Downing Slate vs Griffin
Both are Sherwin-Williams colors. Downing Slate reads as blue-grey, while Griffin reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 21 vs 13, Downing Slate will read as the brighter of the two — a 8-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Downing Slate's neutral character against Griffin's warm — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 16.4, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Downing Slate vs Griffin in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Downing Slate and Griffin 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
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. Downing Slate has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
House
At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Downing Slate gives the walls a little more lift.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The brightness difference is modest but present — Downing Slate gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
Downing Slate vs Griffin Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Downing Slate on one side and Griffin 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.