I have had HD color match another brand (BM)just by giving them the brand/paint color name. They had many programmed into their computer. It seems to match the color chips quite well.

I had paint I had custom tinted from another store and I took in some painted wood and SW matched it perfectly.

I took RH Silver Sage to BM and they matched it exactly.

I had the BM store match a Restoration Hardware color for me (Bay Laurel). It made the gallon marginally cheaper than RH and also gave my painter the consistency he expected (he really only wanted BM paint).

I don't think it's strange. If you have one, bring a chip or two, so the store can dot the final mixture on the chip for you for comparison.

Good luck!

Mary

I used BM in 90% of paint projects in recent years, but colors came from all over, such as Lowe's Earth Elements, Behr, Ralph Lauren. BM dealer matched it perfectly. Yes, definitely what clubcracker said, take one of the other manufacturer's paint swatches in and have your SW dealer put a dollop of their mix onto it. (They often do this without even being prompted if they see you have another manufacturer's swatch.) It should blend seamlessly ;)

Custom matching is possible. Computer matching is not 100% reliable, you need a good paint store with staff that have some color skilz. For every successful person with a "I walked in to Wal Mart and got my perfect color" story, there's another one for whom trying to get a color matched was a complete nightmare.

Be prepared. Definitely have chip in hand. Make sure their "sample" is dry when you compare it to your chip and do your visual color checks outside or at least by a window -- north light is best.

Lastly, if they can't nail the color to your satisfaction, you are not obligated to buy the paint. The manufacturers are all over the custom color matching thing, but sometimes the individual stores get a little cranky about it. You don't have to settle for close enough, no matter how whiny or intimidating the paint store staff can get. They all advertise the fact that they can match any other brand's color, so they should expect to be held to a quality standard.

Oh wow, I never knew you could do this!! My painter is insisting on SW paint but I tend to like the RL colors better, so this opens up a whole new world of possibilities (and headaches LOL) for me!

at home depot near me (a HD design center) they have a computer with all the formulas for the major paint manufacturers fan decks - so if i bring in the name/brand, they can get me the paint - or quite similar. it's not a perfect match (i wouldn't put a second coat in the same room with a different brand of the same color formula) - but it's very close.

I match whatever I find to the brand I use at OSH. I have never been disappointed.

I do all my paint in Lowes American Traditions. 96% of the time, they do a perfect (to my eye) match. If they can't get it where it looks right, I don't have to buy it. And seriously.......unless you are trying to do the 4th wall in a different brand of paint than the other 3, why would the tiniest degree of difference really matter?

Red

I've had a lot of RH colors matched at Lowes with no problem. Last year I painted three rooms silver sage. One bedroom matched with olympic brand, one done in American traditions (they made a mistake), and the kitchen done using actual RH paint.

A year later, I still love the bedrooms, but the kitchen color didn't work out and had to be repainted.