Are Little Greene and F&B worth it

[suffolkpunch85]

Looking to carry out an extension next year and having always used Dulux before, wondered if it was worth paying the extra for the above brands?

I love the f&b range of colours, and I also find their website useful for deciding on colour schemes. The paint is a bit thin, though, and can require several coats depending on the colour and how much of a perfectionist you are.
I've also recently used Little Greene, having been recommended it by a decorator. It's gorgeous, goes on like smooth double cream and covers evenly. Not such a wide range of colours, though, although they do have a 'tonal' range if you want several tones of the same colour.
Have to say, f&b looke chipped after about 18 months on my kitchen cupboard doors, and dh was not impressed with the exterior woodwork paint on our south-facing windows.

We have just painted a room in Farrow and Ball Oval Room Blue. I adore the colour. Love it, the room is going to be fab. However it took 3 coats. It didn't go on easily at all. We are doing another room now in a lighter F&B colour in Elephant's Breath. I'll tell you if that goes on any better (being lighter).

We did our front room in F&B and it looks beautiful. It took two coats (possibly three in places).

I'd say that, if you can't see the difference in the quality and complexity of the colours, then no, they're not worth it.

We used Little Greene all through the house at our builders recommendation (we bought it through him, and with his discount it didn't work out much more expensive than Dulux would have done, but I can't remember what made it cheaper for him). Really pleased with the colours, it was nice to use and didn't smell at all, unlike other paints which I find really pungent. Painted 4/5 years ago and still looks good, so we've been pleased.

I used Little Greene for the first time last year, after using Dulux for years. The coverage was amazing, it goes on beautifully and I didn't need the usual number of coats.

I used to buy the real F&B until a decorator introduced me to the Magic Eye colour mixer at Leyland Paints.We now choose colours from the F & B charts but get them mixed up for a much lower cost.Personally I can't tell the difference.

What finish of Little Greene are you all using? We have just painted a room in the intelligent matt emulsion and the consistency was really strange.

We really love F&B and have used it throughout our house. I've no complaint about how it goes on, in fact the eggshell I used on the woodwork was significantly better than any brand I've used before. The modern emulsion is fantastic and has worn really well in our kitchen considering the amount of wear it has. I love the way the colours vary depending upon the light etc. We're about to paint our new sitting room in Mizzle & Pointing :)

It would have been an ordinary Matt that I used. Don't remember anything 'intelligent' about it - it had a really creamy consistency. Boxington 84 if anyone is looking for a beautiful green.

I've painted two entire houses, one in f&b and one in lg. Short answer: LG definitely worth it, f&b definitely not worth it! Lg has beautiful coverage esp for darker colours, and super wear resistant. F&b thin, took loads of coats and not a particularly nice feel on the wall IMO. (Maybe I shouldn't stroke my walls, you say?)

Intelligent is a week bit more shiny in my experience Cones, but more than compensated for by the fact you can scrub your walls clean if they get dirty, and the paint stays on!

Arg, a wee bit more shiny, bloody autocorrect.

LG is worth the money

Thanks Zoe. It looks fabulous and is still very matt, but DH (who did the painting) bitched loudly about how weird the consistency and coverage was. Admittedly it looked very patchy after one coat, but two coats are perfect. The previous owners used the room for their dog and the walls were painted with something very sheeny, possibly even a kitchen / bathroom paint. I suspect that affected the initial coverage. We probably should have primed to give a bit of a key.

After trying out both in several rooms i have come to the verdict that Farrow and Balls eggshell is fantastic but emulsion rubbish - and vice versa for Little Greene!

Just get the f&b colour mixed in a better quality paint?

Valspar premium is scrubbable and can be mixed in any colour. Take the f&b chart in for a colour match

All the trade decorators I mix paint for hate f&b paint.

Little Greene is great. Fired Earth is very similar, possibly goes on even nicer. Have never used F&B.

I used outdoor F&B on my shed and front fence. Peeled within a year.

For my living room I did multiple testers which I then scrubbed to see what was the most practical. I ended up getting an F&B colour mixed in a special shop. Same colour but more durable.

Now half way through our second room with F&B paint, this time Elephant's Breath. DH has informed me I am not to buy F&B ever, ever, never again. 3 coats again but this one has bubbled and peeled (apparently bevause we didn't allow enough time between coats).
The colour is nice though.

I find Dulux better, it will not look as nice and chalky and matte at first but after 6 months the Dulux will look better as it will wear better.

You can get some nice, flat, non shiny colours from Dulux too.

I substitute Dusted Cappuccino for Elephants breath and it looks good, very matte and I can wipe it with a cloth and it survives.

I have got both versions made up in Johnstone's own brand and have been very happy with the colour and quality- recommend

Agree with others, LG is worth the price, F&B is not, especially when you factor in the extra coats.

Look out for 'flat matt' colours by dulux and also 'period living' (I think) from Crown they will give a similar finish to the premium brands although they will not have the depth of colour. Dulux heritage range, which is trade only is also worth a look to have a nicer range of colours, particularly whites and creams.

Ps paint is cheap in terms of wall coverings, the premium brands are worth it for the depth of colour imho, unless of course you are one of those people who like to repaint every year or so. Dulux, crown etc cannot compete as they do not have the same amount or same types of pigment. So colour matching will only ever give you an approximation of the colour, not the true effect on the eye.

Have painted my hall in F & B dimpse and the colour is stunning changes as the light changes it has taken 3 coats but has gone on beautifully. Dh wants dayroom yellow in our large sunny living room I am a bit worried it will be too bright. My life will be complete when I have used Nancy's Blushes i don't think you can beat F & B colours.