Why Farrow & Ball Paint Has a Cult Following Amongst Designers
sharing what makes their paint unique and where we would use each of their finishes
When I was first getting into design and really dove into the interior design blogging scene (circa 2011) I started to notice a lot of designers referencing a paint brand I had never heard of…Farrow & Ball. It seemed like then, and now on social media, most of the time when a designer answers the question, “What paint color is this?” the answer often is “Farrow & Ball _____”, and we are no exception.
Why is this? I think there are two reasons. 1) An edited, tried and true color palette and 2) Paint pigment and sheens/durability that are hard to find in other brands.
While F&B paint is widely used in the UK, a lot of our clients are nervous about using their paint because they are unfamiliar with it, and their sheens. We too are a bit unfamiliar with F&B paint sheens (even though we have their paint decks memorized) so we decided to use their paint in our new office and put it to the test.
In collaboration with Farrow & Ball, we chose some fun paint colors (that we haven’t used before) to use in our office and can’t wait to share how they look in the space.
But let’s talk about what we really need to know - F&B PAINT SHEENS and how to order the right sheen for your house.
If you’re used to paint sheens such as flat, satin, and semi-gloss, then Farrow & Ball’s unique names may be little bit confusing. Below we’re sharing where to use different F&B finishes, the pros and cons of each, and more about what makes their paint stand out.
There’s a lot of contradictory information about F&B paint on the internet, so we decided to go straight to the source and interviewed Gareth Hayfield (Farrow & Ball’s Head of Research & Technical Development) to get his expert opinion and answers to a few questions regarding all things F&B paint.
The right finish to use, and where…
Why order Farrow & Ball paint instead of simply heading to your local paint store?
#1 COLOR
We have a considered approach to colour. We don’t have thousands of colours and we don’t frequently introduce new ones. We create an approachable palette which will work for your home.
Our curated palette of distinctive colours works seamlessly together in neutral groups, colour tones and bolder brights; and most contain a hint of black pigment (except All White!) meaning they have a uniquely cohesive look that will work effortlessly throughout your/any home.
We use a higher volume of pigment than many standard paints, all of which are responsibly sourced and traceable including chalk, china clay and Titanium Dioxide, which refracts light beautifully back into the room.
#2 INGREDIENTS
Our paints have their own distinct signature look based upon all the ingredients used. A true match cannot be achieved by simply adding different colorant to a different paint. This is because they will metamerise differently (the way colour is perceived by the human eye under various light sources) so the colour will appear different from what you expected.
Every single paint finish is water based so you can be confident that whichever surface you choose to paint it will be low odor, low VOC and safe for any project.
#3 HANDCRAFTED
Every tin of paint we create, whether interior or exterior, gloss or matte, can deliver incredible lasting power and durability that meets the needs of each surface. That’s down to the five key tests we conduct on every batch, combined with specialized binder technology devised by our own chemists and unique to us.
Before use every batch of new pigments is tested to ensure it meets our high standards. These pigments are then mixed with other high-quality ingredients and tested again for opacity, viscosity, colour accuracy, sheen (or gloss) and pH before the paint enters the tin, meaning the only way to guarantee the colour and performance you expect from us is to buy Farrow & Ball paint.
What is the best application technique (ex. spray vs. roll)?
All F&B products can be brushed, rolled or spray applied. To achieve a perfect spray applied finish may take a little practice with suitable equipment or you may need a professional sprayer.
Different application tools (e.g. brush, roller, spray) may give a slight visual difference in the final colour. For some darker shades, finishes with different sheen levels painted alongside each other may appear to vary slightly in colour when viewed at certain angles.
For more information on application and specific cleaning instructions for each paint sheen, use this link.
We know that Farrow & Ball has a little bit of a higher price point than other paint brands, but we think that their quality and color richness has a big payoff. If you’re worried about price, we would suggest choosing specific rooms to use their paint depending on what quality is most important to you.
Ex: If you’re wanting a deep, rich color or the specific color is an important design choice in a space (like in my office below), you’d want to use the Farrow & Ball paint rather than color matching. Simply put, you won’t get the exact color, tone, or depth by color matching.
We’d love to hear what you love about Farrow & Ball (favorite colors, sheens, etc) in the comments and if you have any specific questions or need help ordering, their showrooms are super helpful. We’re excited to keep you updated on how all of the paint colors and sheens look in the new office (painting is currently in progress). Keep following along here and on our Instagram to see the latest updates.
I can’t wait to see Macadamia in your space! @reunioninteriors color drenched her office in this color and it’s so rich. My main living spaces are all “school house white” and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it- it’s the coziest.