What is the Story Behind Charleston Green? - Page 185
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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87 East Bay Street UNIT C
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15007617 / Sold
Charming South of Broad top floor condo in a historic building located on Rainbow Row. Exposed brick, hardwood floors and custom detailing accent ...
111 President Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Cannonborough
Residential
MLS# 15005423 / Sold
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Circa 1852 BRICK, Charleston Single located within walking distance to MUSC. Fantastic investment opportunity. Zone...
4 Line Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 15006088 / Sold
New Construction in Charleston's beautiful Eastside. The Eastside of Charleston is a great location with convenient access to the Ravenel Bridge, I...
28 F
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
MLS# 15005251 / Sold
Price just reduced. Nice 2br/1bath 725 sq. ft. Cottage. Located in central downtown. Great for students, first time homebuyers or investors. Home n...
9 Stolls Alley
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15005504 / Sold
A charming and private 2BR/1BA home tucked away down historic Stoll's Alley. Built circa 1760, this two-story home enters into a cozy living room ...
17 Rutledge Avenue
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15005183 / Sold
South of Broad, handsome Fitzsimons Townhouse totally renovated with new kitchen, service bar with wine cooler, upgraded bathrooms, hardwood floors...
3 Charlotte St
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
MLS# 15005066 / Sold
This historic home is located in the heart of Charleston. The home features a new roof, & has also been freshly painted inside & out. Also, the fro...
7 Aston Place
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Green
Residential
MLS# 15005234 / Sold
Welcome to 7 Aston Place, a lovely townhouse located in Harleston Green subdivision within the historic district of Charleston, tucked away between...
211 Wentworth Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Place
Residential
MLS# 15005035 / Sold
You open your wrought iron gate to a nice Charleston garden to relax in. This beautiful 3 story Charleston style home is in pristine condition. Yo...
151 Wentworth Street UNIT 1c
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 15004925 / Sold
Enter this charming pied-a-terre through a private courtyard. This one bedroom centrally located in downtown Charleston inclues an eat in kitchen...
70 King Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15004841 / Sold
Situated in the highly sought-after South of Broad neighborhood in historic Charleston, this estate beautifully combines historic elements with mod...
13 Colonial Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15004812 / Sold
Reduced....Great Colonial Revival home located just steps from Colonial Lake on one of the best family streets South of Broad. The large entry hal...
51 Smith St UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 15004661 / Sold
Excellent 3BR/2BA condo in prime location for CofC or MUSC. Great open floor plan with one bedroom having its own private bath. Plenty of parking...
53 Hanover Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 15004713 / Sold
This home is being sold 'AS IS'. It is located in an up and coming area of downtown Charleston. Near Trident Tech downtown campus, College of Cha...
4 Harleston Place
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 15004642 / Sold
A bright and sunny end unit townhome. Complete with high ceilings, an open floor plan featuring spacious rooms, and hardwood floors throughout the ...
105 East Bay Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15004556 / Sold
Under the current flood map, flood insurance is not required. This Original Rainbow Row home has the total package including history, parking and g...
3 Weims Court
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15004307 / Sold
Quintessential South of Broad charm exudes from this 2 bedroom 1840 home. Tucked just off King Street with entry via a charming gated courtyard, a...
45 Anson Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 15004362 / Sold
Charleston charm abounds in this Ansonborough pied-a-terre surrounded by a beautifully landscaped courtyard. The kitchen features a breakfast area ...
150 Bee Street UNIT #415
Charleston, SC 29401
Bee Street Lofts
Residential
MLS# 15004195 / Sold
Perfect location across from MUSC, Almost 2000 sf. largest 2 bedroom, 2.5 Bath Ariel plan, freshly painted, move in condition. Two master suites wi...
79 Line Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Elliotborough
Residential
MLS# 15004016 / Sold
Excellent renovated Freedman's Cottage Below the Crosstown. This property is well designed and lives much larger than it's size. Exposed timbers,...
330 Concord St UNIT Th2
Charleston, SC 29401
Dockside
Residential
MLS# 15003932 / Sold
Amazing Townhouse in Downtown Charleston's best waterfront condominium community of Dockside! This unit has just undergone an entire kitchen renova...
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 5:08 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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