Cork vs French Gray
Cork is a Cloverdale Paint color while French Gray comes from Farrow & Ball. Cork reads as beige, while French Gray reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 51 vs 43, Cork will read as the brighter of the two — a 8-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 8.7, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Cork vs French Gray in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Cork and French Gray are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. Cork returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Cork will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than French Gray would.
Dining Room
Dining room light is typically the warmest in the house, which shifts both colors toward the red end of the spectrum compared to daylight. Cork reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than French Gray.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Cork will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than French Gray would.
Color Details
Cork vs French Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cork on one side and French Gray 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 Cork comparisons
See how Cork stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 51, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 52 and 51, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Cork reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 60 vs 51), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 6-point LRV gap (58 vs 51) makes Accessible Beige the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 51 vs 27, Cork is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (55 vs 51) makes Tranquil Dawn the marginally brighter of the two.
A 8-point LRV gap (51 vs 44) makes Cork the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 51), opening up a space where Cork encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 51, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 51, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 51 vs 12, Cork is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 51, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 51 vs 12, Cork is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (51 vs 45) makes Cork the marginally brighter of the two.
Cork reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Cork reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.