Meet the colour consultants that can help you find your perfect palette
‘Connecting to the colours that resonate with us can provoke a richer way of living.’ So says Despina Curtis of Etté colour consultancy (the name is snipped from the word ‘palette’). With co-founder Natalie Jones, she is on a mission to show brands and individuals how to unlock colour’s subtle power, whether that’s by picking an energising shade for a shop or the perfect hue for a lamp.
Having started her career as a textile designer in New York before moving to London and working as a style editor (including at ELLE Decoration), Curtis established her own studio, creating sets and curating spaces for the likes of COS, Carl Hansen & Søn and Kvadrat. Jones, meanwhile, worked in trend forecasting before moving to Somerset, where she launched Caro, a lifestyle brand with a popular shop and B&B in Bruton.
After collaborating and sharing countless conversations about colour, they decided to turn their passion and expertise into a business. Etté offers a range of services, including colour curation for residential and commercial spaces and helping brands with logos and packaging, as well as forecasting and product design.
It also works with architects to create palettes for their clients and advise on the most effective paint and material finishes for different surfaces. Inspiration can come from literature, art or nature, but ultimately is rooted in an instinctive, nostalgic response to memories – ‘a bakery we may have visited in childhood, a bar in New York or a walk in the woods,’ says Jones.
The brand has already worked on the colour curation of three pieces from Another Country’s ‘Hardy’ range (a recent launch saw them displayed at the brand’s Marylebone store, where we collaborated in a colourful launch event). ‘The palette is inspired by Thomas Hardy, reflecting the dark shades of the Victorian era but with a modern influence,’ says Jones. The duo have also mixed two bespoke hues for Palefire’s ‘Pavilion’ table lamp. Next, they’re working with the sustainable self-care brand Commune.
Etté is also busy with several residential projects in Somerset and London. Clients include curators and artists – people who, says Curtis, ‘you wouldn’t expect to have any issues with choosing colours’. The reason, believes Jones, is that, ‘in a creative industry, you often have a partner or team to talk to about your ideas, but when you’re doing your own home you can feel quite alone’. That’s where Etté can help to empower braver choices. ‘I don’t think there are any specific rules, and that’s the positive thing to embrace,’ adds Curtis. ‘Nobody else needs to like it: it is completely up to you.’ ettecolour.com; @ettecolour
