Inevitably, the decision to redecorate–be it a room, office, or entire home–invokes images of countless paint colour swatches painstakingly poised against walls, with questions like “what do you think of this one?” endlessly volleyed back and forth in discussion. However, for customers of Farrow & Ball, their curated palette of 132 colours, coupled with their Colour Consultancy service, provides an effortless offering as timeless as their luxury paints and wallpapers. 

For Kathleen Brennan, a Colour Consultant for Farrow & Ball for the last five years, “we are looking at things holistically, designing space and using colour as the vehicle.” More often than not, she says, “colour is the largest surface area[…]you want the paint to not disappear; it becomes the canvas rather than the actual statement.” If redecorating a room feels intimidating, Kathleen encourages that “paint is a hugely effective way to transform a room without changing a lot of other elements. One gallon of paint and clever, judicious rehanging of pictures, moving around furniture, using what you have around your house[…]you can create a whole new look for one gallon of paint.” Whether in-person or through virtual meetings, Kathleen is passionate about helping everyone from home owners, business owners, and interior designers find their “best palettes and finish solutions for their lifestyles, tastes, and homes.” 

As a personal customer of Farrow & Ball for 16 years, Kathleen brings her own experience–and design background–to every project she takes on. “I found it because I needed to find a brand of paint that wouldn’t give me headaches,” she recalls. “The first room I painted was our bedroom. For me, it was transformative. I could paint my house and not live with the fumes for days.” With low odor water- based finishes, Farrow & Ball paints do not contain the level of Volatile Organic Compounds, known as VOC, that is common across other name-brand paint companies. While she may have initially been drawn to Farrow & Ball for their formulations, Kathleen became a lifelong admirer once she “fell in love with the colours.” 

Patrick O’Donnell, Brand Ambassador, had a similar instant attraction to Farrow & Ball’s palette. “I’ve been using Farrow & Ball since 1993 when I bought my first house,” Patrick recounts. “I saw this tiny palette of the most beautifully curated colors; I fell under the spell and the romance.” The romance he is referring to is Farrow & Ball’s “first colour palette of 50 colours, taken from these beautiful historic homes throughout the UK.” While the company celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2026, Farrow & Ball saw a major period of change in the 1990s while under the direction of Tom Helme, advisor on historic interiors, and Martin Ephson, corporate financier. Under their leadership, Farrow & Ball began to focus on historic restorations and colour palettes that remained true to their era. 

While Farrow & Ball do not launch new colours every year, they did so this past February 2025 with 12 shades that are “very earthy, grounded, and feel cozier,” invoking and maintaining the idea of “home as a haven and a safe place.” However, customers will be delighted to find out that Farrow & Ball never “get rid of a colour,” according to Patrick. “We have faith in our colours’ integrity[…]at the moment, we consistently have 132 colours in our collection. We introduced 12 and retired 12, and they go sit in our Archive palette,” Patrick explains. This means that beloved classics remain accessible, regardless of the year or new colours introduced. 

While original palettes are evergreen favorites among fans of the brand, Farrow & Ball is set to release a new interior finish, launching this September 25th. Flat Eggshell is “set to become a key offering in the brand’s range of interior finishes.” With just a 20% sheen, Flat Eggshell is Farrow & Ball’s flattest interior eggshell finish and designed for practicality in high-traffic areas. Quick drying, quick curing, and with a Class 1 scrub rating, Flat Eggshell is the perfect finish for detailing areas that see more use, from kitchen cabinets to baseboards. 

Although Kathleen and Patrick guide their clients through paint colours in the Colour Consultancy service, they are also able to discuss and offer wallpapers as part of Farrow & Ball’s product line. When it comes to working with wallpaper, Kathleen and Patrick offer a few caveats. “You have to think about the pattern working with other things in the room,” Kathleen states. “We need to treat it as one space so that everything works together.” Acknowledging that wallpaper is “a much bigger investment,” Patrick advises clients that “small prints are better than big prints” as they are “visually easier to live with over a long time.”

With Farrow & Ball’s luxury wallpaper line, you’d be hard-pressed to find a design that wouldn’t remain a beloved addition over the years. Handcrafted in Dorset using their own paint, Farrow & Ball’s technique of printing their paint on fully recyclable paper creates entirely unique designs that cannot be replicated anywhere else. One of the most exciting offerings since launching their wallpaper line in 1997 are The Purnon Papers. Released in May 2024, The Purnon Papers recreate five patterns found at  Château de Purnon in France. These deeply romantic and ornate patterns are in good company amongst Farrow & Ball’s Archive Papers, historic designs that were reintroduced in 2024 from the brand archives. Whether looking at stripes, small-scale prints, or timeless patterns, Farrow & Ball’s artisanal wallpapers complement homes across the globe. 

For Colour Consultants like Kathleen and Patrick, pointing their clients in the right direction of paint colour or wallpaper design is only skimming the surface of the benefits they provide. “It’s a full decorating service that we offer the client,” Kathleen shares. “It’s more than just paint; it’s about decorating and bringing the beautiful colors into the home.” Their deep understanding and knowledge of colour and design also enable Colour Consultants to “remain a resource, post-consultation,” for any Farrow & Ball client who utilizes this service. VUE readers are especially in luck, as Kathleen Brennan is available for in-home (or virtual) Colour Consultations in the tri-state area. In addition to New Jersey, Kathleen also services the Greenwich, Connecticut area as well as parts of New York City. 

For more information on Farrow & Ball’s paint, wallpaper, or to book Colour Consultancy service with a specialist, visit Farrow & Ball here.