Our Mission
We aim to revolutionize the way people view and use historic home colors, combining modern technology with authentic historical practices.
Our Patents
We are patent pending for the EZ Paint Making Kit and color-matching algorithms, ensuring unparalleled accuracy and convenience for our clients.
The Road to Historic Home Colors
The journey to creating Historic Home Colors began over two decades ago with a simple idea and a deep passion for preserving the beauty of historic architecture. I'm Michael C., the founder of this venture, and like many great endeavors, this one started with a rejection that only fueled my determination.
Back in 2003, I submitted an idea to a territory manager at Sherwin-Williams. My proposal was to display popular colors on boards in their stores, making it easier for customers to visualize their projects. I was unaware at the time that the company was making significant profits from their sample quarts, costing them just 50 cents to produce. My idea, though practical and customer-focused, didn’t align with their business model, which prioritized high-margin sales from samplers. Currently, the Sampler industry is estimated at $15 billion-a-year. To include samplers, chip walls, books and strips. I now understand why my concept was turned down.
Undeterred, I continued to pursue my passion. Nearly a decade later, in 2013, I filed for a patent on a similar idea—popular colors on cards or boards. Though this patent was eventually abandoned, it was a crucial step in my journey. It taught me valuable lessons about persistence, innovation, and the challenges of bringing a new concept to market.
Fast forward to March 2023, when I filed for a patent on the EZ Paint Making Kit. This kit is designed to allow for the easy creation of small batches of paint, tailored to the specific needs of homeowners and contractors working on historic properties. The patent process is long and complex, and it will take about two years before we receive a response from the USPTO. However, this innovation marks a significant milestone in the journey that began so many years ago.
In June 2024, I took another major step forward by filing for a patent on the algorithms that power Historic Home Colors. These algorithms enable us to provide accurate, historically authentic color matches, ensuring that our clients can restore their homes with the same colors that graced them over a century ago. Because I am waiting for the patents to be issued, it is imperative that all users, either members or contractors of my website sign the appropriate documents. My trade secrets applies to the Ez Paint Making Kit, and some elements of the Historic Home Colors Service.
Today, Historic Home Colors is more than just a business—it's a mission to preserve the rich heritage of historic homes through accurate color restoration. We are a small team, and while that means orders may take up to a week to process, it also means that each project receives the meticulous attention it deserves. Every color match is a piece of history, carefully crafted to ensure that the legacy of these beautiful homes continues for generations to come.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. We are excited to help you bring the past back to life, one color at a time.
Historical Color Services
Key Features of Historic Home Colors.com
EZ Paint Kit (Patent Pending): Contractors Only
- Onsite, Instant Results: Unlike traditional services, the EZ Paint Kit can reproduce a historical color from an old brochure in minutes, right at the project site. This ensures that the final product is exactly what you need, with no delays or guesswork.
- Correct Sheen Matching: Not only does the kit reproduce the color, but it also ensures that the paint has the correct historical sheen, something that often requires custom matching and additional costs in traditional consulting.
- High-End Paint Product: The kit produces the final high-end paint product ready for use, streamlining the entire process.
Algorithmic Color Matching (Patent Pending)
- Efficient and Accurate: The patented algorithms enable a seamless process for producing both modern and historic samples. Once a sample is created, a 4-inch by 4-inch paint match card is placed in a downtown PPG Paints store for easy access and consistency.
- Historical Placement Guidance: Drawing from historical references, brochures, and company guidelines, the service not only matches the color but also advises on the correct placement of colors on your structure, ensuring historical accuracy.
- Versatile Sample Options: The remaining sample can be transformed into a variety of products, including a 1-ounce bottle of paint, a 15x20-inch PVC reusable painted color board, or 1x4 or 1x6 painted wood trim pieces, all tailored to the client's needs.
Premier Atlanta Launch
- Availability: Launching in Atlanta by the end of August 2024, Historic Home Colors.com offers a premier, high-end service that surpasses traditional methods in both efficiency and quality.
Historic Home Colors.com stands out as the superior choice for homeowners seeking an authentic, historically accurate color scheme. The service's cutting-edge technology and patent-pending innovations provide:
- Speed: Instant onsite color reproduction, including the correct sheen, eliminates long wait times and additional costs.
- Accuracy: Precise color and sheen matching, with high-end paint products ready for immediate use.
- Historical Placement: Guidance based on historical references ensures that colors are placed correctly on your structure, enhancing authenticity.
- Convenience: A streamlined process that offers everything from small samples to fully painted trim pieces, all designed to meet your specific project needs.
While traditional consultants offer valuable services, Historic Home Colors.com redefines the standard for historical color restoration, making it the clear choice for those who demand the best.