Farrow & Ball - detailed knowledge required please!

[DestinationUnknown]

About to redecorate reception rooms, hall, stairs & landings. Not brave enough to go with a "colour" (unless someone here can persuade me!) Currently have very dull inoffensive cream.

Bit stuck on what to go with - needs to be stone/brownish rather than yellowy-green tones - I buggered up the carpet colour and am now a bit limited if I want to avoid a clash. Clunch is too light I think. Elephants breath might be an option but am worried about how dark it will come up.

Any experts out there who could advise please?!

[fresh]

Are you looking for one colour for everything? Bear in mind that the different light levels in each area will affect how a colour looks. Have just done a north-facing but quite light hallway in Elephant's Breath and it's quite steely and smart, whereas I've seen it used in rooms with less light and it goes smokier.

[oldwomanwholivedinashoe]

I have used elephants breath and in certain lights it's quie purpley. If you're looking for a neutral try bone or mouse back.

[DestinationUnknown]

Thanks both. Bone comes up very dark. Will look at mouses back. Hallway etc it would be for underneath the dado rail, with a white or off white type shade, or possibly Clunch above. Hall is dark, but gets lighter as it gets higher, very light at the top landing. It would be for whole of a double reception room too though there is lots of light and white woodwork.

[fresh]

For what you describe Elephants Breath sounds fine, esp with a lot of white.

[MarshaBrady]

Shaded White is really lovely. Not as dark.

[oldwomanwholivedinashoe]

Jacobs white is nice -on the yellow range but still neutral. Elephants breath is lovely but you have to like purple tones. It does look lovely with white.

[herhonesty]

I have skimming stone in my living room which is north ish facing and is lovely, much stonier than it looks on the website. If you can be bothered to look little greene have a v good range of stoney colours

[Schoolworries]

I was going to suggest Little Greene too

It is wonderful, better than F&B. Goes on like silk and looks very professional.

[oldwomanwholivedinashoe]

I agree little green is fab.

[Stokey]

I've just done under dado rail in living room in London clay which looks great but is quite dark, so have coupled with babouche. Slipper satin is a nice greyish white, works well with the browns. Check out their website, lots of colour schemes and advice, or go to one of their shops if you have one near by.

[DestinationUnknown]

Thanks everyone - lots to think about! I had put skimming stone down as a possibility. Looks like I will be spending even more on tester pots tomorrow! Would love to look into all the alternatives but don't have the time as decorator is here and will be painting walls this week...