French Gray vs S 1005-R50B
French Gray (Farrow & Ball) and S 1005-R50B (NCS) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, French Gray belongs to the beige-greige family and S 1005-R50B to the grey family. The 27-point LRV gap — 70 for S 1005-R50B vs 43 for French Gray — means S 1005-R50B will open up a space more effectively. Where French Gray leans warm, S 1005-R50B reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 20.8 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
French Gray vs S 1005-R50B in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing French Gray and S 1005-R50B in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. S 1005-R50B returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
French Gray vs S 1005-R50B Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see French Gray on one side and S 1005-R50B 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 French Gray comparisons
See how French Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
