Plummett 272
Farrow & BallFarrow & Ball Plummett (No. 272) is a strong, hard-edged architectural gray inspired by the lead used by fishermen. With an LRV of 27%, it acts as a deep, modern mid-tone that occasionally flashes subtle blue or silver undertones, making it perfect for industrial aesthetics and dramatic woodwork.
| Temperature | Cool to Neutral |
|---|---|
| Primary Undertone | Blue/Silver |
| Hidden Undertones | Green and subtle purple depending on lighting |
| Best Exposures | South-facing, West-facing |
| Best For | Kitchen cabinets, exterior masonry, interior woodwork, industrial-style living rooms, modern bedrooms |
Hackrea Review
Plummett is an unapologetically modern gray. We love its industrial, lead-like quality that avoids looking flat or lifeless. However, we highly recommend using the Dark Tones primer, as the new Dead Flat finish can sometimes require extra coats to achieve that signature Farrow & Ball depth.Farrow & Ball Plummett No. 272 Application & Styling Recipes
Kitchen Cabinets
Plummett No. 272 acts as a grounding anchor for lower cabinetry, absorbing ambient light to reduce glare against polished stone counters. Its cool lead grey undertones require crisp, high-contrast surroundings, making it strictly incompatible with yellow-dominant woods like golden oak.
Exterior Masonry & Stucco
When exposed to full, direct sunlight, this architectural grey loses its moody metamerism and flattens into a sharp, industrial concrete tone. High UV exposure strips away the subtle purplish-red flashes, leaving a rigid facade that pairs seamlessly with black steel architectural elements.
Interior Woodwork & Paneling
Coating wainscoting or a library woodwork accent in this 27.03 LRV hue anchors a room without the visual mass of a true black. Applying a mid-sheen to the paneling forces the color to reflect directional light, mitigating the intense light-absorbing properties found in its matte iterations.
Industrial-Style Living Rooms
The chalky finish of this lead grey mimics the raw texture of poured concrete, making it an ideal backdrop for exposed brick and structural steel. Because it intensely absorbs light, it requires expansive windows to prevent the space from turning muddy and dense.
Modern Bedrooms
Using this shifting gray in a bedroom creates a highly intimate environment when paired with layered, tactile linens. In lower light scenarios, the color shifting properties emerge, flashing subtle green-gray or purplish undertones depending on the time of day.
You can apply wallpapers, paints, etc. on walls and see how they look in various interiors.
Farrow & Ball Plummett 272 vs. Farrow & Ball Manor House Gray 265
Manor House Gray 265 sits slightly lighter and retains a more stable, cooler blue-gray undertone compared to the unpredictable metamerism of Plummett 272. While Plummett 272 can flash purplish-red in North-facing light, Manor House Gray 265 maintains its crisp architectural integrity under similar conditions. Reserve Plummett 272 for high-lumen, South-facing spaces where its hard-edged lead gray profile can solidify, and utilize Manor House Gray 265 in rooms with cooler, indirect exposures.
Benjamin Moore Wall Street CSP-20 vs. The Architectural Grey
Benjamin Moore Wall Street CSP-20 operates with a pronounced blue-steel undertone, reflecting light more efficiently than the chalky, light-absorbing surface of Farrow & Ball Plummett 272. Wall Street CSP-20 acts as a cooler, more traditional slate, making it safer for spaces with moderate natural light. Plummett 272 demands strict architectural lighting to prevent its 27.03 LRV from turning the room muddy, whereas Wall Street CSP-20 offers more flexibility in transitional spaces.
Sherwin-Williams Gray Shingle SW 7670 vs. The Lead Grey
Sherwin-Williams Gray Shingle SW 7670 brings a warmer, slightly beige-leaning gray profile that bridges the gap between greige and true gray. This warmth makes Gray Shingle SW 7670 compatible with the golden oak floors and creamy whites that aggressively clash with Plummett 272. If your home features warm, yellow-dominant woods, Gray Shingle SW 7670 is the mandatory choice, as the Farrow & Ball formula will actively fight those undertones.
Technical FAQs
Yes, Farrow & Ball Plummett 272 is highly metameric. In the cool, indirect light of North-facing rooms, it frequently shifts to reveal subtle purplish-red or green-gray undertones instead of a true lead gray.
The newer Farrow & Ball Dead Flat finish requires 3 to 4 coats over a Dark Tones primer to achieve full opacity without banding. Both finishes are prone to burnishing, meaning any touch-ups will flash and require a full wall repaint.
Yes, it clashes aggressively with warm, yellow-dominant woods like golden oak. Its cool, architectural profile requires crisp, cool whites or pale, ashy woods to maintain visual balance.
In bright, direct sunlight, the color loses its nuanced undertones and flattens into a hard-edged, true lead gray. It does not wash out entirely due to its low 27.03 LRV, but it shifts to a much more industrial concrete aesthetic.
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