1856 Home of William Currier GRAND PRIZE WINNER - Chicago Painted Lady Contest 2006! |
Holding the framed picture and lithograph awarded to the GRAND PRIZE winner at the Chicago Painted Lady contest awards banquet are Suleyman Altun and Michael Montague, of CertaPro Painters of Downers Grove. The Chicago Paint & Coatings Institute sponsors this contest.
The owners, Marcie & Bobby Schulien of West Chicago, Illinois sat down to review detailed color placement maps with Mr. Altun and his crew. They then walked through the maps in relation to the house and noted any questions Mr. Altun had for feedback to the owners and the color consultant Mr. Robert Schweitzer. With Mr. Altun’s years of experience, he quickly saw the effect that the group’s color choices and Mr. Schweitzer’s placement were striving to achieve. This enabled him to expertly address several previously unnoticed trouble spots that all old homes possess in a way that would support rather than detract from the overall scheme.
At the end of each day, he and his crew would review the maps for the areas they had just worked as well as those they planned to work the next day. Always, they were surprised at the number of people who would stop and watch and the participants who would come by to check the progress. As they began work on the front of the house, they often commented on the slowing traffic!
BEFORE
William Currier built this pre Civil War home in present day West Chicago.
Before painting, the home looked interesting but rather bland.
It lacked the attention to painting detail we love in ornate Victorian homes.
The grand front columns are lost to view against a light background. The wonderful roof belvedere is likewise not shown to its full potential.
AFTER
“We have been drawing small crowds who come to stop to look/watch. One guy (hanging out of his car window) shouted to his buddies "Wow! Look at that!!" This doesn't include the cars that are slowing to 5mph as they pass and the increased numbers of walkers/joggers tell us how much they like the colors and detail”, said Mr. Altun.
It no secret to anyone that we're delighted!!! LuAnn Bombard (director of our local museum and community events) stopped by and let me know that she absolutely loved the house and she stated that, "Mr. Currier would be so pleased." (It was William Currier who built the home in 1856 then went and enlisted as a private in the Union Army at the age of 50.) She also said we have set a new standard for the district and she thanks us for it”, says owner Schulien Marcie"
Roof Belvedere before new colors
This architectural element had great potential but rather simple colors. The graceful arching in the window trim is lost with the use of only one trim color. The image below shows what can be done by adding in several historic trim colors. You now see not only the trim arches but the window sash as well.
AFTER
New colors on the roof belvedere now highlight the trim arches as well as the window sash. The idea of two colored brackets was originally shown in paint catalogues of the 1870s. With the new colors added this architectural feature is now much more visible from the street level and adds even more interest to this wonderfully ornate home.
Bay window before new colors
On an Italianate style house was the inclusion of bay windows. These bays were normally ornate and the pride of the mid nineteenth century home owner. This rendition of the coloring of this window sends it popping off the house facade and the white band at the top seems to suggest it has a lid. Also the ornate
brackets are only painted in one color thus missing an opportunity to show off the great classic wood work.
AFTER
When repainted, the bay integrates into the whole house. It matches seamlessly with the side entry door. It is always important to have the architectural features of the building work smoothly together to allow for the eye to transcend them easily.
Sources: A summary of the house coloring process and photos by Marcie & Bobby Schulien of West Chicago, Illinois. Photo write ups by Robert Schweitzer http://www.historichousecolors.com/index.html Historic House Colors at: Robs@umich.edu
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