This before and after comparison shows the difference that period colors can make in a historic room. The monumental Queen Anne style Eustis mansion was designed by architect William R. Emerson and built outside Boston in 1878. Its interiors received up-to-the-minute Aesthetic Movement finishes including this sand-textured green and metallic gold treatment on the walls with silver gilding on the ceiling. The tiles on the fireplace are by the J. & J.G Low Art Tile Company. The process for making the Japanese-inspired “Naturals” tiles was patented by the Low company the year the house was built.
The Eustis interiors were painted over with light-toned latex paint in the 1970’s, diminishing the richness of their original character. After the house was acquired by Historic New England, our firm did the historic paint analysis to determine what the original finishes had been and a team of conservators restored them. Working on this project has been a highlight of my career.
More information about this project is included in Chapter 18 of Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners. The 720-page hardcover book now available in bookstores and from online retailers (it is currently 34% off on Amazon! http://ow.ly/N7ba50y4PSL).
Signed and personalized copies are available directly from the author on this site.
Your local bookstore can order copies from W.W. Norton.
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