What is the Story Behind Charleston Green? - Page 249
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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337 King Street UNIT C
Charleston, SC 29401
Downtown
Residential
MLS# 1104550 / Sold
***Tremendous Investment Opportunity, Owner Has Over $700,000 Invested In This Unit, Current Tenants In Place Paying $2500 A Month Excluding Uti...
104 Queen Street UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 1104514 / Sold
Location, Location, Location, Walk to Everything Charleston has to offer. This first floor condominium is immaculate, beautifully decorated and loc...
150 Bee Street UNIT #506
Charleston, SC 29401
Bee Street Lofts
Residential
MLS# 1104026 / Sold
TWO side-by-side DEEDED and gated garage PARKING SPACES/what a luxury! included in $$/sqft of this Metro plan (limited to about 12 units in buildin...
33 America Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 1103540 / Sold
Recently built home located within walking distance of schools and shopping. 3 bedrooms 2 baths located on corner lot. Nice views of the neighborhood.
1 Sheppard Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 1103538 / Sold
Recently built charmer in downtown Charleston. Close to shopping and dining. Elevated construction on corner fenced lot. Open floorplan with lots o...
9 Magazine Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 1103290 / Sold
Versatile property located in Harleston Village. The property consists of a main two story residence that can be utilized as a single family or dup...
19 East Battery Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 1102825 / Sold
The Julius M. Visanska House. Built by notable Charleston architect Albert Simons, this fine 'double house' offers incredible Harbor and Fort Su...
3 Queen Street UNIT #210
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 1103167 / Sold
PRIVATE PARKING GARAGE comes with this wonderful condo in the heart of everything Charleston! Once you park your car in the enclosed garage, you...
203 Broad Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 1102468 / Sold
Situated on the south side of Broad Street, this bright, impeccably maintained late nineteenth century home has it all and is priced to reflect cur...
111 Harris Street
Charleston, SC 29403
North Central
Residential
MLS# 1102524 / Sold
A Charleston 'Freedman's Cottage'. Three bed room two bath single house is a great investment property. Large kitchen, good sized bedrooms, living ...
32 Chapel Street UNIT 1/2
Charleston, SC 29403
Wraggborough
Residential
MLS# 1101852 / Sold
Beautifully maintained turn of the century home with south eastern exposure located on one of Wraggborough's most beautiful streets. Full front ...
14 Lockwood Drive UNIT 3J
Charleston, SC 29401
Ashley House
Residential
MLS# 1101832 / Sold
Beautifully renovated condo located in the Ashley House in downtown Charleston conveniently near MUSC and all the city offers. Bright, spacious and...
52 Morris Street UNIT A
Charleston, SC 29403
Radcliffeborough
Residential
MLS# 1101440 / Sold
New Price & Motivated Seller. Newer construction, attractive 3 bedroom two & one-half bath townhouse condo convenient to MUSC, CofC, Charleston Sch...
9 Council Street
Charleston, SC 29401
South Of Broad
Residential
MLS# 1101360 / Sold
Charming turn of the century home with early craftsman influences in a wonderful neighborhood. Open floor plan with bright sunny rooms that flow we...
88 Beaufain Street
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 1101245 / Sold
This is a great family home with a nice back yard. Modern kitchen and every convenience. Large Downtown Historic Charleston livable houses rarely c...
41 Nassau Street
Charleston, SC 29403
Eastside
Residential
MLS# 1100762 / Sold
Three story triplex with great rental income ($66.600 annual gross rent that is expected to rise by $10,000 for 2012-13). Each floor holds one apar...
85 Cumberland Street UNIT #14
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 1125376 / Sold
In the heart of Historic Downtown, Market's Gate condominiums offer the charm of old Charleston accentuated with the finest modern finishes expecte...
85 Cumberland Street UNIT #12
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 1125374 / Sold
In the heart of Historic Downtown, Market's Gate condominiums offer the charm of old Charleston accentuated with the finest modern finishes expecte...
85 Cumberland Street UNIT #8
Charleston, SC 29401
French Quarter
Residential
MLS# 1125373 / Sold
In the heart of Historic Downtown, Market's Gate condominiums offer the charm of old Charleston accentuated with the finest modern finishes expecte...
102 Ashley Avenue UNIT A & B
Charleston, SC 29401
Harleston Village
Residential
MLS# 1029877 / Sold
What a Duplex!! Right in the heart of Harleston Village this Duplex is fantastic. The units are split as an upstairs and downstairs unit. The do...
330 Concord Street UNIT 18F
Charleston, SC 29401
Dockside
Residential
MLS# 1028904 / Sold
As featured in Charleston Home Magazine - Penthouse with one of a kind 18th and 19th story views of the Cooper River, new bridge and beyond. Nation...
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 05-16-2024 2:02 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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