Materials and finishes

Keep the unpainted fabric in the picture

Westminster's guidance on listed buildings cautions against coating previously unpainted surfaces and considers the effect of exterior colour on a terrace or square. For a Marylebone frontage, photograph the brick, stone and existing painted areas separately. This establishes what the proposed palette would actually change; an address-specific consent check still comes before the work.

Sources: Westminster: repairs and alterations to listed buildings; Westminster: listed-building consent

Test the relationship between adjoining rooms

Set a sample where the drawing room opens into the hall, then look back from the darker space. Repeat the exercise beside a shutter, cornice or fixed cabinet that will remain. Different views can reveal a poor transition before a full room is painted. Discuss Farrow & Ball, Little Greene or another preferred brand as part of this exercise, without treating a colour name as a complete coating specification.

Specify by background and location

A wall, an opening shutter and a heavily handled cupboard edge need their own entries even if their colours match. Record the existing material and coating, required preparation and the intended product for each. Use current manufacturer information to settle compatibility and application; damaged plaster, water staining or an uncertain earlier finish may need investigation before that choice can be made.

Leave a useful record for the next repaint

Label the finish schedule with the room and the exact element, then retain the colour reference, product and sheen. Agree what happens to spare paint and keep its care instructions with the record. An aged wall may show a local touch-up, so a small repair should be assessed in its setting before assuming an invisible match.