There’s something undeniably special about historic homes – their quiet and enduring elegance, their understated and unmistakable charm, and the way every crooked floorboard and drafty window seems to whisper a bit of history.
At Catchlight Painting, we don’t just paint historic homes – we revere them and partner with their owners. Our work is about honoring craftsmanship and materials from centuries past while making sure that our repairs and finishes serve as conscientious stewardship of the house for future generations to appreciate.
Historic and antique homes in New England are master classes in proportion, scale, and form. But beneath the architectural poetry lies a symphony of aging materials – aging horsehair plaster, calcimine ceilings, elaborate moldings often caked with lead-based paint, scalloped shingles, original double-hung windows, and more. These elements require more than a quick coat of paint; they require knowledge, experience, curiosity, care, and a deep appreciation for the quirks that only a historic house can offer.
Let’s start with paint; in the good old days, lead white was added to oil-based paint to create a dense, durable, and opaque coating – today that same paint is a toxic challenge to work with. Inside or out, we use lead-safe methods to remove delaminating layers or sand to create a smoother, more aesthetically pleasing finish, without compromising your health or the integrity of your millwork. We then apply the best modern paint money can buy.
Clear finishes – varnish, shellac, and more modern lacquers – are gently revived with very fine steel wool before recoating. Handrails and newel posts sometimes just need a thorough cleaning to remove accumulated hand oils; sometimes, all a surface needs is a good spa day.
Then there’s plaster – the delicate backbone of your walls and ceilings. When the original plaster keys break and allow the plaster to sag, we don’t simply slap on a quick patch. We stabilize old plaster first using plaster buttons (yes, that’s a real thing); only then do we excavate and repair with materials that are compatible with the original substrate.
Even your old windows get the VIP treatment. We remove old, broken putty, clean the sash bed, and prime it with a linseed oil-based finish to ensure the new putty is seated on a properly prepared bed. The putty is knifed to leave behind a smooth veneer; paint is applied after suitable drying days have been allowed. We’ll also replace broken glass, and if needed, source antique glass and hardware to preserve your home’s character. We’ll even fix those frayed or broken sash cords – because a window should not be allowed to become a guillotine…
At Catchlight, we believe every historic home deserves thoughtful, informed care. That’s why our painters are trained problem solvers – historians with brushes, ready to revive the beauty that time has (gently) worn down.
If your home has a story to tell, let us help it shine, without losing a word of it.
