The Chromologist
Host Patrick O'Donnell, a colour expert for Farrow & Ball, explores how colour shapes our lives by interviewing creatives, designers, and performers. Each episode uses the Farrow & Ball colour chart as a guide to uncover personal colour stories. The podcast delves into the emotional and psychological impact of colour in our homes and identities.
Episodes
The Chromologist: Fee Greening
Fee Greening, a dip pen and ink illustrator, is known for her experimental approach to art, rooted in medieval and Gothic design. Sitting down with Paddy, she reflects on the journey that shaped her distinctive style, from her youthful immersion in Gothic and grunge aesthetics while touring with her partner’s band, to a return to the coast, where the rhythms of nature and the richness o
The Chromologist: Suleika Jaouad
In this special edition of The Chromologist, Emmy Award–winning writer, activist, and artist Suleika Jaouad reflects on her journey as a best-selling author and the creator of The Isolation Journals, a newsletter and creative community.Suleika shares how colour has played a profound role throughout her life, from her imaginative childhood experiments to her emotional responses to the hospita
The Chromologist: Alfie Nickerson
Alfie Nickerson, founder of Burnt Fen Flower Farm, is no stranger to vibrant colour. Since establishing the farm in 2019, he has been growing and arranging cheerful, seasonal blooms that capture the joy of British-grown flowers. Yet, as Alfie admits, this path was never part of his original plan. He initially set out simply to grow vegetables as a hobby, with no intention of selling flowers at all
The Chromologist: Butter Wakefield
Butter Wakefield has over fifteen years of experience in designing and creating gardens that are both inspirational and purposeful. Having grown up on a small farm on the East Coast of America, she developed a love for nature and rural landscapes. It was this passion that eventually led her to study gardening in London.Guiding Paddy through her London home, Butter reveals how she has transfor
The Chromologist: Charlotte Freemantle
Charlotte Freemantle, Managing Director of the renowned antique dealership Jamb, shares the story behind her enduring passion for interior furnishings. From the reimagining of Aldourie Castle to the styling of her own Georgian townhouse, Charlotte demonstrates an instinctive eye for colour, texture, and balance, seamlessly pairing antiques with complementary textiles to create time
The Chromologist: Pearl Lowe
Celebrated designer and style icon Pearl Lowe shares her remarkable journey from rock-and-roll frontwoman to country living, where she has cultivated her distinctive vintage-inspired aesthetic. Paddy visits her eclectic Somerset home to explore the characterful property and uncover hidden treasures within her collections of traditional 1920s dresses.Their conversation delves into Pearl’s experienc
The Chromologist: Preview Series 4
Colour expert for Farrow & Ball, Patrick O’Donnell returns with series four of The Chromologist podcast, to explore how colour works in our homes but also how it shapes our identities and life stories. Guests include Pearle Lowe, Alfie Nickeron and Suleika Jaouad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Chromologist: Ben Andrews
For our PRIDE special episode, Patrick O'Donnell sits down with Ben Andrews, an organic farmer from Herefordshire and founding member of Agrespect, a group that aims to tackle LGBTQIA+ discrimination and share positivity, to encourage the agricultural industry to be a more inclusive and diverse environment.While exploring Ben's family farm, the pair discuss his childhood, defined by his
The Chromologist: Poppy Okotcha
In a special episode to honour World Environment Day, Patrick travels to the South Devon sanctuary of horticulturalist, regenerative grower, and author Poppy OKotcha, whose passion for conscious living and the natural world is truly infectious.Joined by Tony the Tortoise, they tour her verdant garden and dig into memories of her Grandma’s garden, her youth in South Africa, and her transformative c
The Chromologist: Raymond Blanc
Raymond Blanc, culinary icon, author and hotelier, passionately champions the art of seasonal cooking and creativity in his revered cuisine. Patrick O’Donnell visits his world-renowned restaurant and hotel Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire, to learn and dine on Raymond’s journey, philosophy, and the power of colour in cooking. Together they tour the hotel, kitchens, and all-
The Chromologist: Candice Brathwaite
Acclaimed author, journalist, presenter and speaker Candice Brathwaite is no stranger to podcasting. Through her critically acclaimed books, online content and public speaking, she's a passionate advocate for vital discussions of social inclusivity, race and black British motherhood, among many subjects. And her impact encouraging positive change across diversity and representation canno
The Chromologist: Emma Burns
Emma Burns, Managing Director of esteemed interior design studio Sibyl Colefax and John Fowler, is a true doyenne of décor. Known for lending her exceptional eye to crafting spaces that are as stylish as they are functional, she invites Patrick O’Donnell to her converted dovecote home to discover her story through colour, accompanied by her pug Dahlia and novelty plastic pigeons. Togethe
The Chromologist: Jack Harries
In a special episode to mark Earth Day, Patrick O’Donnell travels to the 200-year-old Cornish mill that’s home to Jack Harries; a documentary filmmaker, producer and environmentalist who is passionate about using his platform to tell the stories that matter. Joined by his dog Lyla, they explore the journey from his city-living years, YouTube channel JacksGap and subsequent career in filmmakin
The Chromologist: Patrick Grant
Patrick O’Donnell heads north to the border of the Yorkshire Dales to meet champion of sustainable fashion and BBC Great British Sewing Bee judge Patrick Grant.In his newly painted Farrow & Ball home, the pair discuss their mutual love for Broccoli Brown, childhood memories of muddy adventures and his obsession with nature. They also touch on how fashion has influenced his
The Chromologist: Willow Crossley
Patrick O'Donnell visits the Cotswolds to sit down with talented florist and author Willow Crossley in her 17th century home. Against this backdrop of colour and creativity, including a mural hand painted in Brassica and Cooking Apple Green, the pair explore everything from nature to her mantra of ‘living life well’. Willow shares the emotions behind her colour choices, from Yellow Ground, re
The Chromologist: Joa Studholme
Patrick O’Donnell heads into the heart of Somerset to meet Colour Curator, author and the mind behind many of the most iconic Farrow & Ball colours — Joa Studholme. The two reminisce about their shared time at the company, passion for colour and past forays with floristry. Joa also reflects on the impact of her parents on her colourful career, from her mother’s glamorous na
The Chromologist: Julius Roberts
Patrick O’Donnell takes a trip to Dorset to meet first generation farmer, cook and author of The Farm Table — Julius Roberts. Together they take a tour of the farm and Julius describes the deep yellow of a childhood spent digging in the garden, raising baby rabbits and watching his grandmother whisk up delicious family meals. He also reflects on the Bamboozle red of a youth spent working
The Chromologist: Sheila Bridges
Interior designer Sheila Bridges, also known as Harlem Toile Girl, talks to Patrick O’Donnell from her home in the Hudson Valley. She describes her fascination with toile de jouy printed fabrics and how she decided to create her own toile, depicting scenes from African American life. Together they explore the pink patterned wallpaper of Sheila’s childhood bedroom, the Oval Room Blue of her definin
The Chromologist: Sarah Winman
Author of international best-selling novels ‘When God was a Rabbit’ and ‘Still Life’, Sarah Winman invites Patrick O’Donnell into her flat in London. Together they muse on the vibrant green of childhood football matches on newly cut grass, the deep blue of the mediterranean sea she loved in her youth and the soulful grey of her defining decade, moving to London and coming out as a gay woman.Learn
The Chromologist: Tony Liu
Tony Liu, entrepreneur and co-founder of cutting edge Instagram account Diet Prada which critiques fashion, pop culture, and current events talks with Patrick O’Donnell from New York. Together they discuss the huge influence of the PRADA colour palette on Tony’s life and work. Tony also recalls his first suit in grey at the age of just four and what it symbolised, his passion for green which he as
The Chromologist: Momtaz Begum-Hossain
In this special episode to mark World Mental Health Day, Patrick O’Donnell talks to colour therapist and writer Momtaz Begum-Hossain about the way colour has transformed her life and the way she uses it to support and empower others. She describes the joy of the beautiful droplets of pistachio green food colouring she used to make peppermint creams at school and the balm of re-discovering citron y
The Chromologist: Alyssa Nitchun
Alyssa Nitchun, Director of the Leslie-Lohman Museum of art in New York, talks to Patrick O’Donnell about the colours of her life from her New York apartment. She shares tales of her candyfloss pink childhood passion for dressing up, her pitch black youth as a goth and she describes the bright red of her defining decade as a queer DJ and advocate for queer art and expression. She says, ‘I chose re
The Chromologist: Christine Van Der Hurd
Textile designer Christine Van Der Hurd invites Patrick O’Donnell into her home in London’s Notting Hill Gate. For more than three decades Christine has been designing for textile collections with Cappellini, Liberty London and Louis Vuitton among others as well as museums including the V &A in London. She describes the deep aubergine of her early childhood growing up surrounded by her father’
The Chromologist: Sean Anthony Pritchard
Gardener and landscape designer Sean Anthony Pritchard takes Patrick O’Donnell through his garden gate and into his Somerset cottage in the Mendip Hills. From the crimson red of his grandfather’s sweet peas, to the green of his years travelling the London underground on the district line, he shares colours that connect the different chapters of his life. And he takes Paddy into his glorious rose g
The Chromologist: Michelle Dockery
Actress Michelle Dockery is best known for starring as the brilliant and brutally honest Lady Mary Crawley in the TV series Downton Abbey, for which she’s won a number of awards. In this first episode of a new series of The Chromologist she invites Patrick O’Donnell into her London home to talk about the colours which have shaped her life. Together they discuss the deep green of her indie youth, t
The Chromologist: Glyn Fussell
Glyn Fussell, activist and creative who describes himself as ‘the party starter who changed the scene forever’ invites Patrick O’Donnell into his newly painted Essex home deep in Epping forest. Glyn is the wild mind behind the trailblazing queer party Sink the Pink and the co-creator of one of the UK’s biggest pop music festivals, Mighty Hoopla. This special conversation marks PRIDE month and Farr
The Chromologist: Lucinda Chambers
Lucinda Chambers is one of fashion’s most influential figures. She’s former director for Vogue and the founder of boutique online retail outlets Collagerie and Colville. In this episode, she invites Patrick into her West London home to share her life in colour – from the coral of her mother’s creativity and her childhood homes to the traditional deep blue of French workwear, which for her sy
The Chromologist: Eric Underwood
Former Royal Ballet dancer and model, Eric Underwood, welcomes Patrick into the rambling Chiltern farmhouse he’s recently moved to. In the cosiness of Eric’s library snug they talk about his deep bond with his mother which he likens to the expansive blue of the colour Borrowed Light, about his childhood growing up in Washington D.C as a gifted dancer and about his experiences as one of the few pro
The Chromologist: Skye Gyngell
Australian, Michelin-starred chef and former food editor for Vogue, Skye Gyngell, invites Patrick into her beautiful restaurant, Spring, at Somerset House in London. Together they savour the story of Skye’s upbringing through her choice of deep, dark greens and bright, bold yellows. She says: ‘If you’ve grown up in a country like Australia, the majesty of nature is so huge, the skies are so vast,
The Chromologist: Christopher John Rogers
American fashion designer and luminary Christopher John Rogers talks to Patrick about the colours of his life, from his studio in Manhattan. Christopher recently collaborated with Farrow & Ball on the Carte Blanche collection - a capsule collection of paint and paper inspired by childhood memories of food and family. In this conversation he shares four colours from that collecti
The Chromologist: Cerys Matthews
Singer, author and broadcaster Cerys Matthews brings Patrick into her River home in this special episode of The Chromologist. It’s a joyous first meeting and the two discover they share a great love of mud colours, conch shells and the rich greens of the Welsh countryside. Cerys also shares the deep red colour of her Catatonia years. ‘It was a wide old word. A fiery red is always what I think abou
The Chromologist: Kassia St Clair
Colour historian and author of The Secret Lives of Colour, Kassia St Clair, leads Patrick through her pink front door to share her lifetime love of colour. From the beige her father was obsessed with to the bright pink of her mother’s florist shop, she shares colours that connect the different chapters of her life. She also offers up some of her own fascinating colour tales, including the ext
The Chromologist: Tan France
Queer Eye TV show star and fashion guru, Tan France, offers Patrick a glimpse of his Utah home, which he shares with his husband Rob and two young children. Together they explore the colours that have shaped Tan over his lifetime, from the bright red of his cousin’s wedding dress to the rich greens of the mountains he looks onto each morning over a noisy family breakfast in Utah. ‘I live in c
The Chromologist: Mary Portas
Mary Portas, creative trailblazer and retail revolutionary, invites Patrick O’Donnell into her London home to talk about the colours that have guided her through her life. ‘The world is colourful’ she says, ‘I always see my life in colour’. Together they delve into the way colours open a door onto chapters of our lives. ‘Orange has always been a great friend to me - through my hair, my fashion, my
The Chromologist: Preview
If you had to choose four key colours that have shaped your life, what would they be? Colour expert for Farrow & Ball, Patrick O’Donnell, explores how colour works in our homes but also how it works in our heads, our hearts, our identities. He joins creatives, designers and performers who reveal their stories through colour, guided by the Farrow and Ball colour chart. Guests include Mary
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