How hard-wearing is F&B Modern Emulsion REALLY?

[GentleParent]

Does anyone have experience of how hard-wearing / washable / scuff-proof Farrow and Ball modern emulsion is? And ideally how it compares to Dulux Diamond Matt? We have young kids and a mud-magnet dog, so need something pretty bomb-proof for the kitchen!

In our old flat, we could wipe stains off the white walls and even get away with using chemical cleaning wipes to get really tough stains off without completely stripping the paint away, so looking for something similar (but don't know what that magic paint brand was, as walls were painted by previous owner).

And if we go for the Dulux option, does anyone know which white in the diamond matt range might come closest to approximating F&B Strong White?

Thanks so much!

I was in your shoes not long ago and I phoned the local paint shop and asked them. They asked who'd be painting it ( in my case a professional painter ) they knew him and said he's sort it . He did. It's often worth using a professional, for professional results that last.

I can recommend the Crown extreme clean. We used it in the kitchen and that stuff is bulletproof. A year on and it still looks pristine. We used milk white. A very nice softer white.

Dulux diamond is much better IMO- f and b is better if you want unusual colours but Dulux diamond totally if you’re going for white.

Thank you for the tips! If we go with Deluxe Diamond, does anyone have any idea which colour is closest to F&B Strong White?

@121hugsneeded - definitely getting a professional to do it. He recommended either F&B modern emulsion or the Dulux diamond matt

Typo - that was supposed to say "Dulux Diamond"

If you contact Dulux customer services, they will give you a BSN/ RAL/ barcode that matches the colour your need. Your decorator should facilitate this and get you a sample pot.

@Orchidflower1 - Thank you! I'm thinking Dulux is probably the way forward, as durability matters more than anything else in that area! Do you mean that Dulux will be able to give me the RAL or BSN reference if I name a F&B colour? Or do I need to get the reference for strong white from somewhere else? (I am responsible for providing the paint rather than the decorator in this situation). Thank you!

Yes- you can either email them via the link on their website or phone them. They may email you back the details a few days later. They also have a chat function on their website which is useful.

There are lots of Dulux centres around the country if you wanted to pop in. Do 100% get a tester though as Dulux should try and colour match as close as possible but it may not be the exact match. They will tell you which of their shades is closest to the F and b you’ve picked.

When you get a colour match, you can also buy Dulux diamond from wickes. If you push for it the Dulux decorators centres will price match wickes.

Happy decorating!

@Orchidflower1 - That's really helpful - thanks so much! x

You are very welcome.

If you are used to Dulux trade diamond matt then you will find modern emulsion very light-wearing with a higher sheen level to boot.

@ThanksItHasPockets - Thank you! I requested and paid for F&B modern emulsion 3 years ago, but we were horribly ripped off by our decorators and I'm reasonably sure that's not what they in fact purchased and slapped on the walls...

Ooh that’s awful @GentleParent I hope you’re not using the same ones again.

@Orchidflower1 - Never again! They were awful and screwed up the last stage of our renovation in a variety of ways!

I had F&B white tie behind our kitchen sink and was astonished it lasted about 8 years of wiping off washing up splashes.

I would now use a cheaper brand for whites, though, and save F&B for the deeper colours.