Elephant's Breath vs Ammonite
A side-by-side comparison of Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath (No.229) and Farrow & Ball Ammonite (No.274).
| Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath | Farrow & Ball Ammonite | |
|---|---|---|
| Code | No.229 | No.274 |
| Hex |
#BBB2A7
|
#DAD5CD
|
| RGB | 187, 178, 167 | 218, 213, 205 |
| LRV | 36 | 66 |
| Undertone | Warm Purple-Gray | Warm Stone |
| Family | Greige | Gray |
| Best Rooms | Living Room, Bedroom, Hallway, Dining Room, Office | Living Room, Bedroom, Hallway, Whole House, Bathroom |
LRV Comparison
Light Reflectance Value measures how much light a color reflects. Elephant's Breath has an LRV of 36 (medium-dark) and Ammonite has an LRV of 66 (light). Ammonite will make a room feel noticeably brighter.
The Full Comparison
Two of Farrow and Ball's most beloved neutrals. Elephant's Breath is a warm mid-tone gray with pink-mauve undertones and real presence on the wall. Ammonite is much lighter, a soft warm neutral that reads almost as an off-white in bright rooms. For a living room where you want the walls to feel substantial and cozy, Elephant's Breath has the depth. For a whole-house neutral that stays light and airy, Ammonite is the safer choice. Many designers pair the two together, using Ammonite on most walls and Elephant's Breath as an accent in adjoining rooms.
Elephant's Breath Undertones
A complex, medium warm gray with purple-mauve undertones. One of Farrow & Ball's most popular and distinctive colors.
Ammonite Undertones
A light, warm gray with organic, stone-like undertones. Named after the fossilized shell, it captures that natural, earthy quality.
Lighting Behavior
Elephant's Breath: The purple undertone is most apparent in natural daylight. In warm artificial light, it reads as a sophisticated warm gray. Under cool light, the mauve comes forward beautifully.
Ammonite: Reads as a soft, natural warm gray in most rooms. Less pink than many light grays. The earthy quality makes it pair beautifully with natural materials.
Explore These Colors
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Elephant's Breath (Farrow & Ball) and Ammonite (Farrow & Ball) are not the same color. They're in the same family (greige), but they differ in undertone, LRV, and how they behave in different lighting. Elephant's Breath has warm purple-gray undertones, while Ammonite has warm stone undertones. Always compare physical samples before choosing.
Ammonite is lighter with an LRV of 66, compared to Elephant's Breath's LRV of 36. LRV (Light Reflectance Value) measures how much light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (black) to 100 (white).
That's a popular combination. Using the darker Elephant's Breath (LRV 36) on walls and the lighter Ammonite (LRV 66) on trim creates a classic contrast that makes the trim pop.