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HOWTODECORATE
JOASTUDHOLME&CHARLOTTECOSBY
MITCHELLBEAZLEY
PREVIOUSPAGE
ThewallsofthissophisticatedroomhavebeenpaintedinLimewash,whichisoneofthetraditionalspecialistfinishesforwhichFarrow&Ballhasalwaysbeenfamous.
THISPAGE
‘Plummett’wallsanda‘Railings’doorcreatearoomthatfeelsstrongbutserene.
OVERLEAF
TheinnersanctumoftheFarrow&Ballprojectroom.
PREVIOUSPAGE
PREVIOUSPAGE
ThewallsofthissophisticatedroomhavebeenpaintedinLimewash,whichisoneofthetraditionalspecialistfinishesforwhichFarrow&Ballhasalwaysbeenfamous.
THISPAGE
‘Plummett’wallsanda‘Railings’doorcreatearoomthatfeelsstrongbutserene.
OVERLEAF
TheinnersanctumoftheFarrow&Ballprojectroom.
PREVIOUSPAGE
OVERLEAF
6Introduction10TheFarrow&Ballstory14Colournames&inspiration20Creatingpaint&paper
24PARTONE:WHERETOSTART30Inspiration343thingstothinkabout:architecture,light&style54Colours78Neutrals92Sampling
94PARTTWO:THEMANUAL96Whichwhite?98Coverage100Waysofdecorating114Flow128Shape&featurewalls136Accents146Floors154Chair&picturerails162Cornicing&moulding168Ceilings176Children’sbedrooms184Wallpaper192Exteriors204Eras210Howtopaint214Howlightaffectscolour
218PARTTHREE:THEDIRECTORY220Colourcombinations
INTRODUCTION
Farrow&Ballhasdefinedthecolourchoicesofageneration,andwhatbetterthingcantherebethantobringcolourintopeople’slives?
Choosingacolourorawallpapershouldbeanadventureaswellasajourneyofself-discovery.However,thisbookisnotsomuchaboutyourchoiceofcolourasabouthowtouseitandunderstanditseffect.Itisreassuring,butpossiblyalittledaunting,toknowthattherearenostrictruleswhenitcomestodecorating,sothefollowingideasareherenotsomuchtoinfluencebuttoinspire,andtohelpyoubringyourvisiontolife.
Farrow&Ballcolourshavestoodthetestoftimeinadiversityofdomesticenvironments.Theyhavebeenusedintherestorationofhistoricinteriorsaswellasbeingenjoyedbycontemporaryinteriordesignersandhomeowners.Eachcolourismeticulouslyresearchedandreflectsthecompany’suniqueheritage.TheFarrow&Ballrangeisafabulousencyclopediaofpastcoloursandpatterns,rediscoveredandreinvigoratedforamodernaudience.
Colourandpatternareoneofthegreatestformsofself-expressionandthepossibilitiesaremyriad,soFarrow&Balloffersathoughtfullycreatedpaletteof132colourstohelpyouwithyourchoice.Ifyouwanttousecolourtomakeastatement,thenthebasicwaysinwhichthered,yellow,blue,greenanddarkfamiliesareeffectiveindecoratingarecoveredinthisbook.Shouldyouwantthecoloursofyourhometobehistoricallyaccurate,thereisabroadoutlineofthecoloursusedinfourmaindecorativeperiods.IfyouwouldprefertousethefamousFarrow&Ballneutralfamilies,theytooarecovered,togetherwithsuggestionsonhowtousethemtocreatethemostsubtleandsophisticatedofrooms.
Thebookincludesdetailedadviceonhowtoapproacheveryarchitecturalelementinthehome,includingthethornysubjectsofceilingcolourandhowtomakethemostofthenaturallightinyourrooms.Usingcolourisallaboutcombination,sothethreebasicwaysofcombiningcoloursarecomprehensivelyexplored,asistheuseofcolouronfloors.Therearealsosomesuggestionsfordecoratingtheroomsoftheyoungermembersofthehousehold.
Thehomesincludedinthisbookarevaried,chosen,inpart,todemonstrateparticulardecoratingmethods,aswellastoshowcaseindividualanddivergentstyles.Wherevertheyareintheworld,theyareallownedbypeoplewhohavecomebacktoFarrow&Balltimeandtimeagain,takingcomfortinreturningtoatrustedfriend.Colourisa
Balltimeandtimeagain,takingcomfortinreturningtoatrustedfriend.Colourisamatterofpersonalpreferenceandourhomeiswherewecanbetruetoourselves,sothecolourchoicesreflectthepersonalitiesandthestoriesofeachhousehold.
Differentperiods,stylesandtastesareallcoveredhere.Someschemeshaveanunderstatedapproach,withroomsthatarecalmandrestrainedbutstillhaveadepthandrichness,whileothersareakaleidoscopeofbrilliantlycontrastingcolours.Colouroffersalmostinfinitepossibilities,andthesamehuethatappearsfuntoonepersoncanbegarishtoanother.Beautyiscertainlyintheeyeofthebeholder.
ThewonderfulresonantnamesoftheFarrow&Ballrangestillgivethenotentirelyinaccuratepicturethatthey,andalsothecolours,areinventedaroundakitchentable.Someoftheinspirationbehindthecreationofthesenamesandthecoloursthemselvesaresharedinthisbook.
Althoughfounded70yearsago,Farrow&BallonlyopeneditsfirstshowroominLondonin1996,whenIwasluckyenoughtojointhecompany.Ihadnoformaltraining.IamFarrow&Ballhome-grown,nurturedbyanastonishinggroupofpeople.However,asachild,IdidspendaninordinateamountoftimerearrangingmysetofCarand’Achecrayonstoseehowdifferentcolourcombinationsworked.Mydolls’housewasconstantlyredecoratedandIwasalwaysexperimentingwithcolour,paintingmyceilingbrightyellowtotrytofilltheroomwithsunlightorcreatingcosyspacesincupboardsbypaintingthemdark.Iwasalreadyahalf-formedcolourgeekandcouldn’twaittoexploreitsvisualmagic.
6
INTRODUCTION
IhavebeenluckyenoughtoworkwiththephenomenonthatisFarrow&Ballforthepast19years,helpingtodevelopandnamenewcolours,aswellaslookingatcolourtrends.Anenormousamountofmytimeistakenupworkinginmyroleasacolourconsultant,helpingpeopleintheirownhomestochoosetheirpaintcoloursanddecidehowtocombinethem.
Thisrolehastakenmeallovertheworld–tocastlesontheshoresoflakes,tochurches,toprivatemembersclubsandtoasmatteringofhomesbelongingtomusicandfilmstars.OnethingIhavelearnedisthatitisjustasexcitingandchallengingtobedecoratingadiminutivebasementpropertyasitisapalace,andthatthesamebasicprinciplesapplytoboth.Itistheseprinciplesthatformthebackboneofthisbook.
In2007,anexuberantbundleofenergyintheshapeofCharlotteCosbyarrivedatFarrow&Ball,andshehasexpertlyaidedmeinproducingthisbook.CharlotteisnowHeadofCreativeandherenthusiasmforcolourandpattern,likemine,knowsnobounds.WehaveworkedhappilytogethertosharewithyousomesecretsabouttheintriguingworldofFarrow&Ball,aswellasthemyriadwaysyoucanchangeyourhomewithourpaintsandpapers.
Includedaresomeindispensablepracticaltoolsintheformofdecoratingtipsandsomefail-safeFarrow&Ballcolourcombinations.Ourintentionisthatyoucanusethisbookasamanualtorefertowhenyouhaveadecoratingquandarybutalsowhenyousimplyneedsomeinspiration.Hopefully,itwillhelptoturnyourideasanddreamsintoreality.
Watchingpaintdrymaybeafamiliarmetaphorfortedium,butIcannotthinkofabetterwaytospendtime–excitedlyanticipatingthefinalcolourthatwillenhanceourhomesandenrichourlives.
TheVictorianartcriticJohnRuskinwrotethat‘Thepurestandmostthoughtfulmindsarethosewhichlovecolourthemost.’AtFarrow&Ball,wecertainlyagree.
—JoaStudholme
FACINGPAGE
‘ShadedWhite’wallsandan‘AllWhite’ceiling–whatmoredoyouneed?
BELOW
FACINGPAGE
Stunning‘ChineseBlue’(A)flattersantiquefurnitureandportraitstoperfection.
9
INTRODUCTIONFACINGPAGE
THEFARROW&BALLSTORY
Farrow&Ballhasdeeproots.Thecompanywasfoundedin1946byJohnFarrow,anindustrialchemist,andRichardBall,anengineer,whohadrecentlyreturnedfromGermanywherehehadbeenaprisonerofwar.Fortuitously,thetwometwhentheybothworkedataclaypitandtheylaterwentontoestablishtheirfirstpaintfactorytogetherinVerwood,Dorset.TheirreputationforqualityquicklyspreaduntilthepairwereaskedtosupplypainttotheAdmiraltyandtheWarOffice.
Inthe1960s,Farrow&BallmovedtoitscurrentsiteonUddensEstate,nearWimborne,andcontinuedtoexpandsuccessfullythroughoutthe1970sand’80s.Butwhileotherpaintmanufacturersstartedtocreateacrylicpaintscontainingmoreplasticandlesspigment,Farrow&Ballcontinuedusingitsoriginalformulations,thefinestingredients,richpigmentsandtraditionalprocesses,tomakereallyhigh-qualitypaintthatwasquitedifferentfromthatofthecommercialbrands.ThiswasalldoneoutofthelimelightintheheartofsleepyDorset,whichhelpedthecompanyretainitsidentityandheritage,bothofwhichwouldprovetobeimportantfactorsinmakingthecompanysosuccessfulintheyearstocome.
Intheearly1990s,historicaldecoratorTomHelmewascommissionedtodeveloparangeofpaintsfortheNationalTrust,buthewasunabletofindaproducerwhocouldmatchhisexactingstandards,untilhecameacrossthethensleepyFarrow&Ball.Hewasjoinedbyhisschoolfriend,corporatefinancierMartinEphson,andtogethertheytookovertherunningofthecompany.
FACINGPAGE
Averyoldandmuch-treasuredoriginalFarrow&Ballpainttin.WestillmakeourpaintinDorsettothisday.
10
THEFARROW&BALLSTORY
FACINGPAGE
Ourlongheritageisveryimportanttous,andwestillmakepainttothesameexactingstandardsoftheoriginalfounders.Ourdeliveryisabitmoreefficientnowthough.
TheNationalTrustpaintswerebornbyworkingcloselywithhistoricalbuildingsandcreatingcoloursthatweresympathetictotheirera.Suddenlythededicatedtrade-basedcustomers,whowerethecompany’susualclients,werejoinedbyanarmyofpeopleinterestedininteriordesign,allofwhomweredesperatetopurchasepaintsthattheycouldseehadadifferentlook:anunsurpasseddepthofcolour.ThenamesandcolourswerenowbeingtalkedaboutinreveredtonesallovertheUK,andin1996thefirstFarrow&BallflagshipshowroomopenedonFulhamRoadinChelsea,London,followedin1999bythefirstoverseasshowroominToronto,Canada.
Overthefollowingyears,Farrow&Ballcontinuedtogrowapace,openingshowroomsinEuropeandNorthAmerica,alongwithanever-expandingnumberintheUK.Theshowroomswerestyledmorelikealibraryoramuseumthanatypicalpaintstoreandtheysoonbecameamagnetforpeoplewishingtoperusethenowworld-famouspaletteof132paintcolours,aswellasthehandcraftedwallpapers,inaspacious,peacefulenvironment.Everycolourwehaveevermadeisstillavailablefromourarchive.Archivecoloursaremarkedwithan(A)inthisbook.
Farrow&Ballhascertainlyputitsstampontheworldofinteriorsandhomedecorglobally,whilestickingtoitsrootsandremainingtruetoitscraft.EverybatchofpaintandrollofwallpaperisstillmadewiththeutmostcareandmeticulouslycheckedinitsDorsetfactory.
Today,Farrow&Balldistributesitsunsurpassedpaintsandartisanalpapersto67countriesworldwideandhasmorethan50showrooms,whereyoucanworkoutyourdreamsincolour.ItisnolongerasleepylittleDorsetcompany.
13
THEFARROW&BALLSTORY
FACINGPAGE
COLOURNAMES&INSPIRATION
Sometimeintheearly1990stherebeganawholenewtopicofconversationatmanydinnerparties.Peoplewerechattingregularlyabouttherichnessof‘Mouse’sBack’orthescrumptious‘SmokedTrout’,alongwiththedelicacyof‘PeaGreen’(A).ItbecamequicklyevidentthatthiswasnotthecontentsofaBacchanalianfeastbutthenamesofapaletteofpaintsthathadsuddenlytakentheworldbystorm.Thenamesweresointriguingthatone’simaginationranwildtryingtovisualizethecolourwithwhichtheywereassociated.ThiswasthefirsttimeIfellundertheFarrow&Ballspell.Thenamesarenowiconicandalthoughtheconcepthasbeenmuchcopied,uniquelyeachandeveryoneofournameshasmeaning.Theyaremeticulouslyresearchedandreflectourindividualheritage.
Wearemorethanawarethatthepsychologyofcolournamesispowerful.Manypeoplemightdoubtthewisdomofcallingacolour‘DeadSalmon’,forexample,butthisnameisactuallyderivedfromapaintingbillfoundforthedecoratingofthelibraryatKedlestonHall,Derbyshire,in1805.SalmonisthecolourandDeadactuallyreferstothemattpaintfinishratherthanadeceasedfish.Therearemanyothernamesthatemanatefromtheanimalkingdom,rangingfromthedelicatetoneof‘CabbageWhite’,namedaftertheequallydelicatebutterfly,tothemorerobustifvaporous‘Elephant’sBreath’and‘Mole’sBreath’–twoofthemost-discussedFarrow&Ballnames.However,allthenamesarerootedinmuchmorethanquirkinessorattention-seeking.Weusetheconnotativepoweroflanguagetodescribecolours.‘SettingPlaster’isnamedaftertheblushingwallsofnewlyplasteredhouses,acolourthatwehaveallbeentemptednottocover.‘String’is,ofcourse,thecolourofuntreatedtwineandworksinperfectcombinationwith‘Cord’,anothertypeoftwine.Thesecolourandnameassociationsareintentional,ifalittleesoteric.‘Ammonite’wassonamedafterthebeautifulfossilsfoundontheIsleofPurbeck,Dorset,andsositsnaturallywith‘PurbeckStone’.
Astruecolourists,weatFarrow&Balloftentakeinspirationfromoriginalpigments,sometimeswithsurprisingconsequences.‘IndiaYellow’isfamouslynamedafterthepigmentcollectedfromtheurineofcowsthathadbeengivenaspecialdietofmangoleaves.Therathergrim-sounding‘Arsenic’makesreferencetothepigmentthat,historically,wasoftenusedingreenwallpapers–thereisatheorythatNapoleon1mayhavebeenpoisonedbythearsenicusedinthedecorationofhisbathroominStHelenawherehewasheldinexile.Butpleaseletmereassureyouthatthereisnothingpoisonousinthesepaintstoday.
Occasionally,thepaintnamecomesalmostbeforethecolour.‘Plummett’wasmixedafteranafternoonspentfishingontheriver,wherethecolouroftheleadusedtoweightthefisherman’slinewasathingofsuchbeautythatitjustbeggedtobeaddedtotheFarrow&Ballpalette.
Similarly,therewasadeepdesiretomakeawhitethatwasalmostgossamerinappearance–awhitewithverylittleadditionalcolourandalmosttranslucent–likeaspider’sweb.Thiswasthebirthofthecolour‘Wevet’,namedaftertheDorsetdialectforexactlythat:aspider’sweb.
BecauseFarrow&BallhasitsrootsfirmlyinthecountyofDorset,England,otherpaintnameshavebeentakenfromthelocaldialect.Althoughnotrecognizablewords,theyaresomehowsoevocativethattheybringthecolourtomindanyway.Weallknowthehueofamixofmistanddrizzle,whichcreatesthecolour‘Mizzle’.‘Dimpse’isalsoquaintlocaldialectforthecolourofthesky,butthistimeattwilight.
Thesecoloursarejoinedbyanotherweather-relatedname,‘Cromarty’,aseaareareferredtointheBBCradiobroadcastoftheShippingForecast,whichwarnssailorsaboutimpendinggalesandisverymuchpartofthefabricofBritishlife.‘Cromarty’,alittlelighterthan‘Mizzle’,conjuresupthecoloursofswirlingmistsandturbulentseas.
14
COLOURNAMES&INSPIRATION
THISPAGE
Thebeginningofthelengthyprocessofmixingnewcolours.Fairlybasic,usingtheeyeandateaspoon,butstillextremelyeffective.
LEFT
Anammonitefossilistheobviousinspirationbehindthepaintcolour‘Ammonite’.
FACINGPAGE
Moreinspiration,clockwisefromtopleft:theleavesofpurplesproutingbroccoli:‘Brassica’;thewallpaperinthehallofStGilesHouse:‘StGilesBlue’;paintedwoodenmiceremindusoftheinspirationbehindtheiconic‘Mouse’sBack’;heather,withitsLatinnameofCallunavulgaris:‘Calluna’;whoknowsifthenamecomesfromthestoryofthebirdofpeaceoracarpenter’sjoint:‘DoveTale’;aspider’sweb(intheDorsetdialect):‘Wevet’.
ManyoftheFarrow&Ballcolourshavetakentheircuefromhistorichouses.‘PictureGalleryRed’wasinspiredbythepicturegalleryatAttinghamPark,Shropshire,while‘SudburyYellow’isaninterpretationofJohnFowler’swallcolourforthestaircaseatSudburyHall,Derbyshire.‘CalkeGreen’isbasedonacleanedversionofthecolourfoundinthebreakfastroomatCalkeAbbey,alsoinDerbyshire.‘Cook’sBlue’wasalsoinspiredthere,bythewallsinthecook’scloset,whichhaveremaineduntouchedovermanydecades.Itissaidthatthecolourwasusedtodeterflies.
Thetraditionoflookingtohistorichousestofindcoloursendurestothisday.Manythatwecreatearebasedonsurvivingpaintworkorontraditionalcolourshandeddownbysuccessivegenerationsofpainters.In2012,whileworkingonthemagnificentStGilesHouse,theDorsethomeofLordShaftesbury,wecameacrosssomeancientwallpaperthathadbeenusedinthehall.Fromthatsmallscrap,‘StGilesBlue’wasborn–acolourthatfeelscleanandcontemporary,eventhoughitwaswassourcedfromahousethathaditsfirststonelaidinthe15thcentury.Similarly,‘InchyraBlue’wasinspiredbyabespokecolourcreatedforLordandLadyInchyrafortheirclassicGeorgianInchyraHouseinPerthshire.Thecolourneededtobesympathetictothehouse’sdramaticbackdropandworkwiththemoodyScottishskies.
16
COLOURNAMES&INSPIRATION
LEFT
Anammonitefossilistheobviousinspirationbehindthepaintcolour‘Ammonite’.
FACINGPAGE
Moreinspiration,clockwisefromtopleft:theleavesofpurplesproutingbroccoli:‘Brassica’;thewallpaperinthehallofStGilesHouse:‘StGilesBlue’;paintedwoodenmiceremindusoftheinspirationbehindtheiconic‘Mouse’sBack’;heather,withitsLatinnameofCallunavulgaris:‘Calluna’;whoknowsifthenamecomesfromthestoryofthebirdofpeaceoracarpenter’sjoint:‘DoveTale’;aspider’sweb(intheDorsetdialect):‘Wevet’.
ManyoftheFarrow&Ballcolourshavetakentheircuefromhistorichouses.‘PictureGalleryRed’wasinspiredbythepicturegalleryatAttinghamPark,Shropshire,while‘SudburyYellow’isaninterpretationofJohnFowler’swallcolourforthestaircaseatSudburyHall,Derbyshire.‘CalkeGreen’isbasedonacleanedversionofthecolourfoundinthebreakfastroomatCalkeAbbey,alsoinDerbyshire.‘Cook’sBlue’wasalsoinspiredthere,bythewallsinthecook’scloset,whichhaveremaineduntouchedovermanydecades.Itissaidthatthecolourwasusedtodeterflies.
Thetraditionoflookingtohistorichousestofindcoloursendurestothisday.Manythatwecreatearebasedonsurvivingpaintworkorontraditionalcolourshandeddownbysuccessivegenerationsofpainters.In2012,whileworkingonthemagnificentStGilesHouse,theDorsethomeofLordShaftesbury,wecameacrosssomeancientwallpaperthathadbeenusedinthehall.Fromthatsmallscrap,‘StGilesBlue’wasborn–acolourthatfeelscleanandcontemporary,eventhoughitwaswassourcedfromahousethathaditsfirststonelaidinthe15thcentury.Similarly,‘InchyraBlue’wasinspiredbyabespokecolourcreatedforLordandLadyInchyrafortheirclassicGeorgianInchyraHouseinPerthshire.Thecolourneededtobesympathetictothehouse’sdramaticbackdropandworkwiththemoodyScottishskies.
16
COLOURNAMES&INSPIRATION
FACINGPAGE
OtherFarrow&Ballcoloursalsostartedasbespokeshades.‘PrintRoomYellow’(A)wasmixedspeciallyfortheearlyrestorationofan18th-centuryprintroom,anddelicate‘JamesWhite’,withitsunderlyinggreen,wascreatedforthegardenroomofdiscerningDrJames,oneofourfirstevercolourconsultancyclients.
Nature,however,willalwaysbethegreatestinspiration.‘Calluna’,forexample,isthecolour,aswellasthename,ofthebeautifulheatherthatbringslatesummertolifeinthemostruggedlandscapes,whileitsstrongercounterpart‘Brassica’wasinspiredbythecolouroftheleavesofpurplesproutingbroccoli.
Sometimesacolourismadebecauseitcomestolightthatthereissomethingofagapinthecolourcard.Theamusinglynamed‘VertDeTerre’,whichisindeedclosetotheblue-greenoftheverditerpigment,wascreatedasanalternativetoboth‘CookingAppleGreen’and‘BallGreen’,withtheformerbeingsomewhatfresherandthelattermoresubtleandmuted.‘VertDeTerre’istheperfectalternativethatliesbetweenthetwo.
Wecertainlyhopetoleadcolourtrendsratherthanfollowthem;whenboth‘PavilionGray’and‘ManorHouseGray’werecreated,itwasjustbeforethecurrentgreymania.Althoughtheyareperfectinthecutting-edgecontemporaryhome,theywerebothinspiredbythecoloursofancientbuildings:oneacricketpavilion,theotherahistoricboardinghouseinafamouscollegeforboys.
Theinspirationsbehindthesecoloursarenumerous–howluckywearetoliveinaworldsofullofgloriouscolour.
ABOVE
Theuncertaincolouroftheskywhenthereisamixofmistanddrizzleistheinspirationforthepaintcolour‘Mizzle’.
FACINGPAGE
Thefacesbehindthenames,clockwisefromtopleft:Nancyof‘Nancy’sBlushes’;Joaof‘Joa’sWhite’;andCharlotteof‘Charlotte’sLocks’.
18
COLOURNAMES&INSPIRATION
‘Nancy’sBlushes’
‘Joa’sWhite’
A
deservingluckyfewhavehadcoloursnamedafterthem.‘BallGreen’isatributetoRichardBall,thepaintpioneerwhofirstfoundedthecompanyalongwithJohnFarrow,afterwhom‘Farrow’sCream’isnamed.‘SavageGround’owesitsnametoDennisSavage,ablockprinterparexcellence,whowasinstrumentalinthecreationofourveryfirstwallpapers,while‘CornforthWhite’wasnamedinmemoryofJohnCornforth,thereveredarchitecturalhistorianandco-authorofEnglishDecorationinthe18thCentury.Morerecently,colourshavebeennamedaftermembersofthecreativeteaminalight-heartedappreciationoftheircontributiontothecolourpalette.
Thepaintnamesarenowasmuchapartofourcoloursastheshadesthemselves.Theybringthecolourstolifeandareinspiredbymyriadsurprisingsources.Whowouldhaveguessedthat‘StiffkeyBlue’isnamedafterthemudonaparticularbeachonthenorthNorfolkcoast?Buttheyarealsosourcedfromthedownrightfamiliar:‘Brinjal’,whosesumptuoustoneisdifficulttoresist,istakenfromtheIndiannamefortheglossyaubergine,oreggplant.
‘Charlotte’sLocks’
CREATINGPAINT&PAPER
Thereisakindofalchemythattakesplaceduringthecreationofourpaints,andthatiswhytheylookdifferent.However,theyoftenstartlifeinthesimplestofways,usuallyatakitchentable.Tensoframekinsfilledwithdifferentshadesaremixedandremixedforweeksonenduntilwearehappywiththeexactcolour.Theyarethensenttothepaintexpertsinourlaboratorytobetestedagain.
Althoughwenowmakepaintappropriateforeverysurface,Farrow&Ballwasknownoriginallyforitsspecialistfinishes,suchasDeadFlatandCaseinDistemper.Muchwaslearnedfromthetraditionalproductionofthesepaints,whichhadveryhighlevelsofpigmentation,andnoweveryfinishfromFarrow&Ball,rangingfromEstateEmulsiontoFullGloss,hasthosesamehighlevelsofpigment,alongwithrichresinbinderscombinedtocreateoursignaturedepthofcolour.Thecomplexpigmentationproducesuniquelyinterestingcoloursthathaveredolenceanddepthintheirundertones.Thiscausesthemtochangesubtlyindifferentlightconditions,makingthecoloursfeelmagicalandalive.Thehighrefractorynatureofallthekeyingredientsproducesasofter,flatterfinishthanmanyothercommercialbrands.
SomepeoplequestionthefactthatFarrow&Ballpaintisnotthick,thatithasthetextureofsingle,orlight,cream,ratherthanthejelly-liketextureofcheapercommercialpaints.Thisisbecauseitispackedwithlotsofrichpigmentratherthanplasticbinders.Thelessviscousnatureofthepaintalsoensuresthatitflowswell,tocreateanevensurface.Everycolourisblendedwithenormouscareandprecisionandisscrupulouslytestedbeforeitevenreachesthetin,becausewebelievethatpaintismorethanjustaveneer.
Thesamecareandprecisionisputintopracticewhenmakingwallpaper.Throughouthistory,block-printedpapershavealwaysbeentreasured,butrecentlymostoftheworkproducedviathismethodhasbeenpurelyfortherestorationofhistorichouses.AlthoughthetechniqueusedatFarrow&Ballformakingwallpaperwasfirstdevelopedinthe18thcentury,thecompanyhasfortunatelyalsobenefitedfromtechnologyavailableinthe21st.
Eachwallpaperdesignisachievedusingahand-brushingtechniquetoapplythebackgroundcolour,whichresultsinvisiblebrushstrokes,justasitwouldhavedoneinthe18thcentury.TheblocksforthepatternshaveFarrow&Ballcolourappliedtothemandarethenoverlaidontothepaper.Theuseofourownpaintnotonlyincreasesthedepthofcolourandmakeseachpartofthepatternstandslightlyproud,butitalso
thedepthofcolourandmakeseachpartofthepatternstandslightlyproud,butitalsoimpartsapleasingtactilitythatcannotbeemulatedbyprinter’sink.Colourthatisprintedontopofcolourproducesremarkableeffectsthatareimpossibletoachievebyanyothermeans.Thereareslightvariationsfromonerepeattothenext,makingthepapersfeelevenmorehandcrafted.
TheFrenchdamask‘StAntoine’anditsEnglishcounterpart‘Silvergate’werethefirstdamaskstobeproducedbythistraditionalblock-printingmethodfordecades.Theyhavesincebeenjoinedbymanyprettybotanicflorals,aswellassomemorecontemporarygeometricpatterns,allofwhichhavebeeninspiredbyarchivesofevocativepapersandfabricsfromaroundtheworld.
Farrow&Ballhasalwaysbeenfamousforitstraditionalstripesanddrags,whichareproducedusingtheopen-troughmethod.Paperisbrush-paintedwithagroundcolourthatwillformthebackground.Oncedry,thisrollofgroundpaperispassedslowlyunderpaint-filled,open-bottomtroughs.Tocreateourstripes,foampadsarehand-cutintoeachofourstripeddesignsbeforethetroughisdivided,allowingthechosenpaintcolourtoflowsteadilyontothepadsbeneath.
FACINGPAGE
Ourdedicatedandloyalstaffinthefactorytakeenormousprideinthepainttheyproduceandconstantlycheckitsqualityandcolour.
OVERLEAF
Thewallpaperfactoryisfullofexcitingtreasures,fromtherollsofgroundpapertothemeticulouslymadeblocksandrollers.
20
CREATINGPAINT&PAPER
PARTONE
WHERE
TOSTART
FACINGPAGE
Thejoyof‘AllWhite’,usedonthewallsofthiskitchen,isthatitcontainsnopigmentotherthanwhite.Thisgivesanunsurpassedsoftnessandnoneoftheuncomfortablequalitiesofabrilliantwhite.
25
FACINGPAGE
INTERIORARCHITECTURALDETAIL
Ceiling
GlazingBars
WindowFrame/Architrave
Panelling/Dado
Floor
Coving
Wall
DadoRail/ChairRail
Skirting/Baseboard
26
WHERETOSTART
INTERIORARCHITECTURALDETAIL
CeilingRose
Ceiling
Frieze
Cornice/CrownMoulding
PictureRail
Wall
DadoRail/ChairRail
Dado
Skirting/Baseboard
Doorframe/Architrave
Door
Floor
27
ARCHITECTURALDETAIL
THISPAGE
AllthewoodcladdingandtriminthisrecentlybuilthouseboatbelongingtophotographerJamesMerrellispaintedin‘CornforthWhite’,oneoftheEasyNeutrals(seepage88).Thishelpstominimizeanydistractionfromthehouseboat’sbeautifulshapeandallowsultimateconnectionwiththesurroundingwater,whichisasimilartoneto‘CornforthWhite’.
THISPAGE
AllthewoodcladdingandtriminthisrecentlybuilthouseboatbelongingtophotographerJamesMerrellispaintedin‘CornforthWhite’,oneoftheEasyNeutrals(seepage88).Thishelpstominimizeanydistractionfromthehouseboat’sbeautifulshapeandallowsultimateconnectionwiththesurroundingwater,whichisasimilartoneto‘CornforthWhite’.
seepage88
3THINGSTOTHINKABOUT
ARCHITECTURE,LIGHT&STYLE
Therearenohard-and-fastruleswhenitcomestodecorating.Luckily,weallgravitatetodifferentstyles,liveindifferentplacesandlikedifferentcolours–theworldwouldbeamuchdullerplaceifthiswerenotthecase.However,itiscertainlyhelpfultobearthefollowingthreepointersinmindwhenstartingtodecorate:
ThearchitecturalelementsoftheroomThelightYourstyle
Everyroomisdifferent,sothechoiceofcolourshouldbeinfluencedbytheparticularconditionsofthespace:howitfunctions,itsarchitectureandwhenitisused.
FACINGPAGE
Sometimesthesimplestdesignsarethemosteffectiveandmonochromeschemes,suchasthis,haveanenduringappeal.‘Wevet’onthewallsandtheveryslightlydarker‘StrongWhite’onthewoodworkcreatetheperfectbackdropfortheelegantblacktableandchair.
35
FACINGPAGE
FACINGPAGE
Theunderlyinggreenin‘Mouse’sBack’makesittheperfectcolourtouseupstairsinthisTorontohome.Thecolourintheroomistotallysympatheticwiththeview,sothetree,whichisoftenbathedinlight,remainsthestar.However,asthelightfades,thecolouronthepanellingwillfeelstronger,creatingamorecocoon-likespace.
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Thesimplicityofthisspacemakesitsoappealingforsittinginandworking.Noartworkisrequiredonthisexpansivewall,whichispaintedin‘CornforthWhite’,becausetheextraordinarytoplightcreatesshadowsofrarebeauty.These,togetherwiththepaintcolour,willchangeandexcitethroughoutthecourseoftheday.
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RIGHT
TheinternalwindowsinthisParishomearepaintedin‘PitchBlack’,asaretheglazeddoorsthatopenoutontothecourtyardgarden.Thewallsare‘StrongWhite’,alongwiththepanellingglimpsedthroughthewindow,whichiscombinedwith‘PurbeckStone’walls.Together,thesecolourscreatetheperfectunderstatedbackgroundfortheowner’scollectionofmid-centuryfurniture.
COLOURS
Therearesomanypreconceptionsaboutcolour–blueisalwayscold,redisstimulating,yellowroomsarealwayswelcomingandgreencreatesrestfulspaces.Theremaybeagrainoftruthinallthesestatementsbutyoushouldnotgethunguponthem.Themoodyoucreateinaroomismostaffectedbythedepthofcolourandhowthatcolourisused.Thesoft,almostimperceptiblehuesof‘PinkGround’,‘TunsgateGreen’,‘PavilionBlue’and‘HoundLemon’,withtheircrystal-cleardelicacy,aresometimesalmostfeltratherthanseen,while‘EatingRoomRed’,‘GreenSmoke’,‘DrawingRoomBlue’and‘IndiaYellow’alloozeperiodgrandeur.
Overthenextfewpages,withthehelpofimagesfromhousesofvaryingstylesanderas,weexplorehowthefivecolourfamiliesofRed,Yellow,Green,BlueandDarksaffectbothourhomesandourmood.Someschemesareclearandvivid,whileothershaveacontemplativerefinement.Theyare,however,allpackedwithbeautifulcolour.
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MyheartsingswhenIseethisstrikingyetsimpleuseofcolour,whichisperfectforaseasidehouse.‘WimborneWhite’combinedwith‘DrawingRoomBlue’hasafantasticallygraphicfeel,creatingaroomthatisfreshbutextremelymodernduetotheboldmoveoftakingthestrongercolourupontothecladding,justabovetheworktop.And,ofcourse,thetinofEnglishmustardistheperfectcomplementaryaccent.
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Thekeytothislustrousspaceisthatthereisnocontrastbetweenthewallsandthewoodwork.Everyelementispaintedthesamecolour–‘BookRoomRed’–andeventhecurtainfabrichasthesameearthytoneasthewalls.Notethattheradiatorispaintedthesamecolour,sothatitseeminglydisappearsintothewall.
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‘Nancy’sBlushes’feelsbraveandbrightinthisvibrantbedroom,eventhoughithasbeentemperedbytheplainmushroomheadboardanddarkfurcoveronthebed.Allwoodworkhasbeenpaintedthesamecolourasthewallsforacalmingeffect,whilethepinkhasbeenstoppedabovethepicturerail,makingthespacefeelmoreintimate.
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Althoughyellowcansometimesappearrawinbrightlight,themagicofthese‘IndiaYellow’wallsisthattheycomeintotheirownafterdark.ThisexuberantParishomeisfilledwithcolour,whichmakesitfeelupliftingduringthedayandthenglowatnight.
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Thissunnybedroompaintedin‘CiaraYellow’(A)isasfreshasaspringmorning.Itisimpossiblenottofeelhappyandcheerfulinthisroomwithitsupbeattoneandaccessoriesthatmatchthewalls.Theceilinghasbeenpaintedthesamecolourasthewallstopreventtheslopeoverthebedfromfeelingclaustrophobic.
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‘Yellowcake’wasinspiredbythevibrantcoloursusedoncabinetsinmid-centurykitchens.Here,ithasbeenusedtostunningeffecttocreateanupbeatwashroominabeachhouse.Althoughcertainlynotacolourforthefaint-hearted,itsboldnessismostarresting.
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Theuseof‘Babouche’inthisdelightfullyrusticbedroomisperfecttomaketheroomfeelfullofenergywhileretainingatraditionaledge.Thecolourwaschosenparticularlyfortheenduringwarmthitgivesinanorth-facingroom.
RIGHT
TheperfectlyproportionedhallofthisstunningGeorgianhousecommandedayellowofparticularsophistication.‘PrintRoomYellow’(A)feelsabsolutelyideal,introducingcomfortandwarmthwhileflatteringthehistoricportraits.Itiscomplementedby‘SlipperSatin’,whichhasasuitablyagedlook,onthewoodwork.
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AlthoughthisBrooklynhallhasanairofsimplicityaboutit,thecoloursonthewallsandtrimworkdeceptivelywelltogether.Cool,grey‘Dimpse’isusedonthepanellingandwalls,whilethedoorsarepaintedinitslightercounterpart,‘Blackened’.TheseArchitecturalNeutralssitperfectlywiththegreyoakfloor,tocreateamodern,clean-feelingspace.
NEUTRALS
Thereisnodoubtthatneutralshavebeenthemostpopulartonesforhomeuseduringthefirstdecadesofthe21stcentury–andperhapsforgoodreason.Manypeoplefeelmostcomfortablewhensurroundedbycarefullybalancedcoloursthatcreateanunderstatedenvironmentandmakefewdemandsontheeye.Neutralsofferinfinitepossibilitiesformakingspacesairyandrelaxing,refinedandtimeless,orelegantlysophisticated.However,neutralsalonearenotafail-safecombinationanditisalltooeasytofallintothetrapofusingbland,depressingcoloursthatarenothinglikethesubtle,complexpalettesfeaturedhere.
Lightplaysahugepartinhowneutralsappear,whichiswhyFarrow&Ballhascreatedsixneutralgroups–Traditional,Yellow-based,Red-based,Contemporary,EasyandArchitectural–foreverylightcondition.Althougheachgroupcreatesaverydifferentlook,theycanbereliedupontoworkperfectlytogether,inseeminglyendlesspermutations.
Selectinganeutralgroupiseasy–simplyconsiderthelightintheroomanddecidewhichgroupyouaremostdrawnto.Whenyouhaveestablishedyourpreferredneutraltones,youcanthenbuildadecoratingscheme,possiblywiththeadditionofboldercoloursandwallpaperstoflowthroughoutyourhome.
OlderorclassicbuildingstendtodemandsoftereffectsfromneutralsandaremostsuitedtotheTraditional,Yellow-basedandRed-basedNeutrals.Morecontemporarysettingsbenefitfromthesubtle,tone-on-toneharmoniousgreysoftheContemporary,EasyandArchitecturalNeutrals.
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‘LimeWhite’
‘Off-White’
‘OldWhite’
‘SlipperSatin’
‘OldWhite’
‘SlipperSatin’
‘WhiteTie’
‘NewWhite’
‘String’
‘Matchstick’
‘StrongWhite’
‘SkimmingStone’
‘Elephant’sBreath’
‘AllWhite’
‘Wevet’
‘CornforthWhite’
‘Ammonite’
‘PurbeckStone’
‘PurbeckStone’
‘Blackened’
‘ManorHouseGray’
‘PavilionGray’
‘Dimpse’
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Here,theEasyNeutralsarebeingsampledinabright,undecoratedspace.Theintentionistouseallthreecolours–‘PurbeckStone’‘CornforthWhite’andaccentcolour,‘Mole’sBreath’–incombinationonthewalls,woodworkandfiresurround.Fourwallpapers–clockwisefromtopleft,‘Peony’(BP2302),‘Versailles’(BP2602),‘Silvergate’(BP803)and‘StAntoine’(BP909)–arealsobeingconsideredforthechimneybreast.Theyeachhavetheirindividualcharms.
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JamesWhiteAllWhiteJoa’sWhiteDimity
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LampRoomGrayStrongWhiteLichenLimeWhiteLightBlueStrongWhiteLightGrayClunchLimeWhiteSlipperSatinLondonClaySkimmingStoneLondonStoneJoa’sWhiteLulworthBlueAllWhite
PaleHoundWimborneWhitePalePowderPointingParmaGrayWimborneWhitePavilionBlueAllWhitePavilionGrayBlackenedPeignoirWimborneWhitePeltGreatWhitePictureGalleryRedJoa’sWhitePigeonShadedWhitePinkGroundTallowPitchBlackShadowWhitePitchBlueBlackenedPlummettAmmonitePointingWimborneWhitePurbeckStone/Wevet
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Tallow/PointingTanner’sBrownJoa’sWhiteTeresa’sGreenSlipperSatinTunsgateGreen/AllWhite
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Mahogany/Joa’sWhiteManorHouseGrayBlackenedMatchstickWhiteTieMiddletonPinkAllWhiteMizzleWimborneWhiteMole’sBreathAmmoniteMouse’sBackOff-White
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VardoShadedWhiteVertdeTerreSlipperSatin
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RadicchioJoa’sWhiteRailingsAmmoniteRectoryRedDimityRedEarthDimityRingwoldGround/Tallow
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Wevet/AllWhiteWhiteTieWimborneWhiteWimborneWhiteAllWhiteWorsted/ShadowWhite
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Nancy’sBlushes/GreatWhiteNewWhite/WhiteTie
Off-Black/DimpseOff-WhiteSlipperSatinOldWhiteSlipperSatinOvalRoomBlueShadowWhiteOxfordStoneDimity
SalonDrabDimitySavageGroundNewWhiteSettingPlasterTallowShadedWhiteShadowWhiteShadowWhiteWimborneWhiteSkimmingStoneStrongWhiteSkylightAllWhiteSlipperSatinPointingSmokedTroutDimityStGilesBlueAllWhiteStiffkeyBlueShadowWhiteStoneBlueStrongWhiteStonyGroundSlipperSatinStringWhiteTieStrongWhiteAllWhiteStudioGreenLimeWhiteSudburyYellow/NewWhite
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YeabridgeGreen/JamesWhiteYellowcakeAllWhiteYellowGroundWhiteTie
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WHICHWHITE?
WAYSOFDECORATING
Everyroomshouldbeseenasafantasticopportunitytousecolour.Whetheryourchoiceofschemehasbeenspontaneousandinstinctive,orheartfeltandstudied,itisonlythebeginningofyourjourneytowardsmakingthemostofyourparticularspace.
Whenfacedwitharoommadeupofseeminglycomplicatedarchitecturalelements,itcanbealittleoverwhelmingchoosingwhereeachcolourshouldgo.Yourfirstdecisioniswhetherthewoodworkshouldbehighlightedornot.Thiswillprobablybeinfluencedbythestyleofyourroom.Mostpeopledefaulttotheclassicpreferenceofusingacleanwhitetrimintraditionalrooms,wheretherehasalwaysbeenapresumptionthatwoodworkshouldbepaintedlighterthanthewalls.Incontemporaryrooms,ontheotherhand,wherethetrimisusuallylessdecorative,itisoftenthoughtbesttopainteverythinginonecolourtocreateabackdropthatismoreconducivetominimalliving.
Althoughitmayfeelasifthepossibilitiesareendless,itiscomfortingtorememberthattherearethreebasicwaysofdecorating:lightondark;darkonlight;andonecolourthroughout.
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Whocouldresistthislight-filledbathroominNewYorkState?Thecombinationof‘MiddletonPink’onthewallsand‘AllWhite’onthewoodworkremindsusoftheuncomplicateddaysofchildhood,andfeelsfreshandprettytoboot.
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ThisquietcornerinaDutchhouseisunifiedbytheuseof‘Wevet’ontheexpansivewoodwork.Thisdelicatewhite,withitshintofgrey,istheperfectcolouralongside‘LampRoomGray’onthewalls.Thefactthatthetwohavethesamebasetonemeanstheysitseamlesslytogether.
ABOVE
Thecombinationof‘Teresa’sGreen’onthewallsand‘Pointing’onthewoodworkistotallyclassicandutterlyfittingforthemagnificentlandingofthishistorichouse.Veryoftensimpleschemessuchasthesearethemosteffective.
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Thisroomexudesanamazingsenseofcalm.Thewallsare‘SkimmingStone’,whichistheperfectgreyforbedroomsbecauseitneverfeelstoocold.Here,itiscombinedwiththelighter‘WimborneWhite’onboththewoodworkandthefloortoretainafeelingofcrispnessandsimplicity.
ABOVELEFT
Whocouldresistthislight-filledbathroominNewYorkState?Thecombinationof‘MiddletonPink’onthewallsand‘AllWhite’onthewoodworkremindsusoftheuncomplicateddaysofchildhood,andfeelsfreshandprettytoboot.
LEFT
ThisquietcornerinaDutchhouseisunifiedbytheuseof‘Wevet’ontheexpansivewoodwork.Thisdelicatewhite,withitshintofgrey,istheperfectcolouralongside‘LampRoomGray’onthewalls.Thefactthatthetwohavethesamebasetonemeanstheysitseamlesslytogether.
ABOVE
Thecombinationof‘Teresa’sGreen’onthewallsand‘Pointing’onthewoodworkistotallyclassicandutterlyfittingforthemagnificentlandingofthishistorichouse.Veryoftensimpleschemessuchasthesearethemosteffective.
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Thisroomexudesanamazingsenseofcalm.Thewallsare‘SkimmingStone’,whichistheperfectgreyforbedroomsbecauseitneverfeelstoocold.Here,itiscombinedwiththelighter‘WimborneWhite’onboththewoodworkandthefloortoretainafeelingofcrispnessandsimplicity.
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FLOW
Inthisdayandage,mostpeoplewanttocreateaflowthroughtheirhome.Theyseeitasparamountinproducinganunchallengingenvironment,whereyoucandriftfromroomtoroomwithoutbeingjoltedbytheuseofcolour.Asoutlinedbelow,thiscanbeachievedinanumberofways,whetheryouwantapared-down,simplefeelorafantasticriotofcolour.
OnecolouroronegroupofneutralsOneceilingcolourOnewoodworkcolourTone-on-tonecolourSeveralcoloursAunifyinghallcolour
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Thelightershadesof‘GreenGround’,‘DayroomYellow’,‘Calluna’and‘Nancy’sBlushes’sitseamlesslytogether,asdothedarker,butequallyweighted‘GreenSmoke’,‘Radicchio’,‘HagueBlue’and‘Brinjal’.
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SHAPE&FEATURE
WALLS
Theverymentionofafeaturewallcanstrikehorrorintheheartsofsome,whileotherswillrubtheirhandswithglee.Colourdrasticallyadjustsoursenseofspace,andwhilelarge,awkwardroomscanbehelpedbypaintingasinglewallinadifferentcolourtoprovideafocalpoint,afeaturewallcanjustaseasilydestroytheproportionsofaroomifitisnotexecutedcorrectly.Asinglewallpaintedinaboldcolourcanalsobringlifetoaroom,especiallyiftheothercoloursareinsharpcontrast,butitisimportanttounderstandhowcoloursworktogether.Sharpcontrastsarecreatedbytheuseofcomplementarycoloursfromthecolourwheel(seepages56–7),witheachmakingtheotherlookbrighterandmoreintense.Colourisnotonlyvisuallypleasingbutapowerfultoolfortransformingspaces–itcancertainlydisguiseawkwardproportions,butrememberthatitcanjustaseasilycreatethem.
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Wow!‘DrawingRoomBlue’andthestarklycontrasting‘AllWhite’aboveitmakeaboldstatementandimmediatelymakeyouwanttoexplorethisroom.Paintinganintense
colourhalfwayupawallwherethereisnodadorailisfareasiertoexecutethanyoumightimagineit,andisworthdoingtocreateastunning,individuallook.
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STRONGCOLOURONASHORTWALL
Theuseofastrongercolouronashorterwallcanmakearoomfeelsquarerinshape.Therefore,along,thinroompaintedin‘Wevet’,forexample,withaboldertonelike‘Charlotte’sLocks’usedonashortwall,willforeshortenthespaceandhelptocreateamoreevenlyproportionedroom.Alternatively,astrongercolourcanbeusedontherecessesoneithersideofachimneybreast,toadddepthwhileretainingbalance.
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Choosingsunny‘Babouche’foronewallinthisslightlycrampedbedroommeansthatthespaceimmediatelylooksdeeper,aswellasinjectingadelightfulelementofcolour.Theremainingwallsandtheceilingarepaintedinaseamless‘Off-White’EstateEggshell.
ABOVERIGHT
‘Off-Black’onasinglewallofachild’sbedroominaParishomecreatesbothafocalandatalkingpoint.Manychildrenappreciatethesecuritythatastrongcolourgivesthem,andthischildisbeingintroducedtoastrongdesignethicearly.
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SHAPE&FEATUREWALLS
WARMANDCOOLCOLOURS
Itisdrummedintousthatdarkcolourswillalwaysmakearoomlooksmaller.Whilethereisanelementoftruthtothis,itismuchmoreusefultoknowthatitiswarmcolours,likeredsandyellows,thatwillmakearoomfeelcosierbecausetheyappeartoadvancetowardsyou.Ontheotherhand,cool,bluercoloursrecedeand,asaresult,thespacefeelslarger.
ABOVE
Aseasidesittingroomneedstofeelairyandbreezy,andthisonecertainlydoesjustthat.Thehugeamountofnaturallight,togetherwith‘ParmaGray’onthewallsand‘WimborneWhite’onthewoodwork,capitalizesontheavailablespaceandcreatesaroomperfectforpost-beachrelaxation.
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SHAPE&FEATUREWALLS
ASTRONGCENTRALCOLOUR
Boldcolourdoesn’thavetodominate,andcombiningcolourwithneutraltonescancreatestrikingschemes,aswellashelpingtochangethesenseofspaceinaroom.Ifyouuseadarkercolourinthecentreofaroom,everythingarounditwillfeellighterandbrighter.Thistechniqueisparticularlysuccessfulwhenyoupaintacentralkitchenislandinastrongtone.Ifyoudon’thaveanisland,youcouldpaintthelegsofatableinadarkertoneinstead,togroundtheroom,whilekeepingthestrongcolourwellbeloweyelevel.Thesamecanbesaidofpaintingtheundersideof,orthepanellingaround,abathtubinabright,neutralbathroom.
LARGEORSMALLPATTERNS
Likesomanythingsindecorating,itseemscounterintuitiveforalargepatternusedinasmallspacetocreateanillusionofvolume,andasmallpatterntohaveamoreenclosingeffect,buttheydo.Therefore,wallpaperscanbeusedtogreateffecttochangetheshapeofaroom.Intricatepatterns,suchas‘RenaissanceLeaves’or‘Samphire’,willimmediatelymakearoomfeelcosy,whilebigger,bolderpatterns,suchas‘Tessella’or‘StAntoine’,lendasenseofgrandeurandappeartoenlargeaspace.
ABOVELEFT
Usingtheflamboyantdamask‘StAntoine’(BP953)(A)inthistinybathroomwasawisechoice,asitimmediatelymakestheroomfeelbigger.Manypeoplearewaryofhangingartonapatternedbackground,buthereyoucanseehowmyeclecticfamilyportraitslooktotallyathome.
ABOVERIGHT
Thedelicatepatternof‘Yukutori’(BP4304)wallpaper,inspiredbyJapanesepen-and-inkdrawingsofflyingbirds,isperfectforthiskitchen.Althoughclose-upyoucanappreciatetheintricacyofeachbird,asyoumovefurtheraway,thepatternbecomesindistinctandservespurelytosoftenthewalls.
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Iadorethisroomwithitspared-downdesignethic.Thesurprisinglystrongwallcolour,‘DeadSalmon’,givesawarmthandglowtothespace,whiletheoutsizedbutsimplekitchenisland,paintedin‘Railings’,groundstheroom,makingeverything
simplekitchenisland,paintedin‘Railings’,groundstheroom,makingeverythingarounditfeellighterandbigger.
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SHAPE&FEATUREWALLS
ACCENTS
Accentcoloursareusuallyintroducedforthefollowingreasons:
ToadddepthandbalanceToenlivenadrabspaceTocreatearhythmthroughthehouse
Thejoyofaccentcoloursisthattheycanbeusedasboldlyorassparinglyasyoulike.Thosewhoarenervousaboutusingthemcanintroduceminuteamountsofcolourorpattern,whichmaywellbehiddenfor90percentofthetime.Insidecupboards,onhiddenslidingdoorsorontheundersideofbathtubs,thesepocketsofcolourwillbringasmiletothefacewhentheyareoccasionallyrevealed.Othersliketomakeboldstatementsbypaintingstrongcoloursonfeaturewallsorchimneybreasts.Buthoweverbraveyoumayfeel,alwaysrememberthatanaccentcolourshouldenhanceratherthanoverwhelmtherestofyourdecorativescheme.
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Thesimplicityofthis‘Off-White’schemeisperfecttoshowoffboththegraphicposterandthetwoaccentchairspaintedin‘ChineseBlue’(A).Thebeautyofthisisthatyoucanremovethebluechairswhenpiningforatotallyneutrallookorevenchangethecolouraccordingtotheseason.
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ACCENTS
FLOORS
Therehaslongbeenatraditionofpaintingfloors,andsuddenlyitisfashionableagain.Acoupleofcenturiesago,paintwasusedtoimitate:woodenfloorswerepaintedtolooklikestone;stoneflagstolooklikechequerboard;andornatepatternscreatedasanalternativetomarquetry.Thesetechniquescanstillbeappliedinthemodernhome,althoughfloorsareusuallypaintedinasolidcolourforalookthatisbothstylishandpractical.
Farrow&BallFloorPaintcoversupamultitudeofsins,bringingbotholdandnewfloorstolife.Well-wornfloorsthathavebeenpatchedwithtotallymismatchingboardsretaintheircharacterwhenpainted,whilecheapnewboardsgainaslightlustrethatlendsthemasenseofpermanence.
Everyhomecontainsroomsthatwouldbenefitfromaneasilywashablefloorcovering.However,floorpaintshouldbeconsideredasmuchforitsrelaxeddecorativequalitiesasforitsdurableones.WithFarrow&BallFloorPaintavailableineverycolour,itiseasytorevampthelookofaroombysimplypaintingthefloor,anditisalotlessexpensivethananyotherfloorcovering.
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BothCharlotteandIfindithardtoresistpaintingatleastonefeatureinourhouseseveryweek.Here,sheisupdatingherbathroomwith‘Brassica’FloorPaint.ItisasimportanttosampleFloorPaintasitiswallpaint,ascolourcanoftenlooktotallydifferentwhenthelighthitsitfromabove.
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WHITEANDLIGHTFLOORS
Kitchensareoftenverybusyplaces,sousingonlyonecolourservestobringasenseofcalmtothespace.Everyelementinthisroomispaintedinthesamecolour,‘SlipperSatin’,butthefloorappearstobemuchlighterthanthewallsasthelightfloodingthroughthedoorisbouncedaroundtheroom.Pale-colouredfloorsaretheverybestwaytomakethemostofanyavailablelight.
STRONG-COLOUREDFLOORS
Floorcolourhasabigimpactonthelookofaroom,andthemorefloorspacethereis,thegreaterthatimpact.Beaware,acolourusedonthefloorwillalwayslookmuchlighterthanthesametoneonthewalls.Here,bold‘IndiaYellow’onthefloorofasimplewhiteroomactsasananchorandalsoreflectsacertainamountofthesameshadeontothewalls.Itistheprimarydecorativestatementintheroombutitdoesn’tfeeloverwhelmingasitsofarbelowtheeyeline.
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CHAIR&PICTURERAILS
Itisimportanttorememberthattherearenohard-and-fastrulesindecorating,andthisisparticularlytruewhenitcomestothetreatmentofpicturerailsandchairrails.Thesearchitecturalelements,andthewallsaroundthem,canbetreatedinmanydifferentways,allofwhichwillhaveagreateffectontheoverallappearanceofyourroom.
Veryoftenpicturerailsandchairrailsarepaintedwhitethroughforceofhabitor,ifthemouldingsareparticularlygrand,todrawattentiontotheirarchitecturalbeauty.Althoughthereisnothinginherentlywrongwiththisformofdecorating,itdoestendtocreateoverlybusyrooms.Theeyeisconstantlydrawntothewhitestripesrunningaroundtheroom,ratherthantothebeautifulwallcolourortheview.
Originally,theserailswerepaintedtocoverupmismatchedwoodgrainsandcolours.Theywerepurelyfunctionalpartsofthearchitecture:chairrailstoprotectwallsfromfurnitureandpicturerailsforhangingpaintings.Thereis,however,nopracticalreasonwhytheyshouldbepickedoutinadifferentcolourfromthewall,anditisonlyrelativelyrecentlythatpeoplehaveattemptedtotransformthemintoafeature,givingthemmisplacedimportanceandoftenmakingthemtheguidingdecorativeforce.Inmostcontemporaryrooms,therailsareeitherremovedorsimplypaintedthesamecolourasthewallsforastrong,unifiedlook.Astherearenocontraststodistracttheeye,thismakestheroomfeelbigger.
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‘FrenchGray’onthisdecorativewallpanellingistheperfectbackdropforthemid-centurychairs.Thecolourhasbeencontinuedontotherestofthewoodwork,sothatthe‘ShadedWhite’wallsfeelstrikinglyluminous,creatinganenviablysoftambience.
RIGHT
ThereisastrikingfreshnesstothismodernBritishsittingroompaintedinthetime-honouredcombinationof‘PurbeckStone’onthewallsand‘Wevet’onthewoodworkandceiling.Thepicturerailhasbeenpickedoutinthewoodworkcolour,creatingacrisplinearoundtheroom,whichaccentuatesthesimplicityofthistwo-colouredscheme.
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CORNICING&MOULDING
Whocouldimaginethataseeminglyinsignificantpieceofplastermouldingcouldchangetheshape,heightandstyleofaroomtosuchadegree?Mostpeopledon’tgiveitmuchthought,butIcanassureyouthatthesearchitecturalmouldingscancompletelytransformyourspaceifpaintedtheappropriatecolour.
First,IshouldpointoutthatthemouldingshavedifferentnamesoneithersideoftheAtlantic.InBritain,werefertothemascornice,orcoving,whileintheUStheyareusuallycalledcrownmoulding.Theoriginofbothtermsisclassical,fromtheLatincoronisandtheGreekkoronis,meaningcrown.Whichevertermyouuse,Iamreferringtothedecorativeelementthatrunsaroundthetopofaroomtocoverthetransitionfromwalltoceiling.
Embellishedcornices/crownmouldingstendtobeusedinlarger,moreornateinteriorsandaretobetreasured.Theplainertypearegenerallyusedinsimpler,contemporaryhomes.However,bothcanbepaintedinfourbasicways:
MouldingandceilingthesamecolourMouldingandwallsthesamecolourGradatingcolourfromwallstoceilingPickingoutthemouldinginanaccentcolour
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MOULDINGANDWALLSTHESAMECOLOUR
Paintingthemouldingthesamecolourasthewallswillmakethewallsappeartallerandtheroomfeelloftier.Thisapproachisparticularlyeffectiveifyouareusingplainconvexmoulding,purelyasameanstosoftenthetransitionfromwalltoceiling.Usingthesamecolouronthewallsandmouldingsalsogivesasimpleandstrong,contemporaryfeeltoaroom.
PICKOUTTHEMOULDINGINANACCENTCOLOUR
Paintingthemouldinginacolourthatcontrastswiththewallsandtheceilingcreatesacrisp,tailoredroom.However,becauseyoureyewillbenaturallydrawntoastrongcontrast,itoftenmeansthatyouareconstantlyreadingtheshapeandconfinesoftheroom,whichmakesitfeelsmalleroverall.Highlycolouredmouldingtendstobefortheveryadventurous,buttheuseofasubtletone,suchas‘DoveTale’,againsta‘SkimmingStone’wall,or‘Worsted’with‘ShadowWhite’,providesadecorativetouchthatgivescharacteranddistinctionwithoutruiningtheroom’sproportions.Itisessentialthattheceilingispaintedinasympathetictone.
Thismethodofdecorationismostoftenusedwhenonewantstodrawtheeyetoboththedecorativemouldingandaceilingrose,whichshouldbepaintedinthesamecolour.
Alltoooften,decorativemouldings,includingceilingroses,havebeenpaintedoversomanytimesthattheyenduplosingalotoftheirdelicatedetail.Inordertopreventthisfromhappeningonintricatemoulding,andtocreateareallytraditional,authenticlook,itmakessensetouseaspecialistfinishsuchasSoftDistemperorLimewash,providedthatthemouldinghasnotpreviouslybeenpaintedwithanemulsion.
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CEILINGS
Verylittlethoughtisusuallygiventothecolourofthehumbleceiling.However,itcausesmorecontroversythananyothersubjectindecorating.Althoughceilingsaresooftenpaintedinsomeubiquitouscolourlesspaint,thereisnoruletosaythattheyhavetobewhite.Ceilingcolouraffectsaroomindifferentways,sointhenextsectionwecoverthefollowingtopics:
MakingaroomlooklighterordarkerChangingaroom’sperceivedheightSamecolourforceilingsandwalls
Considertheceilingtobeyourfifthwallandgiveitdueconsideration–itscolourisabsolutelyvitaltoyouroveralldecorativescheme.Anddon’tforgetthattheuseofFullGlossontheceilinghasanamazingeffectonaroom,asdoestheapplicationofwallpaper,ifyouarefeelingverybrave.
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Theornamentalceilingisjustoneoftheexquisitedecorativefeaturesinthisenviablehall.Sometimesaverysimplecolour,suchas‘WimborneWhite’usedhere,isallthatisneeded.Themagnificentarchitectureandsuperblightdotherest.CaseinDistemperhasbeenusedtoenhancethestunningdetail.
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CHILDREN’SBEDROOMS
Thedecorationofchildren’sbedroomsisoftenthesourceofconsiderableangst–theage-olddilemmaofwhethertokeeptotheestablishedcolour-flowoftherestofthehouseortoallowthechildfreereinwillnevergoaway.Thereare,however,manywaysaroundit,whichshouldpleaseboththeparentandthechild.Overthenextfewpages,wecoversomeunderstatedandpracticalsolutions,aswellassomethataremoreadventurous.
Usingsmallareasofstrongcolouralongsideneutralsoftensatisfiesbothparties.Thesimplestapproachistouseastrongcolouronthewoodworkandalightertoneonthewalls.Chooseaneutralcoloursympathetictoyourestablishedcolourpaletteforthewallsandthenindulgeinsomeboldcolourfortheskirting/baseboardanddoors.‘HagueBlue’woodworkwith‘Blackened’wallsistheperfectschemeforthemodernchild,orswap‘Blackened’for‘Skylight’foramoreclassiclook,evocativeoftheseaside.Ifyouareresistanttopinkforachild’sroom,thendelicate‘PalePowder’,whichisneitherbluenorgreen,worksfantasticallywellteamedwith‘GreenBlue’woodwork.Foramoreneutralroom,try‘GreatWhite’onthewallsand‘Brassica’onthetrim.
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Softaquasarefirmfavouritesforchildren’sbedroomsbecausethegreenundertonepreventsaroomfromeverfeelingcold.‘DixBlue’hasbeenusedonthisadventurous,high-levelbedandthewallbehindit.Aladderinexhilarating‘Yellowcake’generatesalittlemoreexcitementbutwithoutbeingoverpowering.
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Charlottecreatedthissimple,eye-catchingschemeforayoungfriend.Themountainsarepaintedin‘PurbeckStone’,whilethebackgroundis‘Ammonite’.Easytoachieve,butneverthelesseffective,theideahasbeencopiedamultitudeoftimes.Ithasevenbeenreinterpretedasacityscapeforthemoreurbanchild.
Allchildren’sschemescanbeenhancedbyintroducingaboldcolouronstorageunits,bedsorotherfurniture.It’sthesameaswhenusingastrongcolouronacentralkitchenisland:byplacingadarkerobjectinaroom,everythingarounditwilllooklighter.
Ifyouarewaryofcolour,thenpaintingastrongerhueinarecessortheinteriorofcupboardsorbookshelvesismosteffective.Thechildcanbegiventheopportunitytochoosethecolourthemselvesand,ofcourse,itcanbechangedveryeasilyastheygrowinageandsophistication.
Funwallpaperliningacupboardhelpstostartthedaywell,andisadiscreetdecorativetouchasitisnotinviewatalltimes.Bolddesignsinclude‘ClosetStripe’and‘TentedStripe’,whilethemoredelicate‘Yukutori’,withitssoftoutlineofbirds,andthecharming‘BumbleBee’,aFarrow&Ballfavourite,areequallyappealing.
Colouredceilingsseemtothrillmostchildrenandshouldn’tberestrictedjusttotheobviousblue,or,indeed,topaint.Onenteringaneutralroomwithacolouredceiling,ittakesamomentbeforeyoubecomeawareofit,whichintroducesanelementofsurprise.Eventhemerestwashofcolourontheceilingwillinfuseaspacewithalittleindividuality.
FullGlossonceilingsmakethemglintandshine,creatingajewel-likequality.Alternatively,ifyouwanttoreallyindulgeyourchild,consider‘BrockhamptonStar’or‘Vermicelli’wallpapersontheceiling.Theirmetallicpatternswillcatchthelightandcreateatwinklingtreatoverhead.
Paintedstripes,eitherhorizontalorvertical,areagreatfavouritewithchildrenofallages.Whencreatedinboldcolours,suchas‘Charlotte’sLocks’and‘Pelt’,theyhaveagraphicedgemore
THISPAGE
Theluckyoccupantofthisroomhastheprivilegeofbeingbathedingloriouslightfromtwodirections.Wisely,thewallshavebeenlefttotallyneutral,paintedin‘WhiteTie’,aslightlyyellowedwhitethatwillenhancethesunny,upbeatfeelofthespace.
Hedgerow-inspired‘Hornbeam’wallpaperhasbeenpresentedintwodifferentcolourwaysinthischarmingroom.
Thejuxtapositionofthestronger-colouredpaperwithits‘RedEarth’patternbelowthedadorail,andthelighterpaperabove,groundstheroomandmakesitfeelbigger,whilegivinganunexpecteddecorativetwist.
WALLPAPER
Choosingwallpaperisextremelypersonal.Whetheryouwanttomakeabig,boldstatementorjustcreatealittletextureonthewall,Farrow&Ballhasawallpapertosuit.Thereisawealthofchoice,fromtheflamboyant‘Bamboo’tothemellow‘Silvergate’,asillustratedoverthenextfewpages,wheretheimagesshowexamplesofhowtousepapersindifferentwaysandinordertomakethemostoftheirparticularqualities.
Usingmetallicpaperstobouncelightaroundaroom
(seeaboverightonpage188)
Combiningtwopaperstogethertomakearoomlooklarger(seefacingpage)Usingsubtlepatterntocreateinterestonveryflatwalls(seeaboveleftonpage188)Usingtraditionalandmodernwallpaperdesignstoenhanceyourhome(seepages186,187andaboveleftonpage189)HoweasyitistocombineFarrow&Ballwallpaperandpainttogether(seepage190)Howtousewallpapertomakeyousmile,whetheritbeonafeaturewalloraheadboard(seebelowrightonpage191)Ifyouaretemptedtobreakintopatternbutwaryofthecommitment,remembertostartsmall–theinteriorsofcupboardsandsmallbathroomsarecryingoutforwallpaper.Oruseaflamboyantpatterninaroomthatisn’tfrequentedeveryday,perhapsadiningroomoraguestbedroom.Youwillbeinforarealtreatwhenyoudousethesespaces,orevenjustcatchaglimpseoffabulouspatternasyoupassbyanopendoor.
185
seeaboverightonpage188
seefacingpage
seeaboveleftonpage188
seepages186,187andaboveleftonpage189seepages190
seebelowrighton
WALLPAPER
Choosingwallpaperisextremelypersonal.Whetheryouwanttomakeabig,boldstatementorjustcreatealittletextureonthewall,Farrow&Ballhasawallpapertosuit.Thereisawealthofchoice,fromtheflamboyant‘Bamboo’tothemellow‘Silvergate’,asillustratedoverthenextfewpages,wheretheimagesshowexamplesofhowtousepapersindifferentwaysandinordertomakethemostoftheirparticularqualities.
Usingmetallicpaperstobouncelightaroundaroom
(seeaboverightonpage188)
Combiningtwopaperstogethertomakearoomlooklarger(seefacingpage)Usingsubtlepatterntocreateinterestonveryflatwalls(seeaboveleftonpage188)Usingtraditionalandmodernwallpaperdesignstoenhanceyourhome(seepages186,187andaboveleftonpage189)HoweasyitistocombineFarrow&Ballwallpaperandpainttogether(seepage190)Howtousewallpapertomakeyousmile,whetheritbeonafeaturewalloraheadboard(seebelowrightonpage191)Ifyouaretemptedtobreakintopatternbutwaryofthecommitment,remembertostartsmall–theinteriorsofcupboardsandsmallbathroomsarecryingoutforwallpaper.Oruseaflamboyantpatterninaroomthatisn’tfrequentedeveryday,perhapsadiningroomoraguestbedroom.Youwillbeinforarealtreatwhenyoudousethesespaces,orevenjustcatchaglimpseoffabulouspatternasyoupassbyanopendoor.
185
seeaboverightonpage188
seefacingpage
seeaboveleftonpage188
seepages186,187andaboveleftonpage189seepages190
seebelowrighton
EXTERIORS
Exteriorcolournotonlymakesapropertyappealingfromthestreetbutitalsosetsthetoneforthewholehouse.Whetheryouhaveacottageoracastle,acontemporaryorclassicbuilding,therearemanywaystointroducecolourtoexteriors.Alloftheexterior–masonry,walls,windowframes,ironwork,plantersandthefrontdoor–mayneedtobepaintedandshouldbeconsideredasawhole,justasyouwouldthearchitecturalelementsinaroom.
Aswithinteriors,whenitcomestochoosingcolours,therearenorightsorwrongs,butitisbesttotakeintoaccountcertainfactorssuchasthelocationofyourproperty,asdescribedonthefollowingpages.
FACINGPAGE
Iamnotsurewhichisthemoreappealing,theenchantinggardendoorpaintedin‘Brassica’ExteriorEggshellorthefurryhoundwholiveshere.Thewallsarein‘Joa’sWhite’MasonryPaint,togivetheimpressionofwarmth.
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FACINGPAGE
ASPECTOFYOURHOME&SURROUNDINGAREA
Whendecoratingtheexteriorofyourhome,youcanaffordtoconsiderashadethatisdarkerthanyoumightchoosefortheinterior,becausethelightconditionsaresodifferent.If,forexample,youareconsidering‘Ammonite’,trythestronger‘PurbeckStone’,or‘Pigeon’insteadof‘BlueGray’.
Itcertainlymakessensetochoosecoloursthatsuittheenvironment,anditisalwaysbesttolookatpossiblecoloursinsitu.VibranttonesthatmightseemperfectinthebrightsunshineoftheCaribbeanwilllooknothingbutgarishinnorthernlight.Similarly,thesubtletonesofacrofter’scottagewillappearlifelessinbrightsunshine.Dominantfeatureslikebrickwork,naturalwoodandotherexpansesofcolours,suchaspavedorgravelledareas,lawns,fencing,shrubsandevenflowers,shouldalsobetakenintoaccount,astheyallaffectcolourchoice.
Inaruralsettingyoumaywantthehousetorecedeintothelandscape.Inthiscase,muted,green-basedtoneslike‘OldWhite’or‘LimeWhite’workbestonmasonry,withsympathetic‘SlipperSatin’onthewoodworktominimizecontrasts.Foramellow,sophisticatedlook,paintanyplantersandbenchessittingagainst
thehouseinonefromthelargeselectionofstonecolours:‘OxfordStone’forawarmlook,‘Fawn’foragreenerfeelor‘String’foranunderstatedyellowerscheme.
Inurbansettingsitismoreimportanttobesensitivetothestyleandcolourofneighbouringbuildings,anddecidewhetheryouwantacomplementaryorcontrastingscheme.Iftheentirestreethaswhitetrim,itmaybewisetofollowsuit–eventhesubtlestoff-whitecouldlookdirtyagainstbrightwhiteonanadjacentbuilding.Forthisreason,charcoal-greyslike‘DownPipe’arenowpopularonexteriortrimbecausetheystandoutfromthecrowd.
THISPAGE
‘JamesWhite’ExteriorMasonry,withitsunderlyinggreentone,istheobviouschoicefortheexteriorofthisScottishcroft,surroundedasitisbysomanydramaticnaturalelements.
ERAS
Ifyouarenostalgicforthepast,youmaywanttosourceauthenticcoloursforyourhome.Ofcourse,itisimportanttolookatthefeaturesofyourbuildingandtakethedateofyourhouseintoaccount.However,itisagravemistaketopressurizeyourselfintousingonlycoloursthatarehistoricallycorrect.
Ourhousesarenotarchaeologicalsites,tobepaintedinpainstakinglyre-createdoriginalcolourschemes.Bettertorememberthattheyareourhomestobelivedinandenjoyedinthe21stcentury,regardlessofwhentheywerebuilt.Byallmeans,respectthecoloursofthepast,butdon’tbeaslavetothem–manyhistoricallyaccuratepalettescanleadtoeitherdrearyandoppressiveroomsorspacesthataresofullofcolourtheyaretoodemandingtolivein.
Thejoyofcolouristhatithasdevelopedovertheyears,andweshouldembracethis,togetherwiththechangesthathavetakenplaceinourbuildings–wenowhavebiggerwindowsthaneverbeforeanddefinitelybetterlighting.TheFarrow&Ballpalettehasbeendesignedwiththisinmind,sothecoloursseembothagelessanduptotheminute.Theyareperfectinterpretationsoftrueperiodcolours.
Thefollowingpagesgiveabroadoutlineofthetypeofcoloursusedinthefourmaindecorativeperiods:
GeorgianVictorianEdwardianArtDeco&Mid-Century
205
7
9
Startwiththeceiling.Brushinwheretheceilingmeetsthewall,usuallywitha50mm(2in)brush,takingcaretoapplythepaintevenly.It’sfinetocomedownontothewallatthisstage,asyouwillbepaintingoverthiswiththewallcolour.
Usingtherollerandpole,startrollingevenlyacrosstheceilingarea,overlappingby50percentasyougo.Startfromyourstrongestsourceoflight(usuallyawindow)andworkawayfromituntiltheceilingiscoated.
Whenthefirstcoatisdry,repeattheprocess.Rememberthatyoualwaysneedtoapplytwocoatsoneachsurface,soallowtimeforthemtodrybetweencoats.
Finally,paintthetrimorwoodwork.WithyourInteriorWoodPrimer&Undercoatandweaponsofchoice,usuallya25mm(1in)or50mm(2in)brush,starttocutinthewindows,doorframes,doorsandfinallytheskirtings/baseboardsmakingsureyoudon’tgoontoyourfinishedwalls.Onceagain,theedgesmaytakesomepracticeandpatiencetogetyourlinesstraight.Followthiswithtwotopcoats.Alwaysdoyourskirtings/baseboardslast,asthesearetheareasthatmaypickupdustandsothisavoidstransferringittootherareasthataremorenoticeable.
10
8
Whenyouhavefinisheddecorating,itisvitaltokeeparecordofthecoloursandfinishesyouhaveusedincaseyouneedtotouchupanyareasinthefuture.Finally,besuretostoreanyleftoverpaintinacool,dryplace,protectedfromfrostandextremetemperatures.
Next,paintthewalls.Cut*intotheedgewherethewallmeetstheceilingwithouttouchingthefinishedceilingcolour.Somepracticemaybeneededtogetthislinestraight,sobepatient.
Cutaroundallthewalledges,architravesandskirtings/baseboards–youcanoverlapwiththeseareasslightly,asyouwillbepaintingoverthemwiththerelevantundercoatinthenextstep.Takecaretoapplythepaintevenlyasathickeredgemayshowthroughthefinishedpaint.
throughthefinishedpaint.
*Cutting-in/CutinUsingabrushtopaintareasarollercannotreachorwhereaneatedgeisrequired.
PlumbbobRuler
Rollertray
50mm(2in)brush25mm(1in)brushDustingbrush
Rollersleeve
Pastingbrush
Scraper
38mm(1½in)brush
38mm(1½in)angledbrush
Rollerhandle
Paintkettle
Paper-hangingbrush
Maskingtape
Blades
Snapknife
Tapemeasure
Fillingknife
Pastingbrush
WallpaperscissorsDecorator’ssponge
Dustsheet
FACINGPAGE
Thispretty,east-facingEdinburghbedroomisbathedinearly-morningsunlight.‘PalePowder’onthewallscreatesawarmandupliftingatmosphere–theperfectwaytostarttheday.
THISPAGE
‘StrongWhite’hasbeenusedonthewallsofthissouth-facingkitchenbutintwodifferentfinishes:FullGlossasadurablesplashback,withModernEmulsiononthewallabove.Thestrongsouthernlightcreatesastylishcontrastbetweenthetwofinishesformostoftheday.
FACINGPAGE
FACINGPAGE
Thiswest-facingroomfeelsdelightfullyshadyandcoolformostoftheday,butwhentheeveningsunhitsit,thereisawelcomeburstoflight.‘DropCloth’paintedonthewallsandwoodworkthenbecomesconsiderablywarmerthanitisinthemorning.
BELOW
Smallroomslackinginnaturallightarealwaysenhancedbytheuseofadramaticcolour.Thisinternalbathroomlooksfabulouslyopulent,withitswallspaintedinrich‘Charlotte’sLocks’,creatingajewel-likespacethatisadelighttoenter.
WEST-FACINGROOMS
Thelightinwest-facingroomstendstobemoremutedinthemorningandfarmoredramaticintheevening.Warmtoneslike‘MiddletonPink’or‘SmokedTrout’willaccentuatethelightintheafternoonandtheeveningsun.Greyerneutralssuchas‘SlipperSatin’or‘ShadowWhite’willretainafeelingoflightbutwillchangefrommorningtoevening–lookingcoolerearlierandwarmerlater.
WEST-ANDEAST-FACINGROOMS
Thelightchangesreallydramaticallythroughoutthedayinthesedual-aspectrooms.Countthisasablessing,asthecoloursonyourwallswillconstantlysurpriseandthrillyou.Itis,however,oftenbesttoworkoutwhenyouspendmostofyourtimeintheseroomsandtailoryourchoiceofcolourtothetypeoflightaccordingly.
ARTIFICIALLIGHT
Aswithnaturallight,artificiallightingalsoaffectshowcolourscanappearinaroom.Halogenandincandescentbulbsemitayellowlight,makingcoloursappearwarmer,whileLEDbulbsgiveabluelightandaremoresuitedtocontemporaryinteriors.Bulbsthatemitwhitelightemulatedaylight,whichmeansthatcoloursarerenderedmoreaccurately.Whendecoratingaroomthatisoftenlitwithcandles,optforvelvetycolours,suchas‘DeadSalmon’,orsilverycolours,suchas‘BallGreen’,togiveanintimate,romanticfeel.
217
HOWLIGHTAFFECTSCOLOUR
FACINGPAGE
HOWLIGHTAFFECTSCOLOUR
PARTTHREE
THEDIRECTORY
FACINGPAGE
Themesmerizingshapeofthisbeautifulwindingstaircasemeansthatverylittlecolourisneededonthewalls.Simplebutwarm‘Pointing’onboththewallsandwoodworkcomplementstheagedwoodperfectly.
219
FACINGPAGE
THISPAGE
IamconstantlyrepaintingthewallsinmysittingroomsothatIcanchecktheeffectthattheamazinglighthasonthecolours.Atthispoint–thecolourshavesincechanged–theywere‘Dimpse’,with‘DownPipe’onthefloorand‘AllWhite’onthewoodwork.Thismadeacrispbutunderstatedscheme:theperfectbackdropwhileIwaswritingthisbook,sittingatthisverytable.
PAINTFINISHES
Don’tbeoverwhelmedbythechoiceofdifferentpaintfinishes.Unlessyouaredoingspecialistdecorating,thereisreallyonlyachoiceoftwoforthewalls:theveryflatmattEstateEmulsionortheequallybeautifulbutmoredurableModernEmulsion.Similarly,thereisachoiceoftwofinishesforwoodwork:theflatterEstateEggshellorthehighsheenFullGloss.
Whicheverfinishyouchoose,youaresafeintheknowledgethatourinteriorandexteriorpaintfinishesarewater-based,low-odour,quick-drying,environmentallyfriendlyandchild-friendly.
InteriorFinishesEstateEmulsion,ModernEmulsion,EstateEggshell,FloorPaint,FullGloss.Traditionalandspecialistfinishes:DeadFlat,Limewash,SoftDistemper,CaseinDistemper.
ExteriorFinishesExteriorMasonry,ExteriorEggshell,FullGloss.Traditionalandspecialistfinishes:Limewash.
PrimersandUndercoatsWall&CeilingPrimer&Undercoat,WoodFloorPrimer&Undercoat,WoodKnot&ResinBlockingPrimer,MetalPrimer&Undercoat,Masonry&PlasterStabilisingPrimer,ExteriorWoodPrimer&Undercoat.
Notethatnotallfinishesareavailableinallmarkets.
231
WALLPAPERS
Althoughmostwallpapersaremadeusingink,oursarenot.Weuseourownpainttocreatetheprint,aswellasthebackgroundcolour,usingtraditionalblockortroughmethods.Thisresultsintotallyuniquepapersthatworkperfectlywiththepaintcolours.
Ourhugerangeofdesignsareinspiredbyarchivesoffabricsandwallpapersfromaroundtheworld.Thereareflorals,damasks,stripesandgeometricpatterns,someofwhicharelargeandflamboyant,whileothersarequietlysubtle.Hopefully,thereissomethingtoappealtoeveryone.
Inordertomakethesewallpapersappropriateforuseinthemodern-dayhome,endlessworkhasgoneintoensuringthattheyarewashablewhilestillhavingthesamechalkyfinishthathasalwaysdefinedthepaintcolours–acombinationoftimelessartistryand21st-centurydurability.
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Blackheath48TranquilValeBlackheathLondonSE30BD+44(0)2083184897
Bristol19PrincessVictoriaStreetClifton
Bristol
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Forthemostup-to-datelistofshowroomsandstockistspleasevisitwww.farrow-ball.comBoston
OneDesignCenterPlaceSuite337ABostonMA02210USA+16173455344
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ManythanksgotoallatOctopuswhoexpertlynursedthisfirsttimewriterthroughtheprocessofcreatingabook,particularlytoAlisonStarlingforherunfailingsupportandadvice,toJonathanChristieforhisthoughtfuldesign,andPollyPoulterforherextraordinarydiligence.
Weareobviouslyindebtedtothehomeownersfromallovertheworldwhosogenerouslyallowedustophotographtheirbeautifulpropertiesandincludetheminthisbook.
JamesMerrell’sbrilliantphotographshavemadethisbookwhatitis,soweowehimuntoldappreciation,notonlyforhisfabulousimages,butalsoforhiswillingnesstotraveltheworldatthedropofahat.
SpecialthankstothewonderfullytalentedFarrow&Ballteam–toogreatinnumbertomentionbyname,althoughthehardworkandcommitmentofShamusPitts(colourwheelsupremo),BelMoretti,JoTuckerandTraceyMackdeserveparticulargratitude.
TheextraordinarygenerosityandhardworkofLawrenceShowellandJonathanBeardeservesparticularthanksaswell.
CosmoStudholmeshouldcertainlybementionedforhisunfailingpatienceinbothproofreadinghismother’swordsanddealingwiththeoccasionaltechnicalbreakdown!
Importantly,IwouldliketothankmycolleagueandfriendCharlieformakingtheprocessofcreatingthisbooksuchfun.
AndlastlymybiggestthanksgotoA.,C.&N.foralwaysbeingthere.
—JoaStudholme
267
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
AnHachetteUKCompanywww.hachette.co.uk
FirstpublishedinGreatBritainin2016byMitchellBeazley,adivisionofOctopusPublishingGroupLtd,CarmeliteHouse,50VictoriaEmbankment,LondonEC4Y0DZwww.octopusbooks.co.ukwww.octopusbooksusa.comTextandillustrationscopyright©Farrow&BallLimited2016
DistributedintheUSbyHachetteBookGroup,1290AvenueoftheAmericas,4thand5thFloors,NewYork,NY10020
DistributedinCanadabyCanadianMandaGroup664AnnetteSt.,Toronto,Ontario,CanadaM6S2C8
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisworkmaybereproducedorutilizedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronicormechanical,includingphotocopying,recordingorbyanyinformationstorageandretrievalsystem,withoutthepriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.
Text:JoaStudholmePhotographers:JamesMerrell,RobinKitchin,JamesBowdenandJustinBartonPublisher:AlisonStarlingCreativeDirector:JonathanChristieEditor:PollyannaPoulterCopyEditor:HelenRidgeProofreader:ZiaMattocksSeniorProductionManager:KatherineHockleyACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
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eISBN:9781784722173