24 Sep 19

New colours by Farrow & Ball with the Natural History Museum

Whenever everyone’s colour card favourite, Farrow & Ball, launch new paint colours I’m always keen to find out what’s in store as I know it will be a treat. Their ability to make colours that look effortlessly chic in British homes is simply breathtaking and I take my hat off to them. They deeply research their colours and palettes and know what works in our cool northern light and what suits our period properties. That said, I rarely use F&B in my own home as while I quite often love their colours they don’t have enough warmth, depth and energy for my personal palette, but things look to change!

Lake Red is an adventurous colour which F&B says appears red to some and pink to others but either way, it’s an energising and happy colour don’t you think?

The way they keep their colour palette looking so sophisticated is each colour seems to have an undertone of grey or black. (It’s the perfect paint chart for anyone who is a Summer personality or an Autumn personality, depending on the warmth of tone). But this new collection, with it’s mouth-watering addition of 16 colours to their current 132 on the colour card, is more vibrant than we usually expect.  Bold colour is being fully embraced by the old guard!

You should know by now how I feel about an intense blue – look at my hallway. I’m loving the new Scotch Blue in the kitchen, it makes a welcoming addition to any space.

The new colours include opulent reds, juicy oranges and gem likes blues. There is even a lush emerald green as well as some versatile warm neutrals. The new collection is called ‘Colour by Nature’ and is a celebration of colours found in the natural world. The collaboration draws on the Natural History Museum’s rare book library, which holds Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours, a colour guide used by Charles Darwin on his seminal voyage on HMS Beagle that inspired the palette. This groundbreaking book was published in 1814 and became an invaluable tool for scientists and artists alike. Every colour described in Werner’s book evokes a vision inspired by the natural world and I think that it’s just magical that we are drawing inspiration from the collection once again to inspire our interior design schemes.

This reassuring hue is Verdigris Green, with its rich blend of pigments it certainly holds its own and works particularly well with lighter tones.

With a love of nature comes a need to be more eco-friendly and sustainable and F&B’s eco credentials were paramount to the Natural History museum entering into the collaboration. Says Maxine Lister, head of licensing, Natural History Museum: “Ware very excited to be working alongside a company that is so committed to minimising their environmental impact. The collaboration has been a delight to bring to life and has proved to be such a great opportunity to not only highlight an important historical artefact but also to encourage families to bring the true beauty of nature into their homes.”And the connection to nature is evident in the names the team have given the colours. 

Sap Green has an earthy and welcoming feel and can create a dramatic look when used in small spaces

For example, Duck green, is the neck of a mallard, the upper disk of yew trees and also the colour of the mineral Ceylanite. Skimmed milk white is matched to the white of human eyeballs, petals of the blue Hepatica and the common opal. You can order through the Farrow & Ball website or in any of their nationwide stores. Meanwhile, I’m thinking some Broccoli Brown might be just the hue for my currently all-white office. I think my bright colours will really pop against it! Let me know what your favourite colour is from the collection

Broccoli brown is a soft and warm neutral which allows bright accessories to really pop

Top image credit: Emerald Green, a fab bright and uncompromising tone.