Customer Reviews

Authentic Color Schemes for Victorian Houses: Comstock's Modern House Painting, 1883 (Dover Architecture)

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To quote the book, "Those of our readers who expect to find lists comprising all the various scales of color, giving definite information as to what particular color should be used to harmonize with this or that shade, and telling just what combinations are allowable, and just what are to be condemned, will, therefore, be disappointed." This book covers how to prime wood and mix colors (reddish brown color is achieved by mixing Indian red and burnt umber) and does give specific color schemes. This is a reprint from 1883, and the authors mentioned that the printer could not replicate most of the color schemes they envisioned (maybe I need to get watercolor paint and mix the suggested colors to see what they intended). We are building a Victorian home, and I was looking for ideas of what worked well in the past, but the rust red, dark mustard yellow, greens and browns they showed did not inspire me as I had hoped. It does have helpful information about color selection, but it is fairly generic in nature. Most of the plates are house exteriors, but there are a few interior plates as well.

Good for someone with a need for very basic color scheme for historic homes. No imagination needed. Colors are boring by our modern day standards, but give the old world look desired in the older victorian neighborhoods that despise the brighter californian look.

I was looking for color palettes for Victorian houses. This was VERY limited to only a few house elevations and SLIGHT variations on the color schemes. I haven't read through the text but for what I was looking for, it wasn't worth it.

After one realizes the victorians didn't have access to brilliant colours and variety we have today,one finds it quite good. The 3-toned schemes are great and not what we use today. I'm happy with the book.