How to identify exterior colors on buildings in Nice?
 

We just got back from France and would love to paint our house the colors of the buildings around the main square (shown here http://www.123rf.com/photo_7440238_b...ce-france.html). How do I find out what those are? I tried eyeballing it and picking out colors and they were wrong (just painted samples on the house). I used the Sherwin Williams app where you use a photo and it finds the colors but those don't look right either.... Help!

Sorry, the correct link is http://www.123rf.com/photo_7440238_b...ce-france.html

I don't think this is a really a post for the Europe forum, but a general question about how to get custom paint colors. If I understand correctly, you want to know how to match colors you like in a photo and get paint like that in the US, that shade. That link didn't work, BTW, at least not for me.

I would suggest you take your photo to a place that custom mixes paint colors very well. I had simply a paint swatch that I wanted matched by Benjamin Moore and they did a superb job. I mean the swatch was basically just a couple inch square color on a piece of paper, it had nothing to do with their company (it was a completely different brand they didn't know). They had a guy who mixed colors who was really good.

Yeah, color swatches work way better than photos for color matching, and unfortunately I couldn't exactly peel off a piece of paint from a public building! I was actually hoping someone who had been to Nice just knew those colors, or how I could find them. They are pretty prominent there. The second link should work to see what I mean.

I think it's difficult to match the color in a photo since images print differently depending on the computer and printer. When I looked at your image the shutters are definitely blue, not green. Since this is a stock photo the colors may have been digitally enhanced.

I agree about how wonderful the building colors are in Provence. Most of the time it's the base material of the building (such as stucco) plus the aging of the paint.

You need another trip back there to ask about the colors!

If you read French, go to www.google.fr and type in couleurs bâtiments Nice. I haven't looked at the sites, but a gazillion came up, including stores that sell exterior paint colors and regulations that govern the colors you can use for exterior walls.

Where do you live? A good interior decorator should be able to help you find the colors or get them custom made for a not-too-exorbitant fee.

But please be aware that light changes the perception of color. The angle of light and its quality is different from where you live, and the surrounding environment (the blue of the sky, vegetation, etc) also affected your perception of those colors. Even if you match the color itself, it will look different under a different colored sky surrounded by different trees and plants.

StCirq, I don't speak French but I can stumble through reading it kind of, so thanks.

Adrienne, I like the way you think!

And Vespacurves, yeah, I know about the colors changing because of the light, etc. I am thinking I want something "inspired by" that scheme, not the colors exactly because that's not likely. We found a good candidate for the main color we like, so it's on to the trim and shutter color next. My husband will take a run at it tomorrow and see where that gets us.

I have a spanish colonial revival but I don't like earth tones. Right now it's pink and we were just going to redo it in the same color until we went to Nice. But now I want that paint as the ultimate reminder of our vacation!

Even without reading French, you might have some fun wandering around this section of the Leroy Merlin website (it's a chain like Home Depot): http://www.leroymerlin.fr/v3/p/idees...de-l1308216392

I think it's just a case of trial and error, although having samples made up can get pricey. I would ask around for opinions on the best paint mixer in your area. I had very good luck with Benjamin Moore. The major paint brands often have theme brochures, you might find one featuring Med/Provençal colors.

We wanted bright blue shutters for our SW France house, finally chose a Dulux (UK) color, Regatta Blue, I think. Thought it would weather-down over time but three years on it's a bit "in your face", a credit to Dulux but now I wish we'd chosen a softer blue.

Good luck, love the color combinations in the photo.

In most large cities, you can find a bookstore like Barnes and Noble that sells French decorating magazines. "Sud" is I think the name of one that features Provence. Check the colors in there and take the pages with the appropriate ones to a Benjamin Moore dealer.

You can try to borrow Pantone color picker which is a standard set of paint colors than anyone can mix.

I found a simulator for the authorized colors for the city of Nice: http://www.porcu.fr/pages/simulateur...tion-porcu.cfm

kerouac, you ROCK!! That is perfect. And thanks so much for the rest of your help, it was very very helpful. Love this board.

<< "Sud" is I think the name of one that features Provence>>

I think it's Côte Sud, at least the one I'm familiar with. They do sell in at B&N, at least here in DC.

Okay, an update. Using the fine color simulator kerouac pointed me too my husband and I were able to narrow down colors, then pop up the Kelly Moore website and find shades that we thought would work. My husband went and got six samples (two versions of main color, trim, and second trim) and we put swatches on the house and found a winning combination. Sooo much less stressful than it was looking like it would be. Thanks so much guys!

Way to go, Monica! Glad it worked out for you.

Excellent! Expect photo at later date!

Kerouac, you continue to amaze!

And St Cirq, it is "Cote Sud"; thanks. We always buy glossy magazines like that in departure area newsstands at the airport on the way home, but I knew I had seen it at bookstores here.

Why dont you just ASK them which paint they use.........too easy?

I am 99.9% sure the paint used would not be available in the U.S so while your suggestion is practical, the answer wouldn't help.