If you’re partial to calm and understated neutral paint colours that become a backdrop for everyday life, then you’re going to love this new boutique paint collection by London-based Cassandra Ellis Studio.
Comprised of 18 carefully curated, timeless colours, the newly launched Ellis Paint Collection connects with nature and is inspired by the rich patina of tones seen in our cityscapes. The harmonious spectrum runs from Whites and Pales to Mediums and Darks – there’s delicate greyed whites and the gauzy pale beiges of marble; warm, muted greys and pale, faded pinks inspired by London’s V&A gallery; smokey grey-greens captured from ancient flaking walls and frescos; a dark ink blue evoking washed-out indigo cloth and a faded black bringing to mind scorched Japanese tea houses. Each tone tells a story and evokes a familiar place.
The paint collection embraces Cassandra Ellis Studio’s ethos for timeless furniture and simple interiors that are both useful and beautiful – a philosophy that closely chimes with my own. She describes her aesthetic as ‘a new classicism’, one that is neither minimalist nor traditional, but honest and emotive. I like that her spaces (see some here) connect to the past and appeal to the senses, but are still clean and unfussy, much like my other two favourites Faye Toogood and Ilse Crawford.
She says: ‘Inspired by modernist painters, sculptors, architecture and makers, the approach is united by an underlying attention to detail, surface and form. This results in furniture and paint palettes that are quiet and painterly, infused with simplicity paired with thoughtful detailing.’
Ellis has worked closely with a colourist to develop the paints and each colour is hand-mixed to order in London, perfect if you’re looking for that perfect shade of grey or richly pigmented neutral. She explains:
‘I’ve been thinking about making a paint range for a very long time. I’ve always mixed my own colours to make relaxed palettes for homes and the atmosphere I wanted to create.’
‘I’ve produced a tightly edited range of colours that can be used alone or together, without any of them being overwhelming or attention-seeking.’
‘For me, it’s about making an uplifiting backdrop to life – they should wrap around you. I believe colour should be part of the fabric of your home. That’s why they’ve all been mixed to be quiet, calm and enveloping.’
And if you like the look of these colours, then be sure to check out the studio’s furniture too. Designed and made in the UK, Ellis works closely with respected English furniture makers and textile craftspeople to make pieces that reflect her quiet and understated aesthetic. You’ll find handmade wooden tables and stools, elegant upholstered settees and deeply comfortable armchairs. The beautiful wooden chopping boards and trays have caught my eye in particular.
It’s lovely to discover a new paint company which has been created with so much thought and intention – a slightly different offering to the masses of paint brands out there. If you’re looking for a paint that will add character and timeless presence to an interior, then look no further.
All images courtesy Cassandra Ellis
