The color we’re named for.
Look up on almost any porch in Charleston and you’ll see a pale blue ceiling. The tradition is old, and it comes from the Gullah Geechee people of the Lowcountry.
Where it comes from
A “haint” is a restless spirit in Gullah tradition. The belief was that spirits couldn’t cross water, and a porch ceiling painted the color of water and sky would keep them from coming into the house. Early versions were mixed from what was at hand, including indigo, lime and milk.
Why it stuck
Over generations the color spread far beyond its origins, across the South and beyond. People will also tell you it keeps wasps from nesting and makes a porch feel like it’s still daylight at dusk. Whether or not you believe any of it, it looks right on a Charleston porch.
Our name
We chose the name because porch ceilings are where most of our customers first call us, and because the color says Charleston before anything else does. We try to honor where it came from by telling the story accurately.
Your ceiling, the color of the sky.
The painting contractor’s site, built in seven days.
Sixteen pages: a Charleston color library, lead-safe practices for pre-1978 houses, the city’s BAR color-change process, and prep written so a homeowner can compare three bids.