The triptych of townhouses at 303, 305, and 307 West 138th Street are a good example of various ways facades are restored and accented. The buildings between Edgecombe Avenue and ACP/7th Avenue had their facades painted at some point and the key to each one is what colors are used for the details. Starting from the left, the first house is probably what most folks would go for because it's a solid paint job. Many equate brick townhouses with solid colored brownstone houses so they in turn treat it as a solid palette with some accents at the cornice and lintels. The middle house is probably one of the more common color schemes with its brownstone color accented base, quoins and window arch stones (this classic combo is common in Romanesque and Queen Anne style buildings). The last color combo at far right is the most graphic with a limestone colored base, light quoins and accent stones which allude to earlier Georgian style buildings. The middle building has just recently been restored since it had a solid painted facade previously so maybe the last one in the group will also get the accent treatment also. The closest train to this location is the B,C at 135th Street. Photo by Ulysses
The triptych of townhouses at 303, 305, and 307 West 138th Street are a good example of various ways facades are restored and accented. The buildings between Edgecombe Avenue and ACP/7th Avenue had their facades painted at some point and the key to each one is what colors are used for the details. Starting from the left, the first house is probably what most folks would go for because it's a solid paint job. Many equate brick townhouses with solid colored brownstone houses so they in turn treat it as a solid palette with some accents at the cornice and lintels. The middle house is probably one of the more common color schemes with its brownstone color accented base, quoins and window arch stones (this classic combo is common in Romanesque and Queen Anne style buildings). The last color combo at far right is the most graphic with a limestone colored base, light quoins and accent stones which allude to earlier Georgian style buildings. The middle building has just recently been restored since it had a solid painted facade previously so maybe the last one in the group will also get the accent treatment also. The closest train to this location is the B,C at 135th Street. Photo by Ulysses
Hi Harlem Bespoke--
ReplyDeleteYou may be interested in an identical matching set of three buildings on 139th Street(between Edgecombe and 8th Avenue). They are in their original state--they haven't been painted. Each is different and very pretty.
Re the buildings on 138th Street: The middle one is being restored. The plan was to remove the exterior paint, but 3 treatments with paint remover couldn't get it off--that's why it was repainted. The building on the right had pink(yes, pink) paint on it, which was very old and came right off when the building was restored several years ago. Thus it was restored to the original, unpainted state. There is no plan to repaint it (horrors!).
What kind of paint removers were used? Is there a brand that works especially well for painted bricks?
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