I have been pimping grey for years – peddling it as the go-to neutral for modern and transitional spaces. Ho-hum beige still thrives and has a committed following but I am finding clients increasingly open to taking a bit more risk with my lovely grey.
And the sell is increasingly easy.
Grey is gender neutral – equally stunning in a study, using felts and wools, or in a boudoir with soft linens. Boudoir. That word makes me giggle.
It pairs beautifully with just about anything. Green, purple and red pop the most and are probably among the least expected. Treat your grey as you would your beige – a blank canvas.
And grey is everywhere. Fabric houses and soft seating companies have added it to their respective offerings – in patterns and solids – and lots of them, making them accessible, less scary. Love.
But not all greys are created equal. There is a range, some more successful in design than others. Here are some of my favs:
Greige – grey + beige. This is probably best suited for those anxious to dip a toe in the shallow end of grey. It is moderate and definitely a step in the right direction. Just ordered a divine Christophe Delcourt sofa for a client in a mellow greige. It will pop against the mid-century creamy ledge rock wall, Jan Kath rug and floor to ceiling windows. See BM Stone Hearth CC-490.
Dove – grey with a hint of sleepy blue. Soft blue is over used – expected and safe. But dove delivers a dreamy cup of soft black to an otherwise boring hue. Love dove in bedrooms with a side of billowy cream, a little less expected than white, warm and lovely. See BM Wickham Gray HC-171.
Smoke – thick and rich. Always one for a bit of drama, this is my statement colour. Not sure I am gutsy enough to upholster a sofa in it – unless the room had heaps of light goodness to offset – but as an occasional chair, accent cushion, objet cluster or feature wall, bring on the smokey diva. See BM Amherst Gray HC-167.
Concrete – probably the truest of the greys, the grey my kids would call grey. It would be flat on a wall but in balance with some loud contrast like red or even black, it would be lively for upholstery or as part of a pattern. More accent than star of the show. See BM Conventry Gray HC-169.
Putty – grey with a mauve undertone. Edgy, yes, but so modern and brave. I just installed a small kitchen in a wildly open space in this colour for a client – offset with a crema marfil limestone counter and glass backsplash. Divine.See BM Sea Life 2118-40.