SFGate

Emily Hurley Hi Linone, Did you end up using the paint? What did you think about the smell?

LinOne No, I didn't use the Stark. It's available far from me (in traffic time). I have used Farrow and Ball (zero smell, super excellent paint) and Mythic (no smell; good quality but, of course, not as good and FandB). I do have the Stark "fan deck" (really two brochures), and the colors are extraordinary.

Emily Hurley Thank you so much! I haven't tried Farrow and Ball, but I have always heard wonderful things about it. Surprisingly, no one had mentioned the lack of smell before. GREAT to know.

LinOne About FandB: Beware. It's quality and colors are addictive. I have become quite a sample hog. FandB have a very good web site. The colors are unique and cannot be duplicated by computer by other paint companies. Don't trust that your monitor always shows the real exact shade. Some of the color names (Elephant's Breath 229, Dead Salmon 28, etc) help me appreciate the British sense of humor. I've also mixed colors to come up with the color I see in my mind even though I was told I could not mix them. When friends ask how much they cost, I always tell them, "there's nothing more expensive than a cheap paint job."

maureenroth I am a huge fan of Farrow and Ball paints. The colours (sorry-Canadian spelling, can't help myself) are complex and lovely and the paint quality is fantastic. The paints have a very high pigment content so they cover extremely well. Even though it is pricey paint, you will use much less to cover, saving a lot of labour as well as paint.