I am visiting Colonial Williamsburg this week and took this photo of the classic c. 1775 Tidewater Virginia Georgian Colonial Orrell House yesterday.
Visiting historic house can be a great way to get inspiration for your own restoration projects. The more immersive experience of visiting a historic living history museum, like Colonial Williamsburg, is even better. Seeing multiple houses along with stores, workshops, and streetscapes makes it easier to understand historic houses in the context of the time they were built. If you’re fortunate, you will see restoration work in progress and be able to talk to the people doing the work.
The warm off-white color used on the Orrell House would have been considered “white” in the 18th century, before the introduction of titanium pigment that produces the bright whites we are accustomed to today. Colonial Williamsburg has been a leader in the field of historic paint analysis and reinterpreting its buildings to more accurately reflect historic colors as additional evidence has been uncovered.
You can also gain inspiration and information for your projects in “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
Our shop also carries select preservation and restoration titles by other authors. Save on cost and shipping with our multi-book combo packs!
© Scott T. Hanson 2023.
#antiquehome #antiquehomes #traditionalarchitecture #historicalhomes #historicalhouse #historic #oldhousecharm #oldhome #oldhouse #preservation #preserveourhistory #houseandgarden #aplacetocallhome #homerestoration #houserestoration #ownapieceofhistory #vintagehome #architecturelover #restoringyourhistorichouse #yourhistorichome #restoration #houserehab #historicpreservation