Farrow & Ball Elephants Breath and Manor House Gray

[Frenchchic]

After dithering over many colours I have narrowed it down to F&B Elephants Breath and Manor House Gray.

I am decorating my bedroom in new house so is the first time and I'm excited but nervous. Really want to get it right!

Went to Homebase but they only had Elephants Breath tester pot. I tried it in two places and looks lovely, very unusual. Definitely greige though rather than grey. Am thinking of still getting a tester pot for Manor House Gray but was wondering if anyone has used these two and could give any advice? Oh, and my room gets plenty of natural light but is north west facing. These two colours apparently do well in this kind of light but would love advice from someone who has actually tried them.

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

have used elephants breath with white trims ( skirting/doors /windows and ceiling ) - looked beautiful - was in a clients garden room which was west facing - used French style white and linen furniture - accessorised with pots of real Lavender so it smelt lovely too !!

[Frenchchic]

One plan - that sounds lovely. Hadn't got as far as thinking about bedding yet so thanks for the idea.

Thanks Mary Shelley

[Karbea]

I've Elephants Breath in my bedroom. I'm still not sure what colour blinds to use...

OnePlan what fabric did you use?

[Orangesarenottheonlyfruit]

Elephants Breadth is lovely but needs to be in a light room otherwise it can be a bit depressing.
Also it is set off beautifully by bright colours such as turquoise or orange. It looks amazing with Charlotte's Locks as an accent colour, although we have kingfisher blue silk cushions on the sofa which look stunning. Couldn't quite get Charlotte's Locks past DH.

[Alwayscheerful]

Elephants breath is a red based greige. In certain light it will have an almost lilac tinge. A beautiful neutral colour which looks fabulous with lots of white or lots of black, and yes I have used it with bright accent colours too.

I have used it in a barn conversion with lots of oak beams, it looks fab in the hall stairs and landing which is quite dark.

Manor house grey is a more traditional cleaner grey.

What colour is your woodwork, what period is your house and what colour are your furniture & carpets.

[Mandy21]

We are decorating the lounge in Elephants Breath with Charlston Grey in the alcoves, just like this link. All woodwork etc to be white

www.flickr.com/photos/annaburles/5842345761/

[Karbea]

Mandy21 What colour/fabric curtains/blinds are you having?

[Alwayscheerful]

I have also used charleston grey outside mixed with muted clay.

Laura Ashley silk in truffle goes well with elephants breath, as does a simple french style linen.

[Karbea]

Thank you!

[Mandy21]

Muted grey / beige / cream floral with occasional yellow splashes, john lewis.

[Frenchchic]

Thanks ladies for all the great ideas.

Always cheerful - house is new but looks like a large cottage. We are in a Suffolk village surrounded by fields. Weathered cream exterior with Vert de Terre on door. Inside lots of sloped ceilings and windows with lots of small panes. Bedrooms have an attic look and feel to them. Furniture mostly reclaimed raw wood.

Bedroom basically clean slate. Was going to choose flooring, fabrics etc based on the wall colour. I am really loving the Elephants Breath samples. Looks cool but with warmth too which I know sounds weird. It's so pretty in all lights. It's just that I had made my mind up to have a true grey and am still wondering about Manor House Gray.

[Alwayscheerful]

Your new house sounds lovely. I am sure either colour will look fab. Personally I like the whole house to flow, the carpets might be the same throughout and the paint colours will be different but they will blend and tone, certainly not clash.

I would choose a duvet cover or cushion or blind or throw for the bed, something absolutely stunning and work from there with toning carpets and paint.

Think about texture, would you like a wool twist carpet or something more hard wearing and natural looking, manor house grey will need a silver type grey and elephants breath will look good with a pale taupe colour, sometimes described as titanium or hemp maybe look at the alternative flooring.com website for ideas.

To help you decide google elephants breath and click on images
Then
Manor house grey and images.

I would not choose the paint colour in isolation.

[Alwayscheerful]

Forgot to say, I would look closely at the colour of your furniture, you mentioned reclaimed raw wood, if it has a silver look then that might sway you towards manor house grey, it is has an oak look then I would be inclined to go for elephants breath.

I hope this helps.

[PoppyInTheFog]

Would Elephants breath go well with blue and white French toile pattern fabric?

[Karbea]

Elephants breath has a lilac undertone, so depends on the shade of blue.

[Alwayscheerful]

No I don't think it would. it is red based and can look beige/lilac in some lights.

[MoreBeta]

We have Elephants Breath below dado rail and Skimming Stone above on the hallway, landing and stair walls with Wimborne White on skirting, window frames and wood stairs

You need something lighter with it as it can be a bit depressing. I think 'greige' is a very good description but still very nice in the right combination.

[Frenchchic]

I was planning on going the whole hog and painting the ceiling Elephants Breath too as was on great website the other day that recommended this. Am a teeny bit nervous of this as EB is very strong colour in my room. However, the door and wall length wardrobes are going to be painted a different colour. I was planning on using Skimming Stone but now am a bit worried as you have said it can be depressing. Any views?

[Alwayscheerful]

Love skimming stone but I am running out of rooms!

[Alwayscheerful]

OP - elephants breath looks fab with any shade of white, can you paint the wardrobes and wood work white? It's not depressing just very very tasteful.

[Frenchchic]

Am very disappointed as was going to paint today but local store does not have EB in stock. So will have to order. Do you think All White or Wimborne White will look most fresh and sympathetic to EB?

[Alwayscheerful]

New house and woodwork -all white.
Old house - Wimborne white.

[Frenchchic]

Always - just got your message but had already been to the shop who discovered they DID have EB in stock. To save making another trip I bought Wimborne White as they did not have Strong White or All White. Do you think I should take it back and wait till they have All White in stock or will it be okay?

[Alwayscheerful]

My daughter had painted all her house, walls & ceilings, in Dulux trade Matt white and the woodwork is all farrow & ball Wimborne.

I think you will love it.