Meet Our Experts

Based at Farrow & Ball showrooms and select locations across Europe and North America, our expert Colour Consultants are here to help you approach colour with confidence and see your favourite spaces in a whole new light, all in the comfort of your own home. We asked a few of our Consultants to offer a little insight into how they work, what they love about colour consultancy, and how they’re currently using our paint and wallpaper to bring homes to life.


Find your nearest Colour Consultant

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South East


Sara Lake - Winchester & Wimborne

With over 20 years of experience as a property developer, Sara is an expert in transforming spaces. Utilising her wealth of knowledge gathered in the renovation of buildings, becoming a Farrow & Ball Colour Consultant was the perfect fit. She has worked with Farrow & Ball for the last seven years, using her passion for interiors to help customers create their ultimate schemes.


Sara's suggested scheme

Five questions with Sara

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I really enjoy the whole consulting journey, especially the clarity at the end of the consultation when all the ideas that were initially just pictures and cuttings from magazines are now wonderful room schemes. I often have clients stating what a relief it is to finally have a plan and to be able to visualise their projects in full colour

2. How do you approach each brief?

There are many elements that make up a colour scheme. Lighting and architectural details are obviously very important, but the key thing to remember is that decorating should be an extension of one’s identity – every project is a chance to stamp your personality onto your environment.  How and by whom the space is used needs equal consideration. I work with the client to make their project truly unique to them.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

One of my favourite projects was a wonderful home belonging to a landscape gardener. Taking the recently launched Colour by Nature palette as the foundation for the scheme, all the rooms felt wonderfully connected to the exterior.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I love how these colours work with each other, the muted rose tones of the Sulking Room Pink with the inky navy of the Stiffkey Blue. I imagine this in a dressing room – dramatic cabinetry in the deep blue and then the Sulking Room Pink in the illuminated interiors and on the ceiling. The wallpaper would add extra personality to the walls, and the metallic paint used on this would shimmer under the lights.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

We are all spending so much more time in our homes at the moment that I feel a real change in how we use our spaces and how this is influencing the colour choices made. Bedrooms are doubling as offices and schoolrooms, outdoor space is far more connected to our living spaces, and flow between rooms is more considered. But the best trend is definitely more unexpected injections of colour!


Beth Hickson - Hove & Tunbridge Wells

Since graduating from Camberwell College of Arts, Beth has had a long career in retail, working as a homeware buyer, developer and designer for retailers in London and Hong Kong. She has always enjoyed the creative process and is passionate about homeware and interiors. As a Farrow & Ball Colour Consultant, Beth particularly enjoys being part of a heritage company where the product is of a high quality and there is a story behind each paint colour.


Beth's suggested scheme

Five questions with Beth

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I love being a part of a customer’s journey on their projects, helping them develop their aesthetic within their home. I enjoy looking at their lifestyle and the architecture of the property and using the Farrow & Ball colour palettes and wallpapers to create schemes to complement their homes. I enjoy being able to help a client use colour in a way they had not thought of before.

2. How do you approach each brief?

I look at each brief and take into consideration the period of the property, how the clients want to use each room, the light the room will get throughout the day, and the feeling the clients want to create within the home. I then create the scheme, making sure it is cohesive as a whole and that the rooms flow from one to another using different techniques of decorating with paint and wallpaper.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

I worked with a client who has built their own house in an area close to where I grew up. I enjoyed the style of the client and the fittings and fixtures they had used, and I helped them to create a family home with areas that were strictly for the grown-ups, using a colour palette that made the scheme flow – that was very enjoyable. The property made the most of the surrounding countryside and creating a scheme that sat alongside the views harmoniously rather than competing for attention was challenging but fun.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I have chosen the colours in my scheme as I like to mix vintage with modern, the Skimmed Milk White being the vintage and more classic colour, mixed with the Railings to make it feel both more contemporary and a little dark and moody. The use of the India Yellow as an accent colour is bold and adds a vibrancy to the scheme while complementing the other shades. This scheme could be used in spaces in the home where a lower light and dramatic feel can be used, such as the living room – or it could be used in an open-plan kitchen-diner.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Many clients are now working from home, and so I have been creating work zones, which need to be calming and productive – green is often used in these areas. Colour is being used with more depth and in interesting ways, such as having darker colours on wood trim and doors as an accent. I recently used a colour halfway up a wall. Kitchen cabinets and bathroom appliances are often darker and metal accessories, particularly brass and copper, are being used to complement the darker tones.


Emilie Raybone - Esher & Guildford

Colours have always held huge significance for Emilie. Her mother has a condition known as synaesthesia, meaning that, through the cross-wiring of senses, she attributes colour to fragrance: aromas can be yellow, purple, or shades of orange, for example. Having grasped at a young age how emotive and intriguing colour can be, Emilie has learned to relate to this condition and tries to bring it into practical application. Having studied textile design at Chelsea College of Arts and the Swedish School of Textiles in Gothenburg, she then held commercial positions in interior design and homewares before joining Farrow & Ball.


Emilie's suggested scheme

Five questions with Emilie

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

Every day is different, which makes the role continually exciting. I also enjoy the social side of the job, meeting new people regularly, and seeing friendly faces returning, which is affirmation that you’re doing a good job. I can also only describe being surrounded by such a multitude of colours all the time as being immensely uplifting!

2. How do you approach each brief?

With the knowledge that we’re about to embark on an exciting and colour-filled journey. This journey begins with intent listening, followed by questions, discussions of inspiration and conversations of goals and wishes, collaboratively concluding with a scheme that brings their vision and dreams to life.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

I wouldn’t be able to pick a favourite as each project is unique. I think the most gratifying projects are when I am able to see the scheme come to life and feel content in the knowledge that the customer is overjoyed with the results.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

Slightly unconsciously I think I’m bringing these somewhat coastal shades into the home – perhaps a kitchen setting, where the Duck Green would be a great statement on the units, accented with brushed brass handles. I envisage Oval Room Blue adding an elegant touch to a free-standing dresser, or even doors and architraves, and Lime White might provide a soft backdrop on the walls.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

I think we are seeing new and strong influences largely due to the extended lockdown periods. People have looked more closely at their immediate surroundings, particularly as many are not only dwelling in but also working in their homes. This deeper connection to and greater use of the space, along with environmental concerns, is forming a new trend which is all about longevity and therefore durability of paint, as well as timeless schemes that suit individual needs.


Michelle Smith - Beaconsfield and Henley

With over 15 years’ experience in the world of interiors and retail working with soft furnishings, fabrics, paint and wallpaper, Michelle has been able to hone her understanding and knowledge of the interiors industry and relishes sharing this with her colour consultancy clients.

She loves the “magical” element of being a Farrow & Ball Colour Consultant that is watching a client’s home come to life with paint.


Michelle's suggested scheme

No.273

BP 3612

Five questions with Michelle

1. What do you most enjoy about being a Colour Consultant

Interacting with the clients and engaging with their ideas and their spaces, then creating a design scheme that they are in love with – we are all different and no two designs are the same.

2. How do you approach a brief?

Listening is crucial! Then asking just the right questions and being able to spot what the client really wants without them even knowing it! Understanding each space is key to being able to get the best from it.

3. Which is your best project so far & why?

This changes weekly! I enjoy each project, but I am particularly fond of working with period properties.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

What’s not to love! The moody vibes of Inchyra Blue teamed with the softer trelliswork on the Tessella wallpaper, both standing strong with the almost translucent feel of Wevet. I see this in the drawing room of a Georgian House.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your client’s home?

Customers are really embracing bolder colours and entertaining playing with these on woodwork, walls and shelves. I even know of a piano painted in Calke Green!

South West


Jackie Lay - Oxford and Cheltenham

Jackie worked in commercial finance for twenty years before taking a career break to look after her children. It was then she decided to embrace her creative side and retrain as an interior designer. She found her love for renovating houses – she’s currently on her seventh and counting! – and that’s how she discovered Farrow & Ball. She decided that if she was going to do her own decorating, she’d use paint she loved. She says she knew all the colour names before she even joined the company!

As a Farrow & Ball Colour Consultant, Jackie loves helping people create their perfect home and sharing her passion for colour and interiors.


Jackie's suggested scheme

Five questions with Jackie

1. What do you most enjoy about being a Colour Consultant

I enjoy the variety of each project – every person, and their home, is unique. Giving people the confidence to try different colour schemes, to suggest unusual combinations and to help them push their own boundaries, that’s when the magic happens, that moment when they say ‘Wow!’.

2. How do you approach each brief?

Listening, observing, and asking questions. Understanding what the client wants to achieve, how they want to feel in a space, what isn’t working and why. Then working on solutions, but always adding something that the client wouldn’t have thought of themselves.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

It was for a garden designer who wanted each of the rooms in her house a different colour. They all had to flow together and create a cohesive scheme for the whole house while still giving a different feel in every room. We used the soft muted shades of Hay, Treron, Dead Salmon and Setting Plaster with a touch of Red Earth – it was very pretty!

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I would use this scheme to create an atmospheric kitchen. I’m loving the softer, warmer browns at the moment and Tanner’s Brown is an unexpected dark tone for kitchen units. Preference Red in Full Gloss would be used for the island (inspired by the latest exhibition at the Ashmolean museum in Oxford) with Skimming Stone as a warm neutral on the walls, ceiling and woodwork, and maybe a touch of Bancha when you open a cupboard door.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Grey is still a safe neutral for lots of people, but they want to add more colour and drama to their schemes. Using dark tones or bolder colours to enhance features and add interest, using colour blocking or playing with textures. I love to use Full Gloss paint in unexpected ways – it’s not just for front doors!


Jill Hazelgrove - Bath & Bristol

After graduating from Chelsea School of Art, Jill worked in architectural practices in London and Brighton delivering custom-designed spaces to clients. This enabled Jill to develop her knowledge and understanding of the crucial effect colour, finish and light can have within a room, as well as the ability to combine all of these elements to create a successful decorating scheme.

As a Farrow & Ball Colour Consultant, Jill enjoys the opportunity to guide the customer through the organic process of creating a home that reflects their personality and lifestyle, while remaining sensitive to the age and character of the property.


Jill's suggested scheme

Five questions with Jill

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

That’s a difficult choice! I love having the opportunity to use colour every day, finding unexpected and creative combinations that will enhance a room and everything in it, but more generally, finding the perfect solution to something that a client finds challenging about their home is really rewarding.

2. How do you approach each brief?

Getting a sense of what someone is looking to achieve within their home is the most important first step in any consultation, so we’ll chat about style preferences, likes, dislikes, and any features or furnishings that are already part of the space. It’s a great way for me to get a sense of a client’s vision for their home.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

My favourite project so far has been a consultation on a large glazed open-plan extension. It was a modern, multifunctional space that needed colour to add structure and personality to its different areas, while still allow them to feel like parts of a cohesive whole. I really enjoyed using colour in a confined but purposeful way, and finding a palette that echoed the space’s woodland surroundings.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

This scheme would work well as either a dining room or family living space. Skylight becomes more vibrant with the sunlight, so during the day it would be lively and cheerful, and at night it mellows to a cool, calm blue. Adding Lamp Room Gray on woodwork creates a grounded and contemporary feel, while a ceiling painted in Dimpse, the palest blue grey, would help to blur the junction between walls and ceiling.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Getting a sense of what someone is looking to achieve within their home is the most important first step in any consultation, so we’ll chat about style preferences, likes, dislikes, and any features or furnishings that are already part of the space. It’s a great way for me to get a sense of a client’s vision for their home.


London


Harriet Collins - Hampstead

Harriet has a degree in History of Design which perfectly complements her interest and knowledge of the power of colour and its ability to change the way we feel. Harriet has trained in interior design and this experience ignited her passion for colour and its use in interiors. As a Colour Consultant for Hampstead Showroom, Harriet particularly enjoys working where she grew up and is inspired by the opportunity to create timeless colour schemes in homes and commercial spaces.


Harriet's suggested scheme

BP 5007

No.9919

No.301

Five questions with Harriet

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I enjoy working with colour and people for an industry leading company. Every project is different and every day holds new surprises, which is exciting. The creative collaborations with world renowned designers mean there are always new colours and products to be inspired by and to introduce to clients.

2. How do you approach each brief?

I look at each project with fresh eyes; I am flexible and will always adapt to my clients’ needs. I listen and make sure I understand my clients, so I can translate their vision into a positive outcome. My role is to act as a guide to the client - the final colour choice is always theirs.  I help them consider room heights, planes, and angles, as well as architectural features. I also explain how light will affect the colour, whether it is natural or artificial. It’s all about building a relationship. Choosing colour is not a solo pursuit, it’s collaborative.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

I honestly don’t have just one favourite project. I do love it when a client wants to use bold, fresh, bright colours on ceilings, and I love helping them pair these with the right wall colour. I especially enjoy projects that include Farrow & Ball Wallpaper, which is expertly handcrafted using traditional methods based on our paints. I also like to encourage clients to use different finishes as a design choice; for example, using a high gloss finish on a chimney breast, and then painting the ceilings in the same colour – but a different finish - can create a really interesting contrast.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I absolutely love Farrow & Ball Wallpapers. Every paper has a story behind it and Hornbeam brings the tranquil spirit of the English rural landscape to all walls, no matter how far from the countryside you live. The pairing of our Stiffkey Blue colour with Dutch orange creates a bold and beautifully vibrant contrast. I would use the Dutch orange in an Estate Eggshell on a large piece of furniture, and again on a lamp stand and / or a chair. Another blue shade, Serge, would be on the ceiling in Estate Emulsion and Eddy would frame the room, with skirting boards in a high gloss. Eddy looks great when paired with the blue-green Dix Blue in the wallpaper print. I imagine this scheme used in a study or a reading room with lots of books on shelves painted in Serge. The scheme could also be used in a joyful hallway.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

With people now working more from home, spaces are being carved out for studies and offices within the home. Using colour to define these spaces is becoming very popular. People are moving away from the greys they used 5-10 years ago and are wanting more colourful undertones in the neutrals they are using. Colour drenching is also very popular and works really well with our Dead Flat paint finish.


Kate Szynkowska-Paczula - Chelsea & Richmond

Kate’s background is in luxury fashion, ranging from retail management and buying to working with clients in their homes.

She has always been interested in interior design and feels that working with colour has happened quite organically, combining her passion and creativity.


Kate's suggested scheme

No.2005

No.274

Five questions with Kate

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

Meeting and interacting with the clients, being the part of their journey, seeing how the colour impacts their personal spaces, and creating the colour schemes with the clients, involving their vision, ideas, and needs. 

2. How do you approach each brief?

Listening to the clients’ needs and asking questions. Trying to find out as much as possible about the space and what they would like to achieve.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

A Georgian property in London with high ceilings, beautiful details in the rooms, original features, and a layout that allowed us to use the natural light to its maximum potential, creating a symbiosis of modern style with tradition.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I can imagine this scheme in a hall in an Edwardian property – a narrow entrance hall painted in Railings, including the skirtings and the radiator, which extends the wall and creates a better flow in the space. This would lead to the wider opening of the hall, painted in Ammonite with All White on the ceiling. This creates a darker and more dramatic entrance combined with the simplicity and freshness of All White, the softness of Ammonite, and the depth of Railings.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Greens and blues, experimenting with darker colours, and a braver approach to colour schemes in general.


Sally Taylor - Blackheath

After studying Visual Merchandising and Exhibition Design, Sally went on to pursue another passion –  gardening. After further studies in Garden Design and Floristry, she worked for 15 inspirational years for a London-based landscaping company.  

Sally’s love for all things Interiors led her to Farrow and Ball in 2012, where she joined the Blackheath Showroom. She has been the sole Colour Consultant there for the last seven years, and in that time has found each day a privilege, bringing colour and inspiration to the homes of Farrow & Ball customers.


Sally's suggested scheme

Five questions with Sally 

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

Every customer is a new adventure, you never know where the scheme will take you.

My greatest joy is the customer’s enthusiasm for the scheme we have created. Often it is overwhelming for people to visualise their space and it is my role to guide them through this transformation, enabling them to feel confident and inspired to enjoy their homes.

2. How do you approach each brief?

Listening is key. With the correct questions I can quickly interpret their needs –ow and when they use each room, while all the time looking at existing furnishings, thus enabling me to build a picture of what will suit them. Every home is individual and I treat each one as unique.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

I enjoy each and every one, but it’s always a pleasure to revisit a previous customer, to build on the scheme we have worked on in the past and to see more of the home come together.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

The above palette is for a library or study. I have kept the walls in Mouse’s Back with the trims and bookcases in the beautiful Studio Green. For the ceiling I have used Drop Cloth, giving the room a very warm and cosy feel – perfect for relaxing in the evening by lamplight – and to be layered with textured rugs and paintings.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Recently I have seen a shift to more earthy, natural tones. I think even more now people need to feel that their homes are their safe, happy place and by bringing the colours of nature inside definitely helps to create that feeling of calm and serenity.


Rachel Wellwood - Islington

Rachel trained as a Spatial Designer specialising in Furniture and Interiors. For the last ten years, she has worked with a Landscape Design company focusing on public urban spaces and children’s play areas. Rachel’s strength is understanding how we interact with our environment and connect to our surroundings. She has decided to focus her career on Interior Design. She is always excited to share her knowledge and ideas with her clients to ensure their personality is reflected in their homes.


Rachel's suggested scheme

No.CB5

No.CB9

Five questions with Rachel

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

Every brief and every home is different! I love helping my clients find the right fit for them. It’s very rewarding when a scheme comes together, and the client already feels at home with their colour choices. I also love seeing how a space transforms and exploring different design options. Plus, spending my days surrounded by colours and discussing everything through a creative lens is a wonderful way to devote my time!

2. How do you approach each brief?

With fresh eyes! Everybody responds and reacts to colours differently; interiors are not a ‘one size fits all.’ It’s essential to understand my clients and know what makes them happy, comfortable, and confident in their environment to ensure we echo their personalities through the design of their homes.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

I couldn’t possibly choose a favourite! Every project is different and unique, and it’s so satisfying to find the right fit for both the style of the house and the client.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I adore the magical effects that Cardamom No. CB5 and Off-Black No. 57 have when they interact with the light at different times of the day. Dark tones can feel daunting for some, but they can be a great way to experiment with bolder, more striking schemes when used correctly. An entrance hallway is a perfect space to be more playful and experimental. It will make the room feel comforting and cosy when you step in, and if you have a more neutral scheme in the rest of your home, it will make the adjacent rooms feel more spacious, too.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?


It’s the time for strong colours! The Carte Blanche collection is trendy and entirely different from anything we’ve seen in the industry for quite some time. My clients love exploring this side of the colour palette and constantly tell me how much they adore the depth of colour and the overall look of this collection.


Nicky Miles - Sunningdale & Wimbledon

Nicky has worked with Farrow & Ball in the Wimbledon Showroom for the past ten years and has been a Colour Consultant for some six years. Her love for design was ignited while being fully involved with the total refurbishment of several properties over a number of years, encompassing renovation works from decorating through to soft furnishings.


Nicky's suggested scheme

Five questions with Nicky

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I enjoy helping clients create a warm and inviting home that they’ll find both exciting and fulfilling. Sometimes this will entail helping them to step outside of their comfort zone and become a little bolder with their choices by highlighting the structure and light of each room.

2. How do you approach each brief?

To help the customer by listening to their brief and assisting them to interpret this into design that they feel comfortable with, taking into account the structural makeup of each room.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

I was invited to a client’s Georgian home where they were converting the swimming pool into a most amazing Georgian-style kitchen. My brief was to help the client choose the full colour scheme for this period-style space, which included kitchen units, walls, woodwork, and ceiling. An enormous 1,000-bottle wine room was also part of the brief.

This was truly exciting because, in addition to the challenges of the new design, the client also instructed me to assist them with remainder of this lovely home.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I have chosen this colour scheme because I love the way the Light Blue becomes a light silvery blue when in a shaded area and peaceful and calming in a well-lit area. The Shaded White I would use on the ceiling and cornice to give a softer look, and Inchyra Blue would be a good accent colour either to use on a feature wall or for built-in units. This colour scheme is both relaxing and calm, and it would work well in a reception room, hallway, or bedroom.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

From the beginning of 2020 I have seen more of a movement away from greys towards natural colours - more towards the greens, though not forgetting  Setting Plaster and Hay, which do create a wonderful mid-century modern feel. This reflects the feeling of nature, which brings a little of the outside into our homes, thereby creating a warm, inviting impression.


Abi Holden - Marylebone & Notting Hill

Abi began her career in the fashion industry after graduating with first class honours in fashion in 2019. After a period of working with prominent London designers, she worked in luxury retail while also pursuing freelance design work, researching, and working on digital presentations for a variety of creative projects. During this time, she discovered a passion for interiors while freelancing for an emerging soft furnishings designer. Colour has played a prominent role in all her creative pursuits and joining the Farrow & Ball team allows her to share this knowledge daily with those looking to explore colour in their homes.


Abi's suggested scheme

Five questions with 

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

Being able to work with different people every day and experience a wealth of different architecture, styles, and personalities. As a creative, I’ve always preferred working to other people’s briefs, and I really enjoy helping people bring their personalities to life through colour in their home.

2. How do you approach each brief?

Always start with the understanding that this is someone’s home and sanctuary and take time to truly understand how they live in and experience it. I always focus on curating a palette that fits the brief given, however throwing in a wildcard option every so often can sometimes be beneficial.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

A converted Victorian industrial building and former piano factory. It had a beautiful mix of exposed brick and reclaimed wood painted white, however the clients wanted to add some colour to the panelling instead.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I imagine this scheme being used in a bedroom. Use Entrance Hall Pink on the walls to give the space a sense of warmth and cosiness with New White on the ceiling and woodwork. Using Bancha on some key pieces of furniture then adds a fun and contemporary contrast to the room. Good décor additions would include plants and soft furnishings with lots of texture to further add to the cosy feel.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

People have a greater connection to their homes since lockdown and have discovered the vital role their homes play in their lives. Blues and greens create calm yet motivational spaces, becoming popular for those working from home. Warmer tones bring a cosier atmosphere for people looking for a scheme that encourages relaxation in bedrooms and living areas. Whatever colours they choose, the focus is more than ever on creating a space that caters to their lifestyle and truly reflects their personality.


West Midlands


Emily Harrold - Solihull & Leamington Spa

Emily specialises in delivering schemes expertly tailored to her client’s needs – be it modern minimalism, smart townhouse, country living or suburban family home. She has a wealth of experience in creating beautiful spaces, having previously worked at a successful interior design practice and as a stylist for national interior magazines, as well as assisting on photo shoots for luxurious five-star hotels across Europe.


Emily's suggested scheme

No.222

Acanthus

BP 2718

Five questions with 

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

Meeting people, developing new connections, and turning people’s ideas and dreams into reality.

2. How do you approach each brief?

With passion and enthusiasm, ensuring I spend time understanding the client’s needs.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

Recently I visited a client who was familiar with the Farrow & Ball colour range but had moved into a house with interconnected and challenging spaces. After understanding his desire for a natural and calming colour palette, I took him through the concept of layering colours to create a cohesive scheme.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I imagined this scheme for the master bedroom of a busy, vibrant family, a space that needs to be restful yet retain personality free from the general clutter of family life. All four walls would be papered in Acanthus, with woodwork in Brinjal – Full Gloss for the wardrobes and doors, Eggshell for skirting boards and window frames. Being playful with the same colour in different finishes is bold without being fussy. Bedside tables would be painted in Book Room Red Full Gloss, while beautifully faded rugs would sit either side of the bed alongside quirky fabric-shaded wall lamps.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Confidence. People are freeing themselves from the constraints of following mass trends and embracing their uniqueness. They want and need spaces where they can be themselves – something I endorse wholeheartedly!


East of England


Caroline Stevens - St Albans

Caroline has been with Farrow and Ball for over five years, having come from a predominantly retail background with high-end brands. Customer service has always been a  priority for Caroline, who loves getting to know her clients, building relationships, and always aiming to exceed their expectations. Caroline also has experience in visual merchandising, setting up new stores and creating beautiful displays and windows to tempt the customers.

Caroline loves working with the unique colours and their endless combinations at Farrow & Ball , and enjoys the feeling of learning something new every day.


Caroline's suggested scheme

Five questions with Caroline

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I really enjoy helping clients create a scheme they really love. Sometimes it can be a scheme already in their mind that just needs bringing to life, or one that had not been considered before. Either way it’s great to feel part of the journey to a finished project, and it’s so rewarding to see photos once the work has been done and hear how happy they are with it.

2. How do you approach each brief?

Always with an open mind – and never assume! Even though we always ask questions – what the room is used for and when, how they want the room to feel, current and future furniture  – it’s not until you see the rooms that all of those come together. I do like to put some colour ideas together as a starting point and then be guided by the client from there, but I’m always prepared for a change in direction!

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

A house that was being totally renovated from top to bottom. When I first saw it, it was a building site but with the help of the client and samples (flooring, kitchen, tiles etc.) we had a starting point. The clients changed their minds about fitted furniture in the bedrooms and office, so we had to re-look at colour in those rooms to see what changes, if any, were needed. The clients kept in contact throughout each stage and we tweaked schemes where necessary. I loved going on the journey with them, from building site to beautiful family home, and seeing how delighted they were with everything.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I love all these colours individually, but I also love them together. I think they complement each other beautifully – they’re so soft together. I could see them being used in a bedroom, with wardrobes in Charleston Gray, walls and ceiling in Peignoir, and woodwork in Cinder Rose. Or a feature wall in Cinder Rose and others in Peignoir –  whichever way they are combined they feel warm and relaxing.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Bolder kitchens! Whether that means painting kitchen units to update a tired kitchen, which can really transform the room, or choosing colour for new units. Clients are either going bold for the units or island or using the bolder colour on the walls to offset a more neutral unit. This can also create more of a zoned area when used in an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space. Darker blues, greens and greys seem to be the top choices but the possibilities are endless.


Bridget Ellis - Leicestershire & Rutland

After studying fashion and media make-up, special effects, postiche and fine art, Bridget spent ten years at Chanel as Senior Training Manager, teaching make-up artistry and developing the make-up and colour curriculum. She has also worked backstage at many fashion shows as well as on shoots and editorials. As Bridget’s obsession with colour and design grew, she saw joining Farrow & Ball as a Colour Consultant as a natural career choice after relocating to the Midlands. She loves Farrow & Ball’s stance on sustainability, and finds getting to work with and talk about colour all day “heavenly”!


Bridget's suggested scheme

BP 4604

No.214

Five questions with Bridget

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I love that joy a client gets when they experience their ‘that’s it!’ moment. Listening to my client’s’ thoughts and ideas is always so interesting and means no two designs are ever the same. Visiting period properties and introducing design elements the client loves but would never have considered is really rewarding.

2. How do you approach each brief?

With a clear mind and open ears! I like to really get to know how the client wants the space to feel as well as look. I’m naturally curious (nosey!) and want to understand as much as possible about who will be using the space and when. Because light is incredibly important, paint finish can be as crucial as colour choice and can communicate so much about the feel of a room.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

A full redecoration of the ground floor of a 1930’s house was so much fun. They’d just had a huge kitchen extension, which was the new main hub of the house, and the use of the other rooms was changing. Taking inspiration from a Lempicka painting the client had recently fallen in love with, and ensuring the scheme flowed from room to room, was so enjoyable.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I love the stories behind the Farrow & Ball wallpapers, and I imagine this being used in a creative space like a playroom or teenager’s’ bedroom. Arsenic is such a lively, invigorating colour while Mole’s Breath stabilises the look by adding a calming sigh of softness to an otherwise busy palette.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Blues and greens are having a huge moment right now and clients are ready to try stronger or brighter colours after a long period of moody neutrals ruling the roost. The Colour by Nature collection is incredible – just imagine painting your walls the exact green of the neck of a mallard!


North West


Jennie O'Connor - Manchester & Wilmslow

A chartered architect, Jennie has been incorporating interiors into her design work for the past six years. Often specifying Farrow & Ball products in her design projects, Jennie is an expert when it comes to our palette and choosing the perfect shade for any space, making her the perfect fit for a Farrow & Ball Colour Consultant. She is passionate about wellness and the impact of our environment on mood and lifestyle, with colour being a fundamental part of that.


Jennie's suggested scheme

Five questions with Jennie

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I love being able to totally change the feeling of a space for clients, and how this impacts the way they use it.

2. How do you approach each brief?

I always start by listening to a client’s desires for the space. Then, I balance that with what I’m looking at in the room, such as the light and features.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

I love any project that involves a battered and bruised space in need loving, which we can totally transform!

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I think these colours work well in lots of rooms. In a north facing lounge, this scheme embraces the consistent, bluer natural light to create a warmer feel. However, I’ve also used these colours in bedrooms where there was warmer, south light coming in and we wanted to create a cosy, calm feel.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

I think at the moment, people are looking for warmer, calmer and more comfortable colours, there’s less appetite for the starker architectural greys. I think people are looking for something a bit less urban perhaps.


Yorkshire


Ann-Marie Morgan - Harrogate

Ann-Marie has worked in the Farrow & Ball Harrogate showroom for seven years and brings with her extensive experience of renovating modern and period properties. She aims to bring both practical and inspiring advice to those who want to incorporate new ideas into their homes but are unsure how to translate them. Often, she draws inspiration from her love of modern and vintage fabrics to add an unexpected element to a scheme.


Ann-marie's suggested scheme

Five questions with Caroline

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I enjoy the opportunity to gently nudge clients out of their comfort zone, giving them the confidence to try new ideas but still reflecting their tastes and lifestyles. Each consultancy brings something new and different.

2. How do you approach each brief?

I’m open minded, and through discussion with the client, considering what they want to achieve, plus taking into account the practicalities of the room, aim to give ideas that inspire them. The process varies greatly with each individual and being adaptable is crucial.

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

A consultancy in a renovated farmhouse situated in a remote hamlet in the Yorkshire Dales. The client wanted to draw inspiration from the beautiful colours of the surrounding landscape. We used Card Room Green, Blue Gray, Cromarty, Light Blue and Oval Room Blue, punctuated with the soft chalkiness of Shadow White to create a calming weekend retreat.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I envisage using these colours for the kitchen in an Edwardian house. The Green Smoke on the island adding depth, Drop Cloth on the floor-to-ceiling cabinets for a timeless quality, and Setting Plaster bringing gentle warmth to the walls.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Increased emphasis on the home office environment and creating work zones, whether a self -contained study, the corner of the landing or an alcove under the stairs. Colours such as Green Smoke, Card Room Green and Inchyra Blue to create a professional backdrop but to flow and not jar with the rest of the house. Railings used on shelving and storage is a popular option, too.

Also, a move away from white woodwork, particularly on staircases and hallways – using colours such as Off Black, Tanner’s Brown and Studio Green on the skirtings, architraves and stairs to create an elegant entrance to a home.


Scotland


Ross Drummond - Edinburgh & Glasgow

Ross has been an interior designer for 15 years, working on a huge variety of projects from baronial castles to penthouse apartments. He loves that each day is different at Farrow and Ball, as well as the opportunity his work as a Colour Consultant brings to make a huge impact on a person’s life through the medium of paint.


Ross's suggested scheme

Five questions with Caroline

1. What do you enjoy most about being a Colour Consultant?

I really enjoy helping clients create a scheme they really love. Sometimes it can be a scheme already in their mind that just needs bringing to life, or one that had not been considered before. Either way it’s great to feel part of the journey to a finished project, and it’s so rewarding to see photos once the work has been done and hear how happy they are with it.

2. How do you approach each brief?

Always with an open mind – and never assume! Even though we always ask questions – what the room is used for and when, how they want the room to feel, current and future furniture  – it’s not until you see the rooms that all of those come together. I do like to put some colour ideas together as a starting point and then be guided by the client from there, but I’m always prepared for a change in direction!

3. What has been your favourite project so far and why?

A house that was being totally renovated from top to bottom. When I first saw it, it was a building site but with the help of the client and samples (flooring, kitchen, tiles etc.) we had a starting point. The clients changed their minds about fitted furniture in the bedrooms and office, so we had to re-look at colour in those rooms to see what changes, if any, were needed. The clients kept in contact throughout each stage and we tweaked schemes where necessary. I loved going on the journey with them, from building site to beautiful family home, and seeing how delighted they were with everything.

4. Why have you chosen the colours in your scheme? Where in the home would you imagine it being used?

I love all these colours individually, but I also love them together. I think they complement each other beautifully – they’re so soft together. I could see them being used in a bedroom, with wardrobes in Charleston Gray, walls and ceiling in Peignoir, and woodwork in Cinder Rose. Or a feature wall in Cinder Rose and others in Peignoir –  whichever way they are combined they feel warm and relaxing.

5. What trends are you currently seeing in your clients’ homes?

Bolder kitchens! Whether that means painting kitchen units to update a tired kitchen, which can really transform the room, or choosing colour for new units. Clients are either going bold for the units or island or using the bolder colour on the walls to offset a more neutral unit. This can also create more of a zoned area when used in an open-plan kitchen, living and dining space. Darker blues, greens and greys seem to be the top choices but the possibilities are endless.

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