Pashmina and Smokey Taupe: the documented difference
Pashmina has an LRV of 44.2; Benjamin Moore Smokey Taupe 983 is 54.53. The difference is 10.33 points, with Smokey Taupe returning more light under the reference measurement. Choose by the material relationship as well as the number. Pashmina is materially deeper than the pale greiges, making an enveloping neutral effect a more realistic goal than brightness. Smokey Taupe is a neutral with a slight warm cast.
| Color | Brand / code | LRV |
|---|---|---|
| Pashmina | Benjamin Moore AF-100 | 44.2 |
| Smokey Taupe | Benjamin Moore 983 | 54.53 |
The choice beside cream wool and dark walnut
Walnut and a mid-depth wall may merge in shade, while cream wool offers a larger, softer contrast than small metallic accessories.
Set up both candidates with cream wool and dark walnut. Use equal-sized boards with the intended finishes and place them in the same orientation. Do not put one directly beside a window and leave the other in shadow. A difference that follows the position rather than the board is a lighting observation, not evidence that the formula changed.
What the comparison can—and cannot—settle
The alternative Stone Hearth has an LRV of 48.45. The undertones and neighboring colors covers that related choice.
Approve the shaded corner first; choose the richness deliberately rather than trying to brighten a dim room with this color. Assess Pashmina and Smokey Taupe alone as well as side by side. The unchosen board will not remain in the finished room, and a preference created only by that neighbor may not survive its removal. Before ordering samples, compare room-planning features in the paint color visualizer roundup.
Sources & notes
Color specifications: Benjamin Moore Pashmina AF-100. The recorded LRV is 44.2. Named comparison values come from the respective manufacturers; material schemes are editorial suggestions.
This guide reviews published color information and proposes practical sample checks. It does not claim first-hand paint testing or customer-review scores. Benjamin Moore does not sponsor or endorse this site. Product names and trademarks belong to their respective owners. Confirm the color in a physical sample and select the coating for the actual surface and finish.