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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56 Gadsden
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21001750 / Active
This 1943 20th Century residence sits on a very large double lot, only two blocks from MUSC. It benefits from the ongoing drainage upgrades for th...
40 State Street
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 21001757 / Active
Charming 2BD house located right in the heart of the historic French Quarter. This gorgeous pied-a-terre has been beautifully renovated to include ...
1 King Street UNIT #508
Charleston, SC 29401
Fort Sumter House
Residential
MLS# 21001638 / Active
Gorgeous 5th floor condo on Charleston's famous Battery, overlooking the harbor! Apartment 508 offers beautiful finishes and amazing views of the s...
11 Water Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21001648 / Active
11 Water Street, located in the heart of the coveted South of Broad neighborhood, is an elegant example of timeless Charleston history. This Federa...
237 Coming Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Elliottborough
Residential
MLS# 21001616 / Active Contingent
Historic Charleston Single Home with traditional dual south-facing piazzas, street side privacy door entry onto piazza, and charming single-room wi...
104 Church Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21001618 / Active
The perfect location and opportunity for a mixed use, residential + office/retail, or total office space. The newly installed elevator allows for h...
64 Vanderhorst Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 21001633 / Active
The circa 1824 John Bickley House is one of only 124 homes on the peninsula that has been recognized as exceptional by the Preservation Society wit...
108 Queen Street UNIT B
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21001607 / Active
Recently renovated and move-in ready in Harleston Village on the corner of Queen and Archdale, this 2,106 square foot 2 BR, 2.5 Bath condo is just ...
108 America Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
MLS# 21001595 / Active
Great renovation opportunity in the heart of downtown Charleston. Home has been opened up down to the studs and ready for your vision. Owner purcha...
139 Saint Philip Street UNIT Abcd
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 21001577 / Active
This is a fully rented, cash flowing quadplex in the heart of Downtown Charleston! This 12 bed, 12 bath, 4 story building is separated into 4 units...
15 Kracke Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Elliotborough
Residential
MLS# 21001565 / Active
Conveniently located just off Spring St., 15A Kracke features two-units with proven rental history - a great investment opportunity with tenants an...
330 Concord Street UNIT 12 B
Charleston, SC 29401
Dockside
Residential
MLS# 21001534 / Active
Perfect view and location in the Lowcountry City that has it all. Dockside is the only a high-end high rise, 18 Floors, located on the Cooper River...
190 Queen Street UNIT #1
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21001522 / Active
Remarks: JUST FEW STEPS FROM AND WITH THE VIEW OF COLONIAL LAKE,ON THE ROUTE OF CARRIAGE TOURS,THIS END UNIT,BRICK TOWNHOUSE HAS THE NICEST LOCATIO...
120 Queen Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21001519 / Active
Luxury townhouse living just steps away from the shopping and dining on world famous King Street. This meticulously restored two story low maintena...
21 Duncan Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 21001461 / Active
21 Duncan is a classic Charleston single ideally located in Radcliffeborough, the heart of Charleston. Excellent investment opportunity, with poten...
21 Jasper Street UNIT #202
Charleston, SC 29403
Morris Square
Residential
MLS# 21001449 / Active
Fabulous townhome with 2 car garage on the ground level, wide open living, dining & kitchen on the second level, master suite & flex space on the t...
203 Broad Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South of Broad
Residential
MLS# 21001418 / Active
Overlooking Colonial Lake, this late Nineteenth Century home is the perfect setting to enjoy the best of Charleston. It is the personal residence ...
36 Prioleau Street UNIT K
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 21001372 / Active
One Vendue Range Condo on Prioleau Street. On the 2nd floor accessible by privately coded elevator that opens directly into the condo, ''36 K'' is ...
23 Felix Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Cannonborough
Residential
MLS# 21001354 / Active
This lovely, well built, low maintenance home (built in 2004) in Cannonborough is situated on high ground and enjoys expansive views across the cit...
85 Cumberland Street UNIT #8
Charleston, SC 29401
Markets Gate
Residential
MLS# 21001261 / Active
Perfect Peninsula pied-a-terre, South of Market. Just steps away from everything that defines historic Charleston. Markets Gate (and this ground-fl...
66 Beaufain Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 21001262 / Active
Heart of downtown, less than 3 blocks to King Street up to 6 cars off street parking. Enjoy this beautiful 3 story Greek Revival home (c. 1852) w/...
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 01-24-2021 3:01 PM EST .
The broker providing these data believes them to be correct, but advises interested parties to confirm them before relying on them in a purchase decision.
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