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Original poster

Another paint question - help with grey

40 replies

madcows · 04/11/2011 12:12

I really hope someone can help, as we're in the middle of painting... and having a paint nightmare (if that is possible). We wanted a grey for the sitting room / dining room (big, knocked through room, that faces east-west with big windows both ends).

We went for Dulux Trade Dove. Whatever it looks like here, it came out a really purply colour. Much more like Lavender Haze on that same link. The Dulux people have been really good and mixed it up twice, because they agreed that it wasn't as it should be. It is hideous! (Sorry, if you like lavender purple!)

Need to make a quick decision over the weekend - and am thinking of getting a Farrow and Ball colour (albeit will probably get them to scan in and produce a Dulux paint).

So - I'm looking for a grey that isn't a green grey, but isn't a purple grey either. Has anyone any brilliant ideas???
Pleeeese... before I go mad!
thanks,
madcows

OP posts:
Original poster
madcows · 04/11/2011 12:14

ps - all the woodwork is white eggshell, and we'll (eventually) have wooden floors...
thanks!

OP posts:
noddyholder · 04/11/2011 12:14

Quartz flint is definitely grey. Do you just want dulux?

Original poster
madcows · 04/11/2011 12:23

Quartz flint looks good online... Have you used it, and does the colour on the walls actually look like the colour on the colour chart?!
Wanted Dulux Trade simply because of the cost, and because they deliver so fast! But as we get more desperate and run out of time i'd be willing to pay the extra and buy F&B off the shelf!
thanks,
madcows

OP posts:
noddyholder · 04/11/2011 12:33

Yes I have used it the 2nd lightest one I think was definitely grey.Craig and rose moonstone is nice too but more green sludgy than the dulux.

Original poster
madcows · 04/11/2011 12:45

Brilliant, thanks for that!
Anyone else want to share their grey-paint-experiences?

OP posts:
KSal · 04/11/2011 14:03

We used 'blue lead' from the dulux heritage georgian range, bit darker than your one.... I love it :)

minipie · 04/11/2011 15:36

We've got French Grey from Little Greene Co. It's slightly bluey grey on our walls but not purpley.

The pic on their website is not very representative, it looks more like this

Bear in mind colours on the websites depend on your own PC's colour settings though!

Mammonite · 04/11/2011 20:29

Heron is a nice grey from the Dulux Trade range, it is slightly warm of neutral. I have it in my bedroom and would use it again. It looks good with wood, even my terrible antique pine furniture.

Teds77 · 04/11/2011 20:30

We've got F&B Cornforth White in our big knocked through living room. We love it. To me it's just 'grey' and it's quite a strong colour considering it's called a 'white' if-you-see-what-I-mean.

Teds77 · 04/11/2011 20:34

Sadly not my house but some Cornforth White here mrscoopersdiary.blogspot.com/2010/09/goodbye-flat.html

I think it looks a bit darker in our room which is more long and narrow.

pootlebug · 04/11/2011 21:56

We used a mixture of Cornforth White and Lamp Room Grey in our bedroom (i.e. different ones on different walls, not mixing the tins of paint together). Both are quite 'pure' greys - not browny or purply or greeny if you see what I mean.

nemno · 05/11/2011 17:13

I have grey, grey kitchen tiles and most paints next to it on the wall look purple, beige or green. My fifth time of decorating I used Homebase 'Just One Coat' Silver Mist and it is spot on. In the hall and living areas I've used a softer less steely grey Crown 'Period Colours' Lady Jayne and this is my favourite wall colour of all time (the decorator not so thrilled though, he thinks Dulux goes on best of all paints). Both of these colours come in tester sizes.

Sleepwhenidie · 05/11/2011 22:46

Be careful not to end up with something too cold...I am looking at this fired earth one for our house...

Whorulestheroost · 06/11/2011 10:35

We painted our bedroom in a dulux grey last year and I hated it. It was cold and masculine and just wrong. I had previously used dulux heritage quartz grey in a different house and it is very comparable to f&b cornforth white, unfortunately this colour was discontinued. I found that dulux Egyptian cotton was very similar so painted the room in that and it looks beautiful, warm and inviting. It goes on the walls really easily too. I always look and farrow and ball but it just seems so expensive.

hattieboomboom · 06/11/2011 21:14

Cornforth white in our bedroom looks ever so slightly lilac. Definitely a pale grey but ever so slightly lilac. This was the dulux match though.

newgirl68 · 07/11/2011 11:36

Hello

We have F&B Pavilion Grey in our sitting room (with Strong White on the woodwork). It's gorgeous! Everyone comments on what a nice colour it is. It's grey with no hint of green/purple or anything! Would definitely recommend.

Mackrelmint · 07/11/2011 14:45

We have a Dulux colour match of F&B Dovetail in hall - it is a 'warm' grey so slightly purply but quite dark and not lavender-y at all. I like it, but if you don't want any purple at all then I guess that's one F&B colour for you to avoid.

We are getting Dulux Delicate Cobweb on living room walls, but yet to see it on so I don't know yet! Sampler seemed to be a very 'grey' grey but very light.

LadyMontdore · 07/11/2011 14:51

We have copied F&B cornforth white and I love it. It is definately grey, but a lovely soft, warm grey. If there is anything in it other than grey I'd say it is pink.

LadyMontdore · 07/11/2011 14:52

Lots of people have admired the colour too!

soniaweir · 08/11/2011 07:55

we have a grey living room and we used strong white f&b and it's great as it seems to change with the light in the room - we've had loads of compliments too!

Original poster
madcows · 09/11/2011 20:16

Just a follow up to this, to thank everyone for their input.
We got a big apology from Dulux (and a refund) as they admitted that the colour chart was completely out. They couldn't have been more helpful.
In the end we went for Dusted Moss 2 - which seems to be very close to F&B's Cornforth White. (By complete coincidence the local DIY shop was scanning Cornforth White for another lady while I was there... and it came out Dusted Moss 2.)
It is a lovely warm grey, with perhaps a hint of brown or green, but in a good warm way.
We also have Heron in another room and it is also a nice grey, but with a bit of blue in it.
Thanks again for all your help!

OP posts:
skandi1 · 09/11/2011 21:01

Elephants breath. Skimming stone. In f&b. Both more greige (sp? Grey beige).

mamijacacalys · 09/11/2011 21:14

Liking F&B Blackened for my forthcoming bedroom refurb.
Might get a Strong White tester as well now I've read this thread!

Agapanthii · 10/11/2011 10:31

mamijacalys beware of blackened. I love it on the colour chart but in real life it's very pale blue, not like their colour chart at all. I was hugely disappointed when I painted the tester pot on my wall.

JaneBirkin · 10/11/2011 10:35

I would suggest Dead Mouse or possible Old Rope Grin

Sorry. I am so pleased you went for Dulux as I have a thing about F&B pricing.

Glad you got it sorted out...we got something from homebase that was meant to be greyish brown but was actually lilac. Yeuch.

Though I did get some F&B from local charity for £3 a tin, the other week...cook's blue, something or other ground, which is a warm creamy yellowy pink and erm, can't remember - oh mahogany. I got three tins, were only allowed three, they got donated loads of wonky tins.

It was like being in Heaven. Smile

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