Farrow & Ball Modern Vs Estate Emulsion

Farrow & Ball may split the opinions of decorators, but it is still the most popular designer paint brand in Britain. With a range of very desirable colours, and a fantastic finish, Farrow & Ball have developed a huge fan base.

Their wall paints include the Estate Emulsion and Modern Emulsion, but what is the difference between the two? Both paints are good in certain situations, so I thought I’d put pen to paper and explain which to use and when.

Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion

Estate Emulsion is an interior paint for walls and ceilings. The finish is luxuriously flat, and it has the same depth of colour as any other F&B product. It has a soft, chalky look, which is very contemporary. It looks fantastic on a ceiling.

The only real issue with Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion is that it is not very durable, so it is no good for high-traffic areas. You might use this paint on an adult’s bedroom walls, or even a lounge (unless you have pets or small children).

I love seeing Estate Emulsion in a bedroom, particularly when used in warm colours. There is a softness to it which is unmistakable, and it just feels comfortable.

You wouldn’t use Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion in high-traffic areas such as hallway walls, because it can scuff and mark easily.  And you certainly wouldn’t want to use it in a kitchen or bathroom, because Estate Emulsion won’t cope with the condensation very well.

Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion

Modern Emulsion is more durable but has a higher sheen. In fact, I’d say the sheen level is close to a trade eggshell, rather than a matt. It still performs well, but the higher sheen level is slightly less desirable.

If you were to use Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion on a light critical ceiling, you might see defects such as flashing caused by shadowing. It really isn’t the “soft gentle” finish you’d want in a bedroom either.

That said, it’s perfect for all the areas Estate Emulsion falls short. You can use Modern Emulsion in a kitchen, hallway, and even some bathrooms. It will deal with condensation reasonably well, and if your walls get dirty, you can even wipe over them with a cloth. It’s the perfect emulsion if you have pets.

Farrow & Ball Eggshell

I know this blog is to primarily talk about Farrow & Ball Modern Vs Estate Emulsion, but they have another paint which I thought I’d mention, well two really. Estate Eggshell and Modern Eggshell are both products that you can use as emulsion. Although the Modern (which used to be called “floor paint”), is more often used on woodwork and has a higher sheen level.

For that reason, my personal favourite out of the two when used as an emulsion is Estate Eggshell. The sheen level is one step up from Modern Emulsion, and the durability is greater.

You might use Farrow & Ball Estate Eggshell in particularly difficult rooms, such as bathrooms or kitchens with high levels of condensation. Maybe a utility room or porch where the family kick off their muddy wellies. This paint will easily withstand a good wipe down with a damp cloth.

Tips for Applying Farrow & Ball Emulsion

I thought I’d include a little section on applying Farrow & Ball Emulsion, as it’s slightly different to any other brand on the market.

1 – Use a wall primer

When people talk about Farrow & Ball, they often mention “depth of colour”, and they’re right to. This comes down to a couple of things. Firstly, the colours are metameric, which means they will naturally look different in different lights. Secondly, the pigment in the paint is high-quality. That said, you need to build up the layers to achieve your desired finish, which means using the Farrow & Ball Wall Primer for bare plaster or big colour changes. I always stick to the “hand in glove” approach when painting, meaning if my topcoat is Farrow & Ball Emulsion, then my first coat is Farrow & Ball Primer. If you skip the primer, then you often need an extra coat of emulsion anyway, so you may as well do it properly in the first place.

Final Thoughts

We’ve done Farrow & Ball Modern Vs Estate Emulsion, I just wanted to end by giving my opinion on the brand as a whole. In my opening paragraph I mentioned about the paint splitting the opinions of decorators. This is largely down to the application process. Farrow & Ball is more expensive than the trade paint which a lot of decorators use, and it often needs an extra coat, hence some frustration.

Decorators apply the paint, but we don’t live with it. I love the finish you can achieve with Farrow & Ball Emulsion. All the colours in their range are very stylish, and it’s easy for a homeowner to choose something that will suit a particular room.

Moreover, Farrow & Ball wallpaper is amazing quality. It is a dream to work with and always looks fantastic.

When you weigh everything up, it’s no wonder F&B have such a big fan base. There are Facebook communities dedicated to lovers of the paint, where like-minded people showcase their work and talk about colour schemes. Click here to join a good one.