The Farrow & Ball Carte Blanche collection takes the guesswork out of paint and wallpaper combinations

It’s a dilemma that many homeowners and interior designers face. Whether it’s painting a room, hanging wallpaper, or both. One of the challenges of choosing both is trying to find the right wallpaper to coordinate with a specific color or vice versa. Luckily, Farrow & Ball has found a way to solve this conundrum in a way that’s both whimsical and chic.

Launching in September 2023, Farrow & Ball’s Carte blanche the collection was created in collaboration with the designer Christopher John Rogers. There’s no shortage of Rogers’ iconic color in this bright and bold line.

Here’s what you need to know about Carte Blanche.

It’s a real collaboration

Charlotte “Charlie” Cosby, creative director of Farrow & Ball, tells me: “It really started when Christopher came to visit our small factory in Dorset in the UK. We showed him around the paint and paper manufacturing and our laboratories and talked about ideas and the technical details of making paint. It was fun to hear the synergies he saw in our attention to detail and artisanal techniques with the way his fashion collection is made.

Rogers’ signature color fabric samples ultimately inspired the line which consists of twelve colors and three patterns. Four of the paints are neutral while the other eight are considered statement shades. This collection truly takes the guesswork out of creating unique spaces.

“Charlie and I both agreed that we didn’t want to be prescriptive with this collection, but rather encourage the consumer to do what makes them most comfortable and excited,” says Rogers. “I hope they mix and match the palette and papers in interesting and inspiring ways.”

Fashion versus interiors

This collaboration was not the designer’s first foray into interiors. In 2022, he created a magnificent line of chairs with Orior. However, the experience of creating paint and wallpaper is different from that of upholstery. It has nothing to do with fashion either.

“I drew influences from CJR designs, fashion muses and childhood nostalgia to inform my vision for Carte Blanche. With wearables, I feel like you have the ability to be a little more intense with color: you can change your outfit daily, or even hourly, to reflect how you’re feeling at that moment. Charlie provided incredible context around the world of interiors, as the spaces are a bit more engaging. We were then able to develop work that was declarative and directional, but nevertheless liveable.

How to style Carte Blanche

The beauty of this collaboration is that there are many different ways to work with colors and patterns. One of Rogers’ favorite combinations is Pea Flower Tea and Blue Stripe paper. “I like all the blues present in the palette in combination with each other: they electrocute each other harmoniously. My other favorite colors would be cardamom and sardine.

On the other hand, for those who love the collection but prefer something a little more neutral, Cosby suggests using Au Lait on the walls but opting for Raw Tomatillo on the woodwork.

Of the three wallpaper designs, Stripe is the most versatile. Although bold, it nevertheless presents a contemporary look that could be used in almost any room in the house. All paints and combinations make fantastic choices for accent walls and powder rooms.