A Perfect Pairing: Paint & Tile

Cabinets: Hague Blue No. 30 in Modern Eggshell, Tile: Liaison by Kelly Wearstler in Mulholland Small Noir Blend. Credit: Maya Tuttle
Strawberries and cream. Cheese and wine. Paint and tile. Some things are perfect together.
That’s why we’re delighted to announce Farrow & Ball is teaming up with renowned tile brand Ann Sacks to create a series of design transformations, featuring our pigment-rich paint and their exquisite tiles. We’re starting the series off with this beautiful, Hague Blue kitchen created by the talented Molly Singer.
“Pairing the black and white tile with the richness and depth of Hague Blue (one of my all-time favourite colours!) was a no brainer.” – Molly Singer
About Ann Sacks
Launched in 1981, Ann Sacks was created when the founder, Ann, stumbled across a box of traditional Talavera tiles. Inspired by the vibrant colours and bold patterns, her love affair began and the rest is history.
Now, the company designs, produces and distributes beautiful tiles internationally, while staying true to traditional, artisan methods. And they’re committed to extraordinary, irreplicable quality, just like us. It’s a perfect pairing if we do say so ourselves.
Meet Molly Singer
How would you describe your design style?
I would say fresh, traditional best describes my style. I love mixing colour, lots of pattern and textures to create warm and inviting, yet still polished, spaces.
What was your process in designing the space?
My client has contemporary taste, so I was a bit surprised when she called to tell me she purchased a 100+ year old traditional home! I knew we needed to make some dramatic choices bridge the gap between the historic age of the home and her more modern taste.
My launch point was the bold marble tile from Ann Sacks for the range backsplash. I wanted to use a contemporary, high contrast tile and balance it with a moody yet timeless colour on the cabinets. Pairing the black and white tile with the richness and depth of Hague Blue (one of my all-time favourite colours!) was a no brainer. It’s a rich, vibrant blue in direct light and at night can read almost black, which was perfect for the tone I was trying to set.
Why was Farrow & Ball your go-to paint choice?
I knew from the start that this particular kitchen needed to be dramatic and yet timeless. When it comes to paint selection, Farrow and Ball is always the first deck I reach for. I truly appreciate how curated the colour selection is. It’s very well edited and between the current and archived colours, I can always find the perfect hue for any project.
Do you have any tips for choosing tiles and paint colours together?
Making sure one element doesn’t overwhelm or fight the other is important, so decide where you want your focus to be. In a kitchen it could be the backsplash, the floor tile or the cabinet colour. Decide where you’d like the eye to be drawn to first and then make sure the surrounding elements complement your focal point seamlessly.
What is your go-to Farrow & Ball colour to use in projects and why?
I have several but my #1 is actually Hague Blue! I absolutely love its versatility. I've used it in bedrooms, hallways, bathrooms and kitchens. Its richness and depth of colour are unmatched, and it works seamlessly in traditional and contemporary spaces both big and small!
How do you feel about the final space?
This absolutely remains one of my favourite kitchens. My client was all-in on the vision, which can be quite rare! It was so much fun to watch the space transform from a virtually lifeless brown-on-brown, 90's kitchen to a bold and moody space to cook, dine and relax!