New Farrow & Ball Paint Colours 2016

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of whizzing up to the most beautiful London apartment to hear the incredibly talented, self confessed colour addict and International Colour Consultant Joa Studholme speak about the new Farrow & Ball range of colours. 

Joa spoke so passionately about their determination to develop life giving colours that lift your experience with sophistication, but that would stay true to the deep roots of the Farrow & Ball brand. They could see that there were gaps in the iconic colour card, missing links between shades of white, grey and stronger brights. 

They've produced nine new colours that will take you from a "safe pair of hands" in Shadow White that sits between a less yellow and a more cool grey, a new grey in Drop Cloth to compliment the popular range, less red than Oxford Stone, less green than Old White. Subtle but significant new colours that could transform a room, giving it a different feeling entirely.

Due to popular demand they have added to the range a grey filler called Worsted which you could use with confidence in every room of the house a warmth to its cool undertone.

There's a romantic shade in Peignoir, traditional but for a modern market and not just bound for our bedrooms. 

Joa spoke about the desire to bring forward colours that make your shoulders relax as you walk in a room. Salon Drab that conjures that sense of being plucked from a "drunken gathering of intellectuals" in a traditional snug. She told us about the enduring popularity of greens, colours that encompass the fabric of British life, the drama of the Scottish Highlands to striking bold statement colours that ease people into the dark side of home decorating.

This new range isn't designed to break the magic, essentially the success of this three year journey will be the test of whether the old card looks the same as the new card. That the nine new additions sit completely comfortably next to their peers. Like they were always there.

The full range comprises 9 new colours that were individually and painstakingly crafted by a small team at Farrow & Ball. These colours are three years in the making and you could hear in Joa's voice the sense of pride and achievement in finally being able to reveal their hard work. 

These nine replace an existing set of colours on the famous palette of 132 paint colours. There's an overwhelming feeling of the classic heritage of the brand in the new whites and muted colours. Each one has it's own unique naming story and in true Farrow & Ball style, they defy convention and have chosen, distinctive names, with a couple relatively tricky to pronounce and spell!

But that's what gives them an air of opulence balanced perfectly with understated confidence. Age old production methods combined with contemporary updates to existing colour families within the instantly recognisable colour card. 

I loved hearing the honesty in her voice when Joa talked about their appreciation that there were certain colours that were ready to be retired. That don't suit more contemporary homes and decor in 2016, but it was good to know that all the colours are available from their archives. So if you have an older colour on one of your walls, you can still get a new tin made up!

The thing I love about Farrow and Ball is that although they are very serious about colour and craftsmanship, but they don't take themselves too seriously! There's so much humour and humility in this video - you can't help but smile.

And you can enter to win 5 litres of one of the new colours in either Estate Emulsion or Modern Emulsion by joining in with their fab competition.

Simply share a photo on social media telling them the name or showing them a picture of something with the colour of your favourite new shade on. Have a peek at their website, pick your favourite photo or grab a new colour chart in a DIY store near you. You can enter through any of the methods below:

For nine weeks Farrow & Ball will be selecting nine entries at random to each win their favourite new colour in either Estate Emulsion or Modern Emulsion. Full terms and conditions here. 

In an age when mass production is often moved out of the UK to the Far East and beyond, it's refreshing to know that all their products are made right here in the Uk from their factory in Dorset, which I hope to visit in the near future.

So which is your favourite?! Mine just has to be the beautiful Yeabridge Green. Discovered in the kitchen of the Georgian farmhouse in Somerset where it gets it's name. It was hidden behind an original gun cupboard and I think it could look quite something in the kitchen of this Somerset farmhouse. 

A project for next month perhaps?!

Pop along to one of their Milk Float tours, coming to a high street near you!