Thursday, March 28, 2013

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese



There's a new color scheme being served up all over the neighborhood. 
I call it Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese.



When I was at lunch at Sam's in South Boston recently and saw it on the menu,
I just couldn't resist ordering it so I could juxtapose the photos.



This is a two-family house I wanted to buy several years ago.  It was about as crusty as
a grilled cheese sandwich back then and I decided it was too scary of the project.
Someone bought it, fixed it up and flipped half of the house for the same price
as they paid for the entire house.

It was then I learned, don't be afraid of crustiness.

via

This house was the first in the neighborhood to use TS&GC color scheme
about three years ago.   The others all quickly jumped on board.


via




This one switched things up a little bit with bronze window sashes.


photo:  me


I think I like it better with black accents.

What do you think?  Could you warm up to TS&GC on your house?
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46 comments:

  1. Sette Design 7March 28, 2013 at 3:45 PM

    Steve,
    I'm just glad your blog is effecting what you eat. Yesterday I wanted to photograph a cup of tea and then after I realized I got to sit down and drink it.

    The colors are very Italian, yet look great on wood and I like the macho black door.
    cheers!

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  2. AnonymousMarch 28, 2013 at 5:29 PM

    I have reached the chronological age where I no longer feel the need to hide out with neutral conforming colors. Sign me up for the tomatoes and cheese. Are you going to join me? Ann

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  3. seablueleeMarch 28, 2013 at 5:31 PM

    Does a California ranch in red "used" brick and yellow ochre stucco count? :)

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  4. acorn hollowMarch 28, 2013 at 6:46 PM

    I love it! I think it looks great I too love the black accent.
    Cathy

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  5. Karen at Home Sweet HollywoodMarch 28, 2013 at 7:11 PM

    Sometimes crusty is good. I'm really craving this delicious duo now...thanks!

    Beautiful homes in your town. I like the black accent too.

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  6. DebMarch 28, 2013 at 7:19 PM

    It looks nice but I may not eat TS&GC ever again!

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  7. CamilleMarch 28, 2013 at 7:45 PM

    I prefer to eat those colors.

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  8. Ocean Breezes and Country SneezesMarch 28, 2013 at 8:05 PM

    Mmm, love it, and the house too! LOL

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  9. A Perfect GrayMarch 28, 2013 at 8:13 PM

    i'm a grilled PIMENTO cheese kinda gal myself...

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  10. From Beyond My Kitchen WindowMarch 28, 2013 at 8:55 PM

    I love it on other people's houses, but I'm a pale paint type girl with my own home.

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  11. Kerry Steele- Design du MondeMarch 28, 2013 at 8:59 PM

    I'll eat a grilled cheese but hold the tomato soup. Same goes for houses.

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  12. Cindi MyersMarch 28, 2013 at 9:10 PM

    Thanks, now I'm hungry again.
    While that is a favorite lunch choice, I would NOT want those colors on my home.
    The only homes in my town with those colors are older and usually outdated houses. Since I live in an outdated home, I would like something more hip and Modern. (Like Black with pops of bright green?)
    But for now, I'm staying with boring white.
    I do like this post though, food and houses, what could be better?
    :)

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  13. Mark D. RuffnerMarch 28, 2013 at 9:39 PM

    I love the color scheme but I wouldn't want a whole neighborhood of it. I say, if you can't figure out a neat color scheme for yourself, get help from the TS&GC homeowner, but don't copy him!

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  14. webbMarch 28, 2013 at 10:02 PM

    Not thrilled with TS,, myself, but it sure does beat the shrimp aformer neighbor chose.

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  15. the gardener's cottageMarch 28, 2013 at 10:15 PM

    haha, cute comparison.

    i think i already have tomato soup and tofu going.

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  16. Nita StacyMarch 29, 2013 at 12:25 AM

    It's pretty but if there was one in the neighborhood already...I wouldn't copy it. I think three of them sounds like a lot.

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  17. Linda@ Lime in the CoconutMarch 29, 2013 at 4:24 AM

    Really? There are a lot of them? It would seem like such a copy cat thing. Love the original one...but don't think I would want to see more than one in my 'hood.

    As for the real and most delectable images of this most comfortable of food pairings....Every. Day. Of. The. Week.

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  18. Susan LindquistMarch 29, 2013 at 5:45 AM

    Haha! We call this color scheme 'beans and franks' ....

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  19. la maison LaFortuneMarch 29, 2013 at 8:14 AM

    I love the architectural elements in that first picture...love the colors too...maybe it's time to change house colors? A blah all white house in our old neighborhood was just painted...apple green with tomatoe soup and grilled cheese accents...it's so cute now...the power of paint is truly amazing :)
    am

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  20. l o v e l y t h i n g sMarch 29, 2013 at 8:57 AM

    Steve, You are brilliant...I never would have thought of grilled cheese and tomato soup when I saw the house color combination...but now I'll only think of it that way.
    annie

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  21. DianneMarch 29, 2013 at 10:01 AM

    I do like it better with black accents but no, I am a neutral lover for exterior paint.

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  22. Pura VidaMarch 29, 2013 at 11:13 AM

    Funny...they say paint your dining room orange because it invites hunger...so I can see why you think of food with this combination. That meal looks pretty yummy!

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  23. SusanMarch 29, 2013 at 11:43 AM

    Not my personal top color-combo choice, but I like it with the black door the best.

    I feel for the person who was being original in their paint choices, only to have sheeple copycats make it, in the end, a bit ho-hum!

    While imitation is supposedly the sincerest form of flattery, originality counts a bit more, IMHO.

    When we were kids, my ma would put shell pasta in our tomato soup-thanks for activating that fun memory today :)

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  24. My Little BungalowMarch 29, 2013 at 12:07 PM

    It's a bold combination for sure. I prefer muted earth tones for the outside of a house. Love the photos of the tomato soup & grilled cheese sandwiches. Making me hungry ...
    Claudia

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  25. Bethany [at] Powell Brower HomeMarch 29, 2013 at 2:51 PM

    omg i cant even read this post - - that looks DELICIOUS and its gonna make me wanna break my diet

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  26. AnonymousMarch 29, 2013 at 4:20 PM

    Interesting color combinations...perhaps the homeowners were inspired by this:

    http://www.sampleboard.com/boarddetail/6809

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  27. AnonymousMarch 29, 2013 at 8:08 PM

    I LOVE the colour schemes and your pictures of the tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches. Our roof is the same color as the tomato and our boards the toasted cheese, trimmings are bronze green. Ann, Australia.

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  28. Carol@6WilsonBlog.comMarch 29, 2013 at 8:17 PM

    Okay, I have to confess I'm not a fan. Of the color scheme. The food? Oh yes. I do like the very last image with the black, but overall, a no-go for me, and now, of course, I will only think of tomato and cheese when I see that combo! Your own food images are gorgeous. I can't decide if your true calling is photographer or designer. But then, why choose. :)

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  29. flwrjaneMarch 29, 2013 at 8:35 PM

    I would like to cover my front door in tomato soup.

    Then sit in front of it eating a grilled cheese sandwich.

    I just made a cheese quesadilla and a tomato avocado salad. Ole?

    xo J.

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  30. BonnieMarch 29, 2013 at 10:53 PM

    Well I suppose if you analyzed my brick color, one might say I sort of have already embraced at least the tomato soup part of the combo. Now I am so craving a grilled cheese sandwich, thank you very much! Bonnie

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  31. ElaineMarch 30, 2013 at 1:43 AM

    I think it's nice to look at. But not on my house. But who am I to talk?
    My house is mustard colored.

    I do adore grilled cheese and tomato soup. Today I had a tomato tortellini soup and the best grilled cheese I ever ate. Try Zuzu's Cafe in Wakefield. A tiny little place on Main St near the lake. It's fabulous!

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  32. Robin KentMarch 30, 2013 at 8:52 AM

    Great analogy. When the house across the street was bought by new people and repainted, the primer was a lavender color. Got my imagination going! Since my next door neighbor has a Vicotrian Inn painted pink, I thought wow! I'll paint mine a funky color also in the future, then set out to look at livable, colorful possibilities. Sadly, the top coat on the lavender house was more of a aubergine. My dream of a painted ladies section in town is on hold for now.

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  33. Sharon ParkerMarch 30, 2013 at 10:24 AM

    I like Jane's idea! I do think the food shots are yummier than the house ones; the first house is really eye-catching, then it becomes less appealing the more it's imitated. I could see some variations on the theme, though -- brick and butterscotch, anyone?

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  34. debra @ 5th and stateMarch 30, 2013 at 11:07 AM

    i am more peanut butter and jelly

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  35. RuthMarch 30, 2013 at 2:34 PM

    Wow. You are brilliant to spot this trend & give it a name. Now I know what happened to the house behind me which always looked quite nice in white with black accents until it succumbed to the TS&GC madness that is apparently sweeping the country. Actually it looks quite cheerful & I'm sure its owners love it!
    Cheers,
    Ruth

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  36. Acquired ObjectsMarch 30, 2013 at 6:43 PM

    Now I'm hungry for TS&GC, thanks Steve! It's a beautiful color mix but I'm probably not bold enough to do it on our home. I do love it with the black accents too. You always amaze me with what you notice.

    I hope you're having a good weekend!
    XXX
    Debra~

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  37. AnonymousMarch 30, 2013 at 8:26 PM

    Loved this! How clever!
    -Suzanne in Illinois

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  38. AmeliaMarch 31, 2013 at 10:00 AM

    I like this color combo but agree that one is enough. I'm also very hungry right now, thank you.

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  39. louiseApril 1, 2013 at 5:15 AM

    Perhaps when you tire of the cheese and soup you could try rhubarb and custard?

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  40. kbdApril 1, 2013 at 1:25 PM

    I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but did you see this?
    http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/dining/a-sophisticated-take-on-tomato-soup-and-grilled-cheese.html?ref=style

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    Replies
    1. An Urban CottageApril 1, 2013 at 1:45 PM

      Thanks for the heads up. I've tried a few different recipes and haven't found the perfect version yet. This one sounds interesting and I have that cookbook so I might give it try. Thanks for stopping by, kbd!

      Delete
  41. Stephanie BerryApril 2, 2013 at 12:30 PM

    I like this color combe a lot. The only problem I would have is all my pink perennials and annuals would clash with this. Your roof looks good. Ours should be done soon. Still trying to get a decent refund on the defective shingles from last job.

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  42. AnonymousApril 4, 2013 at 5:01 PM

    Yikes !!! Not a fan, but I agree with you on the black accents :)

    How was the grilled cheese nothing better on a cool day huh ?? (Or any day lol)

    Kathy :)

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  43. Alicia@ eco friendly homemakingApril 5, 2013 at 10:37 AM

    I like the black accents also and that soup and grilled cheese looks delicious!!

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  44. SHERRY HARTApril 6, 2013 at 7:18 AM

    That would be a big fat no to the paint combination.....but I really LOVE GC&TS in a huge way.....it is on regular rotation around here....

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  45. DonnaApril 7, 2013 at 9:19 AM

    Very, very, very clever post, Steve! Love it.

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