The Way We Live: Houston Residential Architecture and Design

As the fourth-largest city in the United States, Houston is also notably diverse. The city has a multicultural population, active arts scene, and booming business sector. Since its founding in 1836, the city has also seen the rise and fall of many architectural trends, which are still apparent when looking at residences throughout the many neighborhoods. If you’re in the market for a home in Houston, here’s a rundown of some of the more popular styles and ways to incorporate house painting Houston to enhance your home.

Victorian

Popular in the period between 1860 and 1900, Victorian homes actually include homes built in several styles, such as Queen Anne, Shingle, and Gothic Revival. These houses feature highly ornate decorations and embellishments as a defining characteristic. Other features common to this style include bay windows, stained glass, and steep roofs. Even large houses of this style tend to be rather narrow and tall and they can be terraced or joined. In Houston, the remaining Victorian houses, which are concentrated in the Heights area, are generally rather large and completely detached.

With this style of home you can really let your imagination run wild in terms of exterior paint. The elaborate trim can be quite contrasting to the rest of the house and the colors for both run the gamut. A popular choice is anything on the pastel spectrum. Because of the many details, nooks, and crannies, it is wise to choice a professional Houston painting company when repainting your Victorian home.

American Foursquare

Beginning as a reaction to the overly embellished and mass-produced homes of the Victorian and Revival styles popular in the period from the 1850s to the turn of the century, the American Foursquare style is decidedly and purposely plain. These homes were originally built by hand, although as they became more popular, people began to mail order them. They are characterized by their square, boxy design, inclusion of two or two-and-one-half floors, and large front porches. These houses are popular in older Houston neighborhoods, including Montrose and Eastwood.

When it comes to painting your American Foursquare, try to stick to soft colors, like ivory, for the trim and earth tones, such as brown, yellow, or green, for the rest of the exterior. If you happen to have a brick Foursquare, ALWAYS leave any exterior paintwork to a professional Houston painting contractor. Painting brick incorrectly can trap moisture and cause serious damage to the home.

American Craftsman

American Craftsman architecture is just one part of the larger Arts and Crafts movement, which was popular from the turn of the century through the 1930s. Architects of this style, like those of the Foursquare style, sought to move away from the over-decorated Victorian aesthetic to a more simple style that incorporated local materials and original handicraft. The Craftsman Bungalow was a favorite of the middle-class, as it was affordable and a sign of improved station. These homes feature covered front porches, use of mixed materials, tapered, square columns, and hand-crafted stone or woodwork. A high concentration of these homes can still be found in the Heights area of Houston.

Connected to the Craftsman philosophy of incorporating local, natural materials, Craftsman homes should be painted in colors inspired by the world around them. Muted greens, browns, and grays are popular choices, as are similarly subdued sunrise and sunset colors. When painting the trim, pick a color a shade or two lighter than the main exterior color and shutters should be painted a third, coordinating color.

Mid-Century Modern

Pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright in the United States, this style of architecture stems from the idea that form and function should work together seamlessly to create places and spaces. Mid-century modern homes, built in the years following World War II, show the desire to work with increasing updated and available technology to create living, functional art. In America, architects began to open up floor plans, use innovative materials, such as resin, fiberglass, and laminate, and integrate nature into their designs. In Houston, many houses of this style are still standing, particularly in the Memorial Bend area.

Mid-century modern homes are all about simple lines, so choose colors with that aesthetic in mind. Clean colors with bright accents look best on homes of this style. Consider white, ivory, or browns with pops of bright red, green, or orange. Because it can be a difficult color combination to pull off, it is always worth is to consider hiring a professional Houston painting company to get the exterior of your dreams.

America’s Finest Architect & His Color Palette

Pro Painters literally has you covered when it comes to house painting Houston and Houston Commercial Painting, ensuring high-quality work, efficiency, and the color combination that is perfect for you.  Our Painting Contractors Houston are skilled and consistently provide innovative looks. We value innovation and lasting workmanship that will guarantee us long-lasting relationships with our clients.

We approach our exterior painting no differently than any other expert service we provide because we understand that the outside can be the first and most lasting impression. Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), one of American’s most famous architects, understood this all too well.  In fact, he even had a specific philosophy when it came to interior and exterior paint colors. With a career spanning almost 70 years, Wright designed over 1,141 buildings and inspired an entire school of architecture. You may be familiar with some of his most notable projects. He designed the Guggenheim Museum in New York City, the Marin County Civic Center in California, the Robie House in Chicago, the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo, and his own home/studio in Oak Park, Chicago.  

We admire Frank Lloyd Wright’s imaginative approach to design and even more so; his philosophy when it came to choosing color. Two sources helped him determine his color palette: the natural surroundings of his site and the nature (texture, color, shape, etc.) of his building materials.

Wright’s famous Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City is currently white, but architecture experts believe that he would not have approved of this color. Wright’s meticulous designs of the building were based on organic shapes—spirals, the nautilus shell, etc.—and so they believe that an earthier tone would have been more appropriate.  We came across an old architectural sketch online that suggests Wright was dabbling in shades of red, including one he was well known for, “Cherokee red.”

Go Green at Home

We’ve all heard about the many ways we can improve the earth and the environment through “green” living. It’s no longer uncommon to see reusable canvas grocery bags at Kroger, hybrid cars on the road, or organic cleaning products at Target. Now, we can take it to the next level with making our homes green, inside and out. Here’s how:

• Use blown-in cellulose insulation.

Not only is this type of insulation made up of 80% recycled materials, it also cuts your energy usage by providing more efficient and effective seals.  Additionally, cellulose insulation does not contain formaldehyde or other highly toxic chemicals.

• Install a tankless hot water heater.

Unlike traditional tanks, these heaters only heat water when hot water is needed and only for how long it is needed. You can easily save energy and money by only having hot water available when you need it.

• Choose FSC certified wood & bamboo.

The FSC, or Forest Stewardship Council, encourages the responsible management of forests and ensures that wood, paper, and building materials are grown and source in a socially, environmentally, and economically responsible way. Keep in mind that bamboo can be used for more than just flooring; this rapidly renewable resource can serve as countertop and wall covering and more!

• Buy ENERGY STAR® appliances.

The EPA uses the ENERGY STAR® program to identify and encourage the use of energy efficient products. Any appliance that is labeled an ENERGY STAR® product has met strict guidelines of reducing the use of energy. Not only do these products help the environment, but they can cut your yearly utility bill by as much as 30%.

• Use paints and water-based stains with low or no VOCs.

Volatile Organic Compounds are solvents found in paint and stains that are responsible for the bad smell associated with painting. They evaporate easily at room temperature and continue to release toxins even after the coat of paint has dried. Another “green” option is to use water based stains instead of gel- or oil-based stains.

When you are building green or house painting Houston, you should never hesitate to hire professionals. When it comes to hiring a building or Houston painting contractor, there can be great advantages, like lowered cost and increased knowledge of supplies and materials. My Pro Painters is a Houston painting company that will increase the quality and speed of your project, without drastically increasing cost. And, through the use of professional “green” building and decorating, you will save money and the environment in the end.

Finding Services for House Painting Houston

A house painting Houston based contractor will not only do a great job of painting for you, but also suggest the right combination of colors. You will achieve a much better result than planning the whole thing on your own. Moreover, saving a lot of time, you will find that you also save good amount of money by hiring contractors.

Professional work 
When you hire a Houston painting company, you can be assured of a quality service. If you do the painting on your own and it wears off after a few months, and you will have to spend even more for the job. However with a professional contractor, you always get a guarantee that it won’t wear off for a certain period of time. If it does, you get a new paint job done on the affected area for free.

Skilled job 
Whether it is Houston commercial painting or house painting service that you want, a contractor has the experience and skills to give you a perfectly painted wall.