Farrow and Ball - if there isn't much natural light should I just use dulux

[yumyumpoppycat]

We have used F&B quite a lot in our house, but our painter thinks we will need 8 tins to paint our landings and hallway, so pos a bit too expensive to use F&B, he suggests we just go with Dulux. I am kind of in agreement because the hallway and 1st floor landing are very dark and it will mainly be a white colour with some small areas beneath a dado rail which will prob be a shade of grey (quite like the idea of a grey blue but haven't seen one that is grey enough ).

Sorry to ramble...any thoughts, if there is little light is it worth using F&B? Thanks

Nothing helpful to add as I am in same position - would be interested to know others views on Farrow and Ball having previously gone for bog standard dulux magnolia.

Not farrow and ball, but little greene - we have actual little greene intelligent matte in the bedrooms and a Johnstones copy in the bathroom (same colour) and I really can't tell the difference. And they're south facing rooms.

My googling has brought up johnstones as good for colour matching so that is interesting.

Lili F&B can be a bit hit or miss, we have loved some of the colours but others I am not v happy with. I don't think I have ever loved a dulux colour though so that is putting me off a bit.

I'm a recent convert to Little Greene! So many decorators seem not to like f&b; last one we had to quote recommended LG and I don't think we'll look back. The quality is so much better - like double cream compared to streaky curds and whey. And two coats covers beautifully - no need for a third, fourth or fifth!

We also have a dulux copy of a farrow and ball colour (Albany paint from brewers but dulux tint and Albany and dulux are owned by the same company), and when it was next to the tester on the wall there was a slight difference in colour and our decorator had trouble getting the same colour reliably matched when we needed another tin. That said, it does exactly the same colour chameleon thing that farrow and ball is famous for in different lights and I'm not at all disappointed with it.

I have just used mylands paint in my kitchen, beautiful paint very thick consistency, covers really well imo much more durable than either f&b/littlegreene, which have previously used in the kitchen, the mylands matt emulsion has crushed marble in it!!! used the eggshell on my wooden kitchen units, really lovely smooth finish, can get from brewers on via website, they manufacture the paint in London, colours not as vast as f&b I used lambeth walk on the walls(blue) & fitzrovia on the cupboards(pale mushroom).

I have a lot to learn - I have never heard of these other brands! Do you get them in standard DIY stores, eg B and Q?

You can get f&b from homebase, little greene various stockist usually independent paint shops or brewers/website, mylands from brewers or mylands website you can also purchase from the factory, which is in south london hope this helps

Your house sounds like mine OP, so thanks for even raising the question as I hadnt thought of it. I am a F and B addict but I hadnt considered the lack of light issue.

The joy of F and B for me is the change in colour at different times of day but that certainly wont be a factor in my hallway, and I have two sets of stairs.

I've used Mizzle in my kitchen recently. I love it and it covered like a dream. Even the decorator had to admit that! It is the modern emulsion though.

I love F&B, but have just painted my living room with Habitat paint (think it's a new range) and I'm really, really happy with it. Great colours, really nice to work with, much cheaper than F&B or LG.

No,B&Q don't stick any of those mentioned except for dulux!

They can colour match using valspar paint tho

*stock!!!

Mylands sounds worth a look. I'm sure I recall seeing its praises sung on gere a while ago, but had forgotten the name.

Have found out from going on LG website that there is a shop near me that sells LG so have been this afternoon and picked out some of their colours and dep on final cost may go with colour match option so thanks Sweet and Shot. I am excited about their colours so fingers crossed!

A friend has used a habitat colour really successfuly, didn't know until today that was the brand she used, so having read your comments aswell I will look at Habitat and Mylands with the other rooms we will be decorating soon (dc bedrooms).

Think it is time to try out some other brands rather than just F&B! Thanks everyone and hope your project goes really well Lilli,

I used a dulux colour similar to a f&b light grey colour on decorators advice.

Think it is called Nordic white (but may be Swedish white) and it does the colour change thing really well. designed to be light reflective and can say it is the third colour in our dark hallway and it is the best yet.

Shotgun - mylands worth looking at they have lovely subtle colours, & the paint goes a very long way, I was very impressed & I have used many many paints over the years.

Try mythic paints (through Brewers/designer paint)...fab colours and a joy to apply

Thanks will definitely look at Mylands

Dulux have a range called 'heritage' which have some very similar colours and tones to that of F&B, might be worth a look. I think homebase may sell it otherwise available at more independent DIY stores