Painting Properties Around Pimlico's Garden Squares

Pimlico is defined by its garden squares. Developed largely in the 1840s and 1850s by Thomas Cubitt and his associates, the area was planned as a coherent residential neighbourhood with handsome stucco-fronted terraces arranged around communal gardens. While often overshadowed by its grander neighbour Belgravia, Pimlico's garden squares offer architecture of genuine quality and character, and painting these properties well requires the same care and specialist knowledge.

This guide covers each of Pimlico's principal garden squares and the specific painting considerations for properties on each.

Warwick Square

Character and Architecture

Warwick Square is arguably Pimlico's finest square. Developed in the 1840s, it features three-storey stucco-fronted terraces (plus basement) around a long, narrow garden. The church of St Gabriel, Warwick Square, designed by Thomas Cundy the Younger, provides an elegant focal point at the western end.

The architecture is restrained and elegant: classical proportions, simple pilasters and string courses, tall sash windows, and portico entrances. The houses are smaller than those on Eaton Square or Chester Square in Belgravia, but the quality of design and detailing is high.

Painting Considerations

Stucco facades: The same principles apply as for Belgravia stucco, but on a more manageable scale. Facades are typically three storeys (10 to 12 metres), requiring scaffolding that is less extensive and less expensive than for Belgravia's taller buildings.

Conservation area regulations: Warwick Square falls within the Pimlico Conservation Area, designated by Westminster City Council. All exterior painting must respect the conservation area guidelines. Changes to the external colour scheme require planning consent.

No Grosvenor Estate involvement: Unlike Belgravia, most of Pimlico is not on the Grosvenor Estate. This means the additional layer of estate approval does not apply, simplifying the process. However, individual freeholders and management companies may have their own requirements.

Colour palette: The traditional colour for Warwick Square facades is a warm off-white or cream, consistent with the wider Pimlico and Belgravia palette. Front doors vary more widely than in Belgravia, with greens, blues, blacks, and reds all represented.

Interior Features

Warwick Square interiors feature good ceiling heights (approximately 3 metres on the raised ground floor and first floor), simple cornicing, six-panel doors, and deep skirting boards. The rooms are well proportioned though not as grand as Belgravia equivalents. Interior painting here is straightforward for an experienced team, with the main challenge being the careful preparation and cutting-in of period mouldings.

Eccleston Square

Character and Architecture

Eccleston Square, immediately north of Warwick Square, is one of the largest garden squares in Pimlico. It was developed in the 1830s and features terraces similar in style to Warwick Square but with some variation in detailing. The gardens are notably attractive and well maintained, with mature trees that provide screening from the surrounding streets.

Painting Considerations

Mixed condition: Eccleston Square has a more varied condition of properties than Warwick Square, reflecting different ownership patterns and maintenance histories. Some facades are immaculately maintained; others show signs of deferred maintenance including cracking stucco, peeling paint, and deteriorating timber.

Terrace coordination: The visual impact of Eccleston Square depends on consistency along each terrace. Where one property has been recently repainted and its neighbour has not, the contrast can be stark. We encourage management companies and freeholders to coordinate painting programmes where possible.

Basement flats: Many Eccleston Square houses have been converted with basement flats. The lightwell areas serving these flats often need painting independently of the main facade, and access can be awkward. We include lightwell and area walls in our exterior specifications.

St George's Square

Character and Architecture

St George's Square is Pimlico's largest square, stretching from Lupus Street to the River Thames at the southern end. The terraces are grander than those on Warwick Square, with some properties of considerable size. The square's proximity to the Thames gives it a distinctive light quality, and the southern end enjoys river views.

Painting Considerations

Scale: Some St George's Square properties are larger and taller than those elsewhere in Pimlico, approaching the scale of Belgravia houses. Full scaffolding may be required for these larger buildings, with associated costs for pavement licences and parking suspensions.

Thames-side exposure: Properties at the southern end of the square are more exposed to weather, including wind-driven rain from the south-west. This means paint films deteriorate faster, and maintenance cycles should be shorter (four to five years for exterior painting rather than the five to seven years typical elsewhere).

Varied architecture: While the core terraces are stucco-fronted in the Cubitt style, St George's Square also includes some later Victorian buildings and twentieth-century infill that require different painting approaches.

Cambridge Street, Alderney Street, and Surrounding Streets

Beyond the main squares, Pimlico contains a network of attractive residential streets with stucco-fronted terraces of similar period and style. Cambridge Street, Alderney Street, Winchester Street, and Moreton Street are typical examples. These smaller streets offer terraced houses and converted flats in good-quality mid-nineteenth-century buildings.

The painting requirements are essentially the same as for the main squares: stucco maintenance, sash window painting, and interior period finishes. The smaller scale of these properties often makes them more straightforward and cost-effective to paint.

Stucco Maintenance Across Pimlico

The Common Challenge

Stucco maintenance is the defining painting challenge across all of Pimlico's garden squares. The lime-rendered facades are now 170 to 180 years old and have been through many cycles of painting and repair. Common issues include:

Paint build-up: Decades of repainting create thick, brittle paint films that eventually crack and peel. In severe cases, complete paint removal and a fresh start is the best approach, though this is expensive and disruptive.
Moisture problems: Pimlico's relatively low-lying position (parts of the area are close to sea level) and proximity to the Thames mean that rising damp can be an issue, particularly in basement and lower ground floor areas.
Pollution staining: While London's air quality has improved enormously, accumulated pollution deposits from decades past remain embedded in older paint layers. Thorough cleaning before repainting is essential.
Cement repairs: As throughout London, well-meaning but misguided cement repairs over original lime render are a common problem. These hard patches cause the surrounding lime render to fail and should be replaced with lime-based materials.

Our Approach

For all stucco painting on Pimlico's garden squares, we follow a systematic approach:

Survey: A detailed inspection of the entire facade, noting all areas of defective render, cracking, hollow sections, biological growth, and paint failure.
Cleaning: Low-pressure water washing to remove dirt, organic growth, and loose material. Biocidal treatment where algae or lichen is present.
Repairs: Cutting out and replacing defective stucco with lime-based repair mortar. Raking out and filling cracks. Replacing deteriorated pointing.
Stabilisation: Applying stabilising primer to chalky or friable surfaces to consolidate the existing paint film.
Painting: Applying a breathable masonry coating in the approved colour. Typically two coats, with additional coats over stain-affected areas.

For more detail on stucco painting techniques, see our exterior painting London stucco guide.

Sash Windows on Pimlico Squares

The sash windows on Pimlico's garden squares are original or period-appropriate replacements, with slender glazing bars and elegant proportions that are integral to the character of the architecture. Regular sash window painting is essential to maintain these windows in good working order.

Common Window Issues in Pimlico

Putty failure: Traditional linseed oil putty dries out and cracks over time, allowing water to penetrate between the glass and the timber. Failed putty must be raked out and replaced before painting.
Timber decay: The bottom rail of the lower sash is the most vulnerable point, as water sits on the sill and wicks into the end grain. We inspect these areas carefully and carry out splice repairs or Dutchman repairs where decay is localised.
Paint sealing: Windows that have been painted shut are common in Pimlico. We free sealed sashes as part of the painting process, ensuring they are fully operational when the work is complete.

Interior Colour Guidance for Pimlico Properties

Light Conditions

Pimlico's garden squares benefit from the open aspect created by the gardens themselves. Front-facing rooms overlooking the gardens receive good natural light, while rear rooms facing back gardens or neighbouring properties may be darker.

For garden-facing rooms, a wide range of colours works well. The greenery of the square gardens provides a natural backdrop that complements greens, blues, and neutral tones. Farrow & Ball's Vert de Terre, Cromarty, or Mizzle are excellent choices that respond to the garden views.

For darker rear rooms, warm, light-reflective colours help to maximise the available light. Farrow & Ball Pointing, Dulux Trade Jasmine White, or Little Greene Linen Wash are reliable options.

Period-Appropriate Schemes

Pimlico's properties date predominantly from the 1840s to 1860s, a transitional period between Georgian restraint and Victorian exuberance. Appropriate colour schemes draw from both traditions:

Hallways and staircases: A stone or putty colour with white woodwork is classic and appropriate. Farrow & Ball Old White or Little Greene Slaked Lime are good starting points.
Reception rooms: Mid-toned colours in warm or cool neutrals, with lighter ceilings and white or off-white woodwork. The rooms are well proportioned and can handle colour confidently.
Bedrooms: Softer, cooler tones for a restful atmosphere. Pale blues, greens, and greys work well.

Cost Guidance

As a general guide, exterior painting costs for Pimlico garden square properties are:

Full exterior redecoration (single house): £8,000 to £20,000, depending on size, condition, and scaffold requirements
Sash window painting (per window, exterior): £250 to £450
Front door painting: £350 to £600
Railing painting (per linear metre): £40 to £70

Interior painting costs depend on size, condition, and specification. See our guide to painting costs for SW1 flats for detailed price ranges.

Get in Touch

Whether you are a homeowner on Warwick Square, a leaseholder on Eccleston Square, or a management company responsible for a terrace on St George's Square, we can help with all aspects of painting and decoration. Contact us for a free survey and quotation.

Painting Properties Around Pimlico's Garden Squares