When Julie and Mike bought their house 20 years ago, they were drawn to its Italianate style and pink stucco exterior. “It was unusual for Richmond, but very attractive,” Julie says.
Tucked away in a tree-filled neighborhood, their pink house always stood out against their neighbors’ more traditionally colored homes. But when the couple needed to repaint the exterior in 2010, the neighbors implored them to keep the pink: “They said, ‘Don’t change it,’” Julie laughs.
For that refresh, H.J. Holtz & Son team members brought nine different shades of pink to determine an exact shade match.
Fast-forward 10 years, and it was time to paint again. But Julie and Mike were ready for a change. They color-shopped for a year, finally finding the wall and trim hues they wanted on a house that was for sale. Rather than try to track down the owners to identify the specific shades, Holtz & Son president Rick Holtz used his Datacolor ColorReader, a handheld device that scans surface color and provides digital values that can be matched precisely. The new colors? Benjamin Moore Manor House – a “taupey brown,” Julie says – for the walls, and Benjamin Moore Museum Piece – a cool gray – for the trim. For the finishing touch: a blue door, Benjamin Moore Lobelia.
Julie says she appreciates the care and attention the Holtz team showed as she and Mike were making a big color change. “Rick knew I was a little nervous,” she says. “His guys came and were so kind. They put test colors on all sides of the house, so we could see the colors in different light.”
Additionally, Julie says, one side of the house was painted in full, with both wall and trim colors, so they could see how the combination would look alongside the terracotta roof tiles. “We had all the neighbors come over, and they liked it, too,” she says. “It was very affirming.”
Julie remembers working with Rick’s father, Richard L. Holtz, when they purchased their first house, more than 30 years ago. Then, the couple planned to paint their new house on their own in the three months leading up to their wedding. They quickly realized the job was too big, and they needed help. “I think our contractor first recommended” H.J. Holtz & Son, Julie says.
Julie says that, years later, the Holtz team continues to show attention to detail, with “meticulous” care from start to finish. “They are hugely polite, very clean…they don’t smoke at your house, they don’t leave trash,” she says. “They are as thoughtful as they can be, and they are here when they say they’ll be here. At our River house, [those painters] are not there when they say they will be.”
During the recent job, when there was any question about how to proceed, Julie says, she and Mike were always consulted to ensure everyone was on the same page.
“The thing I remember about Rick’s dad is, if something went wrong, he would make it right,” Julie says. “I suspect Rick learned that from his dad.”