We needed a section of wall to test colors and the front south-west section fit the bill. It had one window and enough clapboard area to test a number of color choices. The section of wall got both morning shade and afternoon sun exposure thereby showing how the color would shift during the day. We didn't realize it at the time but it also invited input from passing motorists and neighboring homeowners as well as showing everyone that something was being done after several decades of neglect.

Elizabeth knew well in advance that she wanted to paint the house YELLOW. On our first attempt at color we went to a local paint store and picked up a quart each of the two upper colors. The yellow to the left wasn't warm enough and the color Jim picked had a decided tan look to it. Off to another paint store and two more quarts came back (the bottom two colors.) The lower left color had just the right touch of warmth and that was the one chosen to paint the house. Elizabeth got to pick color because of the "higher rule" --the higher she had to go on the scaffolding painting, the better she had to like the color. It is a historic color from Colonial Williamsburg.

At the same time we picked up a "white" paint and two greens. We vetoed the park bench green color immediately and painted the window sash the darker green. It was almost black looking, so we selected another historic green that wasn't quite so dark.

We ended up choosing a modern white called lemon ice. It had just a touch of yellow in it. The other whites we tried looked gray next to the chosen yellow.

In the two images below can be seen various shades of yellow that were subjected to her scrutiny. She also waited several days for her paints to dry before making a final choice.