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Farrow & Ball experts....please rescue me from my paint choosing hell.

9 replies

McFlurry · 21/04/2014 19:27

I have a large living room/diner in need of decoration.

Front of the room (sitting area) has a north facing bay window. Back of the room (dining area) has a south facing patio door. Once upon a time it was 2 rooms but now its just one big cavernous space with no discernible dividing line.

So, what colour am I going to paint it? For the last 10 years its been various shades of brown (including ubiqutous feature wall in a deep chocolate colour) which I now hate and want a complete change from. Futniture is mostly white. Floor is solid walnut.

I really don't want the room to be insipid neutrals but with it having a north facing aspect, it can't carry off too many colours. DH's wants 'bright and warm' looking while I want something a bit striking. I think....

Doesn't help that, apart from the bay, the room is featureless...no cornicing/chimney breasts etc.

I'm loving F&B Cinder Rose (and DH is on board with it) but is it too bedroomy? Can I use it in a living room? Thinking of just using it around the bay window and doing the rest of the room in another shade? Dimity, maybe? I really love Ammonite but think its too cold for the north facing part of the room.

I've already spent a small fortune on test pots and cinder rose is the only one that appeals to me and looks like it might suit the room. But I'm open to suggestions because, right now, I'm seriously considering moving house just to get a living room that's easier to decorate.

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mandy214 · 22/04/2014 12:59

I personally don't like Cinder Rose, a whole room (or 2 rooms) in that would be a bit overwhelming I think. I like Dimity and Ammonite, better imo for the whole room and maybe a feature wall in Cinder Rose (but I would probably choose a different wall than the bay window)? Not being too helpful am I? The main reason for replying was to say that F&B marks very easily. Have just done my living room (in Elephants Breath with Downpipe at the back of built in shelving either side of the chimney breast) and I'm really disappointed at how quickly it has marked. I would get it coloured matched with a more hard wearing paint. Good luck!

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McFlurry · 22/04/2014 16:37

Thanks. I intend to colour match using Crown or Dulux simply because it would bankrupt me to paint such a large room in F&B.

Dimity is too creamy for my taste, having just applied the test pot. Ammonite is looking like a front runner with a surprise late entrant in Dulux Just Walnut.

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goodstuffhappens · 28/04/2014 20:16

I paid someone from F and B to come round and advise (then I went to somewhere else to get the colours mixed in a cheaper brand). She looked at the light, what I used the room for, my furniture etc. She cost a fair bit an hour but was totally worth it as a. saved me a fortune in 'changing my mind' costs and b. I LOVE what she chose.

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SparkyToo · 09/07/2014 11:42

I wouldn't try and colour match if I were you - they don't come out anything like the real thing. I'd go for some rooms in F&B and others in a more reasonably priced brand.