September 13, 2016

Farrow & Ball Channels the 1940s in Latest Wallpaper Collection

Gable by Farrow & Ball.

British paint and wallpaper brand Farrow & Ball was formed by John Farrow and Richard Ball in 1946 in Dorset, England. In celebration of the brand’s 70th anniversary this year, the company (which is still based in Dorset) has released three new wallpapers inspired by the decade in which the company was founded. The anniversary collection follows the launch of nine new colors earlier this year that take cues from traditional shades.

Farrow & Ball’s designers dipped into the brand’s archives to come up with the three patterns. Two of the products, Gable and Arcade, are direct interpretations of 1940s designs, while the third, Enigma, is a combination of several motifs that were uncovered. As with all Farrow & Ball wallpapers, the three releases are made by skilled craftspeople using traditional block printing methods. They also are made using paint rather than ink, which is most often used in wallpapers today. Because they are made with the brand’s own paints, Farrow & Ball products also give designers the opportunity to match wallcoverings with adjacent walls and create a seamless experience from one room to the next. 

Arcade by Farrow & Ball.

The Arcade pattern features a scalloped design inspired by the Art Deco movement and the emergence of modernist design. Gable is adorned with an intricate illustration depicting ploughed fields, picket fences, and farmyard animals, in a nod to British country life. Meanwhile, interlocking geometric forms define Enigma, a deceptively simple pattern which is named after the WWII encoding machine that mathematician Alan Turing deciphered.

Enigma by Farrow & Ball.

Each of the new releases comes in seven colorways, including some bolder options with metallic accents and other more subtle combinations. All of the company’s wallpapers are also stain resistant and wipeable. Designers are encouraged to request samples of the new wallpapers, as well as order large color sheets available in each of the brand’s 132 pigment-rich paint colors. The new wallpapers, as well as the color samples, are available through showrooms, farrow-ball.com, and by calling 888-511-1121.

Gable by Farrow & Ball.

Arcade by Farrow & Ball.

Enigma by Farrow & Ball.

Learn more about Farrow & Ball’s new collection >

Recent DesignWire