What is the Story Behind Charleston Green? - Page 186
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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33 Hillary Court
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 15003869 / Sold
**This 4 level single family home, with low condo regime fee for grounds maintenance, was substantially RENOVATED and EXPANDED in 2012-13. REDONE ...
58 Murray Boulevard
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15003946 / Sold
This custom built home offers spectacular river views, where you can often see the dolphins frolicking! Living room, dining room and master bedroom...
37 Radcliffe Street UNIT A & B
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 15003731 / Sold
Duplex in prime location 2 blocks from the vibrant revitalization of upper King Street. Walk to cultural events, entertainment, fine dining, shopp...
67 Warren Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 15003844 / Sold
Gracious Queen Anne style residence, CA 1878-79. Features front double-tiered piazza with surrounding pediment and elaborate jigsaw cut decoration ...
128 Bull Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 15007627 / Sold
The Joseph Bennett House, built circa 1814, and located in Harleston Village, is one of Charleston's finest examples of a Charleston Double House. ...
128 1/2 Bull Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 15007628 / Sold
Joseph Bennett House, built circa 1814, and located in Harleston Village, is one of Charleston's finest examples of a Charleston Double House. Buil...
79 Society UNIT D
Charleston, SC 29401
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 15003534 / Sold
Huge price reduction on this wonderful condo in a great location!!! Welcome to the King Street Historic District of downtown Charleston. This bea...
87 East Bay Street UNIT E
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15003449 / Sold
A very charming, turn-key carriage house in a prime location South of Broad just off Rainbow Row. The perfect pied-a-terre, high quality finishes t...
67 Legare Street UNIT #108
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 15003432 / Sold
Welcome to the Crafts House on the corner of Queen and Legare Streets. Enjoy dinner downtown, a play at the Dock Street Theater, and walk home to y...
55 Hasell Street UNIT F
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 15003309 / Sold
Nestled in the heart of Ansonborough and only two blocks in either direction from shopping, fine dining and entertainment, this ground floor condo ...
5015 Old Bridgeview Lane
Charleston, SC 29403
The Bristol
Residential
MLS# 15003599 / Sold
This top floor, corner unit has privacy, natural light and lots of upgrades. The floor plan lives well with a library, formal dining room and larg...
16 Orange Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Residential
85 Cumberland Street UNIT #25
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 15002771 / Sold
Chic upscale New York Style condo located in the French Quarter just steps from restaurants,shopping, Waterfront Park, and Dock Street Theater. Th...
15 Felix Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 15002198 / Sold
This Charleston single style residence is located in Cannonborough/Elliottborough. Features include an open floor plan, high ceilings, hard wood ...
36 Prioleau Street UNIT B
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 15002564 / Sold
Perfectly located in the heart of the French Quarter, just steps from the Waterfront Park and Charleston's best restaurants, shopping, and gallerie...
30 Amherst Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
Great location on a large lot! Up and coming area perfect for investors! Charleston single-style home with 3 bedrooms & 1.5 bathrooms in the Eastsi...
1 Aston Place
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Green
Residential
MLS# 15002192 / Sold
FULL PHOTOS TO COME WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK. Great townhouse located in the heart of Charleston that is conveniently located to MUSC and College of Ch...
150 N Bee Street UNIT #810
Charleston, SC 29401
Bee Street Lofts
Residential
MLS# 15002159 / Sold
Designer Penthouse overlooking the Ashley River with every upgrade. Granite flooring throughout this 3bedrooms 3.5 baths, 20 foot ceiling loft.Cust...
60 Radcliffe Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 15001913 / Sold
Charleston Single with old world charm. With Historic Carolopolis Plat. Private courtyard and off street parking, wraparound traditional piazzas on...
3 Chisolm Street UNIT #402
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 15001983 / Sold
SOUTH OF BROAD tri-level New York style loft with striking 'wow' factor is one block from the Battery's waterfront promenade, across from the 'Hors...
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 04-18-2024 9:30 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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