Tell me the truth about Farrow and Ball...

[SugarSkyHigh]

and other "smart" paints. I am about to embark on searching for a suitable cream for my sitting room walls (room is dual aspect north and south, blue/gold/neutral with accents of aqua and terracotta,- probably TMI)

Do I go for Dulux, Crown,Wicks, et al ... or is there really any discernible difference in F&B and any of those other overpriced designer paints? TIA

Hmm, you will get a mixed bag of answers.
I always get all the charts from all the companies, and always end up going F+B because I like their colours better. Or I'm gullible. It's fifty-fifty.

FWIW I think in terms of quality, most paints are pretty good. B+Q one-coat, for example is great. I wouldn't buy more expensive paint on grounds of quality.

I recently had my kitchen painted and was surprised to hear the painter said he was relieved I hadn't chosen Farrow and Ball as it was terrible stuff to paint with. I have never used it myself so can't talk from personal experience.

I've heard that before Laura but I've painted with F+B and it's fine.
It's not magic or anything, it's paint and it comes in pretty colours.
They're all reasonably good except value emulsion.
But decorators do more painting than I do so mebbes there's something in it. It's just that it's not going to make a difference to people like me

I have only used F&B on woodwork and think it is very good for that. I think if you have an older house with less than perfect walls it is worth using F&B on them as it is extra matt so masks the imperfections.

Homebase used to do a really good period range years ago, not sure if their current one is as good...

I have used F&B and have found it no more difficult to paint than Dulux. However, I find that it doesn't wear very well. My paint of preference is Greene & Little endurance range. It has F&B's depth of colour but is more durable - essential in this 2child, 2 dog household!

Buy your paint from a builders merchants, it is cheaper and the trade mix is a better quality than what you buy in DIY places - even the Dulux and Crown.

Dulux do a lovely heritage range at the mo.

my builders recommended that instead of buying F&B, i choose a F&B colour and get it colour matched (so paint actually dulux). I think the issue with F&B is not so much the original painting but later touching up (does not keep as well for some reason maybe - not quite sure).

this one pops up every time. im very ho:

depends on what type of house you live in a the quality you want. the colours and finish are very different. the finish is completely different, if you are looking for a matt, flat finish then you wont beat f and b with high street paints.

DONT pick a f and b colour and get it mixed. it never really works when ever i have tried it, i think its to do with depth of colour and the base of tints they use.

F and b goes much further than high street paints so price probably works out the same.

I like the colour range of F&B, they seem soft and muted to me. But I'm not wild about the paint itself.

I find that getting it mixed by Alcro (used to be Beckers) or Little Greene is a better option, I find the paints better quality, they cost the same as F&B though.

I wouldn't get a F&B colour matched by Crown/Dulux though.

Don't know about F&B but I've found the Fired Earth range to be great. Much better coverage (moved into house with very dark walls) than Dulux etc and nice colours.

thank you all for your replies/comments - I am tempted to go for F&B for depth/quality of pigment etc. and also I do love the matt/flat finish.... but possibly that does look best in older houses, and mine is relatively new. Maybe I should cut my losses and go for Crown or Dulux though ...

F&B Estate Emulsion is more difficult to paint with because it's a bit powdery. We have it in our living room and marks do not wash off.

In other rooms we have used F&B Modern Emulsion. You get the lovely matt colours and it is washable, which is important if you have children.

Lots of companies are doing period type paints these days and they're not as expensive as F&B.

Our decorators loved painting with F&B.
Also doesn't smell like other paints

I like the stuff and have it everywhere - you can sometimes touch up and the good thing the colours seem to exist forever and it's easy to go back and get more, even years later. I prefer the modern emulsion, though. Used estate emulsion when living in the mini stately though because it looked better against the plasterwork.

miaow.

I'm a sucker - we have designer John Oliver paint in our bathroom because the depth of colour you get is unmatchable - I tried, believe me I tried. The pigments are much brighter and actually can bring light into a small room.

However they do tend to be less hard wearing than normal paints, so I usually put a coat of matt varnish over the top.

What I wouldn't spend money on are:
Value B&Q stuff, it's like water
The Dulux Kitchen & Bathroom/Light+Space ranges, their colour match matt vinyl is much, much better!

B&Q Colours range is pretty good though - painter was all for sending me back with it but was pleasantly surprised.

F&B is very flat matt, and I think only relevant if you live in a period house. It was fine in our old victorian cottage, but our current place is more contemporary, so I wouldn't use it.

Definitely middle-class aspirational!

I did four rooms in F&B a while back. Have gone back to Dulux. Prefer it for whites, especially in darker areas like hallways- just seems brighter, cleaner to be honest. If I lives in a big country pile I'd probably go for F&B.