Front Porch – Part 2 of 3 – where we paint stuff, and then paint more stuff.
When I used to give people directions to our house, I would tell them to look for the skinny blue house with bright purple shutters.
And purple foundation. And purple doors. And purple eaves.
And purple everything.
Our previous owner had dedicated himself to putting purple accents as far off the ground as humanly possible.
I have no idea how many hours Paul spent painting over dark purple—but it was a lot… Even though the house isn’t big, it is tall, and the roofline has a lot going on.
The soffits alone were a ridiculous task. Requiring scaffolding and extension ladders and me refilling the paint tray through the window and telling Paul repeatedly— please be careful.
Theoretically, while Paul was covering the purple, I was supposed to pick out a paint color for the front doors and shutters.
In my mind, the light blue of the house would really be set off with something dark, but vivid. Classic, but different… kind of slate-ish but not too grayish… A magical, imaginary color that my brain created in my special, psychic-paint-mixing laboratory.
If you’re interested in my services, I will be happy to whip you up a distinctive shade that you will never be able to match or track down or specify to anyone.
Also? I wanted SHINY. Which, we all know Captain No-Shiny vetoed.
I don’t know how many times I trudged out to get more paint samples. To Home Depot. To Lowes. To Sherwin Williams. To Finnaren & Haley and Benjamin Moore…. Where I actually had to buy pints of paint because they don’t offer all their colors in sample size. Only some. Because that makes perfect sense.
The number of times we painted multiple shutters, let them dry, and hauled them around… So I could see them in different lights, at different times of day, only for me to not like any of them. Was a lot.
And? Don’t tell Paul… but I don’t love the color we ended up with. I was just too tired to keep looking. I say don’t tell Paul, because if he knew that compromise were possible? My entire campaign platform would evaporate.
Part of the problem was that my magical-imaginary-shutter-color was so beautiful, I wanted to use it on the storm doors too.
And none of these colors were delivering the otherworldly aura I was looking for. In my head, the grey looked rich and vibrant. In reality? It looked dull. I was starting to think I needed to go with something bright and unexpected… despite literally having just gotten rid of an orange ceiling.
Until I came home with a fresh batch of samples and Paul had taken off the storm/screen doors to start prepping them for primer. And I was like—oh look, there’s my magical color!
I do like a red door, but I hadn’t thought it would go well with the light blue. However, it turns out the mahogany color is really a nice contrast, especially with the white molding.
I’ll spare you the part where I went for red paint samples. And narrowed it down to three. And them mixed them. In different amounts. Using a plastic soup spoon as my unit of measurement. And then gave Paul the task of calculating the exact mathematical recipe – using the formulas they give you for the 8oz sample can. And then translating that into a gallon. So that I could go to the paint guy and give him my custom order.
Believe me, I know what you’re thinking: Wow. That is such an awesome idea. I wish my partner were as detail-oriented about paint!
So, thanks for that. I really value it. Because, here at home? I’m just not appreciated.
Paul looked at me and was like, you’re kidding right? You want me to figure out a paint-formula based on converting plastic-soupspoons to this chart:
I was like, it depends. I could keep looking for paint. Or we can use my magic formula. I guess it just depends on whether you want to paint the front doors sometime in the next month.
And apparently he did.
Other Porch Posts:
- What we did next: sanding and staining, and I end up HATING the floor color.
- What we started with.
- When we started repairs.
- if you want the magic-red paint formula, it’s at the end of my FAQ post.
September 20, 2013 @ 3:29 pm
Just found your website (through Southern Hospitality) and I’m catching up. Love your humor! Being a born and raised Oregonian, I am continually in awe at the antique treasures and history surrounding you. Anything from the late 1800’s is Really Old around here, and there is very little earlier than that. The houses dating that old are usually just shacks, log cabins, or plain farmhouses (which are awesome – but in a very different way), and show nothing of the quality of architecture that you all enjoy. I just love all of the history and architecture that is available back East!
Anyway, this post of mixing colors reminded me of this episode on Radiolab (NPR): http://www.radiolab.org/story/211119-colors/ I thought you might enjoy it. It seems that women can see more variations of color than men.
October 3, 2013 @ 2:42 pm
OK, I just had to stop for a minute and write you. My last child just moved out of the house for his first grow up job, my husband is traveling for work, and I work from home in fits and starts, so I started reading your blog from the very beginning. This is where I am not, but I had to stop and write about two . First, I am very sensitive to noise and always have been. I’m the girl on your dorm floor who kept asking you to turn down your Supertramp record. Second, people always look at me funny when I say “Haint Blue”, even my friends from the south! Thank you for giving me validation and some interesting reading until my life gets busy again!
October 3, 2013 @ 2:43 pm
Ooops, two typos! And I often write for my supper! So sorry.
“grown up job”
“This is where I am now…”
May 5, 2014 @ 4:39 pm
It looks great , I’m late finding this ,what is the color of the blue exterior paint ?
Catherine
May 10, 2014 @ 10:25 am
Forgive my delayed response… It is “cool sky,” by Behr (Home Depot).
August 4, 2014 @ 4:48 am
I bought your paint color amd was a bit dismayed to open the dan and see lavender. I painted the front door amyway and was thrilled beyond belief with the gorgeous red. Your red. Thank you so much for the writing which is hi,arious and the tips which are, oh so helpful!
August 7, 2014 @ 9:25 am
Hey! I am so glad that my 57,000 hours of paint-research have benefited one other person on the planet!
August 4, 2014 @ 4:49 am
Open the “can”
August 4, 2014 @ 4:52 am
Good grief. Spell check before hitting “post comment” “anyway” and “hilarious”
August 26, 2015 @ 8:25 pm
Victoria, please, as strange as this sounds, would you tell me about your doors?! I’m looking all over the Internet and can find pictures of what I’m looking for, but seem to be shooting for the moon when it comes to finding retailers or even just nailing down the name (skinny double entry doors?!) Any info you can provide would be so greatly appreciated!! The dimensions? (Would they fit if replacing a standard entry door), the manufacture? Thanks in advance!!
July 9, 2016 @ 9:34 pm
Hi Victoria–Found your blog through Pinterest and fell in love!! Just started reading and may not have gotten to the part I am asking about so please forgive me. I am interesting in knowing if your siding on the Victorian house is the original siding or covered with something else? We are going to be looking at a Victorian home as soon as the seller is ready to show. Your husband sounds like mine, especially when it comes to old stuff and huge antique pieces—-the chunkier the better is my mindset!! Can’t wait to read all your stories as you remind me of me!! Thanks—Charlotte