Above: Michelle Ogundehin at home with colours from the Michelle Ogundehin X Graphenstone collection – Dirty Brownish on the panels, Dark Navy on the Dado Trim, Palest Lemon on the window reveals, Dirty Lavender on the walls with Terracotta on the left of picture. Credit: Ellis Parrinder
Graphenstone Purifying Paints, one of the most widely certified paint brands in the world has collaborated with Michelle Ogundehin, one of the most influential figures in British Interior Design on an edit of sixteen soothing paint shades. The new collection which launches in April, lovingly crafted by Michelle, is designed for wellbeing and selected for ease. It is a foundational palette for the entire home.
The Michelle Ogundehin X Graphenstone Collection is a ‘one stop palette’ providing everything you need for a cohesive, considered selection of colours, deliberately designed so that all the colours work perfectly together.
“I wanted to create a relaxed, soothing palette that felt full of delight but never overwhelming. The core colours spring from the softer side of the green and blue families. However dirty touches stop it becoming too languid, and a dash of the unexpected adds that all important spice.
“When we talk about the pillars of good health, nutrition, exercise, and sleep, are usually mentioned, with good reason, but we rarely hear the importance of our personal environments discussed, arguably the place where everything comes together! Graphenstone and I share a passionate commitment to help people create environments in which to thrive, because a nurturing, supportive and toxin-free home is the very foundation of wellbeing.” Michelle Ogundehin.
Patrick Folkes, founder Graphenstone UK said, “With Michelle’s background as a trained architect, many years as Editor-in-Chief of Elle Decoration and Head Judge on BBC1’s Interior Design Masters coupled with her passion for the environment and how to create a healthy home, our collaboration seemed like an obvious one. We have all worked very hard and closely on the creation of this inspiring range - the colour palette works perfectly with our ‘harm free’ paints made using natural minerals and sustainable raw materials.”
Above: Colours shown: Dark Fir and Dark Turquoise. To ensure all the colours in the collection work perfectly together Michelle Ogundehin paints on canvas – all the colours are inspired by nature.
Q&A with Michelle Ogundehin
Q: How did you create the palette?
A: I began by playing around with blues and greens, the elemental colours of sea, sky and earth. I painted sheet upon sheet with samples, blending and comparing, sorting and choosing. Slowly, the mood began to come together. Every shade is designed to work perfectly with any other, which is hard to do! Over several months, more samples were tried, and sixteen shades were finally selected.
Q: How do you make sure all the colours work together perfectly?
A: To test the combinations, I have an unusual approach – I make paintings! On canvas. Not walls. Because the colours are inspired by nature, I return them to nature to truly see if they work. If I can paint a landscape with my colours - it works! Truly cohesive and considered. I hope you love them as much as I do.
