Colony Buff vs Sea Mariner
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Hue-wise, Colony Buff belongs to the beige family and Sea Mariner to the blue-grey family. Colony Buff (LRV 59) reflects noticeably more light than Sea Mariner (LRV 7), a difference of 52 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Colony Buff runs warm while Sea Mariner is decidedly cool, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 55.3, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Colony Buff vs Sea Mariner Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Colony Buff on one side and Sea Mariner on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Colony Buff comparisons
See how Colony Buff stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 59), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 83 vs 59, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 59 vs 6, Colony Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
Colony Buff reads slightly lighter (LRV 59 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Colony Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (59 vs 52) makes Colony Buff the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 60 and 59, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 59 vs 58), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 59 vs 27, Colony Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
Colony Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Colony Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (59 vs 55) makes Colony Buff the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 59 vs 13, Colony Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 59 vs 44, Colony Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 59), opening up a space where Colony Buff encloses it.
Colony Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (66 vs 59) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 59, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 59, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Colony Buff reads slightly lighter (LRV 59 vs 51), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 59 vs 12, Colony Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 59 vs 8, Colony Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (68 vs 59) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
Colony Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
At LRV 59 vs 12, Colony Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 59 vs 45, Colony Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
Colony Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.