Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 Estate Emulsion tin and open lid

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 in a room setting

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 paint in an open tin

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 Dead Flat tin and open lid

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.229

FamilyGrey

CollectionContemporary Neutrals

PrimerMid Tones

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.229

FamilyGrey

CollectionContemporary Neutrals

PrimerMid Tones

SKU: 5029496011951

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 Paint

Name: Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 Paint
Brand: Farrow & Ball
SKU: 5029496011951
Price: 34.0 GBP
Availability: InStock

£34.00 Inc VAT

£28.33 Exc VAT

A warm mid grey from Farrow & Ball's Contemporary Neutrals. Elephant's Breath No.229 is an uplifting grey with a hint of magenta and a characterful name created by interior designer John Fowler. It can read almost lilac in cooler light. Available in all Farrow & Ball finishes and sizes. Read More

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Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 Paint AT A GLANCE

Colour

No.229

FamilyGrey

CollectionContemporary Neutrals

PrimerMid Tones

Product Description

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 is a warm and contemporary grey, renowned for its characterful name, which was originally created by John Fowler, the notable English interior designer. It reads as an uplifting mid grey with a hint of magenta, but can become almost lilac in the cooler light of west facing rooms.

One of the brand's Contemporary Neutrals, Elephant's Breath can be offset with Charleston Gray and London Clay for an invitingly earthy scheme with more intense accents, or paired with the softer Strong White for a sense of neutrality and calm. Strong White is its complementary white.

Is Elephant's Breath grey or beige?

Elephant's Breath is a grey, but a warm one. Farrow & Ball describe it as an uplifting mid grey with a hint of magenta, which is why it can look almost lilac in the cooler light of west facing rooms.

Where to use Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229

Farrow & Ball note that Elephant's Breath can become almost lilac in the cooler light of west facing rooms, so try a sample pot in the room first. Offset it with Charleston Gray and London Clay for an earthy scheme, or pair it with the softer Strong White for a sense of neutrality and calm.

Choose Estate Emulsion or Modern Emulsion for walls and ceilings, Dead Flat for a completely flat look across walls and woodwork, or Flat Eggshell and Modern Eggshell for durable, scrubbable woodwork and cabinets. For exteriors, choose Exterior Masonry or Exterior Eggshell for breathable, weather-resistant performance.

Colours that go with Elephant's Breath

Strong White is the complementary white Farrow & Ball pair with Elephant's Breath for ceilings and trim. Their suggested colour schemes combine it with:

Suggested scheme

Elephant's Breath No.229 Skimming Stone No.241Accent colour

Dove Tale No.267Trim colour

Suggested scheme

Elephant's Breath No.229 London Clay No.244Accent colour

Charleston Gray No.243Trim colour

Suggested scheme

Elephant's Breath No.229 All White No.2005Accent colour

Strong White No.2001Trim colour

Colours similar to Elephant's Breath

If Elephant's Breath isn't quite right, Farrow & Ball's colour experts suggest sampling Skimming Stone and Strong White for a lighter shade, or Dove Tale and Jitney for a deeper one. Comparing sample pots side by side on your own walls is the most reliable way to choose.

Buy Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 from Rabart

Rabart is an authorised Farrow & Ball stockist, with decorating centres across Wales and the South West of England. All our stores have Farrow & Ball paint mixing machines, so you can usually have Elephant's Breath mixed in your chosen finish and ready to take home the same day, subject to availability of your chosen finish. Alternatively, order online in a range of finishes and sizes from 750ml to 5L, or try a Farrow & Ball sample pot first.

Specifications by finish

Coverage and recoat times vary by finish. The figures below are from Farrow & Ball's product data sheets for normal conditions; cooler or more humid environments may extend drying times, and darker shades may need an additional coat.

Finish	Best for	Sheen	Coverage per litre	Touch dry	Recoat	Application
Interior Performance Finishes
Dead Flat	Walls & ceilings, woodwork & metal	2%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Modern Emulsion	Walls & ceilings	7%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Flat Eggshell	Wood, metal, concrete floors, kitchen & bathroom cabinets	20%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Modern Eggshell	Wood, metal, concrete floors, kitchen & bathroom cabinets	40%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Full Gloss	Interior & exterior wood and metal, front doors, skirting boards	95%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush or roller, airless or HVLP spray (roller not recommended on large areas such as walls)
Exterior Performance Finishes
Exterior Masonry	Brick, render, concrete, terracotta	2%	Up to 8 m²	2 hours	5 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Exterior Eggshell	Exterior wood and metal, front doors, cladding, fences	20%	Up to 13 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush, roller, airless or HVLP spray
Full Gloss	Interior & exterior wood and metal, front doors, skirting boards	95%	Up to 12 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush or roller, airless or HVLP spray (roller not recommended on large areas such as walls)
The Estate Range
Estate Emulsion	Walls & ceilings in low-traffic areas	2%	Up to 14 m²	2 hours	2 hours	Brush, roller or airless spray
Casein Distemper	Walls & ceilings in low-traffic areas, historic homes, surfaces that need to breathe	2%	Up to 13 m²	2 hours	4 hours	Brush (not suitable for spraying; roller not recommended on large areas)
Soft Distemper	Plasterwork and intricate mouldings in low-traffic areas, historic homes	2%	Up to 13 m²	2 hours	No recoat required	Brush or airless spray (roller not recommended on large areas)
Limewash	Lime-rendered exterior and interior walls (not suitable for gypsum plaster)	2%	Varies with conditions	3 hours	12 hours	Long-haired or masonry brush (not suitable for spraying)

Dead Flat

Key Information

CoverageUp to 12 m² per litre
Touch dry2 hours
Recoat4 hours
Application methodBrush, roller or airless spray
Clean-upWarm soapy water
Finish2% sheen (dead flat matt)

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229

Colour story

Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 in real homes

See how Farrow & Ball Elephant's Breath No.229 looks across interior walls, woodwork, exterior facades and more. Click any image to view full size.

Choosing the right Farrow & Ball finish

Every Farrow & Ball colour is available in a range of finishes. The right choice depends on the surface you're painting and how much wear it'll see.

Estate Emulsion

2% sheen

The classic chalky, very matt finish for walls and ceilings in low-traffic rooms.

Modern Emulsion

7% sheen

Washable and mould-resistant, ideal for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and family rooms.

Dead Flat

2% sheen

Same matt depth as Estate Emulsion but scrubbable and scuff-resistant. Suitable for walls, woodwork and metal.

Flat Eggshell

20% sheen

F&B's tough new low-sheen finish for interior wood, metal and concrete, including kitchen cabinets, skirtings and floors.

Modern Eggshell

40% sheen

A harder-wearing mid-sheen for woodwork, cabinetry and floors.

Full Gloss

95% sheen

A high-shine finish for interior and exterior wood and metal, including front doors.

Exterior Eggshell

20% sheen

Protects exterior wood and metal with added algae and fungal protection.

Exterior Masonry

2% sheen

A highly breathable matt finish for brick, render and concrete.

Casein Distemper

2% sheen

A breathable, traditional distemper for heritage interiors. Ideal for lime plaster walls and ceilings in low-traffic rooms.

Soft Distemper

2% sheen

A soft, powdery traditional finish. Particularly suited to detailed interior plasterwork and period mouldings.

Limewash

2% sheen

A traditional breathable finish for solid lime render exterior walls, and interior walls and ceilings.

Not sure which to choose? Order a sample pot first to test the colour in your own space and light.

Shop Sample Pots

Product Specifications

Brand	Farrow & Ball
Type	Designer Paint
Suitable for	Brush or roller for most finishes. Limewash by brush. Full Gloss, Casein Distemper and Soft Distemper are not recommended by roller on large areas
Base	Water-based
Key features	Low odour, low VOC, A+ indoor air quality rating, toy-safe (EN 71-3), 100% water-based
Thinning	Ready to use. On new or bare plaster, Farrow & Ball recommend a 25% diluted coat of the emulsion or Wall & Ceiling Primer & Undercoat first. Soft Distemper needs at least 10% water added
Number of coats	2 coats recommended (Limewash 4, Soft Distemper 1). Darker colours may need more
SKU
GTIN / Barcode

Frequently asked questions

Is Elephant's Breath grey or beige?

Elephant's Breath is a warm mid grey. Farrow & Ball call it a warm and contemporary grey with a hint of magenta, which can make it read almost lilac in cooler light.

Why is Elephant's Breath so popular?

Farrow & Ball say it is renowned for its characterful name, originally created by the English interior designer John Fowler. It is a warm, uplifting mid grey that can be offset with earthy accents or kept calm alongside Strong White.

What colours complement Elephant's Breath?

Farrow & Ball suggest Skimming Stone and Dove Tale, London Clay and Charleston Gray, or All White and Strong White. Strong White is its complementary white for ceilings and trim.

Does Elephant's Breath look purple?

It can. Farrow & Ball say its hint of magenta can make it read almost lilac in the cooler light of west facing rooms.

Which primer should I use with Elephant's Breath No.229?

Farrow & Ball recommend their Mid Tones Primer & Undercoat for Elephant's Breath. Choose the Wall & Ceiling, Wood or Metal version to suit the surface.