Light in a Brooklyn row house or railroad apartment comes from the front and back only, so a color can look right in one room and dull in the next. We help you choose colors and sheens with samples on your own walls. For exteriors in historic districts, we check what needs approval first.
Light is the main reason color is hard to choose in Brooklyn. A row house or railroad apartment has windows at the front and back and none on the sides, so the middle rooms see little daylight. A north-facing parlor gets cool, even light all day. A south-facing garden floor room turns warm in the afternoon. The same paint looks like two colors in those rooms. We look at each room at the time of day you use it and then narrow the choice.
A consultation is practical. We start with what is staying: floors, the mantel, tile, counters, a sofa, the wood of an old staircase. We suggest a short list of colors for walls, ceilings and trim, and put samples on your wall or on boards you can move from room to room. Sheen is chosen along with color. Flat hides the waves in old plaster. A washable finish suits kitchens, baths and hallways. Trim and doors take a harder, glossier coat that shows off the moldings.
Outside, the choice is often narrower. On a brownstone block the cornice, windows and door are usually painted in colors that sit well with the stone and with the houses on each side. In a historic district the Landmarks Preservation Commission must approve a change of exterior color before it happens, so we check your address first. Wood-frame houses in Flatbush and elsewhere allow more freedom, with body, trim and accent colors. We can show you combinations on the house before you commit.
Color consulting in Brooklyn: common questions
Which white works in a room with little daylight?
A warm white or a soft off-white usually does better than a stark one, which can turn gray in weak light. The only sure test is a sample on the wall, seen in the morning, the afternoon and under your lamps.
Should the trim be a different color from the walls?
It is your choice. A lighter trim in a higher sheen sets off the wide casings and baseboards in older houses. Painting walls and trim the same color in different sheens is a calmer look that suits small rooms.
Is there a list of approved colors for landmark houses?
The Landmarks Preservation Commission reviews color changes and publishes guidance for owners on nyc.gov. Its staff decide what fits your building. We can help you put samples together for that application.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.