The Colour Chart
One of my favourite possessions at the moment is this...
the Farrow and Ball colour chart. I must have spent hours looking through this, buying samples painting them on walls, and then trying to decide which one. Apart from the actual colours - which seem so much better than, say, the Dulux ones to my eye (why I don't know, they are, after all, just colours) - I like the names. Some are mystifying like 'Mizzle', for instance, or 'Brinjal'. Some are amusing like 'Mouses's Back' or 'Mole's Breath'and some are evocative on their own: 'Book Room Red' or 'Dove Tale'. And the other day, to add to my enjoyment, Hodmandod Senior has pointed out that on the back is a description of each one.
'Mizzle', I discover, 'is a soft blue grey reminiscent of a west country eventing mist. The blue will become more intense when painted in a smaller room.'. We have opted for 'Cromarty' ('like the stronger Mizzle, this colour is inspired by mist , but this time from the sea. It will bring a softness to any room'.).
Its like a poetic platform of words - inspiring not just my decorating, but stories and images as I brush the paint down the walls. Each room gradually becoming
a different place.
the Farrow and Ball colour chart. I must have spent hours looking through this, buying samples painting them on walls, and then trying to decide which one. Apart from the actual colours - which seem so much better than, say, the Dulux ones to my eye (why I don't know, they are, after all, just colours) - I like the names. Some are mystifying like 'Mizzle', for instance, or 'Brinjal'. Some are amusing like 'Mouses's Back' or 'Mole's Breath'and some are evocative on their own: 'Book Room Red' or 'Dove Tale'. And the other day, to add to my enjoyment, Hodmandod Senior has pointed out that on the back is a description of each one.
'Mizzle', I discover, 'is a soft blue grey reminiscent of a west country eventing mist. The blue will become more intense when painted in a smaller room.'. We have opted for 'Cromarty' ('like the stronger Mizzle, this colour is inspired by mist , but this time from the sea. It will bring a softness to any room'.).
Its like a poetic platform of words - inspiring not just my decorating, but stories and images as I brush the paint down the walls. Each room gradually becoming
a different place.
posted by Clare Dudman at 7:34 pm
4 Comments:
I really like colour charts too, and marvel at the names given to the different shades. It must be a fun job, being the person who gets to do the naming.
Yes! I'd not thought of that -perfect job for a poet.
Believe it or not, they're all named by my aunt. We used to have fun as kids helping her come up with them.
Well, I think you did a grand job! And thanks very much for your comment.
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