Twelve colours inspired by a dream home in Italy
Above: Living room with sideboard from Merchant & Found and wall ceilings and window surrounds in Giardino
Graphenstone Purifying Paints, one of the most widely certified paint brands in the world has collaborated with Kate Watson Smyth of ‘Mad About the House’ on a new collection of paints created for Kate’s new home in Italy. The collection of 12 colours combines the deeply romantic shades of Northern Italy with the softer palette of the British countryside, a palette that has been carefully designed to be combined in endless ways to suit every interior regardless of location, launching July 2024.
Kate Watson Smyth at home in Italy with windows and shutters in Barolo and walls in Crema
The evocative palette of colours has been used throughout the six-bedroom villa nestled in the hills just outside Turin which will shortly open for design retreats. Each colour is inspired by Italy. Barolo is the deep red of the famous Piemonte wine, Gelato is a soft plaster pink which tells of summer ice cream. Ortensia and Giardino reflect the vibrant hydrangeas and dense shrubs in the garden of the noble villa Kate now calls home. Verde Torinese references the darker, forest shades of the surrounding hills. Sole, Lavanda and Oliva bring a softer, effortless Italian style.
“To create a bespoke palette of colours inspired by my very own Italian home and in a paint that is both kind to both people and the planet is a dream come true the perfect scenario. It has long been a dream in the making – my husband and I have been looking for our own slice of Italian dolce vita for over 30 years, since we met but they say houses find you and when we first saw the villa in the pouring rain we both had tears rolling down our cheeks – and it wasn’t the rain, it was perfect.
“Each colour in this palette is inspired by our love of Italy, a celebration of the passion, style, and joy it has brought to our lives. The colours work alone or equally well together in Britain where the light is a little cooler – bringing a softer, romantic and sensual palette to the interior. In my role as an interior’s writer and commentator for the past 20 years I have studied every colour palette - The Italian Collection created with Graphenstone really does combine everything you will ever need alongside being a natural mineral based paint, better for the planet and healthier to live with” Kate Watson Smyth, Mad About the House.
Patrick Folkes, founder Graphenstone UK said, “We are huge fans of Mad About the House and so inspired by Kate’s Italian adventure which led to her finding her dream home. We have worked closely together and are delighted to bring this colour collection to launch from our Norfolk factory. Using Kate’s unique interiors know how and trained eye, the palette is exquisite and works beautifully with Graphenstone’s sustainable ingredients and raw materials – one of the most certified 'harm-free' mineral paints in the world.”
The Italian collection by Graphenstone also sits alongside a complimentary bespoke palette of tiles created by Kate Watson Smyth in collaboration with Maitland and Poate.
The Italian collection is available to buy online at www.graphenstone-ecopaints.store with free colour cards available.