diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py b/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
index 73c4c687..1fc784a1 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/__init__.py
@@ -921,6 +921,7 @@ class MyForm(QtGui.QMainWindow):
             toAddressItem.setToolTip(unicode(acct.toLabel, 'utf-8'))
             toAddressItem.setIcon(avatarize(toAddress))
             toAddressItem.setData(Qt.UserRole, str(toAddress))
+            toAddressItem.setTextColor(AccountColor(toAddress).accountColor())
             toAddressItem.setFlags(
                 QtCore.Qt.ItemIsSelectable | QtCore.Qt.ItemIsEnabled)
             tableWidget.setItem(0, 0, toAddressItem)
@@ -929,6 +930,7 @@ class MyForm(QtGui.QMainWindow):
             fromAddressItem.setToolTip(unicode(acct.fromLabel, 'utf-8'))
             fromAddressItem.setIcon(avatarize(fromAddress))
             fromAddressItem.setData(Qt.UserRole, str(fromAddress))
+            fromAddressItem.setTextColor(AccountColor(fromAddress).accountColor())
             fromAddressItem.setFlags(
                 QtCore.Qt.ItemIsSelectable | QtCore.Qt.ItemIsEnabled)
             tableWidget.setItem(0, 1, fromAddressItem)
@@ -1058,10 +1060,7 @@ class MyForm(QtGui.QMainWindow):
             if not read:
                 to_item.setFont(font)
             to_item.setData(Qt.UserRole, str(toAddress))
-            if shared.safeConfigGetBoolean(toAddress, 'mailinglist'):
-                to_item.setTextColor(QtGui.QColor(137, 04, 177)) # magenta
-            if shared.safeConfigGetBoolean(str(toAddress), 'chan'):
-                to_item.setTextColor(QtGui.QColor(216, 119, 0)) # orange
+            to_item.setTextColor(AccountColor(toAddress).accountColor())
             to_item.setIcon(avatarize(toAddress))
             tableWidget.setItem(0, 0, to_item)
             # from
@@ -1072,8 +1071,7 @@ class MyForm(QtGui.QMainWindow):
             if not read:
                 from_item.setFont(font)
             from_item.setData(Qt.UserRole, str(fromAddress))
-            if shared.safeConfigGetBoolean(str(fromAddress), 'chan'):
-                from_item.setTextColor(QtGui.QColor(216, 119, 0)) # orange
+            from_item.setTextColor(AccountColor(fromAddress).accountColor())
             from_item.setIcon(avatarize(fromAddress))
             tableWidget.setItem(0, 1, from_item)
             # subject
diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/account.py b/src/bitmessageqt/account.py
index 2342bcc5..6e1083f6 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/account.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/account.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import sys
 import inspect
 from helper_sql import *
 from addresses import decodeAddress
+from foldertree import AccountMixin
 from pyelliptic.openssl import OpenSSL
 from utils import str_broadcast_subscribers
 import time
@@ -41,6 +42,24 @@ def accountClass(address):
     # no gateway
     return BMAccount(address)
     
+class AccountColor(AccountMixin):
+    def __init__(self, address, type = None):
+        self.isEnabled = True
+        self.address = address
+        if type is None:
+            if shared.safeConfigGetBoolean(self.address, 'mailinglist'):
+                self.type = "mailinglist"
+            elif shared.safeConfigGetBoolean(self.address, 'chan'):
+                self.type = "chan"
+            elif sqlQuery(
+                '''select label from subscriptions where address=?''', self.address):
+                self.type = 'subscription'
+            else:
+                self.type = "normal"
+        else:
+            self.type = type
+        
+    
 class BMAccount(object):
     def __init__(self, address = None):
         self.address = address
diff --git a/src/bitmessageqt/foldertree.py b/src/bitmessageqt/foldertree.py
index f49b1d6d..e0ce72b8 100644
--- a/src/bitmessageqt/foldertree.py
+++ b/src/bitmessageqt/foldertree.py
@@ -6,13 +6,16 @@ import shared
 class AccountMixin (object):
     def accountColor (self):
         if not self.isEnabled:
-            return QtGui.QBrush(QtGui.QColor(128, 128, 128))
+            return QtGui.QColor(128, 128, 128)
         elif self.type == "chan":
-            return QtGui.QBrush(QtGui.QColor(216, 119, 0))
+            return QtGui.QColor(216, 119, 0)
         elif self.type == "mailinglist" or self.type == "subscription":
-            return QtGui.QBrush(QtGui.QColor(137, 04, 177))
+            return QtGui.QColor(137, 04, 177)
         else:
-            return QtGui.QBrush(QtGui.QApplication.palette().text().color())
+            return QtGui.QApplication.palette().text().color()
+            
+    def accountBrush(self):
+        return QtGui.QBrush(self.accountColor())
 
     def setAddress(self, address):
         self.address = str(address)
@@ -121,7 +124,7 @@ class Ui_AddressWidget(QtGui.QTreeWidgetItem, AccountMixin):
         self.setFont(0, font)
             
         #set text color
-        brush = self.accountColor()
+        brush = self.accountBrush()
         brush.setStyle(QtCore.Qt.NoBrush)
         self.setForeground(0, brush)
 
@@ -204,7 +207,7 @@ class Ui_SubscriptionWidget(Ui_AddressWidget, AccountMixin):
         self.setFont(0, font)
             
         #set text color
-        brush = self.accountColor()
+        brush = self.accountBrush()
         brush.setStyle(QtCore.Qt.NoBrush)
         self.setForeground(0, brush)
 
@@ -246,7 +249,7 @@ class Ui_AddressBookWidgetItem(QtGui.QTableWidgetItem, AccountMixin):
         except:
             self.type = 0
         self.setEnabled(True)
-        brush = self.accountColor()
+        brush = self.accountBrush()
         brush.setStyle(QtCore.Qt.NoBrush)
         self.setForeground(brush)