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Original poster

Fancy paints like Farrow and Ball are they worth the money?

37 replies

scottishfarmlady · 27/10/2006 08:27

Or are dulux etc just as good?
paint advice please for internal walls in an old house.

OP posts:
zippitippitoes · 27/10/2006 08:32

they have a softer look it and some people like the colour range I've used them and reverted to cheaper paints, but we aren't living here for ever

I find the colours hard to select and have been diappointed but other people have more success

Pruni · 27/10/2006 08:34

Message withdrawn

zippitippitoes · 27/10/2006 08:36

I think I should get a prize for a spectacularly useless post

Pruni much more sensible

SherlockLGJ · 27/10/2006 08:37

Very disappointed.

Pruni · 27/10/2006 08:39

Message withdrawn

KTeepee · 27/10/2006 08:42

Agree if you are selliing it's not worth the extra. Lots of the others do period ranges which are good in older properties where walls may not be in pristine condition - I have used the Crown range myself.

FioFio · 27/10/2006 08:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

wheelybug · 27/10/2006 08:52

we have used them and love them tbh. Lovely colours (although quite different from colour card to actual paint but think that is very true of all paints !!). They are much nicer to paint with than dulux etc.

Have painted whole house with them but moving on tuesday and reckon we might end up using the same colours on new house - just because we like them so much.....

But as others say, probably not worth spending the money if you don't intend to stay where you arelong.

cupsnakes · 27/10/2006 08:58

I love Farrow and Ball - they have a lovely finish which kind of glows. Am painting new extension in Blue Grey inside and the exterior is going to be Hound Lemon in their masonry range (not used this type yet but fingers crossed it will be as nice).
I know some MNetters have been disappointed with the Fired Earth range.

zippitippitoes · 27/10/2006 09:00

I had that hound lemon in sitting room and hated it...the downside of f&b is that if you don't like it you have to wait a statutory period to repaint as it's so expensive

wheelybug · 27/10/2006 09:03

LOL Zip - we have lulworth blue in our spare room and its just too bright but was too expensive to repaint especially given its the spare room !

Think we might have hound lemon in the hall but can't remember which yellow it is... its lovely in the hall though !

We've had real trouble with fired earth grout - just crumbles away... not used their paint though.

zippitippitoes · 27/10/2006 09:05

we also had pea green on our shutters and I wasn't keen on it inside but from the outside it looked so successfully old and unmodernised it made our house look like we were those people who shut themselves in a time warp and never come out until they are in a box

manitz · 27/10/2006 09:44

F&B testers are 3pounds each and I have masses. Would like to get rid for around £1 a go (half a pot or more left) let me know if you are interested.

Orlando · 27/10/2006 09:56

I'm a relatively recent convert. I've used off white for most of the woodwork in our house and totally love it. Some of their colours sort of defy description, they're such a subtle combination of shades, but it makes them worth the extra money for me. Funnily enough I haven't used any of the emulsion as I need the very tough, cleanable stuff (and am going through a neutral phase atm so not worth paying extra) just the eggshell for wood. Off white, Green Ground, Blue Grey, deffo worth trying.

puppydavies · 27/10/2006 10:25

their finishes are fab, in general less shiny than other paints. the estate emulsion is utterly matt, the eggshell gloss has a very subtle sheen. the emulsion is very breathable - we chose to use it on damp walls rather than trying to seal them and keep the damp in. it's worked so far and the finish is still perfect (not long done though).

the colours are better than any other range imho. lime white is my standard white of choice, clean but soft. bone is a soft dove grey, light but distinctive and warm. sugar bag light is my favourite colour of all time, a soft green-blue that works in all lighting conditions. i know all the colour stuff is subjective but i've never been disappointed in an f&b colour, they have such complexity and really grow on you, they have a better range of neutrals than anyone else.

you can also buy sample cards that are actually painted, so you're seeing the paint itself, so i find it much easier to chose than standard paint cards.

but obviously all that comes at a price, to me it's definitely worth it.

Twohootsandapumpkin · 27/10/2006 10:43

Not sure of price comparison but Laura Ashley also have lovely period colour paint. We used quite a few of them in our last house and loved them on - lovely to paint with and good covering etc. They may be cheaper than F&B?

JessaJackOLantern · 27/10/2006 10:46

No advice...my only experience of "posh" paints comes from my MIL's choice for the woodwork in her kitchen, which, frankly, is baby-poo-brown...came in tiny pots and cost a bomb....

cupsnakes · 27/10/2006 10:50

I've used Laura Ashley as well. The colour was lovely but not as 'complex' (as puppy describes so well) as F&B. And the finish isn't as special.

zippitippitoes · 27/10/2006 10:51

and f&b paint gives you the chance to talk like olde worlde wine merchants about your decorations

Orlando · 27/10/2006 11:59

Laura Ashley paint used to be made by F&B, but isn't any more. The finish now (especially on the eggshell) is pretty dreadful. I bought some of the duck-egg blue for window and door architrave in downstairs loo and it took 3 coats to get even basic coverage. Really needed a fourth, but by that time I'd rather have hacked my own arm off with a blunt instrument than continue. Definitely wouldn't recommend.

manitz · 27/10/2006 13:26

sorry i didn't offer any advice just did sales pitch. Now the advice -

our last house we did in dulux trade and got some really nice shades which were greyblues and complex. it had a good level of cover and was relatively good for marks etc. we did one room in f&b and I've mainly found that I can choose any F&b colour and get a tone/shade I can live with. So this house - where i didn't get time to faff around with choosing colour - i just stuck to F&B.

Ithink it was a mistake for me to choose eggshell for wood though - would go for gloss next time. Has chipped a lot and marked up with little kids but looks great. Agree with points bby orlando and prob others, find that the colours look deep and differnt on diff parts of the walls, have london stone in kitchen and it looks green sometimes and brown others.

I think it is worht using testers as we chose different colours on the wall than the colour chart. go on buy them off me!!

Orlando · 27/10/2006 13:43

Water based eggshell chips quite easily and needs recoating. Oil based eggshell is fine, I found. Your house sounds lovely manitz

tassis · 27/10/2006 13:46

Recently painted the dining room in farrow and ball string. Love it!

Twohootsandapumpkin · 27/10/2006 13:47

Oh I think that may be the prob then - I'm going back about 4 years (at least) with Laura Ashley paint (we are in rented now). It was lovely then - very good coverage.

Orlando agree about the eggshell too - oilbased is much better and this is what we used and had no problems with it in the 3 years or so we were in the house.

One day I'll be able to decorate my OWN house again... I digress....

bev1e · 27/10/2006 14:18

Wouldn't recommend F&B - don't find their paints particularly hard wearing or durable. Heritage range is my preference but can't remember the manufacturer (don't know what cost comparison is like I'm afraid).