Colonnade Gray vs Heartthrob
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Colonnade Gray reads as greige-grey, while Heartthrob reads as pink-red — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Colonnade Gray (LRV 53) reflects noticeably more light than Heartthrob (LRV 11), a difference of 42 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean warm, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 66.3, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Colonnade Gray vs Heartthrob in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Colonnade Gray and Heartthrob 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 Colonnade Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Heartthrob 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. Colonnade Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Heartthrob.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Colonnade Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Heartthrob.
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. Colonnade Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Heartthrob.
Color Details
Colonnade Gray vs Heartthrob Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Colonnade Gray on one side and Heartthrob 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.