Noteworthy Clients

The house and garden where President George Washington lived, Mount Vernon, VA.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate of Colours collection was created from the rich legacy of color of one of America’s most historic and beloved homes. Nearly 30 of these colors are painstakingly duplicated directly from the Mansion’s interior, while period artifacts are the inspiration for many more of the 120 colors in the Estate of Colours collection. Mount Vernon and Fine Paints of Europe are honored to offer these colors that so inspired our nation’s founding for use in fine American homes today.

Fine Paints of Europe has enjoyed a working relationship with the National Trust for Historic Preservation since the early 90’s. We have had the honor on several occasions to supply paints for significant National Trust properties.

In 2004 our exterior paint system was selected for the President Lincoln and Soldier’s Home National Monument in Washington, DC. We were fascinated to discover that during the Civil War years Lincoln resided from June through November in this “cottage” on the property of the Soldier’s Home in Washington. During these troubled years this cottage served as a refuge for a beleaguered President. While residing in this cottage, Lincoln rendered some of his most important decisions about the course of the war and the direction of our democracy, including the revolutionary Emancipation Proclamation.

Lincoln was joined in the cottage by his wife Mary and son Ted as well as a contingent of active duty soldiers who served as his personal body guards. This location of pastoral beauty with sweeping views of Washington also served Lincoln as a private place for meetings with political allies and adversaries. Soldiers first hand accounts refer to Lincoln wandering the Soldier’s Home property after midnight, lost in thought and oblivious to the dangers that lurked around him. Concurrently the bodies of Union and some Confederate soldiers arrived daily for burial in the Soldier’s Home cemetery – first national cemetery – where over 5,000 were interred.

In 1999, the Armed Forces retirement home formally requested the National Trust for Historic Preservation to steward this sites preservation and development. In 2000, the site topped the National Trust’s annual list of “America’s Most Endangered Historic Places”. A surprising amount of the cottage’s historic fabric is intact, but it was imperiled by deterioration over time and lack of resources to perform crucial repairs. Shortly thereafter, President Clinton designated the cottage and 2.3 surrounding acres as a National Monument in recognition of the site’s role as Lincoln’s presidential retreat. While there are other sites and monuments with ties to Lincoln in Washington, DC and elsewhere in the United States, the Soldiers’ Home is the only site in the country – other than the White House – with strong personal and intellectual ties to the Lincoln presidential years.

The National Trust’s vision for this National Monument includes total interior and exterior restoration which will allow the cottage to be opened to visitors. Ultimately the Trust hopes to include a Visitor’s Center which exhibits that explore the ideas and actions of this great President in the context of Civil War Washington.

All woodwork at the Lincoln Cottage was painted with a system consisting of FPE Oil primer/undercoat and Hollandlac brilliant enamel. The system is expected to yield 12 to 15 year of beauty and protection. The property has just enjoyed a total exterior restoration by the general contracting firm of J.S. Cornell & Sons, Inc. of Philadelphia, specialist in historic preservation. Work includes new stucco work, roofing and repainting of exterior woodwork with Fine Paints of Europe primers and exterior paints. For further information about the President Lincoln and Soldiers’ Home National Monument, please contact Sophia Lynn (project manager) by phone (202) 829-0436, email, sophia_lynn@nthp.org, or regular mail at the President Lincoln and Soldiers’ Home National Monument, AFRH-W 1315, 3700 N. Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011-8400.

In stately Edgartown, on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, stands The Charlotte Inn. Within this venerable estabishment’s walls the proprietors, Gery and Paula Conover, have created a spirited revival of Edwardian-era elegance. From the instant the guest steps through the front door into the foyer hung with fine nineteenth-century oil paintings, then approaches a grand mahogany desk to sign the old-fashioned ledger; there is a sense of having stepped back in time.

Fine Paints of Europe is very proud that this renowned Inn has chosen to use our coatings on both the interior and exterior of their famed property.

St. John’s Parish, Louisiana

Sited on the Mississippi River, Evergreen Plantation is the largest intact plantation complex in the South. Over eighty percent of the thirty-nine buildings in the complex are antebellum; including twenty-two slave cabins in their original double-row configuration.

Jane Boddie, property manager of Evergreen Plantation, learned of our coatings through contacts at the National Trust for Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C. After speaking to several property owners and contractors who had previous experience with Fine Paints of Europe Enamel and House Paint, and consulting with the property’s owner, Matilda Gray Stream, Ms. Boddie specified FINE PAINTS OF EUROPE paints for the total restoration of the exterior of the main house and many of it dependencies.

We are honored to be associated with such a high profile landmark, which is visited by thousands of guests annually. For additional information visit www.evergreenplantation.org.

As a gateway to island history, the Nantucket Historical Association’s Whaling Museum immerses visitors in Nantucket’s vibrant past through changing exhibitions, engaging programs, and lively educational activities for all ages. Restored and expanded in 2005, the museum includes extensive displays of scrimshaw, whaling tools, decorative arts, and paintings; a rooftop observation deck overlooking the harbor; a 46-foot sperm-whale skeleton; and the restored 1847 Hadwen & Barney Candle & Oil Factory.

Fine Paints of Europe contributed its high-quality paint and primer for use on the exterior of the Whaling Museum.

Founded in 1894, the NHA preserves and interprets the history of Nantucket Island and fosters appreciation of its historical significance. To learn more about the Whaling Museum and the NHA’s programs and historic properties, visit www.nha.org.

The United States has several Chinatowns. The most authentic are in San Francisco and Philadelphia where true Chinese gates have existed for more than a century. Recently, the government of China invested over $1 million dollars for the reconstruction and decoration of the Chinese gate in Philadelphia. They brought a crew all the way from China who worked with traditional materials and Fine Paints of Europe to create a work of art.

Most interesting was the fact that the Chinese craftsman worked with “MING PRIMER” which is similar to Swedish Putty in consistency and purpose. Ming Primer is made by combining cooked tung oil, with pig’s blood, brick powder, quick lime, flour and straw fiber. This material is applied in multiple coats and then sanded to a glass-smooth finish. With the exception of the gold leaf, the entire visible surface of these gates is painted with Hollandlac Brilliant Enamel. Coatings for this project were donated by Washington Square Paint, our Philadelphia retailer, located less than 3 blocks from the gates.

Yes, that is Wine Red on the columns and it did require more than 15,000 man hours to restore this gate. Fine Paints is honored to be selected for this project.

“I can’t stop talking about the quality of your paint and the impact it is having on my art… Your product is superior of any other coating I have ever used, thanks!!” — John Clement

The Colors of John Clement

“Curvilinear forms of coiled and welded steel, tangential and intersecting …” is how sculptor John Clement chooses to characterize his work. The coating he chooses to paint his work is Hollandlac Brilliant from Fine Paints of Europe, applied over Fine Paints’ ferrous metal primer .

A Brooklyn, New York based sculptor who was born in Philadelphia, John Clement studied at the School of Visual Arts and then began working professionally under the tutelage of internationally recognized sculptors such as Mark di Suvero and John Henry. Clement’s work has been exhibited in public art installations – as well as in solo and group exhibitions – across the country.

“My sculptures are three-dimensional realizations of imaginary forms,” says Clement. “I rely heavily on the artistic process, allowing the work to evolve and mature, eventually become self-referential. Although many of my works are site-specific their form does not directly rely on the surrounding architecture or landscape. The clearly defined positive and negative space of the work, combined with its scale, creates a new framework in which the surroundings can be experienced through the sculpture … I choose to work with steel and approach the material first as an artist and second as a craftsman. The success of my work does not rely upon gimmicks or trickery in the materials, but on the implied movement and strength of form of each individual piece. The bright, primary colors used to paint the work serves to bring the form of the work to the forefront, enhancing the sense of the work leaping from the ground as well as protecting the material from corrosion.”

We couldn’t agree more. To see more of his inspirational work, visit John’s website at www.firehousestudio.com.

Fine Paints of Europe coatings have long been embraced by scores of couples who make a lifestyle and a living out of home restoration. Jim and Carol Duff of Plymouth, Vermont have just completed restoration of the Griffin Homestead, their second project in the last five years.

Sited on eight acres with two spring fed ponds near the entrance of Coolidge State Forest in Plymouth, Vermont, this authentic 1840’s cape features three working fireplaces. The “broadbrook” which runs through the Duff’s property has provided Vermont children with the opportunity to pan for gold for more than two hundred years.

The Duffs decided upon a combination of Dutch Door Green trim (ECO) with Dutch Chocolate (Hollandlac) door and stairs. The body of the home is painted with Eurolux Housepaint in color E12-39 from the One Thousand Collection. Colors were selected by the Duffs after extensive conversations with Emmett Fiore and the use of “test cans” to confirm colors before ordering paints in quantity.

Nothing brings us greater satisfaction at Fine Paints than seeing a first class job produced by a willing beginner who understands the benefit of following instructions. Thousands of American homeowners have learned that $200 to $300 worth of Fine Paints of Europe primer and enamel have the power to transform a kitchen. The result is a much more livable environment and a substantially increased home value.

Cordially,
John Lahey
President
Fine Paints of Europe

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Dearest Emmett,

You are far too kind – although I will admit to being extremely happy with my efforts! My husband helped with some of the sanding that needed to be done by hand. I bought a detail finishing power sander that was extremely useful, but because of the raised panels, it didn’t always get every spot (hence, the husband and sanding by hand).

Everybody who sees my kitchen is amazed with the transformation. Oak is not a good thing for most people around here, so many people try to paint their cabinets, and they get oak cabinets that have been painted (and that is not such a good look). As a Realtor, I see more than my fair share of homes. Painting oak never works. Until now. My cabinets look as if they were manufactured that way. I even had a neighbor call me because she noticed the cabinets as she walked past my house!

I have never even painted a wall before and am the least mechanically inclined person in the world. However, I take great direction and follow instructions to the letter. So, when you said how often and with which grit to sand the cabinets, I did. When I read 24 hours between coats, I did not even think applying another coat until 24 hours and one minute. I am somewhat of a librarian that way! So, as much as I would love to say that the kitchen is a result of my talent, it is not. The products and advice transformed the room.

Btw, I am going to follow your advice and stick with the red for now, but the LP22 will most likely be used for my formal living room which is soon to be my library. Any different prep for a non-kitchen?

Thanks again for all of the incredibly helpful advice.
Renee

Home of General George Marshall

Dodona Manor, located in Leesburg,Virginia, was the home of General George C. Marshall, a pivotal figure in twentieth century history. Restoration of this eighteenth-century estate was completed in time to honor the fortieth anniversary of the death of this great military and political leader in 2005. Dodona Manor has been designated by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as an Official Project of Save America’s Treasures. This designation assured adequate funding for the restoration and maintenance of this historic property, where the Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Western Europewas first envisioned. Dodona Manor isopen for public tours, while continuing to serve as a meeting place for world leaders.

Fine Paints of Europewas honored to be selected to provide the paint for this restoration. Competition for this project among Western European paint manufactures was fierce, as many prominent industry leaders viedto express their gratitude to the man credited with rebuilding their wartorn countries. This competition was short-lived, however, as the general contractor on the Marshall House project, the Oak Grove Restoration Company insisted upon using nothing but Fine Paints of Europe paint. The principals in this award winning firm based in Laytonsville, Maryland, Hank and Ann Handler and Barton Van Riper, are nationally recognized restoration experts who specialize insignificant historic properties. Their unique skill and judgment are regularly called upon for both private and public projects, ranging from St. Paul’s Church in Alexandriato James Madison’s Montpelier estate.

On the Dodona Manor project, Oak Grove Restoration employed enamel and house paints, which were applied to wooden surfaces which had first been prepared with Fine Paints of Europe Oil Primer/Undercoat. An unusual aspect of the Oak Grove approach is that all preparation prior to painting is accomplishedby carpenters rather than painters. As Hank Handler notes, “Prep work on two and three-hundred year old structures is substantially different from that done on new construction. Frankly, even the finest painters do not possess the particular skills and tools that are often required to prepare historic woodwork for the application of paint. ” Handler believes that it is this unorthodox division of labor that guarantees the best results.

“I wouldn’t consider using anything but Fine Paints of Europe on our projects. Over the years… I have found that when you follow their simple instruction, Fine Paints are no more difficult to apply than domestic coatings, which have less than half the expected life. Besides, every can of Fine Paints of Europe is the same as the last one, and they are not constantly changing their formulas.”

“Fine Paints of Europe has been our paint of choice since we first discovered it in 1994” –Hank Handler.

The Hudson Valley’s natural beauty and Dutch heritage, inspired the investors of Charter Capital, a Dutch-American partnership, to conceive and develop the Waterlands project – an entire community of high quality new homes constructed in the authentic Dutch style and located in the heart of the Hudson Valley in Dutchess County, New York.

The design of the Waterlands homes replicates is the architecture found in a small town in the vicinity of Amsterdam, called “Broek in Waterland”. The homes in this traditional village date back as far as the early 1600’s and have been meticulously restored and preserved.

Originally constructed in “Waterland” (i.e. Wetlands), these homes comprise a real working community which offers a high quality of life that is unparalleled even by Dutch standards. The continuity of design and museum-like quality of preservation have seen in “Broek in Waterland” have made this Dutch community a European landmark and tourist attraction.

The Waterlands project now being constructed in America will ultimately consist of twenty four custom designed luxury homes constructed largely out of authentic materials imported from the Netherlands. From the roof tiles to the floor tiles in the basement and exterior doors every significant architectural detail is of Dutch origin.

The principals in the Waterlands project were delighted to discover that Fine Paints of Europe was prepared to meet all coatings required for the project – from housepaint to interior enamel and floor varnish. Each of the twenty four homes will become a model home for Fine Paints of Europe as every gallon of paint used in the complex will be the finest coatings the Netherlands has to offer, Fine Paints of Europe. All Fine Paints of Europe for the project are being tinted and sold to Charter Capital by Sun Wallpaper & Paint with headquarters in Poughkeepsie, New York.

To learn more of this unique new community please visit http://www.brookinwaterland.com.

Gregory Stoddard began his love affair with beautiful wood in 1966 when he had the good fortune to begin an apprenticeship with one of America’s leading antique restorers. In the years that followed Mr. Stoddard developed a great appreciation for “the beautiful smooth surfaces, deep colors and rich patina” which are characteristic of quality antique wooden furniture.

Today Gregory Stoddard works with fine Honduras mahogany and hand mixed aniline dyes to replicate the colors and the patina of fine antiques.

Each Stoddard work is finished with a Eurolux varnish system of “between eight and twelve coats” with the gloss level of the final coats determined by the period of the piece. High gloss finishes are more appropriate for formal pieces while matte Eurothane is Stoddard’s choice for a primitive “country” look.
Long term client Gregory Stoddard indicates that “I have experimented with virtually every varnish formulation on the market today and concluded that only Eurothane varnish from Fine Paints Of Europe will allow me to replicate the beauty of a century year old piece while providing a durable, easily maintained finish.”

Gregory Stoddard Cabinetmaker – Restorer
9 Leonard St.
PO Box 387
Gansevoort NY 12831
www.gregorystoddard.com

Roy McMakin is an artist and designer renowned for the whimsical, beautifully crafted painted furniture bearing his trademark – Domestic Furniture™. Although originally trained as an artist, McMakin launched his furniture workshop in Los Angeles in 1986, to meet the demands of clients who had observed his furniture-like sculpture.

Roy McMakin, Bureau
The establishment of Roy’s Los Angeles showroom opened new vistas for McMakin’s boundless creativity. Each unique work that he produced enticed customers with its “unerring attention to detail, simple materials and sense of humor”. McMakin has since relocated his workshop to Seattle where he continues to oversee a team of highly trained woodworkers and painters who divide their time between the production of established favorites, new McMakin designs and private commissions.

McMakin’s creations are executed in hardwood maple, walnut and holly and combine a purist approach to joinery with a painstakingly precise painting method (up to nine coats of primer and paint). McMakin’s staff employs oil primer and Hollandlac satin enamel, countless sheets of ultra-fine 600 grit sandpaper and up to 300 hours of highly skilled labor per piece. The result is absolute perfection.

he Domestic Furniture™ workshop is unique in its high standards and focused attention to the production of individual furniture pieces, a condition that is all but extinct within the corporate culture of today’s furniture industry. Roy observes, “I’ve always loved the look of a clear oil finish which allows the beauty of wood to be seen but since I discovered your Hollandlac enamel I’ve come to appreciate that an exceptionally fine ground enamel can be as beautiful as a creation of nature.”

Roy McMakin’s accomplishments were recognized and honored in a recent retrospective of his work presented by the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.

Domestic Furniture
1422 34th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
206-768-2811
www.domesticfurniture.com
info@domesticfurniture.com

In December of 1987, Stefan Lewicki reluctantly flew to New York from Warsaw, Poland to join his girlfriend who had recently immigrated to the United States. Stefan would have been perfectly content to remain in his native Poland where after serving a rigorous six year apprenticeship he had recently achieved the status of “journeyman painter”.

Deciding to make the best of the situation, Stefan applied for and received a work visa and the insurance necessary to begin work as an independent painting contractor in America. He was very surprised to discover that a high percentage of painting contractors in our country were in his words, “not qualified to clean paint brushes”. Stefan went on to explain “even under the Communists a well trained painter took pride in his work, did first class work and was paid well although frequently under the table.”

For three years Stefan served as a painting contractor in New York City and Fairfield County, Connecticut where he specialized in white enamel trim work and was widely recognized for his exceptional “brushwork”. Even his competitors acknowledged that Stefan was capable of laying down an enamel finish better than they were, but Stefan Lewicki remained dissatisfied with the quality of his work. “In Poland I had the opportunity to work with Dutch enamels in the homes of the affluent – In America I thought everyday of what a success I could make if I could introduce real Dutch enamels to American homeowners who had never seen such spectacular finishes.”

In 1990 Stefan Lewicki was introduced to Fine Paints Of Europe by Elliott Greenberg at Ring’s End Paint in Darien, Connecticut, and Stefan’s life and the homes of his clients have not been the same since. Stefan explains, “Finally, I am able to produce my best work in my new homeland for clients who really appreciate quality. There are only three things that a painter can bring to a jobsite; his skills, his tools but most importantly the paint that he works with. No painter can do 4 star work with 3 star paint. The cost of the coatings is a small percentage of the job so that the overall cost difference between a Fine Paints Of Europe job and the same job done with a good domestic paint is seldom more than 10%. I also explain to my clients that a well applied Fine Paints Of Europe system will last at least twice as long as the best domestic paint – this is equally true of Eurolux wallpaint and Hollandlac enamel.” Stefan rests his case.

Yes, he did marry his girlfriend and they remain happily together.

View Stefan Lewicki’s profile.

Located in the Chesapeake Bay not far from Annapolis, Maryland, the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is one of nine lighthouses in our nation to have been designated a National Historic landmark. Fine Paints of has agreed to provide the non-profit organization responsible for this historic structure with the high quality coatings and professional advice required for its restoration. For further information please visit www.thomaspointlighthouse.org. This is the second lighthouse to be “adopted” by Fine Paints of Europe.

The Esopus Meadows Lighthouse which stands in the Hudson River near Kingston, New York was built in 1871 and is one of the last remaining functional woodframe lighthouses in the U.S. This precious maritime treasure which once served as home for a lighthouse keeper and his family has been saved by the efforts of a group of dedicated volunteers whose goal is to open the lighthouse to tourists. Fine Paints of Europe has enthusiastically supported the restoration of the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse since 2001 with donations of Dutch primers and paints.

For more information visit www.esopuslighthouse.org.

Homestead Inn—Thomas Henkelmann has been imaginatively transformed from its origins as an 18th century farmhouse.

This luxurious property is set on over 3 acres of exquisite gardens, with mesmerizing views of the spectacular grounds. With its beautifully appointed and renowned restaurant Thomas Henkelmann it provides a sophisticated relaxing experience which leaves guests feeling completely refreshed and revitalized.

Homestead Inn ~ Thomas Henkelmann
420 Field Point Road
Greenwich, CT 06830 USA
(203) 869-7500
Fax: (203) 869-7502
http://www.homesteadinn.com
http://www.thomashenkelmann.com
events@homestesteadinn.com

PANTONE Paints used at Palm Beach Fair to show Marie Antoinette’s favorite color

Over the past decade, the Palm Beach Fair has become America’s premier destination fair for fine art and antiques. As a sponsor of this year’s special French-themed programs, we were happy to be invited to work with Mr. E. John Bullard, Director of the New Orleans Museum of Art, to embellish the Marie Antoinette exhibition walls by offering a variety of options from Pantone Paints’ repertoire of colors.

Mr. Bullard selected Garden Green (PANTONE® 19-1528 TPX), a luxurious, somber hue noted for its balanced, restful and stately essence. Mr. Bullard’s choice afforded a sumptuous backdrop to Marie Antoinette’s grand state portrait by Elizabeth Louise Vigée LeBrun. You may know green is said to have been the Queen’s favorite color, perhaps because it embodied her love of nature as seen in the personal attention she lavished on her gardens. Pantone’s Garden Green beautifully compliments Vigée LeBrun’s lush blue and white tones of the Queen’s dress and deep reds of the table covering and the chair.

The Dublin Pub in Morristown, New Jersey was recently repainted by a contractor named Pat Murphy of Morristown, New Jersey. Paint used for this project was purchased at Ricciardi Brothers which is also in Morristown.