A tour client, who has become and friend, blog reader and a “Le Trip France” Facebook “liker” (how do we say that now?) asked me over on Facebook about typical colors you find in shutters and awnings in Provence. 

The pictures are so beautiful that I thought I’d repost here at the blog, just for your viewing pleasure or maybe for some inspiration on your next paint job.

I didn’t have any pics of them per se, but my first thought was Roussillon where I feel like I got the best color lesson of  my life: pastels and earth colors are a total knockout combination. I even use the lesson for make-up.  (I have blue eyes so I now always use a slightly ochre or earth brown base for eye shadow – makes  my eyes look bluer!)

You can see the pastel shutters pop even from a distance, when paired with the earth colors.

I love bringing my clients to Roussillon because it is a total immersion in unbelievable natural color.  It becomes an imprint in your mind forever after.

The blue sky couldn’t be matched with a more perfect color than this façcade. Note the marbling effect in the building wall, and the deep ochre “cement” in the rock wall.

I’m showing some pictures of the beautiful village.  The ochre color comes from the ochre quarry that the village is built on.  This is a total nature walk that is stunningly beautiful.

 The white door frame is striking against deep ochre.  Again lots of layers of color in the wall.

A close up.

There is a school and a museum nearby that gives lessons in painting, and you can also buy the natural pigment in the village to bring home and add to your paint, which clients often do and they are thrilled with the results.

Look how pretty the pastel gray green olive tree leaves are against the earth colors.

And speaking of Facebook, please fan me over at Le Trip France.  I am currently giving a 10% discount off all items (auctions included) in my eBay and Etsy stores, to all Facebook fans, plus there are some fun conversations going on.  I hope you join us!

Greens and yellows pop!

A more muted take on ochre and pastels.

No painted shutters the Provençals are famous for, but naked wood also looks great against the ochre.

Brilliant!

When you visit the “Le Trip France” page, you can visit the Facebook Store, too. I am slowly but surely adding a little private photo gallery of low priced must-haves for sale, for Facebook fans only. 

I just picked up these vintage Provençal seedling pots when I stumbled upon an antique market in Aix this morning.  Since they are Provençal earth toned and in today’s post theme, I thought I’d sell them to the “inner circle” only.  $7.50 each plus shipping over at The Facebook Store.

The next post will be all about shutters.