Italianate Vernacular

Before - With a tan body and white trim this Mamaroneck, New York house suffered from visual blandness. All the wonderful architectural detailing was just barely visible and understated.

After - A medium green body and gold trim began the transformation. Adding a brown window sash and a cream accent created more visual interest. For even more punch, the shutters were painted in red. This combination of actual historical period colors turned bland into beautiful. The verticality of the house is emphasized with the new color scheme.

Detail of bay window and porch.  Adding a second color to the porch helps highlight the architectural features such as the ornate brackets and fret-work.

Copyright 2002-2006: Robert Schweitzer. Last revised: December 15, 2005