Above Photo by Francesca Iovene | All other photography by Boz Gagovski
Take a tour of Colour Curator Joa Studholme’s home and see how the co-creator herself has used a handful of our new colours.
When choosing to extend her Somerset schoolhouse, Joa Studholme, Farrow & Ball Colour Curator, had a big decision to make: should the new addition blend in or stand out? In true Joa style, she opted for the latter.
The new addition stands in place of a former extension built in the '70s, which, after spending a few years in the property, Joa and her husband deemed problematic — not only for the flow of the home but also for safety, after discovering it was riddled with asbestos.
This discovery prompted Joa to enlist the help of architect George Dawes, co-founder of the architectural studio Bindloss Dawes. A definite upgrade, George's design, partially sunk to respect the original structure, uses modern elements while referencing the old architecture. The extension maximises countryside views, with a unique link building and a new chestnut and concrete staircase. What’s more, the design has just won a prestigious RIBA award for architecture in England's south-west.
As you might expect, choosing colours for the new space was a key part of the journey. Soft shades such as (originally created by Joa herself especially for the property) felt very at home in the original structure but Joa felt the pull of more saturated shades for the extension.
Kitchen
Walls: in Modern Emulsion | Dresser: in Modern Eggshell
Walls:
in Modern Emulsion |
Dresser:
in Modern Eggshell |
Units:
in Modern Eggshell |
Panelling:
in Modern Eggshell
In the original kitchen, Joa added accents of our new colours to warm up the existing scheme.
The star of the space is surely the
dresser, drawing the eye with its rich, comforting tones. The deep
units add to this impact, grounding the space with a reassuring feel.
In contrast, the yellow
window reveal and splashback brighten the room. The clever placement reflects light from the window and makes it seem as though sunshine bathes the space — no matter the weather outside.
Hallway
In the space that links new and old, the walls are painted top to bottom in . As the space is flooded with light, Joa wanted to find a colour that would feel warm in the summer and cosy in the winter.
She settled on , not only because of its warmth but also because it complements the stone used on the exterior of the main house.
The lower section of the hallway leads to two guest bedrooms, meaning lots of visitors and suitcases passing through. To keep up with the high traffic, Joa used our finish on the lower half of the walls, paired with above, adding an extra decorative twist while also ensuring longevity. Thoughtful touches like these are just what we expect from Joa, and she never disappoints.
Guest Bedroom
Hallway: in Dead Flat | Walls: in Dead Flat | Upper walls and ceiling: in Dead Flat
Walls: in Modern Emulsion | Door: in Modern Eggshell
Joa wanted something strong and deep at the end of the corridor, so she used our beloved on the walls. To make it extra cosy, she took the colour three-quarters of the way up the walls and paired it with on the upper quarter and ceiling. For an added detail, the door to the adjoining bathroom has been painted in , which is then carried through onto the floor of the bathroom.
"This is the great thing about decorating at the moment; there aren’t any rules. You can do exactly what you want."
Sap Green Bedroom
When deciding on the colour to paint this guest bedroom, Joa wanted the space to feel like it was almost in the field outside. — an Archive shade at the time, which we love so much, we’ve reintroduced it to our Signature Palette — fit the bill perfectly. To truly drench the space, Joa used our multi-surface Dead Flat finish across the walls and woodwork.
has been used on the ceiling, which not only flows nicely with the pink hallway but also with the and harlequin patterned floor in the bathroom next door.
Primary Bedroom
Walls and ceiling: in Dead Flat
Walls and ceiling: in Dead Flat
Almost every single surface in this space is painted in our earthy neutral, .
Joa wanted this room to feel zen, light and neutral. Most importantly, she wanted it to feel lighter than the hallway, so that upon entering the bedroom, there was a feeling of the space opening up.
To connect the inside with the outside, the reveals of the windows are painted in , a soft neutral with an unmistakable green undertone from our archive collection.
