Paint Colours

Here you will find a small guide about our paint colours used for our signs.  We mainly use Farrow and Ball paints and have used their own paint descriptions.

Our wood is reclaimed wood and can be unpainted, wood stained in a driftwood stain or painted in any of the colours below.

Black

We use Railings No.31 which is a soft black with blue undertones.  More blue than black, Railings is a softer alternative to black which is particularly suited to the ironwork it takes its name from. The bluer undertones of this dark hue transform rooms into dramatic and enveloping interior spaces. 

White

We use Blackened No.2011 which is a cool white.  Farrow & Ball's coolest white, with the slightest hint of grey, was historically made with the addition of lamp black pigment gathered from the smoke of burning oil lamps.

Dark Grey

We use Down Pipe No.26 which is a dramatic lead grey.  Down Pipe, a dark lead grey, has definite blue undertones to it which deepen the complexity of the finish. Originally inspired by the colour used to paint downpipes and guttering, it has been embraced for use inside the home with fanatical zeal!

Mid Grey

We use Plummett No.272 which is a lighter lead.  This strong architectural grey is named after the lead often used by fishermen to weight their lines. Plummett intensifies in colour in smaller spaces and has a strikingly modern feel which is conducive to minimal living. Used as much on woodwork to define dramatic spaces as it is on walls, Plummett is one of our most hard-edged and industrial feeling greys. 

French Grey

We use Pavilion Grey No.242 which is a cool grey.  This classic grey was originally created for a bespoke pavilion, but is also reminiscent of an elegant 18th century Swedish colour. One of the Architectural Neutrals, the subtle blue undertones of Pavilion Grey add a contemporary touch and sense of spaciousness.

Deep Yellow

We use India Yellow No.66 which is a strong and moody yellow.  This deep mustard yellow is famously named after the pigment collected from the urine of cows fed on a special diet of mango leaves!

Pale Yellow

We use Hay No.37 which is a dusty yellow.  A modest yellow named after the dried crop, Hay is both warm and dusty. Less intense and sunny than the cleaner Yellow Ground, it has a distinctly green undertone which gives it an established feel, creating peaceful spaces especially when contrasted with muted Lime White woodwork. 

Taupe

We use Charleston Gray No.243 which is a deep, warm grey.  A warm and muted grey, Charleston Gray is named after the much loved home of the equally artistic and intellectual Bloomsbury Group in East Sussex. Very popular for use in modern living rooms, its brown undertones create a warm, enveloping and hushed atmosphere. It is the perfect accent colour for all the warm Contemporary Neutrals or can be used on woodwork with rich Brinjal. 

Inchyra 

We use Inchyra Blue No. 289 which is a dark blue grey.  This aged blue grey is inspired by the naturally dramatic Scottish skies that act as a backdrop for the classic Georgian Inchyra House. It can be found on the exterior doors of their very impressive byre or barn which nestles at the bottom of a rather grey and imposing brae (also known as a hill). Such is the magic of our colours, this moody hue can read more grey, blue or even green depending on the light. A great alternative to charcoal, use it to inject a hint of colour into a super contemporary home or create a dark and intimate feel by combining it with Black Blue or Vardo. 

Green

We use Green Smoke No. 47 which is a dark and smoky green.  A smoky green blue, this colour was popular in interiors during the late 19th century. It has an irresistibly inviting deepness and weathered familiarity when used in exterior situations, while evoking calm and serenity when used inside. 

Light Green

We use Pigeon No. 25.  This cosy and nostalgic blue grey is named after the colour of the bird often sighted around the London landscape. Softer and bluer than more contemporary grey shades like Mole's Breath, Pigeon is particularly suited for use in boot rooms, cloakrooms or darker spaces like studies and panelled rooms. It is also incredibly popular on kitchen islands with the more delicate Dimpse on units. 

Deep Blue

We use Stiffkey Blue No.281 which is an inky navy.  This inky blue is named after the Norfolk beach where the mud, along with the cockles, share a particular deep navy hue. Although traditional in feel, Stiffkey Blue is often used as an alternative to Down Pipe to create a richly dramatic space with a more contemporary finish. When used in well lit areas of the home it will appear much bluer, working wonderfully when contrasted with Ammonite. 

Denim

We use De Nimes No.299 which is a down to earth and grounding blue.  This quietly elegant blue feels wonderfully down to earth, so could be used on anything from a kitchen island to an airy drawing room. The exact shade is rooted in a regency palette but is inspired by the cloth of everyday workwear made in the French city Nîmes. Like denim, its blue hue is ultimately fashionable and yet always feels grounded.

Duck Egg

We use Oval Room Blue No. 85 which is a darkened historic blue with a hint of green.  Oval Room Blue is the most blackened of Farrow & Ball's blues, giving it a subtly aged feel. Named after the attractively shaped rooms of the late 18th century, it sits perfectly with Farrow & Ball's popular greys to create depth and balance in either a hall or a darker, cosier family room. 

Wine

We use Preference Red No.297 which is the deepest and richest of F&B's reds, this Baroque colour is named in honor of  Farrow & Ball's original trade name, Preference Paints. It can be used with any of the Red Based Neutrals but is particularly striking when seen in combination with Paean Black and Sulking Room Pink. The preferred red of modern homes!

Dusky Pink

We use Sulking Room Pink No. 295 which is a romantic and muted rose.  Not to be seen as overtly pink, but rather a muted rose with enormous warmth, its powdery feel makes it incredibly soft and easy to use with complementary tones. Sulking Room Pink is evocative of the colours so often used in boudoirs, a room named after the French "bouder" - to sulk.

Salmon

We use Dead Salmon No.28 which is an aged salmon pink.  A subtle shade whose name refers to the flat or ‘dead’ finish of an aged pink painted at Kedleston Hall in 1805, Dead Salmon has a magical quality to it as everyone sees it differently. Be it a strong mushroom steeped in history, or a warming buff neutral, this deep salmon pink creates the most subtle and serene of environments suitable as a backdrop in candlelit dining rooms. 

For more information on paint colours please head over to Farrow and Ball's website - www.farrow-ball.com

The Imperfect Wood Co Paint Colours