Farrow & Ball paint has to include some of the most popular shades around – I wonder how many gazillion tins of Downpipe and Elephant’s Breath have been sold? And their new shades for 2013, launched this week, are very likely to win even more die-hard fans.
These are the first new paint colours from Farrow & Ball for three years, but I think you’ll agree it’s been worth the wait. There are nine of them in all – four neutrals, three brighter colours and two darker shades. (I haven’t shown them all here, but you can see the full line-up on the Farrow & Ball website). And, of course, the names continue to be as delightful as the colours themselves, most of which were inspired by the company’s native Dorset countryside. Who can resist the allure of Dimpse, Wevet, Nancy’s Blushes and Mole’s Breath? In fact, let’s start with that last one, the much anticipated follow-up to the incredibly popular aforementioned Elephant’s Breath. How gorgeous is this?
Obviously it helps enormously to have a huge period room with lofty ceilings and fabulous cornices and panelling but, room (house!) envy aside, this is a lovely rich, restful shade that will work beautifully in period and contemporary spaces alike.
The lighting in the photo above makes it look a very warm brown/grey, but in the picture on the left it’s more of a “grey” grey. I’m thinking about trying it in our hallway below the dado rail which at the moment is a rather “bleh” shade of hessian brown. I’m thinking Mole’s Breath will add more depth and drama. I’m just a little concerned about it being too dark as it’s a narrow space with not much light, but I’ve been wanting to try using darker colours for a while now and this seems the perfect (and fairly easily reversible!) place to experiment. I’ll be buying a tester pot at the weekend and reporting back.
Talking of depth and drama, how about Stiffkey Blue, above? So moody, dark and brooding – the Heathcliffe of Farrow & Ball paint colours?
To lighten the mood, I’ve chosen two of the neutrals. Above is Wevet (an old Dorset word for a spider’s web) and below the slightly stronger Purbeck Stone
Some brighter colours to end with, and they are very delicious indeed. Above is Nancy’s Blushes, named after a “mystery Nancy”. Who was she, and what made her blush? I don’t think we’ll ever know. They recommend using this colour with All White or Black Blue, and I can imagine the contrast with the latter would be stunning. In this photograph they’ve teamed this true pink with Smoked Trout on the woodwork, and Downpipe on the floor, which I particularly like. I’m very much into pinks of any persuasion and dark greys at the moment.
Sunshine in a paint tin is how I’d describe Yellowcake, above. Farrow & Ball say they named it “to reflect the revival of the ‘homemade’. Much used in kitchens during the 1960s but equally popular in 21st century homes.”
I’ve kept my favourite – St Giles Blue – for last; I think this is going to be one of my “colour therapy” images that will help get me through the coming winter. What a wonderfully uplifting shade of blue; it was originally found in the hall of 17th century St Giles House at Wimborne St Giles.
There’s so much to love about this picture. The white curves of the “chandelier” against the blue wall bring to mind images of the Greek Islands with their pure white houses and blue domed churches outlined against Aegean seas and skies. The delicate mauve of the chair seats and backs against the bright, clean blue is an arresting combination, as is the blue and the green of the skirting board. And the deep indigo of the cabinet layers blue upon blue. Lots of ideas for inspiring colour palettes here, I think.
And even if you’re not in need (or want) of new paint colours on your walls, then Farrow & Ball is always a fabulous website to visit for their wonderful images, colour palettes and styling. If you’re interested in seeing how they do it, here’s a very short video that takes a peek behind the scenes of the photo shoot for these new colours. I just wonder – did they have to paint it all white again after they finished?
Images: Farrow & Ball
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