Those gates really do look good. We advise our customers that if they want a painted finish NOT to go for hardwood. The cost can easily double (if not treble) in price and there is no real advantage if instead using a slow grown softwood! In fact, density level of iroko (hardwood) and slow grown redwood pine is extremely close. Yes hardwood is dense but so is some softwoods. Also, the natural beauty of hardwood with a quality oil finish is stunning and seems a crime to paint - in our opinion!

I personally would not as it might 'peel', it might not, but better safe than sorry. Let the paint thoroughly dry and if it's the same base ie Acrylic, which is most likely these days, then sand and re-paint. If you do not wish to sand, or they are different bases, then wait for the paint to thoroughly dry and then use Zinsser 1-2-3 primer or even Zinsser Peel Stop to go over the gloss and then paint with the Matt.

I have used lots of paints and had a chat with the people at the Brewers near us recently as I'm helping a relative choose colours for a Georgian house overhaul. My own opinion on Paint and Paper library was already that the quality was amazing but the guy at Brewers confirmed it. He also confirmed that (sorry) but F&B is generally awful, watery thin and poor quality. Paint and Paper is easliy at the top of the pile when it comes to quality, Little Greene a possible second. I was tyring to find a really good neutral for my Auntie's House and Stone came out tops, not too yellow, not too green, a perfect neutral. The Stone 1 or 2 was good for woodwork the Stone 3 perfect for walls. I can't comment on the suitablitity for how practical it is, it possibly comes in a wipeable version.

I can recommend Mylands Marble Matt - it’s very matt and scrubbable. It has amazing reviews and my decorator said it was a dream to work with. It’s pricey - same, if not a tad more than Farrow and Ball - but you can buy testers in Brewers and then buy online from somewhere like Paint Depot that tends to be a bit cheaper and always seems to have an extra 10% off!