Farrow & Ball

[MadMen]

Is there a cheaper alternative to this paint or does the price reflect the quality rather than the trendy brand name?

I need to paint a medium sized sideboard, which is currently pine. Do not want gloss, it has to be matt. TIA.

[boxtops]

I've never used them as I find them too expensive, but you don't get the authentic unusual colours from the cheaper makes. Go to somewhere like Homebase and get all their colour charts, you can always get matt mixed to exactly the colour you want. Personally, for furniture, I usually go for eggshell finish.

[MadMen]

Thanks Boxtops. Yeah, eggshell is what I'm looking for. The F&B start at around £21 per pot, so it wouldn't really work out very sot effective.
I've got their colour chart on the Homebase website, but it might be better to go into the store and have a proper look.
Excellent idea about getting them to mix it up for me. That would probably be much cheaper. Thanks :-)

[The Builder]

If you want a really pukka alternative to F&B, try these..........

http://www.earthbornpaints.co.uk/eggshell.php

Or, if it's just a colour you're after, then have a look at Dulux "Heritage" colours.

http://dulux.trade-decorating.co.uk/colours/ranges/heritage/index.jsp

Most builders' merchants will mix anything you like from any Dulux range.

http://www.dulux.co.uk/colours/index.jsp

[MadMen]

The Builder, that is great thanks. That is exactly what I am looking for.
Whilst I have you (if you're still around) then what would I need to prime the wood with first? I am going to give it a sand down, but not really sure what I should put on underneath the paint?
Also, I am leaving parts of the wood as they are, and was thinking of coating this with beeswax? Would that work ok?

Thanks.

[The Builder]

Ah, is it the "distressed" look you're after, Madders?

[The Builder]

Ok, assuming you are. I haven't done this for a while, but here's my take on it.
Waxed areas (designed to stop the paint sticking in places) can look a bit "obvious". It's definitely done, but can cause problems at the edges of the paint where the wax overlaps.

Rub down to get good adhesion for the paint.
No need for eggshell.
Use ordinary emulsion in your choice of colour
A thinned coat all over (preferably so you can see through to the wood)
Second coat all over except for the areas you want to show through.
Sand the "see-through" bits as much or as little as you fancy.
This will give the old "limed" look to those areas, where some paint is still visible in the grain.

Either leave it like that, or...
Wax, or
A coat of matt or satin acrylic varnish to seal the whole thing, and bring the colour out of the wood, or
If you want the ancient, nicotined-stained Irish pub feel.......... finish with a very thinned down polyurethane varnish, which will put a brown tinge over the whole thing.

Have fun experimenting. :o)

[MadMen]

That is brilliant! :-))

Thank you so much. I'll let you know how I get on!

[The Builder]

Yes, please do Mads :o)))

[MadMen]

I'm going to photograph it along the way. I'll post them up when I'm finished... and you can tell me where I'm going wrong! lol

[heathfield]

As a 'by-the-way'...F&B paints tend to have a higher proportion of pigments in them than more common paints, so less need for a second coat.