By Design: Balancing Past and Present with Dead Flat®

Left Walls & Woodwork: Old White No.4 in Dead Flat® . Right Walls: Old White No.4 in Estate Eggshell | Ceiling: Slipper Satin No.2004 in Dead Flat® | Floor: Pantalon No. 221 in Modern Eggshell .

When Paul and Michelle moved into their Georgian townhouse, they wanted to stay true to its history but they also wanted to make it feel like home. They wanted to balance preserving the heritage with adding their own personality. Enter Farrow & Ball. Our handcrafted paint, with a story that spans over 75 years, is perfectly placed to do just that. Especially when paired with our Dead Flat® finish, which combines a historic, ‘flatted lead’ look with modern durability for the best of both worlds. The pair have shared their story on Instagram under the name @consideredthings and today, we’re hearing about the latest chapter from the design duo themselves.

Michelle and I are brand and design consultants. We work together, helping businesses create brands, spaces and experiences. We're also married and live in East London in a Georgian townhouse built in 1717 — Stepney Townhouse. The house had fallen into disrepair but was rescued and made a home once more by the Spitalfields Trust, with support from The English Heritage. We moved in at the end of 2021 and spent the first year renovating, refining and restoring. 

Our approach was to work with the house and respect its original character, instead of trying to transform it into something else. The house feels like a work of art – from the layout and proportion to the construction and detailing, everything feels like it has been considered, crafted and cared for. However, we didn't want to simply recreate a house from 1717. We wanted to create a modern home based on design principles meaningful to us – simplicity, creativity, honest construction, practicality, comfort and telling a story. So, we often find ourselves being quite eclectic in terms of the eras that inspire us. 

We’ve collected quite a lot of early-to-mid-20th-century furniture over the years and like to mix these with antique pieces. There's something about this era that champions craft alongside simplicity, pragmatism with optimism. None of it feels too heavy and it lets the room do the talking. We also love the versatility of a Victorian housekeeper's cupboard or an old Welsh blanket. All are useful, beautiful things. 

Paul: I’ve always loved transforming spaces. I studied interior architecture and started out working in architecture and design studios on everything from apartments to airports. Then I moved to working as a creative director and a strategy director, building brands and creating experiences.  

Michelle: I love storytelling, ideas and asking really good questions. I started out in illustration and communication, and now I’m a consultant in branding and experience design. I’m always seeking the emotional benefit in what we're trying to create.

We have been fans of Farrow & Ball for years. It’s been the go-to paint for all our projects, primarily because the colours are so expertly considered and bring a sense of coherence. When we started working on Stepney Townhouse, we discovered Dead Flat®. The finish is perfect for creating a beautifully calm and coherent backdrop to modern life, while also being very fitting for this historic property. The matt finish eliminates any distracting shine and, at the same time, it’s versatile enough to work across many surfaces, such as panelling and plaster. It's also tough enough for most surfaces. We’ve opted for Farrow & Ball Estate Eggshell in some areas too, and this combination adds a welcome difference in sheen from some angles.  

When taking on a new space and creating a home, we believe the building should be as much of a stakeholder as the inhabitants. There are always inherent features to work with – from the architecture to the light and even the context of where the building lives.  

Designing your home is also a vote for how you want to live. Are you looking for something calm and coherent? Or something energising and eclectic? Your home should be true to you and a canvas for your creative life, so we always think of home as an experience designed around mindsets, not mood boards. 

We believe home is the most important place in the world, and it has the power to transform your everyday experience. So, it pays to consider everything. That doesn't mean it has to be about money but investment in being true to your values and defining how you want to live.