Exterior Paint Color Guide for North Shore Homes
Benjamin Moore Palettes by Architectural Style | Albion Contracting | Newburyport, MA
Choosing the right exterior paint color is one of the most consequential decisions a homeowner makes. Get it right and the house looks like it was always meant to be that color. Get it wrong and even a technically excellent paint job can look awkward for years.
The North Shore is home to one of the most architecturally diverse housing stocks in New England — Federal and Colonial homes in Newburyport's historic core, Victorian and Queen Anne properties along the high streets of Amesbury and Ipswich, weathered Capes on Plum Island and Newbury, and a growing number of contemporary renovations throughout Essex County.
Each style has its own color logic. This guide walks through five of the most common home styles on the North Shore with three paint palette options each — conservative, classic, and bold — all using Benjamin Moore paint names so you can take the guide straight to the paint store.
How to Use This Guide
Each palette shows three components: body color for the main siding, trim color for window surrounds, corner boards, and fascia, and an accent or door color for the details that bring the scheme together.
The conservative palettes are safe, timeless choices that will look appropriate in almost any neighborhood and appeal to the widest range of tastes. The classic palettes are slightly more characterful — still broadly appropriate but with more personality. The bold palettes are for homeowners who want their house to make a statement. They are all rooted in the architecture of the style they serve.
One important note: always sample colors on your actual house before committing. Paint a 12 by 12 inch square on the wall and live with it for a few days in different light conditions. What looks right on a screen or a paint chip will often surprise you on the house.
North Shore Home Color Guide
Benjamin Moore palettes by architectural style - Albion Contracting | Newburyport, MA | (978) 463-8996
Federal & Colonial Homes
Federal and Colonial homes dominate Newburyport's historic core. These homes are defined by symmetry and elegant proportions. Color choices should honour that restraint - deep body tones, white or cream trim, and a front door that provides the single moment of drama.
Not Sure Which Palette Is Right for Your Home?
Albion Contracting offers color consultation as part of every free estimate. Serving the North Shore since 1997.
Get a Free EstimateA Few Notes on Using This Guide
Paint names and numbers refer to Benjamin Moore paints, which are available at independent paint dealers and Benjamin Moore retailers throughout the North Shore. If you prefer Sherwin-Williams, ask your paint store to match the Benjamin Moore color — most can do this accurately using spectrophotometer matching.
The hex codes shown in the guide are approximate digital representations of the paint colors. Screen calibration varies, so always refer to a physical paint chip under natural light before making your final decision.
Colors marked with a star are palettes Albion Contracting has used on real projects on the North Shore. If you would like to see those projects in person, ask during your free estimate consultation.
A Note on Historic Homes
If your home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places or sits within a local historic district, your color choices may be subject to review by a local historic commission. Newburyport has an active Historic District Commission that reviews exterior changes to properties within the designated district.
This does not mean you are limited to dull colors — historic commissions are generally supportive of period-appropriate palettes like those shown in this guide. But it is worth checking before you commit to a color if your property is within a designated area.
Albion Contracting has been working with historic properties in Newburyport and across the North Shore since 1997. We are familiar with the local guidelines and can advise on appropriate choices for your specific property as part of our free estimate process.