Thursday 10 November 2011

The dying breath of a churlish salmon


I am once again consulting 
the Farrow & Ball paint chart.




At the moment it is a toss up between
Elephant's Breath and Churlish Green



for most off-putting name,
although Dead Salmon, Savage Ground
and Arsenic are close contenders.

'Paint it the colour of elephant's breath' was the instruction 
Nancy Lancaster gave to a decorator. 
She had previously specified such colours as 
caca du dauphin and vomitesse de la reine.

Charmant.
But I won't be put off. 
I'm sure I remember seeing it put to good effect
in Rachel's last house.

12 comments:

  1. It was the fact that the green was called Arsenic that made me want it in my kitchen - what does that say about me? But I also have Cook's Blue, so perhaps that counteracts it.

    Savage Ground sounds rather exciting - what a world of possibilities . . .

    Pomona x

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  2. I always fancied being the person who gets to name paint colours...(I am not that person but I wish I knew who was!)

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  3. Good grief! What fine amusement for us humble Dulux users...

    It all looks lovely, though.

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  4. How about shades called 'Aged Grime' or 'Worn Faux Leather'? What fun those people at Farrow & Ball must have; how jolly their tea-breaks must be.

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  5. There I was, expecting a post about your battle with the fish kettle! I know nothing about paint, I only ever choose white!

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  6. My friend Simon in Souff Lunnon has assured me that he's just made a lovely job of his drawing room using F&B's Butler's Snot.

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  7. I'm with Mise......... what fun to think up the colour names....

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  8. I shall have to investigate that company, what odd names to give to paint.

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  9. We have Elephant's Breath in our bedroom: best colour choice we ever made.

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  10. There's no salmon recipe then?!

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  11. Er, no....it wasn't me! Elephant's Breath was my friend's house; mine was Old White No. 3, and various testers of various F&B shades for lamps or picture frames. I'm flirting with Downpipe in my mind's eye at the moment.....

    If I had a job as paint namer, I'd be tempted to call the beige hues Cat Litter... Cold Porridge... Old Vest...

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  12. What names! I love reading paint names, and the names of nail polish colors. I envy the person who gets paid to think them up.

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