The Hunnewell Cottage in Wellesley, Massachusetts, designed by John Sturgis and built in 1871, stands as a testament to the integral role that paint color played in Victorian architectural design . The cottage's elaborate eight-color polychromatic scheme was not merely decorative—it was a fundamental element of the architectural vision, designed to harmonize with the building's materials and highlight its intricate Stick Style details . For homeowners in Wellesley seeking to understand the importance of period-appropriate colors, the Hunnewell Cottage serves as a compelling example of how color can transform architectural design. Suetam Painting & Finishes delivers expert historic painting that honors the architectural legacy of Wellesley's distinguished homes.

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The Integral Role of Paint Color in Victorian Design

In the late nineteenth century, architects recognized the crucial role of color in their designs. As the 1885 Devoe paint book, Exterior Decoration, stated: "Today, the architect, where he values his reputation and is desirous of giving his clients perfect satisfaction, is as solicitous of the color effect as of the general design of his work" . The Hunnewell Cottage exemplifies this philosophy. John Sturgis's choice of paint colors was integral to his design, highlighting the wooden architectural elements—visible Stick Style framing, bargeboards, gable overhangs, gable brackets, incised detail in the vertical board sheathing of the dormers, and the beveled edges of the porch columns and bargeboards . The colors also complemented the masonry of the first story and the glazed tiles set into the brick at the junction of the first and second stories . This demonstrates that for Sturgis, color was not an afterthought but a deliberate design choice that unified the building's diverse materials.

The Eight-Color Scheme and Its Architectural Intent

The original eight-color scheme was carefully selected to match the colors of the stone and tile of the first story . The clapboard and trim paint colors are very similar to the colors of the cast stone and brownstone, while the colors used to pick out the detail of the architectural trim are those found in the glazed tile . This sophisticated approach demonstrates the Victorian-era philosophy that every element of a building should be carefully considered and coordinated to create a cohesive architectural statement. As re-created, the eight-color scheme reveals the important role that color played in the design of this cottage, particularly in the scheme's relationship to the masonry materials, whose colors it replicates, and to the architectural elements it highlights .

The Loss of Victorian Color Schemes

The exuberant late-nineteenth-century exterior paint schemes, such as that found on the Hunnewell Cottage, often had relatively short lives. They were costly to maintain and repaint, and because these schemes arrived toward the end of the Victorian era, they fell out of favor within twenty to thirty years of their creation . In the case of the Hunnewell Cottage, the original eight-color scheme was never repainted. When the library was added to the south elevation in 1879, the cottage was painted with the ever-popular late Victorian scheme of red siding and dark green trim . During most of the twentieth century, the important role of color in the design of Victorian architecture was ignored. Grand Queen Anne and Stick Style houses were often painted a single color, minimizing the effect of their ornamental architectural elements .

The Re-Creation of the Original Scheme

The re-creation of the original paint scheme in 1993 restored the intricate three-dimensional design that the tan, monochromatic scheme had obscured . The incised detail in the vertical boards in the dormers; the beveled edges of the stick framing, porch columns, and bargeboards; and the ornamental brackets of the overhanging gables were all brought back to life with the eight-color scheme . Painted in eight colors, this architectural detail has now become an intricate three-dimensional design whose complexity is akin to the delicate pattern and colors found on the glazed tiles that Sturgis set in the brick band at the top of the first story . The paint study and re-creation revealed that the full range and placement of colors on the cottage could not have been determined without the thorough sampling and analysis of the original paints, nor could the architect's full design intent have been understood without knowledge of the exterior paint colors .

Conclusion

The Hunnewell Cottage stands as a powerful reminder of the integral role that color played in Victorian architectural design. The eight-color scheme was not merely decorative but a fundamental element of John Sturgis's vision, designed to unify the building's diverse materials and highlight its intricate details. Suetam Painting & Finishes delivers authentic, period-appropriate results that honor the architectural legacy of Wellesley's historic homes.