diff --git a/sugar/graphics/color.py b/sugar/graphics/color.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fa3a8c75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/sugar/graphics/color.py
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+_system_colors = {
+    'toolbar-background' : '#414141'
+}
+
+def _html_to_rgb(html_color):
+    """ #RRGGBB -> (r, g, b) tuple (in float format) """
+
+    html_color = html_color.strip()
+    if html_color[0] == '#':
+        html_color = html_color[1:]
+    if len(html_color) != 6:
+        raise ValueError, "input #%s is not in #RRGGBB format" % html_color
+
+    r, g, b = html_color[:2], html_color[2:4], html_color[4:]
+    r, g, b = [int(n, 16) for n in (r, g, b)]
+    r, g, b = (r / 255.0, g / 255.0, b / 255.0)
+
+    return (r, g, b)
+
+class Color(object):
+    RED   = Color(1.0, 0.0, 0.0)
+    GREEN = Color(0.0, 1.0, 0.0)
+    BLUE  = Color(0.0, 0.0, 1.0)
+
+    def __init__(self, r, g, b, a=1.0):
+        self._r = r
+        self._g = g
+        self._b = b
+
+    def to_rgb(self):
+        return (self._r, self._g, self._b)
+
+class SystemColor(Color):
+    TOOLBAR_BACKGROUND = SystemColor('toolbar-background')
+
+    def __init__(self, color_id):
+        rgb = _html_to_rgb(_system_colors[color_id])
+        Color.__init__(*rgb)