A Colourful Transformation at the Chalet Symonds Yat with Farrow & Ball
Shot between the first and second UK lockdowns, this project was one of those rare opportunities where location, subject, and story came together perfectly. I was commissioned by Farrow & Ball to produce a short film highlighting their colour consultancy service — a shoot that would take me to a well-known location: The Chalet Symonds Yat, a house many will recognise from Netflix’s “Sex Education.”
While the focus was on the paint — and how F&B's design team collaborates with homeowners to choose the right palette — the real character of the film comes from the house itself. Perched above the Wye Valley, the chalet is eclectic, layered, and cinematic even before the cameras roll. It became both a subject and a set.
A Home with a Cinematic History
The Chalet Symonds Yat has gained a cult following thanks to its appearance in “Sex Education,” but even outside that context, it’s a dream to film in. With large windows, textured wood interiors, and quirky corners, the house was the perfect canvas for a visual transformation.
The colour consultation process focused on enhancing the personality of each room, not just applying paint. Watching the design choices evolve — and then capturing the result over 2 separate shoots — felt more like shooting a short documentary than a traditional brand piece. Each room told its own story through colour, and that really came through on camera.
Lightweight, Responsive Filmmaking
With ongoing Covid restrictions at the time, we approached this as a lean two-person crew, balancing safety with creative flexibility. I directed and operated alongside a second camera operator, using a Panasonic EVA1 as our main camera together with the Panasonic S1 as the b-camera during the interviews or on the gimbal for b-roll. This setup gave us cinematic image quality without the weight and footprint of a larger crew or rig.
The compact kit let us move quickly between rooms, follow action organically, and respond to the changing light throughout the day.
Visual Storytelling Through Conversation
At the heart of the film was a candid conversation between the homeowner and the Farrow & Ball colour consultant. This wasn’t a scripted brand piece — it was a thoughtful exchange about personality, lifestyle, and how colour can shape the way you experience a space.
Capturing this dialogue brought an deeper layer to the project. It gave context to the design choices and helped viewers understand the “why” behind the makeover. By letting the subjects speak in their own words, we were able to show the collaborative and human side of interior design — how good colour decisions aren’t just aesthetic, but also personal.
This kind of interview-driven approach is something I return to often in my work: using real conversations to bring depth, relatability, and honesty to branded storytelling.
If you’re brand or agency looking to document a creative process — whether it's design-led, craft-based, or personal — please get in touch!
