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Property/DIY

Is Farrow and Ball worth it?

62 replies

Artichokes · 24/02/2011 13:18

Thinking of decorating my new house but I'm on a very tight budget. I love the look of Farrow and Ball pain and am lusting over Elephants' Breath or Archive as colours for my living room. However, it is hideously expensive. Is F&B that much different to other paints? And can anyone recommend other paint companies that are cheaper?

OP posts:

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IngridFletcher · 24/02/2011 13:20

Not for woodwork according to my builder but then again his huge quote has ruined all plans for a house that is a bit more than just functional anyway!

HettyAmaretti · 24/02/2011 13:21

Good quality paint as opposed to the cheapest available is worth it. I think with F&B you do pay quite a bit just for the name.

It's best just to get the colour spectrum slip thingys from a DIY store and have the exact colour you want mixed in Dulux or whatever base. Matching the F&B colours isn't a problem, just takes a bit of a search.

Thandeka · 24/02/2011 13:22

yeah I hear same that F&B paint quality is a bit shite but you can get the colours mixed by dulux etc.

CointreauVersial · 24/02/2011 13:26

Is your house a period house with lots of original features that you want to respect?

If so, then they do have some good sympathetic colours.

If not, don't bother, buy Dulux or Crown if you want good quality.

I have only used F&B once, mainly so I could get the colour I wanted, but it was very flat matt and went all chalky, so I wasn't impressed.

Artichokes · 24/02/2011 13:31

Thanks everyone.

The house does have lots of original features but if Dulux can really mix the same colours as F&B then I think I will go that route. Can I just take the F&B chart to Dulux and say "mix me some Elephant's breath"?

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MollysChambers · 24/02/2011 13:31

It's just paint with poncey names. Dulux will colour match so you can get exactly the same colour but cheaper and possibly better quality.

going · 24/02/2011 13:34

I founfd a paint I likes in Crown bt it was dead flat matt which I didn't want as it was for the bathroom. The paint mixer in Homebase helped me find the right colour in Dulux and mixed it for me. It may not be exact but was the closests I could get to what I wanted.

traceybath · 24/02/2011 13:36

You see I love F&B paints and think they go on much better and look lovely.

Cyclebump · 24/02/2011 13:37

DP hates using F&B and he's in trade. If you can match the colour with a good-quality substitute (Dulux or similar) he always recommends his clients do that.

HettyAmaretti · 24/02/2011 13:38

Depends. Some places can scan the colours in others you have to match from a chart of thousands of colours (so they can enter a number).

going · 24/02/2011 13:40

We tried scanning first but couldn't match the colout that way as a showd was created. Was easier to match from looking at the colour charts.

BarbaraBar · 24/02/2011 13:41

We have F&B paint throughout our house (Victorian with all the period features) and I think they look great.

Would agree that they are a bugger to go on though - our decorator said they are a pain to use but do look good. And v pricey.

Personal choice I guess.

corns12k · 24/02/2011 13:44

is it worth using it in a semi? I was going to order some testers

TracyK · 24/02/2011 13:45

I like to use F&B - much nicer results. But can be £££ on very large areas. Is it a bright room? If the light isn't too strong - you'd prob not get the benefits of the nicer colours/quality.

I find the colours are much truer to their paper samples too.

Artichokes · 24/02/2011 13:45

Oh no, now people are arguing the other way. Why does F&B look better once on the wall? What is the difference if the colours can be matched?

Have any of you F&B users got Elephant's Breath on any of your walls. Is it very dark? Our new living room is big with lots of woodwork. I was going to pain the walls Elephant's Breath and the woodwork and ceiling Pointing. But I wonder if Elephant's Breath is too strong and I should be thinking about something like Clunch or Archive for the walls.

OP posts:

HettyAmaretti · 24/02/2011 13:46

yy matching from charts is most accurate

HettyAmaretti · 24/02/2011 13:48

Oh, x posts.

Is best to get samples and actually try them on teh walls. Not just in one place bit in several so you can see the effect of the light.

No idea what colour rlephants breath etc is. Link?

Artichokes · 24/02/2011 13:54

this is EB

Actually in that link it looks quite light. In the chart it looks darker as its listed next to lots of lighter colours.

I know I must do testers. We don't even move in until next Friday! I am just getting a bit carried away. Also the room desperately needs painting so I itching to get on with it.

OP posts:

TracyK · 24/02/2011 13:56

If you go into a farrow and ball - they have boards painted with the colours on them Decent sized). You might be able to chat them up and ask to run home with them for a quick look in your room.

I've never had any sucess with these matching services - or Dulux. Apart from neutrals - which could really be anything in the gloomy scottish light!

afair - the F&B paint is quite thick - but to me feels really luxurious. I think you'll prob use more because of this. But I think you can usually get away with 1 coat as apposed to 2 coats of regular Dulux etc.

Although - to contradict myself - I think TRADE paints are a different kettle of fish and are of better quality in general to your Dulux's etc.

Ooid · 24/02/2011 13:57

It is about £3 more expensive per tin and it goes a long way.
If you like the colours, just buy it and be done, it is not going to bankrupt you long term.
Paint is much of a muchness once you're out of the value range, and they all have subtly different colours, so if you like FB then do it.

Ooid · 24/02/2011 13:59

You can't get away with one coat of FB, the first coat is always a little patchy. It needs two.
One tin does 35m2, two coats. Actually it goes a bit further than that.
Same as most paints really!

HettyAmaretti · 24/02/2011 14:01

In as far as it's possible to tell on a screen, colour calibration varies and colour on site may not be true, it doesn't look very dark.

So, basically, you're looking at shades of beige? Just get a massive pile of colour charts. Not the books the strips, pin up all shades of beige and work out a short list from that.

If it was some sort of impossible to match exquisite shade of green (trickiest colour there is) I might say just go with the expensive version but TBH with such a basic colour it's not worth it.

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Ooid · 24/02/2011 14:05

There is FAR more expensive paint out there than FB - I don't understand how it's become such a status symbol. It is paint, it costs a little more but not really that much more.

MIL has Elephant's Breath - it is a bit different to beige, sort of mushroomy. Hard to describe. Nice, flat, a bit unusual. But not much.

LessNarkyPuffin · 24/02/2011 14:06

You need LeQueen. Just don't mention cream.

ChippyMinton · 24/02/2011 14:09

Dulux 'Just Walnut' is very similar to F&B 'Skimming Stone', lighter than Elephants Breath but similar tones.

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