- Tell me about Paint The Town Green...
A: When my wife was pregnant with our first child I became very aware of the toxic fumes that conventional paints give off. I set up an environmentally-friendly decorating company with its own range of eco paints. Now, we’ve opened a showroom where customers can come to buy them directly and talk through their painting queries with a professional decorator.
- Are eco paints made entirely of natural ingredients or are they simply lower in toxins?
A: It can be either, it’s a very broad-ranging category. Our paint is all about lower amounts of toxins and greener manufacturing techniques. We have an extremely low VOC level and the factory in Iceland where our paint is made regularly receives a thorough green audit.
- Don’t all paints now have to meet regulatory standards on toxins?
A: Yes they do. New legislation was introduced in 2012 limiting the level of toxic fumes (called VOCs) given off by paints. This has lead to a reduction in the toxicity of solvent-based paints.
- What are the nasties in paint we should check for?
A: You won’t find as much info on a tin of paint as you will on food packaging as it’s not meant to be eaten, obviously! The main thing to look out for is the VOC level. Generally speaking, this will be higher on solvent-based (oil) paint than on water-based.
- Do eco paints work as well as regular paints?
A: I believe they work just as well, if not better than conventional paints. Our wipeable emulsion is incredibly durable, much more so than some of the regular brands. Also, as a water-based product our eggshell dries much more quickly than solvent-based equivalents. This means that in the time it takes for one coat of solvent-based eggshell to dry (approximately 16 hours) you could have applied two – or even three – coats of ours and finished the job. Furthermore, our paint will not yellow over time like solvent-based paints.
- Are they more expensive?
A: Than comparable products? No, not at all. Our paint is around 10-15% cheaper than mainstream designer label paints.
- What’s your best-seller?
A: Wipeable emulsion. Mums love it! I’d say our most popular colour at the moment is Pictures of You. A warm grey with a hint of beige, a perfect blend of modern and contemporary. We also have a lovely blue called Night Swimming, which we’ve used on the cupboards in the showroom.
- Why did you choose Wandsworth as a base?
A: All farthing Lane is a perfect spot, not too busy, not too quiet. Very close to the exciting development of the Ram Quarter and a stone’s throw from the Barmouth Kitchen, which is a buzzing social hub in the neighbourhood.
- What are your favourite projects?
A: We find ourselves working in properties of all shapes and sizes. We have great fun working with the display team at Conran’s The Shop at Bluebird on the King’s Road. We never know what they are going to ask for from one visit to the next but it usually involves a lot of colour!
- What paint queries do customers have?
A: Most commonly discussed are what kind of finish (wipeable/matt/eggshell), the amount of paint required by clients and colours. Most people are looking for reassurance that they are going for the correct colour combinations and are not over or under-ordering tins of paint.
- What are common mistakes?
A: Choosing the same colour paint as a friend has in their house. Everyone has different furnishings and different light in their house so it may not look the same. Another mistake is to leave choosing colours until just before decorating starts because if you change your mind it will hold up the job and cost you more.
- What top tips do you have for DIYers?
A: Preparation is key. Prepare and protect the area you will be working in before you start. Be methodical, do all your filling and sanding before you start painting. Don’t over-reach on high ladders. Don’t try to answer your phone when you have paint on your hands!
- What are current paint trends?
A: People are being much bolder with colour than they were a few years ago. Greens, blues and bold greys are being used more and more – both as feature walls and throughout entire rooms.
- How adventurous are you in your own home with paint?
A: As my wife will confirm, to her eternal frustration, I’ve been so busy that we haven’t re-decorated our own house for almost a decade. As the Scots say: “The cobbler’s bairns are aye the worst shod!”.
To find out more about Paint the Town Green you can visit their website or find them in their shop in Wandsworth at 0208 8710531.
For more inspiration on decorating your home and garden you can visit our Home Style section, where you will other great content such as an interview with retro furniture designer Lucy Mortimer.
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Homestyle section of the Richmond Magazine's June edition
