This time of year is always great for new launches and bad for the bank balance, so I’m sorry/not sorry to bring you news of a brand new product which I think you will want to know about, while simultaneously cursing me for telling you.
I’m sure that many of you are familiar with Rockett St George, the cool online store which sells furniture, lighting and stuff-that-you-can’t-find-elsewhere-but-now-that-you’ve-seen-it-you-realise-that-you-can’t-live-without-it.
Lucy (St George, who – it turns out – lives round the corner from me) and Jane (Rockett, who doesn’t) have recently begun designing their own pieces. I’m guessing this was in response to being copied by other people when it comes to stock and their latest venture, aside from the leopard print wallpaper and snakeskin chairs, is paint.
It seems to be the season for new paint, what with Dulux announcing their colour of the year last week and Farrow & Ball revealing their new shades next week. But now there’s a new kid on the block.
There are 18 colours in the collection, which is made by Craig and Rose, one of the oldest paint manufacturers in the UK – the company was founded in 1829. As you would expect the colours are earthy and dark and you can choose from eggshell, emulsion and gloss so all surfaces are (literally) covered.
Now you can buy tester pots in the usual way, but Lucy and Jane have also decided to leave a wooden table, side table and armchair unpainted so you can decorate them as you please and create something truly individual for your home.
Jane, who co-wrote their book, Rockett St George: Extraordinary Interiors, with Lucy, said they had been asked so often for paint advice by their customers that they had decided to launch their own collection.
“There is so much choice out there for paint colour so we wanted to create a high-quality palette of colours which would work well together,” she said.
“It was both challenging and exciting, but the wealth of knowledge from Craig & Rose was invaluable and we have come up with a gorgeous range of inviting colours that will stand out on our customers’ walls”
Paint by Rockett St George is £35 for a 2.5L tin of emulsion.
I’ve recently painted my bedroom walls and ceiling (Kate take note!) in Alhambra Stone by Craig & Rose, a pink with a hint of peach, and I absolutely love it. The colour is stunning, the finish is beautifully chalky and it was a joy to work with (well, as joyful as decorating can get…) I think they might even be a little cheaper than the likes of F&B. Never used them before, but they’ll be the first chart I’ll consult if I ever decide what sort of colour to go for in my living room.
I am a sucker for a (premium) paint chart, all those gorgeous little chips of colour, but at the same time I do get overwhelmed by the sheer number of colours out there. I’m surprised I ever manage to make a decision, and what if it’s the wrong one? Do you think there are some colours that no-one ever buys? That bright green looks a bit tricky. Perhaps not for amateurs? I’ll be ordering this colour chart forthwith.
Lovely colours but I can’t help wondering how many more paint companies do we need?