Charleston Gray vs S 4500-N
Charleston Gray (Farrow & Ball) and S 4500-N (NCS) come from different manufacturers. Charleston Gray reads as greige-grey, while S 4500-N reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 3-point LRV gap — 30 for Charleston Gray vs 27 for S 4500-N — means Charleston Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Charleston Gray leans warm, S 4500-N reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 6.8 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Charleston Gray vs S 4500-N in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Charleston Gray and S 4500-N 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.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Charleston Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Charleston Gray vs S 4500-N Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Charleston Gray on one side and S 4500-N 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 Charleston Gray comparisons
See how Charleston Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 30, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 30, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 30, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
Charleston Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 30, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 4, Charleston Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 30, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (30 vs 21) makes Charleston Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (41 vs 30) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 30, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (30 vs 25) makes Charleston Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Charleston Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 30), opening up a space where Charleston Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 30 vs 7, Charleston Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (30 vs 24) makes Charleston Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 30, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.