What is the Story Behind Charleston Green? - Page 183
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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36 Charlotte Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Wraggborough
Residential
MLS# 15008713 / Sold
Main House: 4200sqft, 4 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths. Carriage House: 1500sqft, 4 Bedrooms, 2 Full Baths (2- 2Bedroom Apartment Flats). Stately double piazz...
15 Montagu Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 15008613 / Sold
This charming and historic three bed, three bath home is located in Harleston Village with one off street parking space and a full bed and bath on ...
63 East Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15008541 / Sold
Perfectly located on ""High Battery"" (X-zone location), one of the highest elevations as no flood insurance is required. Beautifully built in the ...
63 Rutledge Avenue UNIT #20
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 15008349 / Sold
Enjoy views of Colonial Lake, one of Charleston's iconic public places. Improvements include new hardscape, new lighting, and many new planting be...
49 Society Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 15008291 / Sold
One of the more unique residences in Ansonborough, 49 Society is a 3 story masonry home built circa 1838. On the 1st floor:Large front Sitting Rm w...
5 Limehouse Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15008213 / Sold
Lovely Charleston single house just south of Tradd in quiet South of Broad location. Recent interior and exterior renovations emphasize the beauty ...
82 Warren Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 15008102 / Sold
Great little house nestled between two larger homes on quiet street with lots of charm. Walk to King Street, C of C, MUSC and Charleston Law. Home...
72 Anson Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 15008162 / Sold
Entered for comp purposes only. Main House 4 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 half baths, 4433 sqft. Carriage House 2 bedrooms, 1 full bath, 930 sqft. His...
109 East Bay Street UNIT 1g
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15007881 / Sold
A secured and charming palm filled atrium welcomes you to this historic building, tastefully transformed into condominiums in the heart of the hist...
38 Ashley Avenue UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15007422 / Sold
Fantastic opportunity to live South of Broad. This renovated 3 bedroom, 3 bath condo lives larger than life. From it's gleaming hardwood floors and...
160 E East Bay Street UNIT #304
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 15007179 / Sold
This is a completely renovated and remodeled unit - every inch has been redone - down to the studs! A fabulously convenient location, with direct a...
82 Church Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15007462 / Sold
Unique opportunity South of Broad for a live/work building with income potential from all three floors. The first floor spaces are currently offic...
97 Bogard Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Elliottborough
Residential
MLS# 15007172 / Sold
This restored 1895 Charleston single house offers contemporary living with period details on a prime block of Elliotborough. Fully renovated in 20...
9 Elizabeth Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Wraggborough
Residential
MLS# 15007268 / Sold
Designed in 1999 by Architect Reggie Gibson, this 4 Bedroom/4.5 Bath property in historic Wraggborough balances unique, modern conveniences with tr...
108 Smith Street UNIT C
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffe Square
Residential
MLS# 15006987 / Sold
This home has been completely remodeled and upgraded from it's original 1987 floor plan and interior appearance for a high end feel. This is a fant...
55 Ashley Avenue UNIT #16
Charleston, SC 29401
Baker House
Residential
MLS# 15006969 / Sold
Spacious, light and bright well maintained second floor condo. Ready to move into and being sold furnished. Everything in the condo conveys. Tax r...
31 Hillary Court
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 15006730 / Sold
Tucked away in Charleston's trendy Morris Square neighborhood in Radcliffeborough, this 2003-built home mixes contemporary finishes and outdoor liv...
12 Church Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15006873 / Sold
Sitting on a rare double lot South of Broad, this Dr. Joseph Johnson House circa 1810, is located on lower Church St. less than a block from White ...
192 Ashley Avenue UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 15006719 / Sold
The Historic Beauregard House was built by a wealthy family of grocers in the mid 1800s and was used by General Beauregard as his headquarters duri...
61 Tradd Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15006802 / Sold
Rare South of Broad ''Short Sale'' opportunity. Bank approved. Circa 1731. The Jacob Motte house. One of the earliest historic residences in the ci...
16 Rose Lane
Charleston, SC 29403
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 15006646 / Sold
Classic Charleston Single House built between 1850 and 1870. Convenient to College of Charleston, Medical University of SC and downtown hospitals....
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 04-19-2024 6:09 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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