For the love of color
As founder and CEO of the kitchenware brand Hedley & Bennett, Ellen Bennett has brought a rainbow of color to kitchen apparel, like her signature chef’s aprons. She brings that same passion for color to her home.
When Ellen started dating her now-husband, Casey Caplowe, he was rebuilding his clean-lined, neutral modern home after a fire. She soon set about imbuing it with her trademark love of energetic color. The walls remained white and the woods natural, but soon, a brilliant yellow stove was purchased for the kitchen, the front door was painted Kelly green, and a sliding barn door was customized with triangles of vivid coral and orange.
“My love of color comes from spending long periods of time in Mexico, where it’s not unusual to have a turquoise house or a Barragán pink wall,” says Ellen, whose mother is Mexican. “I embrace color in every way, shape, and form. Even my wedding dress was a vivid yellow ombre.” And Ellen’s inspirational book, Dream First, Details Later, which came out this past year, is one of the few business books you’ll find filled with crayon-bright hues.
In this house, there’s actually not color on the walls – and the walls are mostly filled with windows, flooding the house with natural light. “The windows frame the outdoors like a painting,” says Ellen. “It feels a little like a treehouse, perched on top of the hill.”
“Everyone who walks in says, ‘Oh, I love it here – it feels so welcoming and approachable.’ It’s not like a sterile modern house where you feel like you can’t touch anything. You instantly feel the warmth that comes from inviting color.” — Ellen Bennett
A fine balance
“We used to have a navy blue couch, but when we chose this beautiful seaglass-hued Kelston Sofa, it lifted the spirits of the room,” says Ellen. And in Crypton® fabric, it will stand up to their soon-to-be-born baby. “Our approach has been to create a timeless foundation of natural wood, white walls, and large windows, and then add hits of color that aren’t trendy, but will look good today and in ten years.”
Sparks of color
Violin Chair
Blue can act like a neutral, and it holds its own against the bold coral and orange barn door in the dining area. The Violin Chair’s slender, curved form offers a harmonious blend of comfort and clean lines.
Eames Hang-It-All
Corey’s Hang-It-All was one piece that survived the house fire. Its colorful knobs encourage organization and echo the bright hues of Ellen’s Hedley & Bennett aprons.
Magis Sam Son Chair
Nestled in Ellen and Casey’s drought-tolerant garden, the Sam Son Chair makes a bold statement with its overscaled sculptural form and brilliant pop of color.