Red Siding

Waterford, Virginia is rich in history, with many perfectly restored homes that evoke both the Federal and Antebellum eras. I was taken by this somewhat disheveled building with its arresting play of white against red. The simple squares and rectangles could have been stark and jarring, but for the subtle variations. Vertical lines of siding change here and there, with patches of red shifting in intensity. Streaks of silvery wood emerge from the worn white paint, blending into the gray stone and concrete. My finicky designer's eye wants to paint one of those upper windows white to balance out the composition. I can ignore that urge and love this building for its beautifully weathered surface, years in the making.