What is the Story Behind Charleston Green? - Page 20
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!
Modify Search Criteria
Atlantic Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 23015108 / Sold
Welcome to this stunning 1850s carriage-style home nestled in the heart of South of Broad, one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Downtown Char...
5 Doughty Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
MLS# 23015008 / Sold
Investment property in the MUSC medical district, one of three properties being offered, individually or collectively. The other two are 3 1/2 Doug...
3 Doughty Street UNIT Lot 3
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
MLS# 23015006 / Sold
Investment property in the MUSC medical district, one of three properties being offered, individually or collectively. The other two are 3 1/2 Doug...
129 Ashley Avenue
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 23014934 / Sold
Welcome to 129 Ashley Avenue located in the exclusive Harleston Village area of downtown Charleston. This beautifully restored 1870's Victorian hom...
150 Bee Street UNIT #305
Charleston, SC 29401
Bee Street Lofts
Residential
MLS# 23014804 / Sold
Location! Location! Location! Close to Charleston's most popular beaches and everything downtown Charleston! Luxury urban living at its best...conv...
12 Duncan Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 23014709 / Sold
Don't miss this charming downtown home with 3 bedrooms and 3 baths in an amazing Charleston location. When you step inside the piazza, you'll be gr...
152 Broad Street UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 23014793 / Sold
This stately Victorian-era Broad Street home, dressed with ornate woodwork, iron fences and gates, multiple porches, marble-checkered entrance tile...
74 Vanderhorst
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 23014654 / Sold
Beautifully restored Charleston Single that has undergone a major restoration over the 9 months. Features such as dental molding, original heart pi...
63 Drake Street UNIT A & B
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
MLS# 23014548 / Sold
FULLY FURNISHED DUPLEX - 5 OFF-STREET PARKING SPACES - Stunning Downtown 2 unit Historic Home! Own a piece of Charleston history with this beautifu...
14 Lockwood Drive UNIT 1-J
Charleston, SC 29401
Ashley House
Residential
MLS# 23015024 / Active
Welcome Home!! Modern Updated Condo across the street from the City Marina & Close to Restaurants, Hospitals, Shopping and everything that Downtown...
Reduced -$30,000
152 Broad Street UNIT B
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 23014393 / Sold
If you've been searching high and low for that perfect Charleston charm, look no further- you've found it! Take a step back in time and into this g...
31 Nassau Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 23014176 / Sold
Updated historic Charleston single home, centrally located just steps away from the dining & shops on King and Meeting Street. Located in an X Floo...
49 Gadsden Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 23014223 / Sold
You can have it all! This hard-to-find combination of a single-family historic home with much of the historic charm still intact features a modern ...
15 Horlbeck Alley UNIT B-6
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 23014144 / Sold
This move-in ready downtown townhome offers privacy and convenience in the heart of historic Charleston. The property includes two garage parking s...
53 Hasell Street UNIT B
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 23013965 / Sold
This beautiful 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom first-floor condo offers the perfect blend of historic charm and modern convenience. With 1 off-street parking...
7 Felix Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Cannonborough-Elliotborough
Residential
MLS# 23013909 / Sold
Price just reduced! Perfect timing for parents planning ahead for rising college sophomores. The time is now to line up housing for next year. Enjo...
33 Lockwood Drive UNIT B-12
Charleston, SC 29401
The Harborage At Ashley Marina
Residential
MLS# 23013566 / Sold
his 40 X 18 BOAT SLIP is located in The Harborage at Ashley Marina, one of the more LUXURIOUS MARINA's in Charleston! This slip is located on B doc...
150 Bee Street UNIT #315
Charleston, SC 29401
Bee Street Lofts
Residential
MLS# 23013540 / Sold
Experience your urban, contemporary lifestyle in this newly updated 1,959 square foot unit that blends industrial accents with sophisticated finish...
28 Society Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Ansonborough
Residential
MLS# 23013103 / Sold
Carriage house ready for immediate occupancy. Enjoy downtown living at its finest! This hidden gem is private and encompasses a secret walled gar...
11 America Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Residential
MLS# 23012948 / Sold
Move-in ready townhouse located just off of Easy Bay Street! Excellent Investor Opportunity! This 4 bedroom home is ideally designed for roommate l...
21 Savage Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 23012893 / Sold
Welcome to 21 Savage St! This beautiful single family home is located on a charming, tree lined street that exudes the historic and graceful featur...
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 04-29-2024 11:54 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.
Copyright 2024 Charleston Trident Multiple Listing Service, Inc. All rights reserved.
