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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208 Ashley Avenue
Charleston, SC 29403
Cannonborough
Residential
MLS# 18019896 / Active
Don't miss this investment opportunity. A few minutes walk from MUSC and College of Charleston. Well preserved 1835 year built house with beautifu...
208 Ashley Avenue
Charleston, SC 29403
Cannonborough
Residential
MLS# 18019893 / Active
Don't miss this investment opportunity. A few minutes walk from MUSC and College of Charleston. 1500 square feet of well preserved 1835 year buil...
348 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 18019885 / Active
The perfect location right in the heart of the number one city in the world as ranked by Travel + Leisure Magazine. Walk to everything! All the b...
377 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 18019886 / Active
Located in the heart of Charleston, right on King Street, this is an absolutely gorgeous end unit condo with high ceilings, exposed brick and top o...
55 Laurens Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 18019842 / Active
Beautifully appointed and renovated condominium in historic Ansonborough with off street parking and a private courtyard. This property is being s...
11 Smith Place
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Green
Residential
MLS# 18019812 / Active
Welcome to 11 Smith in the heart of Harleston Village.This subdivision, Harleston Green, has only a few homes tucked away from the busy thoroughfar...
85 Cumberland Street
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 18019931 / Active
Third floor apartment with beautiful views of St Philips church and churchyard. Hardwood floors, exposed brick walls and top of the line appliance...
33 Lockwood Drive
Charleston, SC 29401
The Harborage At Ashley Marina
Residential
MLS# 18019636 / Active
The closest location in marina to parking lot... This is the PRIME SPOT!!! Close to bathrooms, showers, laundry, and fuel dock.40 x 17.5 foot boat...
63 Radcliffe Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 18019823 / Active
You will immediately be impressed with the impeccable renovation of this classic Charleston Single. The attention to detail is second to none - thi...
86 1/2 Beaufain
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 18019401 / Active
Gorgeous Carriage house renovated 2006. convenient to MUSC, VA Hospital and College of Charleston. Located off-street. Information and measuremen...
2 Trumbo Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Residential
MLS# 18019351 / Active
Truly a UNIQUE find in Charleston!!! Perfect pied a terre. Newer construction with the exterior charm of a 1870's down town home. Absolutely gorgeo...
168 Tradd Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 18019336 / Active
Fabulous, fully renovated, historic home is perfect as a pied-a-terre or permanent home. The ground floor is an apartment with full kitchen and liv...
4 Bogard Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Elliottborough
Residential
Fabulous opportunity in Cannonborough-Elliottborough neighborhood of the lower Peninsula of Charleston. This property features 2 single family home...
9 Hampden Court
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 18019274 / Active
Charleston Single Style home with double side covered piazzas features three bedrooms, one full and one-half bath. Sits on a deep lot with off-str...
26 Cannon Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Cannonborough
Residential
MLS# 18019270 / Active Contingent
26 A Cannon Street is a three story condominium with two dedicated off-street parking spaces. The first floor is an open layout. Kitchen has lots...
150 Bee Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Bee Street Lofts
Residential
MLS# 18019256 / Active
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION, Pristine, updated Luxury Loft with dual masters, totally updated, 2020 sf, 2 bedroom, 2.5 bath, Ariel floor plan, gat...
251 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 18019175 / Active
Perfectly Placed Pied a Terre! Walk to all Charleston has to offer. This adorable, bright updated unit is right in the heart of the College of Char...
1 Bee Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
MLS# 18019107 / Active
1 Bee Street was built in 1900 when Charleston was turning from an agricultural dominated market to a industrial based economy. Around this time t...
38 Ashley Avenue
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 18019070 / Active
Don't pay for parking downtown! South of Broad this completely renovated 3 bedroom, 3 FULL bath condo WITH a GARAGE has it all. From its refinished...
108 America Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 18018948 / Active
This house has been opened up to the studs and is ready for renovation. Exposed heart pine beams and hardwood floors highlight this 1885 classic. T...
22 Council Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 18018881 / Active
Rare find! Beautiful duplex South of Broad that's just 2 blocks from Colonial Lake & the Battery. This is a one of a kind location & setup with a 4...
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 07-15-2018 11:01pm 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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