Farrow & Ball

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Perched among an enclave of upscale interior-design stores, Farrow & Ball’s duplex showroom has the look of a decorating enthusiast's fantasy. The brand, whose factories are in England, boasts a rather impressive pedigree: Founded by chemists Richard Ball and John Farrow, it has served as the official paint supplier for the British Admiralty since the forties. The made-to-order paint, known for its vibrant colors and high density (each bucket contains 30 percent more pigments than average paints and is VOC-free), has graced the fashionable homes of Yves Saint Laurent, Anya Hindmarch, and Lulu Guinness. A set of wooden stairs transports visitors to the second floor, furnished with reclining panels of retro-inspired wallpaper and stacks of interior-design books. Traditional block printing methods are applied on the wallpapers, giving the pattern a three-dimensional, hand-brushed appearance. Be sure to stop by for a browse through of the "color wall," which is an oasis of pint-size sample paint cans. The posh and well-spoken staff can tell you all about the origin of each color’s name—one hue was named after a notable employee’s hair color, while others are dedicated to established architects. — Venus Wong

For customers having trouble deciding the perfect wall decoration, Farrow & Ball offers an in-home color consultancy service. Color theory experts, armed with paint and wallpaper samples, will travel to your home to provide advice on creating a satisfactory color scheme. Charges are by the hour, upon request.