Colour Study: Farrow and Ball Blue Gray (Updated!)

Well, bonjour, my bonbons,

Isn't it wonderful having all this Spring in the air? Are you feeling the love? Let me introduce you to a particularly longstanding love of my life: Farrow and Ball Blue Gray, inspired by the gorgeous Georgian I shared with you..

I'm thinking it's time for an updated Paint Colour Case Study. Today, it's the turn of Farrow and Ball Blue Gray, which is one of the colours we chose for our old kitchen makeover.



I have a question for you, Mr Farrow and Mr Ball....You're the epitome of an British company so why do you insist on spelling 'grey' the American way? Yup: Blue Gray. That's how they spell it. English company, American spelling? Not sure what's going on with that....

When I put together a case study for you, I source as many pictures as I can of the paint colour, from our home, here in the Cotswolds, and from a variety of different sources, in lots of different situations and lots of different lights so that you don't just have to rely on a teensy little square of colour on the tester card before you splash out on yet another sample pot.

Bankruptcy by sample pots?
You know its coming....!

Basically, I hope these Farrow and Ball Case Study posts can do all the legwork for you so you can see at a glance whether the colour is going to work for you in *your* house with *your* lighting conditions. Here's a list of other Colour Case Studies for you to peruse...

Farrow and Ball New White
Farrow and Ball Old White
Farrow and Ball White Tie
Farrow and Ball Blue Gray
Farrow and Ball Middleton Pink

Farrow and Ball Down Pipe

Farrow and Ball Pigeon

Farrow and Ball Hardwick White
Farrow and Ball Green Blue

Dulux Heritage Stone Green

Farrow and Ball Lamp Room Gray

Farrow and Ball French Gray (interiors)

Farrow and Ball French Gray (exteriors)
Farrow and Ball Mouse's Back

Earthborn Gregory's Den

Farrow and Ball Light Blue

Farrow and Ball Powder Blue

Farrow and Ball Hay

Let's begin by taking a careful look at the variations you can expect when you use Farrow an Ball Blue Gray as a gorgeous front door colour. In full sunlight, you'll see a warm medium teal but in the shade Farrow and Ball Blue Gray can take on quite a steely grey appearance. 

I've only selected pictures that I think are accurate reflections of what the colour really looks like, discarding those where the image has been tweaked beyond recognition or the flash has distorted the appearance of the colours.



And as a painted kitchen colour, I still think Farrow and Ball Blue Gray is one of the best shades out there. Classic, warm and timeless....

 

Farrow and Ball Blue Gray kitchen in warm artificial light

The main thing that I need to tell you about Blue Grey is its intensity accumulates more than any other colour I've worked with. Particularly around internal corners and with a lack of natural light.Look at the shadowy internal corner of the picture below. See how much darker and more intense the colour is than on the chimney breast?

Farrow and Ball Blue Gray in warm daylight

 And the second thing is that it's surprisingly green for a colour called Blue Gray. 



Farrow and Ball Blue Gray on Woodwork

Really surprisingly green. 

Farrow and Ball Blue Gray in the sunshine....aah.

...and Farrow and Ball Blue Gray in the rain.

It's the strongest, warmest colour that we chose for our old house and that's because it's in the room that gets least natural light. Anything cooler would have made the room look washed out and cold.

Farrow and Ball Blue Gray with light streaming in through the large windows

The more natural light you have in your room, the more of this gorgeous colour you can use.



It's such a lovely colour. Warm and welcoming.

Here you can see the same part of our old kitchen, with my lovely China Jack Mosaic, at three different times of day: morning, noon and evening, with the weather ranging from overcast to sunny.

It's astonishing how much Farrow and Ball Blue Gray changes in the light!

Farrow and Ball White Tie in overcast skies

Farrow and Ball White Tie In Sunshine

Farrow and Ball White Tie and Blue Gray in the evening

And if you're looking for a cheery place to lie in the sun, how's this...



This caravan is painted in Farrow and Ball Blue Gray and Strong White. Doesn't it look gorgeous? 

Now, anyone for another cuppa?

Farrow and Ball Blue Gray and Emma Bridgewater!

Take Care Till Next Time,

Sarahx

Images: Farrow and Ball, Daily Mail, Modern Country Modern Country Style,voysey and jones, flickr, fandb, riverviewredo, Farrow and Ball, Cheverellwood, decorpad, housetohome, Period Living, Homes and Gardens, Country Living, Our kitchen, Our kitchen, Country Homes and Interiors, Daily Mail, Our kitchen, Our kitchen, Our kitchen, Hilary BG, Modern Country Style