Help with deciding which F&B paint please...

[lindsell]

Redecorating the spare bedroom and I've gone for Laura Ashley pale amethyst (pale lilacy sort of colour) on the walls (couldn't find an F&B colour that was quite what I wanted ) and the carpet will be a grey colour (a bit lighter than F&B manor house grey).

I'm trying to decide what colour to do the woodwork (skirting/window/door). I want something that will tie the wall colour and the carpet together.

I can't decide between cornforth white (pale grey) and great white (a white which picks up the lilacy shade iyswim). I've got tester pots of both and just can't decide. Cornforth white might be a good 'in between' shade between the lilac and the darker grey carpet but it could also be a bit much grey. Great white looks lovely with the walls but not sure it won't be too much of a contrast with the carpet.

Any thoughts?

I'm sure I'm overthinking this

[lalalonglegs]

I do think woodwork generally looks much nicer white but, given your choices, I would go for conforth as grey will give a more sophisticated look. Too much lilac could be a bit sickly.

[lindsell]

I generally agree lalalonglegs and have a slightly off White for other woodwork in the house but somehow it doesn't seem to be working in this room hence looking at other options.

I am aiming for a sophisticated look rather than sickly so maybe the greyer one is best.

Any other views?

Thanks!

[preghead]

Sorry to hijack, just wondering which finish you use for f and b paints as I am about to use some. I am thinking estate emulsion on the Walls would be the beat effect, but do I need modern emulsion for high traffic/abuse areas like kids room, hall etc? And fir woodwork estate eggshell?

Also what kind if prep do you all do on just plastered or recently painted Walls? I guess sugarsoap to clean nd then 2 coats. Or do I need some sort of primer or undercoat?

Have always used decorators in past but am going to attempt this one myself, complet novice!

[preghead]

Best effect

[CheeseMeisterGeneral]

l have pavilion gray on my master bed walls with cornforth white on the woodwork, coving and ceiling. It is a very pale grey and l think looks better than a contrasting white. l am having deep purple drapes for the sashs.

Preghead - l have used estate emulsion in most rooms, saving modern emulsion for hallway, kitchen, utility and bathrooms/cloaks. l would undercoat first to avoid wasting any F&B paint, may be do a patch test first.

l absolutely bloody love F&B, tried it out in our first room of a house renovation to see if was worth the hype ... loved it and won't use anything else. Have just done our utility in the new 'mizzle' green and its great.

[minidiva]

If you have trouble finding a colour in F and B try Fired Earth. I have a great soft lilac in the bedroom. I would keep the wood work white.
My father in law's a decorator and he always uses a watered down coat of emulsion first on newly plastered walls to seal the surface then 2 - 3 coats of emulsion.

[eloisah]

What makes F&B more desirable than, for example, Dulux? Do they have a better range of shades.. Im just idly wondering...

[eloisah]

What is the finish like?
I was going for shades of white, what would be the benefit of using F&B do you think?