From a tiny town in Dorset to homes around the world, we’re so proud of just how far and wide our paint and paper travels. And we couldn’t do it without our wonderful stockists. So today, we’re talking to one of our stateside stockists, Thomas Mach from Thomas Mach Interiors, to find out a little more.
1. Tell us about yourself and how Thomas Mach Interiors first started.
I have always been interested in Interior Design, color, and design trends as well as architecture and art history. When I decided to retire from my previous career as a Vice President in the retailing industry, I knew I wanted to open my own business and have a design focus. I opened my business 8 years ago.
2. Could you tell us a little about the interior design trends you’re seeing in CT and New England at the moment?
Connecticut and most of New England tends to be more conservative with color and design and is not an early adopter to design trends. While our design aesthetic is traditional, our clients are looking to have a more updated or transitional look in their homes. Neutral colors are most prevalent but we often can incorporate pops of color for powder rooms, dining rooms and children’s bedrooms.
Wallpaper has made a big comeback. Many of our projects involve Farrow & Ball wallpaper in their home.
Thomas helped design the Garmany Visitor Center at Elizabeth Park, America’s first municipal rose garden in Hartford, Connecticut, and chose Pink Ground for the refurbished visitor’s center.
3. What encouraged you to start stocking Farrow & Ball?
When I lived in Long Island, New York, much of my home was painted in Farrow & Ball paint and I always loved the colors and finishes (as well as the names). I knew that when I opened my business, I wanted Farrow & Ball to be a part of my assortment.
4. COVID was hard for small businesses. Can you tell us a bit about your experience and how paint prevailed through it all?
When COVID shut down the world, people were stuck at home and started to look for ways to update their homes and do the projects that they had been wanting to do, but never had the time. We remained busy selling paint and I even did virtual color consulting. We were able to keep our professional painters busy working on commercial projects throughout the pandemic.
Thomas helped redesign his neighbor, Elizabeth’s, home featuring a palette of Farrow & Ball colours. Elizabeth said, “It is incredible, you took my traditional home and made it feel modern, bright and sophisticated”.
5. You’ve got some inspiring ideas on your Instagram account - what would your advice be to someone wanting to add color to their space?
I have learned over the years that many people are afraid of color and don’t understand how to use color in their home. Many times, they are already living with a color that they do not like because they picked a color of paint or a piece of furniture from a small swatch and were surprised with how it looked in a big room. My best advice to avoid costly and frustrating mistakes is to get the advice from a color consultant, work with large color samples, and always look at your color samples at all different times of the day as the moving sun (and light bulbs) will affect the color.
A project by Thomas Mach in Litchfield, Connecticut featuring All White.
6. We recently launched our all-new Dead Flat finish. What’s your favorite thing about it?
I am a huge fan of the new Dead Flat finish. I am using it in most of my client projects. When the walls are painted, the matte finish gives a very soft, almost suede-like look to it. Of course, the added benefit is that it is scuff-proof and washable. The Dead Flat is my go-to finish now! LOVE IT.