Charleston Gray vs Mole's Breath paint color comparison

Charleston Gray vs Mole's Breath

Both are Farrow & Ball colors. Charleston Gray reads as greige-grey, while Mole's Breath reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 30 vs 24, Charleston Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 6-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Charleston Gray's warm character against Mole's Breath's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 6.7, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Charleston Gray vs Mole's Breath in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Charleston Gray and Mole's Breath 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. Charleston Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Charleston GrayFarrow and Ball Charleston Gray 243 living room

@harts___house

Mole's BreathFarrow and Ball Mole's Breath cozy living room interior

@thegreeneyedgirl_

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Charleston Gray gives the walls a little more lift.

Charleston GrayFarrow and Ball Charleston Gray 243 bedroom

@miniundstil

Mole's BreathFarrow and Ball Mole's Breath cozy bedroom paint review

@housenearmeadow

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — Charleston Gray gives the walls a little more lift.

Charleston GrayFarrow and Ball Charleston Gray 243 bathroom cabinets

@thesecretdraweryorkshire

Mole's BreathFarrow and Ball Mole's Breath modern bathroom

@overton_renovation_

Color Details

Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball · 243
LRV30.4
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number243
Undertone
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessMedium
Mole's Breath
Farrow & Ball · 276
LRV24.1
BrandFarrow & Ball
Number276
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

Charleston Gray vs Mole's Breath Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Charleston Gray on one side and Mole's Breath on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Charleston Gray comparisons

See how Charleston Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

Ammonite
Charleston Gray
Ammonite
Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

At LRV 69 vs 30, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.

White Dove
Charleston Gray
White Dove
Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Iron Ore
Charleston Gray
Iron Ore
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Purbeck Stone
Charleston Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

At LRV 52 vs 30, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Charleston Gray
Evergreen Fog
Charleston Gray
Evergreen Fog
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.

Charleston Gray
Mizzle
Charleston Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Agreeable Gray
Charleston Gray
Agreeable Gray
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

At LRV 60 vs 30, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Charleston Gray
Accessible Beige
Charleston Gray
Accessible Beige
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Denim Drift
Charleston Gray
Denim Drift
Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Charleston Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Charleston Gray
French Gray
Charleston Gray
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

At LRV 43 vs 30, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Charleston Gray
Naval
Charleston Gray
Naval
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

At LRV 30 vs 4, Charleston Gray is decisively the brighter choice.

Tranquil Dawn
Charleston Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Bancha
Charleston Gray
Bancha
Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Hardwick White
Charleston Gray
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Pure White
Charleston Gray
Pure White
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

At LRV 84 vs 30, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.

Charleston Gray
Artichoke
Charleston Gray
Artichoke
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

A 9-point LRV gap (30 vs 21) makes Charleston Gray the marginally brighter of the two.

Balboa Mist
Charleston Gray
Balboa Mist
Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Shoji White
Charleston Gray
Shoji White
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Snowbound
Charleston Gray
Snowbound
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Pigeon
Charleston Gray
Pigeon
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30
Farrow & Ball
Pigeon
LRV 51

At LRV 51 vs 30, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.

Charleston Gray
Pewter Green
Charleston Gray
Pewter Green
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Duck Green
Charleston Gray
Duck Green
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Skimming Stone
Charleston Gray
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Dix Blue
Charleston Gray
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

A 11-point LRV gap (41 vs 30) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.

Charleston Gray
Hicks' Blue
Charleston Gray
Hicks' Blue

Charleston Gray vs Hicks' Blue

Charleston Gray
Slaked Lime Deep
Charleston Gray
Slaked Lime Deep

Charleston Gray vs Slaked Lime Deep

Vintage Vogue
Charleston Gray
Vintage Vogue
Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Livid
Charleston Gray
Livid
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Charleston Gray vs Livid

Saybrook Sage
Charleston Gray
Saybrook Sage
Charleston Gray
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30

Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.

Charleston Gray
Pale Green
Charleston Gray
Pale Green
Farrow & Ball
Charleston Gray
243 · LRV 30
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.