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Home Decorating

For those who use Farrow and Ball..??

14 years ago

After seeing Pirula's bedroom, I am re-thinking my Ek color. The off white is so much more "me". Do you purchase the small paint cans beforehand or large swatch cards?

I have been dying to try F & B for sometime since finding out about their paints on this Forum. I just don't want to make a costly mistake. I love how the off white looks, just bet a bit nervous about the greenish tint in it. I wouldn't care about beige coming through. Also, do you think it will wash out in a naturally bright, but small room. Anyone try shaded white??

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Comments (5)

kitchendetective
14 years ago
I have never used F&B whites, but I have used Pale Powder, Radicchio, Blue Ground, Red Earth, and Teresa's Green. I always paint at least one foam core board completely with 2 coats from the sample can of the color that I'm considering. Then I move the board around the room and leave it in various parts of the room so that I can see how the color behaves at different times of the day. Even then, I do not get the entire color experience, but I have never been disappointed in the result. I've not tried large swatch cards--didn't realize they had them. I order my samples over the phone. In my house, lots of F&B colors go green; and some seemingly subtle ones go rather minty, so green is an issue, if that's not what you want.
amysrq
14 years ago
If the "large swatch cards" you're speaking of are the 2x5 fandeck cards, you cannot use them to determine the final color. There is no way to really test the colors except by getting a sample pot, and as KD says, even that is not a way to get the full experience in a room.

If Off White does not ultimately work for you, there are a number of other EK colors that read a similar soft neutral. I am not sure what EK color you were headed for though. You need to consider finish and lifestyle as well. I don't love the F&B Modern Emulsion sheen so I will be using EK Flat or Velvet Sheen in my heavy-use kitchen and family room. I know people say they scrub the Estate Emulsion, but I have not been so lucky.
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I love FnB for the reasons you mention. Ive used used Farrow's Cream in the vestibule and LR and a dressing room in my old house. Its the rare color that looks exactly as it does on screen. I've used Ringwold in a MBR, and found it a bit too peachy at some times of day. In our new home, Ive used Lime WHite, Pointing, WHite Tie and SLipper Satin, and love them all. BUt I think you are going for something darker than those? I also like Charleston Gray and French Gray, which I used on some fixtures. I did not like Ball Green, as it it far more green that it looks. Hope that helps. I just noticed in this second post that you have cherry bottom cabs and painted uppers --- i like it!
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I think Down Pipe will be gorgeous. Do a google search for AB Chao and "down pipe". (She is a decorator). If you search around her blog posts you will find one of her bedroom painted in that color, it is so pretty. I wanted to use the same color in my dining room, but wasn't feeling up to mailordering paint. I chose a similar color in Sherwin Williams (outer space I think it was called) to paint my dining room. It is probably a touch more blue than Down Pipe, but still dark and moody. Anyhow I love it - you need to google her bedroom, I'm sure you'll love and I think you should go for it! And please post pictures afterwards :-)
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I am excited to use the color- although it is a bit of a "daring" choice for me. I may cut down the color blocking effect by doing the back of the hutch just as the wall (F&B Clunch). We are still debating about the hutch part anyway- might do a chalkboard above instead. That will probably be one of the last things I do. Gotta paint that board ceiling yet! I am working on the dining room crown today, and the casing on the last window. I am hoping the Down Pipe arrives before the weekend so I can get that done. I am very anxious to see it on the cabs.
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scanmike
Original Author
14 years ago
I don't have a problem with scrubbing. It's a guest bedroom so it won't get used much and I always use flat when I paint anything but kitchens and baths.
amy, I was recommended to use Mustard Seed but it was too peachy in my bright room. My husband didn't like it. I need something more neutral. I like Tiffany Taupe but it's too similar to my hall color. I have yellow in there now and in the early morning it screams yellow. As far as F&B go, they have large swatches for sale in the stores. Not sure if online though. Here's my bedding with mustard seed, wheat, and cognac. Someone was kind enough to send me a sample of mustard seed that they had left over. It was a different color from the large swatch Ellen sent.
{{!gwi}}
pirula
14 years ago
Like kitchendetective said, you definitely need to test in large areas. That's neat they have large huge sample boards now. I never used them myself as they didn't exist, I just got a small sample can.

I just wanted to tell you that it's difficult to get brighter than my south facing bedroom with the wall of windows. "Off White" does not wash out. However, test it carefully to see what it does in your space. It's definitely one of "those" colors.
amysrq
14 years ago
So, I am just curious...where are you getting the large swatches? I have not seen them yet.

I remember your room now and I really love that quilt. Why are you trying to avoid green? What is the color in the quilt? It looks a bit green on my monitor. (Sorry, I bet you discussed all this on the last thread.)

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