Colour Research Vol.1

Adornment of Facades

Shutter and doors painted in colour

Have they all disappeared? Or are there still shutters on the houses on your street? If so, what colour are they? Do they stand out from the facade in a strong colour shade? Or are they discreetly matched to the colour of the façade? Do they have a typical form or design that creates identity? 

Our colour scouts have been on the road in France and the Benelux and have been able to photograph some beautiful examples - shutters and doors. 


"Allez les Bleus" - Shining shades of blue in France

In France, a very specific blue is preferred for doors and shutters - more or less striking depending on the region. It is a very special shade. "It's a light blue, darker than light blue and lighter than ultramarine blue - it's somewhere in between," says our colour scout. In her opinion, it can only be found in France in this form. Weathering produces lighter and greyer variants of the typical "bleu".

Depending on the region, other shades of blue are also added: veiled lavender hues and deep Pacific blue.


Wekom! Kom Kijken! - Powerful highlights in the Benelux countries

In the Benelux countries, the painted surface usually serves as a highlight for the common brick facades. In the Netherlands in particular, brilliant shades from the entire colour spectrum are often used, although the specific orange appears very rarely on the building site. For example, the window frames, which are usually made of wood, are as brightly coloured as the wooden shutters - red is one of them, as well grass green or strong beige variations. Many shutters also show graphic patterns. These traditional signs indicate the former allegiance to a county. 
 

Tip: For painting doors, window frames and shutters, preferably use Capadur Color Wetterschutzfarbe; the water-dilutable special paint for opaque and protective wood coatings outdoors.