Farrow & Ball paint - is it worth it?? Post Reply

[milliemolliemilo]

Hi there, we are looking to get our home redecorated throughout and I would like to ask if you think F&B paint is good quality for the price?
I adore the colours but after going into the Farrow & Ball shop, I was told you have to prep the walls & woodwork with their primer/undercoat to get prep the surface for the right colour and cover. This would add quite a lot to the cost of the paint and a LOT more work, as they recomment 2 coats of this plus 2 coats of the emulsion or eggshell.

I do also like the sound of Little Greene, as it is such a 'friendly' paint with lovely colours too.

I would prefer to steer away from Dulux, especially in our bathroom as the Bathroom paint we used has gone streaky and has peeled off and it isn't that steamy in there... We really need a good quality paint in that room in particular to prevent this from happening again. The eggshell we choose has to be suitable for bath side and wash basin panelling.

Crown do a Period range with a nice choice of colours too, but is not environmentally friendly.

Too many to choose from

Any advice would be much appreciated!! Thank you

[sw11_]

i posted something similar a while back...

http://www.nappyvalleynet.com/mums/view ... w+and+ball

in the end we did the whole house in F&B colours but colour matched using dulux paint (the type that is wipeable which was a great decision as my toddler has now drawn on several walls). very happy with the result.

[milliemolliemilo]

Thank you sw11, I have just been reading that! Very interesting!! I think I will steer clear of F&B and just look at their colours for inspiration.

It would be interesting to hear is anyone has tried Little Greene or Crown as a comparason.

We have never had a problem with Dulux before, I wonder if it because it was applied to fresh plaster as it is only these areas it is peeling. The bathroom paint has quite a sheen to it, so maybe this is why it looks like it is wet in places.

MMMx

[runningmummy]

I have found F & B brilliant. You REALLY cantell the difference. It is to do with the texture and the chalkiness that give it the depth of colour that a colour match just can't do. I have seen loads of colour matches (although the owners have been happy with them) and actual f & b and I can definitely see the difference. I think it is much more noticeable in period properties. I would be tempted to skimp if it were a new build.

Also, you defo don't need their primers.

You may also find that painters don't want to use f and b . This is because they don't make a mark up on it whereas they do on the trade paints, it is also more difficult to just slap quality paint on the walls. F&b defo goes further too. Staff are great with advice too.

.....no I don't work for them but I always like to give great companies recognition they deserve.

Hope this helps. I can't even begin to tell you how much research I did on this...clearly lost the plot!

[supergirl]

Hi

I deal with F&B and the likes everyday as it is part of my job. I know them pretty much inside out.

First and foremost: yes you colour mix but it is bot the same. The finish is different (not as chalky even if you go for the modern emulsion), it wont last as long and it is stealung intellectual property (like buying a fake designer bag).

Next: you dont need their primer def not. But i would use a primer if you are painting over a dark colour OR if your plaster is not perfect.

In areas that are communal (stairs, corridors), steam (kitchen and bathrooms) or highly used (children rooms, playrooms, etc): i would use their modern emulsion.

For woodworks and radiators: eggshell

FB, little green: their eggshell is water based so 100% friendly. There is no smell attached to it so you can use rhe room straightaway.

If you like colours check as well: fired earth paint, eico (at the paint house on nirthcote): vibrant and eco friendly too.

FB modern emulsion: even though it us wipeable it is still a bit chalky and def less shine in it than the dulux colour mix version. Their eggshell is also matt finish.

Definitively worth the money. PM if you have anymore questions, i d be happy to advise you. (I am NOT advertising my services by the way but i find it important for people to know what they are paying for).

Good luck. Sx

[milliemolliemilo]

Thank you runningmummy and supergirl

There is sooo much to it - choosing the colours is the easy bit for me, I just want to get the technical bits right so the results last. I am thinking of doing the painting myself as all the good decorators seem to be booked up until the end of July and our bathroom is only going to get worse in that time, plus I am a bit of a perfectionist. Very pleased to hear the primer/undercoat is not essential, that will save me a lot of work

I never considered stealing F&B colours, I would just find the closest match is I was to use Dulux. I'm surprised so so many seem to do this. Very cheeky... They probably then tell friends that they actually used F&B not Dulux!

mmm x

[supergirl]

Thank you runningmummy and supergirl

There is sooo much to it - choosing the colours is the easy bit for me, I just want to get the technical bits right so the results last. I am thinking of doing the painting myself as all the good decorators seem to be booked up until the end of July and our bathroom is only going to get worse in that time, plus I am a bit of a perfectionist. Very pleased to hear the primer/undercoat is not essential, that will save me a lot of work

mmm x

Well if you are painting you definitively should use FB. You will see it is such a pleasure to paint with it (i love doing the decorating myself too and also i am quite perfectionnist). If oyu PM your dates, I can PM you the number of my builder. He ONLY uses and quotes for FB paints and it very good value for mioney!!!

[supergirl]

"HE" is very good value for money sorry!

[supergirl]

To those who PMed me, just tell if you havent receive my reply. All messages are said "send" but stuck kn the outbox...

[kiwimummy]

i think you should definitely think carefully about the wear the area is going to get before opting for the true chalky finish F&B. it's not wipeable at all, and we have found scuffs and marks on the paint tend to stay scuffed and marked.

with two toddlers, we really regretted using the chalky finish in our room. we thought we'd be safe, but they managed to leave little tell tale traces of themselves all over the room!

i used F&B modern emulsion in our living room, and you do definitely sacrifice the chalky finish, but it was more practical for us for a higher use area with our kids. even with the modern emulsion, we like the way the colour behaves in different lights.

i ended up using little greene in our hallway, and was really impressed with it. very practical, it seems to take the hammering our children and the buggy have thrown at it.

not a massive fan of the F&B eggshell emulsion. we found it chipped really easily. perhaps just our painters, but we were not thrilled.

[BalhamMumWorkingFT]

Go to brewers and compare in person. They're located all over London and worth the trip.

[clare74]

We avoided F&B for wear and tear reasons on advice from friends - but do agree it looks good in their houses. We have a combination of Dulux (sometimes mistaken for F&B though I do correct people!) and Little Greene. Both have been great, reflecting the light of the room and pretty robust. We've got builders in at the moment so will be giving the walls a good wipe down when they leave to remove the scuffs.

I would advise to go for the most hardwearing paint on the woodwork. As we decorated when I was pregnant we used a water-based paint and that has chipped in the hallway etc. We're having this redone shortly and the painter has advised Dulux emulsion.

[AmeriMummy]

When given a choice between colours, I always pick a Farrow & ball, even if I don't know the brands I'm choosing between!

I used F&B once, and my painter said that he could tell the quality. He said it covered quickly & easily. This was before I knew about color matching though!

When I painted my front room I matched F&B to Sherwin Williams low VOC Emerald paint (this was in the US, not sure if you have the same here?), and it looks great too. I think a lot depends on the quality of your painter/decorator.