Farrow & Ball paint - what's great about it?

[BasilBabyEater]

Is it just marketing or what?

Will I notice my kitchen cabinets will develop a special aura if I use it?

[minipie]

Basically it's the colours. If you like colours from other manufacturers just as much then use them.

personally I wouldn't use Farrow and Ball on kitchen cabinets as their eggshell is water based. I'd use an oil based eggshell instead.

[MarshaBrady]

No probably not.

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

some people like the super-matt finish
however, it's a bugger to clean as it goes really streaky, so IMO not wildly suitable for a house with small DC.

our house was fully Farrow and Balled when we moved it, and we're gradually changing it for more washable paint.

[MarshaBrady]

We've got the modern one in the kitchen, wipes easily definitely wouldn't use the classic emulsion.

I like it and am glad we used it, but it's a personal thing. Lots think it isn't worth it.

[Capitola]

It has a lovely finish and great colours. You can spot it a mile off, imo. It's all about the pigments - with F&B you get depth and subtle differences in different lights.

People will say decorators hate it - perhaps because it's not as thick as cheaper paints.

[BasilBabyEater]

Hmm. Oil based eggshell eh?

Thanks for that tip minipie.

I want nice kitchen cabinets but don't know if F&B are going to give a finish not reproducable elsewhere.

If they do it's worth it, if not it's not, IYSWIM

[MarshaBrady]

Have you got an F&B shop nearby? They have loads of painted surfaces you can check out.

See if you like it.

I think the finish is different. But then some will say, not.

[sweetiepie1979]

They are great for floor paint and the amount of colours available.

[theWookiesWife]

Choose a paint that you love - and that's hard wearing ! Doesn't necessarily need a 'label' but sometimes, the ones you love, do ! Personally I have found the water based eggshells just as good as oil based - but in a hardworking kitchen I can understand the recommendation for oil based ... You can make your own chalky paint by adding to a standard paint - there's a recipe for it online - an Annie Sloane version (American ) not tried it myself - but read good reviews about it on Houzz !

[theWookiesWife]

Oh dear - you can tell I've had a long day - that should say adding plaster to standard paint and Annie Sloan has no E on the end !! :-)

[BasilBabyEater]

Thanks for all the tips.

I went for some Craig and Rose stuff in the end, after much humming and hawing.