Essex Green Benjamin Moore Exterior: Why We Chose This Historic Trim Color

Benjamin Moore Essex Green is a deeply saturated, elegant historic paint color that serves as the ultimate dark green exterior trim. Perfect for capturing a classic New England style, this sophisticated shade offers a timeless way to refresh a home’s exterior features and architectural detailing.

The Historic New England Charm of Essex Green

Essex Green by Benjamin Moore is one of those classic exterior paint colors that never seems to go out of style, especially throughout New England. This deep, sophisticated green has long been used on shutters, doors, and exterior trim, adding rich contrast while still feeling traditional and understated.

From historic coastal homes in Maine to white clapboard farmhouses in Vermont, Essex Green exterior paint color pairs beautifully with natural cedar shakes, crisp white siding, and weathered architectural details. It has a depth that feels elegant without overpowering a home’s character, which is exactly why we chose it during the restoration of our coastal Maine house.

There’s a reason this shade continues to show up on classic New England homes generation after generation. Essex Green feels refined, historic, and connected to the landscape in a way trendy paint colors rarely do.

Why We Chose Essex Green for Our Exterior Trim

When it came time to repaint the exterior trim on our coastal Maine home, I wanted something richer and more timeless than the faded blue the house had worn for decades. Since we no longer had the original paint formula, I chose Essex Green by Benjamin Moore, a historic dark green I had admired for years on old cedar shake homes throughout New England.

The deep green felt classic, elegant, and perfectly suited for the age and character of our own home.

Exterior House Trim Before the Restoration

Our coastal Maine home had weathered decades of salty ocean air, harsh winters, and endless seasons by the water, and by the time we inherited it from my parents, it was ready for restoration.

The exterior trim hadn’t been painted in nearly 30 years. The original blue trim had faded dramatically over time, and the cedar shake siding had taken on the worn, weathered look that so many older coastal homes eventually do. While the house still had all of its New England charm, it was clear the exterior needed fresh life and a more defined contrast.

That’s when we decided to repaint the exterior trim in Essex Green by Benjamin Moore, a classic historic color that felt perfectly suited for the home’s coastal character and age.

Before the Essex Green Exterior Trim Paint Refresh

These before photos show just how faded the exterior trim had become before we began restoring the house.

The Original Front Entrance

The front entrance still held so much of its original coastal character, complete with vintage nautical details collected over the years. Even with the worn cedar shakes and faded trim, the charm of the old Maine house was still there; it just needed a cedar shake siding restoration and fresh color to bring it back to life.

Once the cedar shakes were cleaned and restored, the Essex Green trim completely transformed the home. The deep historic green added contrast and definition while still feeling true to the house’s original character.

Essex Green Exterior Details Around Our Coastal Maine Home

One of my favorite details from this exterior restoration was repainting all of the original storm windows in Essex Green by Benjamin Moore. The deep historic green instantly brought definition and contrast back to the house while still feeling classic and understated against the weathered cedar shakes.

Each storm window frame was carefully painted while detached and stored in the garage for the summer months before being reinstalled in the fall. Years ago, my dad added hooks along the ceiling beams so the windows could easily hang out of the way during the off-season, one of those practical old-house details that became part of the home’s story.

Seeing all of the freshly painted Essex Green storm windows lined up in the garage was one of those moments where the restoration finally started to feel real. The rich dark green gave the old coastal home a timeless New England look again, without taking away its original charm.

Vintage Coastal Details Against Essex Green Trim

One of the things I love most about Essex Green is how beautifully it works with old coastal details and weathered antiques. Once the trim was repainted, vintage pieces like our old fisherman’s bell, aged outdoor lighting, and driftwood accents suddenly stood out again instead of blending into the faded exterior.

The deep green adds contrast without feeling harsh, which makes it especially fitting for older New England homes layered with natural textures and collected pieces over time.

White Flowers Against Essex Green Trim

One of my favorite parts of using Essex Green on the exterior trim is how beautifully it pairs with simple white flowers and layered greenery around the house. White petunias, geraniums, and thick beds of pachysandra soften the deep green trim while adding that classic coastal New England contrast I’ve always loved.

Against the weathered cedar shakes, the combination feels timeless, relaxed, and perfectly suited for an older Maine home by the sea.

Essex Green Exterior Front Doors on Our Old New England House

Painting the front doors in Benjamin Moore’s Essex Green gave the exterior a deeper, more defined contrast while still feeling classic and welcoming against the cedar shake siding.

The color shifts beautifully throughout the day, depending on the weather and coastal light. After a rainstorm, Essex Green feels rich and moody, while in bright sunshine, it softens into a fresh historic green that feels right at home along the Maine coast.

And when winter arrives with a blanket of snow, the Benjamin Moore Essex Green exterior trim adds a soft, comforting contrast that stands out, especially with the cedar shakes.

Essex Green in Every Season: A New England Classic

There’s just something about Essex Green Benjamin Moore paired with cedar shake siding and a dusting of snow that feels like pure New England charm. From sailboats in summer to snowshoes in winter, this rich, timeless color carries our home through every season with grace. One of my favorite views is the deep green trim framed by fresh snow; it’s cozy, crisp, and so classically coastal.

Even after years of coastal weather, Essex Green still feels timeless and beautifully suited to our old Maine home.

And of course, we can’t forget Ella, our Bernese Mountain Dog, posing in front of the Essex Green front doors adorned with three festive Christmas wreaths, no snow needed for that picture-perfect moment.

Want to see more? I’ve linked a few favorite blog posts below to show how our home has evolved over the years since painting the trim. It’s been a transformation worth sharing.

Whether painting new trim or refreshing an older home, Essex Green by Benjamin Moore is a timeless choice that adds depth and elegance.

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