get a sample for color match it can be off a bit but should be close enough

Thanks so much for the feedback. When you ask for a sample, should it be with the varnish mixed in? I did receive a sample but it was just the color sprayed on and I don’t think it was mixed and shown how the final would be

conversion varnish is the the coating with the color. it probably wasn't catalyzed but color should be the same catalyst will only slightly change color

You are not getting something “mixed in”. You are getting a totally different paint that they will try to match to a Farrow & Ball color. That is the sample you what to see. You already know what the Farrow & Ball color looks like. The sheen will also have something to do with how close it is. I have done this before but with 2k poly as mentioned above. Not a fan of conversation varnish (that’s a whole other discussion) but the process is the same.

Thanks so much for your feedback! My cabinetmaker is willing to try c2 which I guess does a closer match. In your experience, is the match close enough to F&B? I think I’m overthinking all of this.

Also @jwdesign_gw beautiful kitchen!

You’re overthinking. You do not want “paint”.

It’s not about what product matches better it’s about how good whoever is matching it. Whether it’s a computer or person they should spray out a sample because colors will look different when dry. They may have to tweak it a bit from there. He should use whatever product he has experience with. Re calling it “paint” it is a paint but not what you think of typically when you say paint like wall paint or house paint. It’s a cabinet finish. We would call it a pigmented top coat. Here’s another shot of that kitchen.

Thank you so much!!! I really appreciate the feedback. I agree he should use what he normally does. I’ll just tell him to match it. Lovely kitchen!! What color is that? Is it pigeon?

Are you spraying existing cabinets in your home or having cabinets made and sprayed in a shop? I somehow read this as having your cabinets painted but now believe my original reading was in error.

These are new custom cabinets. He sprays them in his shop.

I honestly didn’t realize cabinets use special cabinet paint to begin with and the process they use to get the colors.

To your question I’m pretty sure it was their “French Gray” color we matched. We built the cabinets and sprayed them but it’s been a while and lots of kitchens since then. The “Pigeon” was a little too green. The color reads a bit different in person also.

a bit different

I am really not a fan of conversion varnish. However, it is certainly a more durable product than most others. The two part poly's are preferred and some companies are doing a waterborne conversion varnish now. If using a traditional CV, I would be sure to give them a bit of time to air out before getting them installed.

The cabinets look beautiful!

Thanks bry911! It’s so interesting to learn about some of the products people are using. I think the c2 paint for cabinet is some sort of poly from what I was reading but I’m not sure he’s used it before or if it’s even the same thing you’re referring to. I am in CA and I did read the varnish is pretty regulated here due to the fumes etc. I appreciate all of the help and feedback.

Conversion Varnish is well regulated in Europe and not so much in America, even in California. In fact, I would argue that we made things worse here. In order to meet off-gassing requirements the Xylene (which is basically synthetic formaldehyde) is bound. This means there is less free formaldehyde and less off-gassing at any one point in time. However, where free formaldehyde off-gasses fairly fast, bound formaldehyde off-gasses for years. We have basically taken something that would be pretty bad for 30-60 days and made it less bad for 1 - 3 years. Still the free formaldehyde/xylene will be gone in the first 30 days so...

C2 paint is an acrylic urethane that has dairy whey blended in. I have absolutely no idea about that particular product although acrylic urethane's are traditionally considered industrial coatings that dry hard but slowly. When you add an accelerator to an acrylic urethane you basically get a 2k poly.

So interesting!!! I did read that the c2 paint is considered more eco friendly and I do like that. I don’t love the info I am reading about the off gassing with varnish and have even seen some people say it’s no longer allowed in many European countries

Conversion varnish is not allowed for consumer products in most European countries. I believe it is allowed for certain industrial applications.

So interesting!! Thank you for all of this info.