Waste not

Paint in France is quite expensive, and I do love the Farrow & Ball collection, which is even more so. I find their finishes work really well in older buildings, and the colours and tones are complimentary for the traditional look we like. Our style is an eclectic mix of up-cycling and renovation, with sometimes modern, but often quirky elements included in the end result. This is definitely how the bibliotheque/study has developed. During our decoration of the space we have tried to reuse and up-cycle wherever we can.

Because I dislike waste, looking after our paint is a key priority for me, as a little bit of care with the paint tin can mean the difference between it being useable when you go back to it in six months time to do some touch ups, or it being past it’s best and ready to go to the déchèterie.

Some simple tips on caring for your paint are; Do not damage the lid – take care when opening the can, damage to the lid, means air will get in, and the paint will dry out. Do not damage the tin – this can cause leaks and rust spots. Always clean the top of the tin and the edge of the lid, so you are not closing the tin on paint that will dry and allow air in, which again will mean the paint will dry out. If you return to an old paint tin, and the paint looks a bit tired, give it a really good stir, and if it’s water based add a little water, you may be able to recover it. Oil based paints can sometimes be recovered with a bit of white spirit.

These simple little care tips after every use make it so much nicer to come back to your paints at a later date, knowing they’ll be good to use again.