If you have been following along you know that we are under contract on some land on Johns Island to build our dream home! So far, not a whole lot has been happening on the lot (pun intended)… We are awaiting a survey on the land to make sure we can put the house that we want where we want it on the property. It is very important to us that we have a great view, so we want to push the house back as far as possible on the lot. It is entirely possible that the wetlands could have moved since the last survey that was done (see picture below, circa 2005), which could alter the critical line and prevent our marsh views. AKA deal breaker. We are hoping to have the survey done in two weeks, at which time we can close!
While we are waiting on that, we are working with an architect to make the plans perfect so that once closing is done, we can break ground. The Architectural Review Board (ARB) of our neighborhood is particularly strict. The neighborhood is meant to have a Kiawah // Seabrook Island feel and is also located in a wildlife conservation area, comprising over 500 acres with only 123 home sites. Quiet streets and sprawling lowcountry views are the main reasons we fell in love with the neighborhood! But getting through the ARB is no easy feat. The job of the ARB is to make sure the home you want to build will fit within the standards of the neighborhood. Prior to COVID, the ARB required 4-5 in person meetings before you can break ground to discuss everything exterior (home placement, driveway placement, number and locations of windows and doors, paint colors, you name it!). This process could take up to 6 months! Since COVID, the ARB has transitioned to virtual meetings and I have heard it is only taking 60-90 days for approval, especially if you submit everything up front. Which brings me to the content of this post… EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS!
I have been perusing Pinterest for exterior color inspiration (see board) and our builder recommended the Colors of Historic Charleston collection from Sherwin Williams.
The color palette literally pulled us off the couch to go re-explore our Holy City. So after the kids woke up from their naps we hopped in the car and drove downtown to look for inspiration on some of our favorite streets:
This beauty is by far our favorite. Our neighborhood requires an aluminum roof, so our roof will look very similar to the one above. We went into our color quest with a few preconceived notions… we knew we liked a true white house and we thought we wanted dark shutters. While darker homes can make a statement, dark exterior colors tend to fade in the bright Charleston sun and require much more upkeep. Also, we think a white house is so fresh and beachy! We were surprised by how much we loved the off white // cream color of this home. It was most similar to The Colors of Historic Charleston’s Charleston White (DCR100), Aunt Betty’s China (DCR101), or Oyster Shell (DCR116). The grayish // tan shutters were also so unique and fresh, as most historic Charleston homes have dark shutters. We matched it most closely to Quill (DCR102), Weatherboard (DCR103), or Dove (DCR117). The porch ceiling? Haint blue of course. The color “Haint Blue” or “Gullah Blue” was said to have first been used in Charleston, South Carolina in the early 1800s. The word “haint” is the Gullah pronunciation of “haunt” or spirit. Legend says that spirits caught between life and death cannot cross water. Fun fact: Haint blue isn’t actually a color. Any light blue color mimicking water that covered ceilings or window frames was said to prevent spirits from entering a house. We will be using St. Cecilia (DCR069) to cover the ceilings of our double porches. It’s Charleston tradition and it can’t hurt… right?
I also swooned over the confederate jasmine covered walls and hanging lanterns everywhere. We will have two big gas lanterns on either side of the front door and I’m planning to line the back stairwell by the outdoor shower with confederate jasmine. The smell is to. die. for. in the spring.
We also really love the off white // cream home color + light // robin’s egg blue shutter color combination. I am most partial to Beach Inlet (DCR070) or Cooper’s Basin (DCR071) for shutter colors.
What are your votes? Tell us your favorite color combinations and any other favorites we may be overlooking!