You use Farrow and Ball for the unique color properties and complexity within their palettes.

The quality is excellent, but as with any excellent Ben Moore or other, the key is the prep, and the skill set and quality of the PAINTER.

A a good painter can make whitewash look good, and the best paint can be made to look awful with a low skill painter and careless preparation.

If the color you want is incredibly unique to Farrow and Ball and you must have it and only it? That is what you do..........however.......

A Ben Moore store can match ANY hue in the fabric, you are not limited to "chip " selections, and therefore it need not drive your decision. A room with no high traffic or damp/wet issues will always look best in a matte finish on walls.

In 33 years I have never "needed" Farrow and Ball....Ben Moore is always my custom mix for my client., depending look and color. Your trim against wall matters a well....so yes, I'm a tweak and test board gal- routinely asked WHAT is the color, it is gorgeous. ....and of course it has no name lol. Once in a blue moon? A Ben Moore will be perfection unaltered and I don't argue with success on the test.

Only two in this house...Navajo white and the bedroom I can't recall and had to be shoved down a clients tonsils to swallow too much matched Stickley : ) which was JUMPING from white walls. lol

Traditions refined · More Info

Traditions refined · More Info

Traditions refined · More Info

Jan, thank you for taking the time to answer, but you really didn't answer my question! I'm probably only a bit younger than you, have been doing my own painting since my parents taught me at 15, when I took over the cutting in part, because my Dad hated it and I had/have a steady hand.

I prefer not to color match across brands. I've mixed up my own colors before, but I prefer to buy a standard color these days. Have better things to do these days!

My question was, if someone has used F&B in their home, what formulations and finishes have they used and which one do they prefer?

Well? I haven't obviously, but as we always say? The only home that matters is your home! Buy some and roll it on! If you love? Proceed?!

You will do just as well with the many blogs extolling virtues and even COMPARISONS?

https://maymebaker.myshopify.com/blogs/toomuch/9358905-i-love-farrow-ball

OR.........

I think as with polling......it much depends what you ask and how you ask.

To me, it's the "darling of the designer set for unique color and the je ne sais quoi aspect.

You know Houzz......which I'd call 90 % Sherwin W lovers? of about four colors max?

" I have S.W Agreeable Gray on....."

Sigh!

When people ask about BM paint, since I've used it a lot over the years, I tell them I really like the Aura formulation in matte for walls.

That is what I am hoping to get from people I "know" here who have used F&B.

I totally understand, Chispa! But the only reason I find the blog, ask the painter sites more informative? Is because you are also asking finish....and you know I am not kidding when we say " Get Ben Moore aura, how many of these come back with " My painter will only use S.W....."

It's a polyester vs wool or linen, mohair, or silk question: ) to some degree. Nothing wrong with any of those, except what you want/ need: ) The "color" will read differently in every single one, and deep plum polyester will never look like deep plum mohair: ) and certain colors will not exist in some.

You may love hot pink....it will be an archaeological dig for mohair as only the wealthy will spend 600.00 a yard on that hue.....?

I‘ve used their estate eggshell, modern eggshell, and modern emulsion - all only on woodwork and furniture. We also used their primers and did lots of prep. The modern emulsion worked okay in our paint sprayer, but both the eggshell finishes were easier to use with small rollers than in the sprayer. I’m very happy with it. We also have a color-matched version on a large pantry cabinet because the cabinet painter wouldn’t use F&B. I don’t think it has quite the same depth/character as the F&B on our paneling, but the difference might be more related to how cabinet finishes are formulated and applied.

We used F&B on our dining room walls — twice! The first time we used the Estate emulsion. It has a beautiful velvety finish, but it marks incredibly easily. Just hanging artwork marred the walls. I don’t know how F&B can say it’s ”gently wipeable” with a straight face. The next time we used the Modern emulsion. It has an ever so slight sheen in certain lights. The sheen is higher when first painted, but dulls down after curing. Both paints went on nicely with roller and brush.

I've seen great results with Farrow & Ball, but I’m curious if other brands like Benjamin Moore can deliver similar outcomes. What do you think? Benjamin Moore's Aura formula is also known for its durability and smooth application, making it a strong alternative. It offers great coverage and can achieve similar effects, especially in terms of longevity. Ultimately, it depends on the color and finish you're going for, as both brands have unique qualities that suit different needs.