You see we have had such lovely crunchy frosts the last few days and I decided last night, in all my wisdom, that this morning I would get out the macro and slither across the freezing ground and shoot through the frosted garden into the glow of a rising sun.
Oh what heavenly shots of glistening frost I shall post, I thought.
Um, no frost this morning was there. Hmm. Change of Plan.
So instead I have posted a few of yesterdays research shots, as I try to track down a more relevant and more period shade of the Old Red Barn. It is an interesting study. So far it appears to me that the romantic notion of the Red Barn is not really historically correct. Density, materials, location – there are many mitigating factors. And at what period in the aging (though I would rather say progression) of this colour should we point and say -that one. That red is correct. But I am sure so far that The Red Barn should really be a much warmer colour. Though I do not know its name. Describing a colour is a little like describing the sound of a banana. We all use different visual references. 
But definitely Not the heavy, blemishfree, built to last, break your eyes Red of the modern claddings. The Old Red barn was much more organic and restful I think. More of a wash that soaked the wood, rather than covering it. It had umber in it and iron and a sunburnt orange, I don’t know. More research needed.
Good morning.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
75 responses to “Foolishly depending on a Frost and seeking the Red of a Barn.”
Hi Cecilia. Love these photos. I am after some ideas for a fabric wall hanging. You photos are so detailed – inspiring! Sorry can’t help with the red!
Regards Florence x
Hi Celi,
My nephew is an architect doing his PhD, and amazingly he did a recent paper on traditional barns. He writes, and I’ve just quoted straight from his email …
Traditional barns used what is called “Milk Paint”, the original pioneer recipes had two things in common, milk and lime, the classic red barns are the result of milk and the availability of red pigments in the form of iron oxide or blood from livestock. The closest that you can get to the traditional red is “The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company” in Massachusetts http://www.milkpaint.com/
This is as close as you can get to the original color, http://www.milkpaint.com/color.html and for other paint manufactures, unfortunately, you will end up with a very bright red.
Go to http://www.milkpaint.com/prod_mp.html and then click on the 20 colour link. That goes to: http://www.milkpaint.com/color.html the first colour is called Barn Red, and shows the colours mixed to achieve it.
Hope this helps in your research. 🙂
Ms Misk, this is brilliant, thank your nephew very much. John is a wee bit reluctant to use the blood of a fattened calf so i am going to go to the milkpaint site and see what they have.. very cool,, thank you so much.. c
I’ll be sure to sure tell Caleb for you, and good luck.
Hi C!
Good morning to you too 🙂
Are you home? Yay, I shall pop over! c
many a good plan goes asunder 🙂
true enough, one door closes and a window opens! something like that. morning tandy!
That red right there, under the eaves of your barn, Celi: that red I love. Great early morning frost substitution project.
Hi Kate, It is quite startling isn’t it.. it really does have a rusty orange in there.. c
Lovely set of images Cecilia!
That darn Mother Nature is simply not to be depended on!
True.. c
Beautiful photos. I love rustic.