I now have tons of experience with greige thanks to two years immersed in it. Before we moved into the Georgian, I had never lived with a single grey wall! Thus far, I find it very similar to living with whites; although, it’s a more atmospheric quiet sort of mood. We’ll look at four sophisticated greige and neutral paint colors to consider sampling. There’s good reason so many designers turn to Farrow & Ball for a timeless, sophisticated palette. Their colors are very thoughtfully considered and are historical in nature. This inspiring photo gallery with Subtle Farrow & Ball Greige & Neutral Paint Colors will help you narrow down contenders to sample.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Farrow & Ball Greige & Neutral Paint Colors
A friendly reminder: try not to let a paint color’s name influence your selection or assessment. Sometimes a color’s name will have “gray” in it when it is for all practical purposes, white with gray undertones. Or the name will contain the word “white” when it is a gray paint color.
Farrow & Ball Ammonite No. 274
This naturally understated gray is named after “the treasured fossils often found on the Dorset coast. It has a fantastically understated quality, and sits effortlessly with our Relaxed Neutrals. Neither too warm nor too cool, its subtle grey tone creates a hushed and calming feel in homes both old and new. Try pairing with All White to accent its light grey feel.”
I have sampled this gorgeous color, and it’s lovely.
If you’re looking for a neutral for kitchen cabinets that will feel slightly ethereal and subtle with white counters, you may like it.
Even though it can feel modern, it is also right at home in a traditional or historic context.
Strong White No. 2001 (Farrow & Ball)
This is one of those paint color names that may confuse you. In a French farmhouse bathroom, you can see the walls appear greige or grey with Farrow & Ball Strong White:
It always helps to see a color in different settings where the light and even the style of the home varies.
It truly is a subjective matter as to whether a color is a true greige, greyed-white, or light grey, yes? That’s why NEUTRAL is more helpful as a description.
“This cool white is both strong by name and strong by nature. One of our Contemporary Neutrals, the subtle urban feel of its light grey undertones add a contemporary twist to period homes, while staying in keeping with modern properties. Pair with Skimming Stone, Elephant’s Breath and All White in any combination for an effortlessly cohesive scheme.” – Farrow & Ball
Doesn’t it feel fresh in the living room of this old French farmhouse (above) renovated by Vivi et Margot?
Strong White was paired with Card Room Green (above), and with Railings (below).
For a low contrast look, Strong White is subtle with F&B Pavilion Gray in a bedroom:
Strong White reminds me of Sherwin-Williams Eider White which is the wall color in my kitchen and seen on the board below at top right:
Pavilion Gray No. 242
I used this color at 66% strength on our existing kitchen cabinets, and during the day with all of the natural sunlight, they appear pale blue-grey.
I mixed 2 parts Pavilion Gray with 1 part pure white (Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane in Satin).
Here’s how Farrow & Ball describes the classic mid grey:
“…was originally created for a bespoke pavilion, but is also reminiscent of an elegant 18th century Swedish colour. One of the Architectural Neutrals, the subtle blue undertones of Pavilion Gray add a contemporary touch and sense of spaciousness.“
Those subtle blue undertones are why I am such a fan of this greige! As far as I know, the examples shown of Pavilion Gray are at full strength.
While Farrow & Ball paints could be challenging to source in the USA years ago, it’s easy to order now.
Find a wealth of info about Pavilion Gray in THIS. Pavilion Gray is super similar to SW Repose Gray:
Here it is on kitchen cabinets at full strength with abundant natural light:
Easiest way to see if a paint color will work? Order samples with Samplize and have them delivered straight to your door.
Cornforth White No. 228
Here’s another gorgeous Farrow & Ball greige or neutral I have used and loved. It’s an understated grey without gray anywhere in the name:
It’s going to be darker than Ammonite which we discussed earlier in this post.
“Cornforth White is the mid tone in the group of Easy Neutrals which are totally understated and extremely versatile.
Neither too warm nor too cool, Cornforth White sits contentedly between Ammonite and Purbeck Stone to create a hushed and calming retreat.”
Isn’t it nice with natural linen?
This greige is similar to a number one bestseller from Sherwin-Williams called Agreeable Gray. All of our bedrooms here are presently painted Agreeable Gray.
It’s also similar to Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray which is the color in my dining room, entry, and living room and discussed in detail in THIS.
Hardwick White No. 5
Here’s a traditional grey you may want to sample that Farrow & Ball explains was…
Here it is on exterior trim:
and interior trim (with Schoolhouse White):
“originally created to touch up the old limewash at Hardwick Hall and doesn’t look very white to most, unless contrasted with strong shades like Off-Black.
Less blue than Lamp Room Gray and with an unsurpassed depth of colour, Hardwick White’s rich and chalky hue sits just as well in a contemporary room as it does in a historic house.”
Here’s the color on another door:
The swatch image seems to indicate this gray has brown undertones.
Idea for Mixing Greige Paint Colors
If you sample a handful of colors, you may feel torn between two paint colors. One may look perfect during the day but a little too dark at night. Sometimes a good compromise is to simply mix two favorites to create a custom color.
In our former courtyard, I mixed 50% Cornforth White and 50% Hardwick White for a custom greyed-white that was perfect for cast-off furniture that had seen better days.
How did I decide on this winning combo?
I looked to our former home’s siding color, a gentle stone hue which falls somewhere between those two Farrow & Ball greige colors.
I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.
Peace to you right where you are.
-michele
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