Cracked Pepper vs Portsmouth
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Cracked Pepper reads as grey, while Portsmouth reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Portsmouth (LRV 22) reflects noticeably more light than Cracked Pepper (LRV 5), a difference of 17 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Cracked Pepper runs warm while Portsmouth is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 29.8, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Cracked Pepper vs Portsmouth Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Cracked Pepper on one side and Portsmouth 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 Cracked Pepper comparisons
See how Cracked Pepper stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
