FROM THE HEDGEROW EYE ON DESIGN
Cathryn Helsby, marketing manager at Earthborn, chats about the new Earth colours and reveals why beige is back
Why did you want to launch a new collection?
We like to give our collection a refresh every couple of years, but having been through so much this year we thought it was the right time to introduce a palette of timeless colours. The hope is to enhance people’s wellbeing by connecting them with nature and bringing the outdoors into their homes. At Earthborn we pride ourselves on our eco-friendly formulas, which contain a high proportion of natural clay earth pigments, so it felt right to introduce a palette of grounding shades that really went back to our roots in the natural world. Themed around the earth, land, sand, sea and clouds, the five new shades – Crocky Road, Grassy, Sandy Castle, Skipper and Up Up and Away (swatches left from top) – all sit harmoniously together, but equally pair well with our existing colours.
How did you decide particular these shades?
Our colours are influenced by a combination of factors: how we want our homes to look and feel, colour trends, and what tones might complement our existing palette as a whole. Beige and warm neutrals are definitely coming through and we felt that we needed more tonal variations to complete our collection. There’s been a lot of negativity over the last couple of months, so introducing uplifting and calming creams into the home, such as Sandy Castle, is a great antidote. Whites and greys will always be popular, but can be on the cold side, whereas Sandy Castle and Crocky Road will still brighten up a room while bringing the warmth and intimacy that we are craving right now. Crocky Road in particular is a soft, earthy tone that will really complement the character of period homes; we named it after our local adventure trail, where the colour of the earth really resonated with us.
How can you be creative with paint in a period home? In older properties people quite rightly want to keep the authenticity of the building, but that doesn’t mean you can’t introduce colour. In homes that have high ceilings you can afford to be a bit experimental. Crocky Road (pictured above) gives this room a calming feel but pairs beautifully with Milk Jug, above the picture rail, for a playful twist.
What’s your favourite colour in the palette?
Grassy – it’s an elegant, hazy grey-green inspired by misty, mountainous landscapes. I love it because it can look different depending on the light, which is something I’m always drawn to. It pairs brilliantly with mustard hues.