Step 1

For a price quote, first email us a photo of your home and answer the questions below.

1. Is this a rush order? When do you plan to paint?
2. Is there a garage or out-buildings (carriage house, out house, dog house)?
3. Are you specifically interested in historical colors modern colors or developing a highly detailed "painted lady" (non-historic) style color scheme?
4. On a scale of 1 to 10 how much detail do you wish to highlight?

Please email this information with a photo of your house.

STOP HERE

We will get back to you asap with a price quote and approximate time of completion.

Step 2

Once you receive your quote from us, we'll include a detailed survey form for you to complete.

Here we will gather information such as:

• What colors do you like?
• Do you want the colors to be historic?
• How authentic do you want to be?

You will also need to submit good quality photographs.

For information on types and specifications of photos to take, click here.

Step 3

A photograph of your house is first cleaned up and improved in Adobe Photoshop. Each individual window and architectural feature is meticulously outlined. This is a very lengthy and tedious process.

The color is then removed but the shadows and details are retained, preparing an image for which your new colors can be applied.

The result is a high quality photographic image of your house. The image will look real as if your house was actually painted and THEN photographed. It will NOT look cartoonish as many house paint color viewers you see advertised.

Step 4

We will determine the architectural style of the house and approximate period of construction. This will provide clues to possible color schemes that will work well with your house style.

We will then use information you provide on the questionnaire along with your color preferences to make up a few color samples for your review. This will be based on the colors you like and the colors you don't like, whether you prefer authentic period colors, later period colors, or contemporary. Authentic colors are based on color schemes from our library, period paint supply catalogues, etc.

We will be in communication during the entire process and let you know if we need additional information or photographs. Emails will be answered within 24 hours M-F.

Step 5

You will receive via email, several high quality jpeg images of the front view of your house. These are sample color selections for you to review. These samples can then be changed or modified based on our correspondence.

Step 6

Once you choose a final color palette, you will receive Color Placement Maps - image files with close-ups of various areas of your home, with color labels on different features of your house. This is what you will give to the painter so he knows exactly what color to paint each feature. This will make his job easier. This color placement is very important and can make or break the appearance of your house.

You will receive the paint color codes for Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams. All selected colors can easily be matched if you prefer another paint manufacturer.

You will receive Color Testing Instructions. Before you paint, color testing is recommended. Although you are receiving a quality image of your house colors, colors selections are provided as a guideline. The image you see on your computer may look different on another computer and on your house.

You may use the colors we recommend, but we strongly suggest you purchase small test cans of paint and test the colors on one small area of your house to see how they work together in your particular environment at different times during the day. The trees and lighting within your landscape affect the appearance of colors. Exact colors can appear different on houses in different locations. Your neighbor's house will affect how your colors appear. You may like how the color looks on your house in the morning, but not during mid-day. Test the colors and give it a few days to really get the feel of it.