Au Gratin vs Iron Ore
Where Au Gratin belongs to Cloverdale Paint's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. Au Gratin reads as beige, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Au Gratin (LRV 48) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 42 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 76.5, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Au Gratin vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Au Gratin and Iron Ore in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Living Room
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Au Gratin will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Au Gratin reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Au Gratin reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Au Gratin returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Au Gratin reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Color Details
Au Gratin vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Au Gratin on one side and Iron Ore on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Au Gratin comparisons
See how Au Gratin stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
