Broad Street UNIT #1
Charleston, SC 29401
Broad Street Arms
Residential
MLS# 24009535 / Active
With the guidance of San Francisco-based designer Vincent Leger of EAG Studio and the owner's refined minimalist flair, the pair reimagined this vi...
5 Gadsdenboro Street UNIT #207
Charleston, SC 29401
Gadsdenboro
Residential
MLS# 24009383 / Sold
Beautiful three bedroom/ three bath with its own walkup entrance The Gadsden is walking distance to the restaurants, theaters, galleries and shops ...
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker ReciprocitySM Program of the Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Marshall Walker Real Estate are marked with the Broker ReciprocitySM logo or the Broker ReciprocitySM thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers. Last updated on 04-25-2024 11:55 PM EST .
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