Settled, side by side

Le Cygne — the swan — is a warm, matte ivory from the French house Ressource. It has the chalky, light-absorbing quality of old lime plaster, which is why it looks so at home on Haussmann panelling and ceiling roses: it softens the light rather than bouncing it around. Cream is present, yellow is not.

Grant Beige balances beige and grey in nearly equal measure — the textbook greige. A slight yellow-gold undertone adds warmth, while the grey content keeps it from ever reading sweet or sandy. It is the safe, sophisticated neutral that anchors a whole-home palette.