Shades of French Gray

Louis XV Room – Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild Cote d Azur

Shades of gray are timeless… classic.  In this magnificent Palais built by Beatrice Ephrussi de Rothschild from 1905 to 1912, several rooms are painted in varying shades of gray, and while our homes may not be this grand, we certainly could take colour inspiration home with us 100 years later.

Louis XV Room – Ephrussi de Rothschild Palais Cote d Azur

Louis XV Room ceiling detail – Eprussi de Rothschild Palais

Madame Ephrussi de Rothschild’s Palais

Madame Ephrussi de Rothschild Palais Porcelain Room

It is not often that I wish I had my colour chips with me, but I used the white ticket as a reference.  It is also important to consider that the Cote d’Azur daylight is much warmer and brighter than ours in Western Canada.  This is a south facing room in the middle of October and our brightest day in July would not have the same quality of light.

Wall Colour comparison to white (Louis XV Room)

Wall and Trim paint comparison to white closer to window (Louis XV Room)

Door Colour comparison in filtered Mediterranean sunlight

All photos Sue Womersley