A B O U T O U R WA L L PA P E R
A Legacy
Wallpaper has a rich and colourful history, and one we’re proud to be part of.
From the Egyptians to Renaissance Europe, the art of adorning walls with colours, patterns, and scenes dates back
centuries, and continues to enjoy an integral role in the creation of beautiful and imaginative interiors.
Throughout the development of printing techniques, England has been at the forefront of wallpaper manufacture. By
using age-old methods, it’s our privilege to contribute to this wonderful legacy.
Our timeless, handcrafted wallpaper keeps a treasured tradition alive.
Inherently Unique
Wallpapers are generally made using ink. Not ours. We use our own traditionally created paint, giving them a sumptuous
and tactile texture unique to Farrow & Ball.
Each design is inspired from archives of timeless and evocative wallpapers, fabrics, and patterns from around the world.
You’ll see that only the finest, most alluring designs make the collection.
To continue in our founders’ footsteps, we use traditional block and trough printing methods, which are integral to the
creation of distinctive wallpapers of unsurpassable quality.
And because we’re fastidious when it comes to quality control, our wallpapers are made by skilled craftsmen at our
factory in Dorset, England, and no one else.
We use eco-friendly FSC* approved paper, and our own minimal VOC water based paint to create the perfect print and
colourway. And to ensure strength and stain resistance, we give our wallpapers a lick of our specially developed glaze.
We’re passionate about our wallpapers, and devoted to our heritage. So when you buy from Farrow & Ball, you know
you’re getting unique, timeless, and unmatched quality every time.
Our Designs
No stone is left unturned. Where there’s beauty in design, our creative team will discover it. From the archives of the
National Gallery to the antique fabric dealers of New York, there’s no limit to where they find their inspiration.
All we ask is that they unearth what we like to call ‘classics of the future’ – timeless designs that are simultaneously
contemporary and traditional, and unlike anything else you’ll find.
And because we’re highly skilled in the art of block printing, we’re able to adapt even the most intricate designs to fit
our traditional production methods, which makes our creative team very happy indeed.
Making our papers
Our small team of skilled craftsmen are self-confessed wallpaper worshippers. Working to the highest standards and
using traditional methods, they produce wallpaper of supreme quality and beauty.
We use three techniques to make our wallpapers: open trough for stripes and drags; flat bed block print for large patterns
with long repeats; and roller block print for small patterns with a short repeat.
It’s a lengthy and intricate process, with each component on the production line precisely calibrated to the selected
design. You can see why we hold our skilled craftsmen in such high-esteem.
Ground Paper
Our ground papers are treated to a brush-applied layer of Farrow & Ball paint, ensuring they are full of life and giving
a rich, tactile texture.
We have 70 ground colours, most of which are taken from our range of paints, others are specifically developed as a
wallpaper ground.
To get the most out of each colour, we set our brushes to individual speeds and heights suitable for the selected
paint. And to ensure the opacity and evenness of the brush strokes are spot on, our skilled craftsmen keep a close
eye on the process.
Once painted, the ground papers are passed through the drying oven. The colour is then checked to ensure it’s just
right, and the ground paper is held in stock ready for the design to be applied.
Trough Method
We use the trough method to create our striped and dragged papers. It’s a meticulous process that requires fierce
attention to detail, and a sprinkling of patience.
It’s imperative that the viscosity of the paint is just right to ensure a smooth and even flow through the trough pads and
onto the paper, and to create our hallmark tactile texture.
The chosen paint flows into the trough, through foam pads, and onto the paper to create the ground coat. The paper
is then oven dried and ready for the second stage.
To create the stripe, a different hue is selected and the paint is passed through a second trough and onto individual foam
pads, all of which are painstakingly hand cut by our dedicated craftsmen.
We’re meticulous when it comes to quality control, so we refresh each foam pad every 3 to 15 rolls of paper to maintain
an accurate and high quality design.
Flat Bed Block Print
We use the flat bed block printing method for large-scale designs with long repeats.
Inspired by 18th century techniques and one of our most beloved methods, blocks are fastidiously hand engraved with
our stunning and intricate designs.
The chosen paint is applied to the etched surface of the block through a trough and roller, and the block is then carefully
pressed onto the paper, like a stamp.
We’re always after the perfect texture, so the amount and duration of pressure is tightly controlled.
The block is then carefully raised and the paper moved forward. The next impression must be precise to create a
seamless, faultless design.
To achieve the Farrow & Ball hallmark texture, the viscosity of the paint is paramount. For the flat bed block printing
method we use slightly thicker paint to guarantee excellent coverage and to create a tactile, sumptuous texture as it
‘releases’ from the block.
Roller Block Print
Some of our designs are amazingly intricate, and achieving such meticulous attention to detail during printing is a real
art. The roller block print is perfect for the job, and allows our creative team to get away with the most sophisticated
and captivating designs.
The design is skilfully hand engraved onto a cylinder, which is then coated with paint by a foam roller passing through
a paint filled trough. The roller block is then rolled onto the paper to print the pattern.
This process adopts the same principle as the flat bed block print, but a different texture is achieved due to the way in
which the roller ‘releases’ the paint. It’s a subtle difference, but integral to the unique feel of the finished wallpaper.
An exquisite, three colour effect can be achieved by using two roller stations. This requires perfect print alignment to
create an intricate and accurate colourway.
Glaze
Farrow & Ball wallpaper isn’t just beautiful, it’s tough. We coat all our wallpapers with a specially formulated glaze,
which means their quality and beauty continues long after they’ve left our hands.
Designed to have no impact on the sheen of the finished paper, our low VOC water based glaze is stain resistant and
protects against loss of pigment during cleaning.
When you buy from Farrow & Ball, you know you’re investing in long-lasting wallpapers that are timeless in more
ways than one.
Materials
To create unsurpassable wallpapers, every element needs to be of the finest quality.
To do justice to our exquisite designs, only the best paper will do. We use FSC approved paper which is woven
to our exact specifications to ensure excellent paint flow, print quality, and a colour purity that is second-to-none.
Our 140gsm paper ensures a perfect balance between strength and flexibility, which is integral to ease of handling
during hanging.
Paint Vs Ink
There really is no comparison. Ink creates a two dimensional, homogenous print; paint creates a luxurious, tactile
texture that’s full of life. It’s like trying to compare a photocopy of an oil painting to the real thing.
Run your finger along the pattern, and you’ll feel the difference.
Unlike ink, the layering of paint on paper means no two prints are exactly the same. This is why every wallpaper
we make is unique.
As well our hallmark texture, our water based Estate Emulsion paint is specially formulated to give optimum
viscosity, ease of movement in production, and quicker drying times.
In Summary
Richly historical, inherently unique, and timelessly beautiful – our wallpaper stands alone.
There are many reasons why Farrow & Ball wallpaper has a reputation for unmatched quality and beauty, but there
are some qualities we think really stand out…
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Our use of paint instead of ink is at the heart of creating the luxurious texture we’re famous for.
•
By using the age-old methods of trough and block printing, we’re contributing to a rich and treasured heritage.
•
Our skilled and dedicated craftsmen ensure every roll we produce meets the unrivalled quality expected of us.
•
From start to finish, the creation of our wallpaper is an enchanting story.
Farrow & Ball, Uddens Estate, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 7NL. England