Wellesley is home to the Hunnewell Cottage, designed by renowned architect John Sturgis and built in 1871 . This elaborate Stick Style house represents a significant architectural achievement and features a complex exterior paint scheme originally requiring eight distinct colors . Preserving the beauty of a Sturgis-designed home requires a specialized approach that respects its architectural integrity. Suetam Painting & Finishes provides expert Sturgis-style home painting in Wellesley MA, delivering polychromatic colors and period-appropriate finishes.
For professional Sturgis-style painting, Painters in Wellesley, MA deliver polychromatic colors and period-appropriate finishes.
The Architectural Legacy of John Sturgis
John Sturgis was a prominent architect whose work in Wellesley includes the iconic Hunnewell Cottage . His designs are characterized by elaborate decorative elements and a commitment to architectural craftsmanship. The Hunnewell Cottage, with its Stick Style features, cast stone and brownstone first story, and glazed tiles with brightly colored geometric patterns, showcases Sturgis’s attention to detail and his ability to harmonize different materials and colors .
The Original Paint Scheme
The 1991 paint study conducted by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities Conservation Center revealed that the cottage was originally painted with eight colors . The clapboard and trim paint colors were selected to blend with the cast stone and brownstone, while the colors used to pick out the detail of the architectural trim were drawn from the glazed tile’s geometric patterns . This complex paint scheme demonstrates Sturgis’s holistic approach to architectural design.
Re-Creating Historic Paint Schemes
The re-creation of the Hunnewell Cottage’s original paint scheme in 1993 required careful planning and execution . Issues addressed included how historic wood surfaces should be prepared for repainting, how lead paint should be dealt with during surface preparation, what type of paint should be used, how information about the location of the different colors should be conveyed to the painting contractor, and the level of supervision required to successfully complete a paint restoration project of this scope .
Conclusion
Preserving a Sturgis-designed home requires specialized knowledge and respect for its architectural heritage. Suetam Painting & Finishes delivers polychromatic colors and period-appropriate finishes for these distinguished Wellesley properties.
