Fancy a visit to the National Gallery? Stop by Farrow & Ball.

The Broccato Papers from Farrow & Ball might be celebrating their first anniversary next month, but we thought they deserved a look. The six papers were inspired by the Italian Renaissance period, and include three ornamental patterns derived from rich decorative fabrics featured in 14th and 15th century Renaissance paintings housed at The National Gallery, London. The other three patterns were designed by extrapolating an element from the first group, to create a complementary "suite" - in an adjacent room, perhaps. All six feature ornate symmetrical floral and fruit motifs, available in ten colorways, from traditional color schemes to modern metallics. Brocade Stripe is pictured above.

Crivelli Rose is a classic brocade pattern, featuring extravagant plumes of oak tree and acorn motifs in majestic rosettes linked by intricate wheat-inspired trellising.


The corresponding design, Crivelli Trellis is a simple and delicate wheat-detailed trellis:


Brocade is an elegant design with gothic influence and elaborate detailing of ornate floral, thistle and leaf motifs.


Renaissance is an enchanting pictorial print bursting with sunflowers, birds and fine botanical detailing.


The corresponding design, Renaissance Leaves is a delightful pattern with a frivolous feeling, featuring gently tumbling oak-shaped leaves.



Stop by the DDB (Suite 1519) and pick up a dose of Italy, via England.

Farrow & Ball's colors of 2012

Color blocking and neons were all over the runways—and walked right on into our wardrobes this year. But we wanted to see just how prescient Farrow & Ball was with their predictions from earlier this year of the colors right for 2012. Here's what they said months ago.

Pigeon® (pictured above). "Colour should be casual but functional, a look epitomised by Pigeon®, a mix of blue, grey and green tones. Used in small spaces multi-toned Pigeon® creates an intimate feel, while in larger areas it has an unparalleled softness. It has a weathered look when teamed with chalky shades like Mizzle®, but becomes more functional when contrasted with All White. Accent this scheme with Incarnadine to make it more modern and atmospheric."

Brassica:

"Brassica, a pale aubergine shade with underlying black tone, really sums up the mood of 2012. It has an ethereal quality, but importantly can still be relaxed when used in unexpected combinations. Keep this nostalgic colour fresh and exciting by combining with Stone Blue® on ceilings, or use to add colour to any neutral scheme. Evoke modern elegance by accenting Brassica with Dove Tale on woodwork and Strong White® on floors, for a sophisticated look that’s not too formal."

Railings:

"Interiors are dramatic yet easy to live with, an approach encapsulated by soft velvety charcoal tone, Railings. Used on walls, Railings can transform a small dark room into a tranquil cocoon. Key to this look is balance; retain equilibrium by introducing India Yellow to give a vintage twist. Alternatively, Railings can make real impact when used on floors or as a feature wall alongside simple underplayed shades like Skylight or Cabbage White®."

Babouche®:

"2012 is all about effervescent, positive yellows like Babouche®. Traditionally used in a matt finish, make a bold statement with high-shine Full Gloss on walls to add a sense of fun to interiors. A striking, graphic flash of this vivid hue will really lift a neutral scheme, and particularly complements greys. Combine with Plummett® for a vintage feel or, for a really contemporary scheme pair Babouche® with Blackened® in colour blocks on walls and Pavilion Gray on woodwork. This bold palette, warm and unforgettable, is perfectly suited to modern decorating."

Personally, we think they were spot on. And don't you think they should branch into the nail polish market? Especially with their naturally low VOC recipe! Stop by the DDB (Suite 1519) and devise your own 2012 wall palette.

More designers create a British palette with Farrow & Ball

Yesterday we brought you four color schemes from different international designers, thanks to Farrow & Ball's Best of British Color Schemes. Did you know that the richly pigmented paints, which are also used to paint on paper for their wallcoverings line, are still mixed in Dorset, England?

For Stephen Fanuka (pictured below), the host of HGTV and DIY network's "Million Dollar Contractor", "'British' means royalty watching over its loyal subjects. Having set the premise I would use Incarnadine to represent the crown on the ceiling. It's the fifth wall in the room and too many times it's left out of the room as plain white. The walls represent the people so full of life & promise – Charlotte’s Locks fits the profile perfectly. All the trim would be in London Clay which represents the bedrock of fortitude this proud nation has portrayed throughout its long & rich history. This scheme would work well in a dining room. It’s not for the everyday affair but I promise when you enjoy the room it will never leave you hungry or alone."




For Peter Kempe, of Kuball & Kempe in Germany (pictured below), "A really British scheme is Charlotte's Locks, Rectory Red and Drawing Room Blue because it reminds me of the roaring London in the 60s and 70s the and the famous style of interior genius David Hicks. Combine this colour blocking schemes velvet sofas and bamboo chairs in a living room to give a real feeling of the time London revolutionised the fashion world."




For design duo Scholten & Baijings of Holland (pictured below), "A number of unique white shades like All White, Strong White, Cabbage White and Pale Powder, are sensitive to the delicate nuances of light and reflect the lily-white skin of an English lady. Play with a mix of these soft tones, depending on the amount of light in the room. This will bring the space to life, particularly if you mix the endless possibilities of Full Gloss and very matte Estate Emulsion finishes."




Belgian designer Geert Ostyn (pictured below) says, "When thinking of Britain, we think of a country life where nature is central and the outdoors is pure & magnificent. Obviously the traditional English dogs and horses cannot be absent, same goes for the classic outfit of the English gentlemen living on the countryside: A red blazer, white trousers and some decent boots that will take in all of England’s weather conditions. Translated into a decorating scheme combine Blazer, Vert de Terre, James White and Stony Ground - that, to us, is a true British bliss."




So what colors scream (or whisper) "British" to you? Stop by the DDB (Suite 1519) and see!

Designers choose a British palette of Farrow & Ball colors

Our mania for all things British continues with Farrow & Ball, who, in honor of this terribly British summer (perhaps you forgot about the Jubilee ever since you saw Queen Elizabeth frolicking with James Bond...) polled some of their favorite fans, interior designers from around the world, on colors they would use for a quintessentially British scheme.

An American expat now based in Germany, Holly Becker (pictured below), an author, stylist and the editor of Decor8 said, "A very English scheme to me is Down Pipe, Teresa's Green, Pavilion Gray, Off Black and a touch of Babouche. This scheme would work really well in an office as the warm, energetic Babouche would add personality and the black would bring in a graphic element and a more professional tone. I'd love to see this scheme in a boy's room or in an industrial kitchen too."




Architectural designer Ben Pentreath (pictured below) chose this palette for his own home in West Dorset, "to perfectly reflect the greens of the valley where the house sits, in brilliant sunshine, on a south-facing slope."




John Lyle, an American designer (pictured below) whose designs are carried at Holly Hunt at the DDB and David Sutherland at the PDC and DCH, said he would "channel more David Hicks than Nancy Lancaster, although her yellow influence cannot be overlooked. I would cover the walls in a sunny yellow strié paper from Farrow & Ball such as The Dragged Papers, DR1246 and paint the ceilings in Citron with trim in a crisp colour from Farrow & Ball such as Pointing. For the furniture, curtains and rug I would choose all snappy black and white- sharp and graphic -Hicks-esque patterns and solids to balance to the strong yellow. One could not help but be happy in this room."




For Gerd Sommerlade, another German stylist and designer (pictured below), "Lulworth Blue, Pitch Blue and Cabbage White are beautiful colors. These nuances of blue combined with white remind me of the famous bicoloured ceramics from Josiah Wedgwood of the 18th-century. These dishes ennoble each table in the same way that a soft paint makes a dining room much more beautiful."




Stop by and choose your own favorites at the DDB (Suite 1519). And check back tomorrow morning and we'll share more favorite F&B color schemes.

As seen in: Luxe Magazine

Pick up a copy of Luxe's Spring issue for a look at some of the editor's favorite finds at the DDB. A graphic paper by Farrow & Ball is pictured above.

Howard Slatkin's runner for Stark is pictured on this staircase:


Kevin Reilly's decorative accessories at Holly Hunt:


And Kravet's upholstered bed:

Meet the designer: Darren Henault

We asked NYC designer Darren Henault to reveal some of his must-see showrooms at the DDB. Henault, one of the multitude of talented professionals available through the DDB's Designer Referral Program, is known for his luxurious and yet liveable environments, as seen in the bedroom of this NYC townhouse:


-Christopher Hyland. He's got the most gorgeous jacquards and lampas' I have ever seen. If you want super high quality, Old World weaving techniques, this is where to find it. Being a textile fan, it's love love love.
-Chesneys. We're currently installing a beautiful marble mantel into a home upstate New York. Chesney’s has got everything and if they don't, they will make it. They have done a very good job of offering very traditional profiles in a modern way by varying the stone selections.
-David Sutherland. They have got beautiful seating based on Louis XVI furniture. I'm tired of all of the distressed finishes that are ubiquitous and poorly done. They're doing furniture in a waxed, unfinished quality that is more beautiful.
-Farrow & Ball. Finally I can get their gorgeous colors in wallpapers as well.
-Fortuny.  Even before I visited the printing facility in Venice I was hooked.  Now I'm addicted.
-Gracie. We're using their papers in clean monochromatic tones, taking the tried and true and making it fresh and crisp.  The ever-lovely Jennifer Gracie is so nice to work with besides.
-Holland & Sherry. The ability they have to turn anything we come up with into the most exquisitely executed embroidery is unbelievable. I'm, of course, loving their new ever expanding rug collection which includes my own designs, including China Gate [pictured below].

-Jerry Pair & Associates. More and more clients who like traditional are asking for cleaner lines.  The Madeline Stuart collection is perfect and fits to a T.
-John Rosselli. If you are looking for a masterful mix of furniture, Bunny Williams and John Rosselli have done all the work for you.
-Pindler & Pindler. Wonderfully cheerful fabrics. If you're on a budget, you're going to find all of the same basic solids and textures here as everywhere else but for half the price.

Check back soon when we'll share what caught Henault's attention for summer on an afternoon of shopping at the DDB.

Q&A with "Young Traditional" Lisa Sternfeld of Studio LSID

We loved chatting with New York-based designer Lisa Sternfeld who is one of tradhome's 20 Young Traditional Designers to watch this Spring. Lisa founded Studio LSID in 2006 and she readily shared her thoughts on what’s hot this Spring.

GDG: What collections or designers are you really looking forward to seeing this Spring?

LS: I’m really excited about all of the historically significant fabrics at Clarence House, as well as Oscar de La Renta’s line at Lee Jofa. I'm excited to see Fortuny's new showroom and the amazing spring color palette from Farrow & Ball. I'm also really looking forward to all of the upcoming Spring exhibits at New York’s greatest museums!

GDG: What should we keep our eyes open for this season?

LS: Keep an eye out for vibrant color this Spring! All of the regal hues of yellows, blues and greens are simply beautiful.

GDG: What are some of the first things you're planning on doing once the weather is warmer?

LS: Spring-cleaning! I’m looking forward to finally putting away all of my heavy coats, boots and winter dressing!

Postcard From Christine Klotz in Wimborne, England (Part 2 of 2)

Farrow & Ball Lead Showroom Manager Christine Klotz just returned from a visit to the company’s factory and headquarters in Wimborne, England. We asked her to share highlights of the tour and a few things she learned.

GDG: What was your favorite part of the tour?

CK: Seeing the wallpaper made was my favorite. To me, wallpaper is complete luxury. It makes a confident statement, whether the pattern and colors are bold or subtle. I love that! There are at least three pairs of eyes that never leave the rolls as they go through the block printing, troughs, and ovens. All of the wallpaper is made from Forest Stewardship Council approved paper, which is an amazing effort toward keeping things “green” along with the fact that our paints are Zero VOC and don’t use any plastics or fillers.

GDG: What was the best thing you learned?

CK: Seeing with my own eyes that everything we say about Farrow & Ball paints and wallpapers is absolutely true! It is very empowering as a manager to know that I can come back to my team in SoHo and report that everything we present to our clients and how we market ourselves is absolutely honest, accurate, and genuinely from the heart and the source. Our paints and wallpapers are Zero VOC and all of our product is made in Wimborne under the tightest scrutiny and discernment. We are truly an international Farrow & Ball family!

GDG: Who is allowed to visit the headquarters in Wimborne?

CK: The Farow & Ball factory at Wimborne is a working site, where all Farrow & Ball paint and wallpaper is made and shipped worldwide. For this reason, unfortunately they can’t host visitors on site.

Have more questions for Christine? Email her at Farrow & Ball soho@farrow-ball.com.

Postcard From Christine Klotz in Wimborne, England (Part I of 2)

Newly Appointed Farrow & Ball Lead Showroom Manager for the Tri-State area Christine Klotz just returned from a visit to the company’s factory and headquarters in Wimborne, England. We asked her to share highlights of the tour and a few things she learned.

GDG: Where did you start the visit?
CK: We started off in London. The first day I was able to attend ICON and Decorex in London. We toured a few of our London showrooms and got to see the differences and similarities in selling and in interior design in general. We were joined by Farrow & Ball managers and employees from Dublin, Edinburgh, Brussels, Paris, and later – Oxford and Beaconsfield. It was so much fun to have a chance to socialize that evening with our international team.

We also visited Dorset, which is a beautiful part of the country beyond Windsor Castle and through The New Forest. Having grown up in London, I distinctly remember The New Forest as our first family trip - with its incredible cliffs, the wild horses of The New Forest, Corfe Castle, and of course Wimborne where Farrow & Ball has manufactured paint and wallpaper for over 60 years!

GDG: How would you describe the F&B Factory?
CK: The Uddens Estate is not exactly “to the manor born” but a functional factory, offices, and warehouse all on the same plot of land that John Farrow and Richard Ball worked on in a tiny shack, back in the 1940s.

The communication between departments is efficient, quick, and accurate because everything is within a two-minute walk.

GDG: What did you learn?

CK: We had an intensive training session and saw how keeping color consistent is truly a science. A small container of every batch of paint gets walked across the road to a lab where a person in a white lab coat does and analysis. Farrow & Ball’s standards are so high that every batch must fall within a small bulls eye for color accuracy, otherwise it is sent back to be tinkered with until it does. This is one of the many reasons why Farrow & Ball is twice as exacting as the industry standard.

Stay tuned for Part II of Christine’s visit tomorrow morning.

Youths Paint the Town with Farrow & Ball

GoDesignGo recently caught up with Christine Klotz, a Showroom Manager at Farrow & Ball to ask her about the Groundswell Community Mural Project, a NYC-based 501C3 focused on bringing together youth, professional artists, and communities in partnership to use art as a tool for social change.

GDG: What inspired Farrow & Ball to get involved with the Groundswell Community Mural Project?

CK: When I started at Farrow & Ball last February, we began talking about the importance of being of service in the New York community and finding a way to make the most direct impact possible. There are so many ways to give these days. I did some research, found Groundswell Community Mural Project, and I was won over immediately upon meeting the amazing people who run the organization and now even more so by the youth they serve.

GDG: Tell us about the collaboration.

CK: Groundswell Community Mural Project was started in 1996 out of Brooklyn. They have given underserved youth in NYC unique opportunities to create public art throughout the five boroughs. By creating collaborations between youth from under-represented neighborhoods, established artists, and community organizations, their programs have transformed over 125 public spaces with dynamic murals, mosaics, and sculptures.

Farrow & Ball SoHo commissioned a mural in all Farrow & Ball paint, with partners Blindlemon Music and KA Design Group. The mural completes on November 18 and will be on view in the Farrow & Ball SoHo showroom until January 1, before it goes to its home at The Center on West 13th Street here in Manhattan.

GDG: What makes this project a perfect fit for Farrow & Ball?

CK: It is a perfect match for Farrow & Ball, being a completely Zero VOC, eco friendly paint company and Groundswell needing paint! We love the idea of branding ourselves in such a distinct way in our home, which is New York.

The mural, named "First Impressions," was finished yesterday and in its honor, Farrow & Ball celebrated a mural dedication and party to honor what the teens of the YES Program created with Farrow & Ball paints.

GDG: What else is coming up for Farrow & Ball?

CK: The annual Art Auction and Benefit is coming up on December 2 this year. It is a fabulous art auction, raffle, and cocktail party. The auction features emerging and mid-career artists including some of the Groundswell muralists and higher profile ones such as Vik Muniz, Louise Bourgeois, and Massimo Vitali. The benefit is a fantastic opportunity for designers, architects, and New York City art lovers to bid on well-known artists’ work for reasonable prices. Of course, the best part about the benefit is that all of the proceeds go to Groundswell. And, this makes a difference not only in our New York City urban landscape, but in the lives of the youth Groundswell works with, who have unique opportunities to use their talent to make a visible impact on their communities and the city at large.

People can purchase tickets online at www.groundswellmural.org and view some of the wonderful murals at http://www.gallery10g.com/artists.php?rec_id=85



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The Baroque Papers from Farrow & Ball

An exquisitely ornate wallpaper collection

Farrow & Ball, colour expert and manufacturer of traditional wallpapers and paints, has taken inspiration from the artistic style of the early 18th century for its flamboyant new wallpaper collection, ‘The Baroque Papers’.

Comprising three fabulous designs, each in twenty-one colourways, The Baroque Papers embraces dynamic detail and large-scale dramatic designs, which are evocative of the Baroque period. The new collection features three patterns; ‘Orangerie’, ‘Versailles’, and ‘Acanthus’ and is available from 1^st September 2010.