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Kelly Wearstler X Farrow & Ball paint collection brings California into our homes

Thoughtfully curated by Kelly Wearstler, California Collection is the first collaboration of iconic paint brand Farrow & Ball with an external creative to mark their 75th anniversary.

by Nadezna SiganporiaPublished on : Apr 12, 2021

“Living without colour is like living without love,” says Kelly Wearstler. It’s the concluding line in the official video, available for viewing on Farrow & Ball’s social media platforms, introducing the American interior designer’s collaboration with the UK-based paint company. This philosophy is the driving force behind the Los Angeles-based designer’s creations and partnering with a paint company to come up with a colour collection was a dream of hers.

A mood-board inspired by the shade Palm, a muted and fresh green evoking the Californian palm trees | California Collection | Kelly Wearstler X Farrow & Ball | STIRworld
A mood-board inspired by the shade Palm, a muted and fresh green evoking the Californian palm trees Image: Trevor Tondro, Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

Having used Farrow & Ball in her design projects for more than two decades, Wearstler’s love for colour is very evident in her career. “Colour is the spirit of a room, and provides expressive power to transform a space with your personal voice, whether you are painting all of your walls, or just one,” she says.

Kelly Wearstler’s visit to the Farrow & Ball factory in Dorset, England | California Collection | Kelly Wearstler X Farrow & Ball | STIRworld
Kelly Wearstler’s visit to the Farrow & Ball factory in Dorset, England Image: Harry Crowder, Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

This collaboration, the first for Farrow & Ball with an external designer, marks the iconic paint brand’s 75th anniversary and was launched earlier in March. Inspired by her home in Los Angeles, the collection is supported by Farrow & Ball's ethos of sustainability. Their water-based paints are eco-friendly, low-VOC and packaged in recyclable tins.

The designer showcases the beauty of sunny Citrona, a shade inspired by the lemon trees of California | California Collection | Kelly Wearstler X Farrow & Ball | STIRworld
The designer showcases the beauty of sunny Citrona, a shade inspired by the lemon trees of California Image: Joyce Park, Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

The inspiration

The designer believes colours found in nature resonate on a primeval level. They impart a feeling of peacefulness and of belonging to the surrounding environment. Rooted in this belief, the palette is inspired by the landscapes of California. This beautifully plays with the thought process of Farrow & Ball who use their natural environment in Dorset, England, as the inspiration for all their colours. 

Hazy is a calming shade of blue-grey that captures the early morning freshness | California Collection | Kelly Wearstler X Farrow & Ball | STIRworld
Hazy is a calming shade of blue-grey that captures the early morning freshness Image: Trevor Tondro, Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

Wearstler describes the palette as chic and sophisticated, yet casual and relaxed. “This paint collection is about what I truly believe California represents,” she describes in the video, “which is bringing the outside in – from the desert hues to the colours of sand at the beach to the sky”. The series of complementary colours represent various moods of the sun-kissed city and its coastal landscape.

Faded Terracotta is inspired by terracotta pots and tiles baked to a pale hue by the California sun | California Collection | Kelly Wearstler X Farrow & Ball | STIRworld
Faded Terracotta is inspired by terracotta pots and tiles baked to a pale hue by the California sun Image: Trevor Tondro, Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

The colour palette

Consisting of eight colours available in four finishes, the capsule collection evokes images of sun-kissed palm fronds, sandy beaches and clear blue skies. The collection includes warm neutrals like Sand, inspired by visuals of Malibu’s sandy beaches and coastal homes brimming with natural wood and textured linens.

Capturing the off-black shade of sun-baked desert highways, Tar is a deep yet restrained shade and is beautifully contrasted with Sand, a warm neutral hue | California Collection | Kelly Wearstler X Farrow & Ball | STIRworld
Capturing the off-black shade of sun-baked desert highways, Tar is a deep yet restrained shade and is beautifully contrasted with Sand, a warm neutral hue Image: Joyce Park, Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

Faded Terracotta evokes visuals of terracotta pots and tiles softened to a pale hue by the California sun. Another neutral shade, Salt, is a crisp white “reminiscent of the salty air ushered in by the Pacific Ocean”. Complementing the neutral shades are brighter hues like Citrona, a softened citrus shade inspired by the lemon trees of California.

Salt is a bright, crisp white, reminiscent of the salty air ushered in by the Pacific Ocean and the delicate crystalline layer it leaves behind | California Collection | Kelly Wearstler X Farrow & Ball | STIRworld
Salt is a bright, crisp white, reminiscent of the salty air ushered in by the Pacific Ocean and the delicate crystalline layer it leaves behind Image: Trevor Tondro, Courtesy of Farrow & Ball

Palm, a muted, fresh green is an ode to the iconic palm trees of Los Angeles while Hazy, a subdued shade of blue-grey, was envisioned out of a desire to capture the fresh vibe of early mornings on the coast. Rounding the collection are the deeper shades of Stoke, a soft grey shade reminiscent of city streets and rainy coastal days, and Tar, capturing the off-black hue of sun-baked desert highways.

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