The brand
Little Greene
The other heritage paint house. 125 colours, slightly more contemporary than Farrow & Ball, and the Intelligent Matt finish is the best emulsion we've used on bare plaster.
Little Greene is the slightly more architectural sister to Farrow & Ball — founded in 1773 (the company, not the brand — the current business dates from 2000), based in Manchester, with a 125-strong colour range that leans more towards the contemporary greys and slates than F&B's heritage hues. Their Intelligent Matt emulsion is a beautiful flat finish that works on bare plaster, and the Traditional Oil Gloss is one of the most durable woodwork paints we've used.
For walls we use one coat of Little Greene Intelligent Primer Undercoat, then two coats of Intelligent Matt or Intelligent Eggshell (for kitchens and bathrooms). For woodwork we use the Traditional Oil Gloss, which is a slow-drying oil paint that levels out beautifully and gives a glass-smooth finish on doors and skirting. Cure time is 16–24 hours between coats, so an oil-gloss paint job is a four-day minimum.
In the shop
Stocked at the workshop.
About the brand
Common questions.
What's the difference between Farrow & Ball and Little Greene?
Both are heritage paint houses with deep-pigment, high-solids recipes. F&B has 140 colours, slightly more traditional. Little Greene has 125 colours, slightly more contemporary. On woodwork F&B's Full Gloss and LG's Traditional Oil Gloss are very close — preference is mostly about the colour range. On walls, LG's Intelligent Matt is a flatter, more modern finish than F&B's Estate Emulsion.
Is Little Greene paint suitable for radiators?
Yes — their Intelligent Eggshell and their Traditional Oil Gloss are both rated for use on radiators up to 80°C. We use LG's oil gloss on cast-iron radiators after stripping and rust-treating.
Can I colour-match Little Greene at a trade paint mixer?
No — the recipes are proprietary. A mixed colour using Little Greene's published RGB values will look close but won't have the depth of the original. Buy the real tin (sample pot if you're not sure).
Get in Touch
A quote, a phone call,or a kettle.
Tell Daniel what you're stripping (a door, a fireplace, a chair) and he'll come back to you with a price and a timing. Pre-filled message, just hit send.
Message Daniel on WhatsAppOr, the slow way
Unit 3, Crossley Mills, Honley, Holmfirth HD9 6PL. Kettle on, most days.