Esther Patterson is the visionary designer behind the iconic brand Curiousa, known for bringing artful lighting to life with unique craftsmanship and creativity. If you’ve seen the Barbie movie, you may have already caught a glimpse of Curiousa’s lights adding their charm to the set.

At the 2023 Decorex Colour Trail, a concept I created and brought to life, Esther’s work shone as our ‘Best in Show.’ It was also where I had the pleasure of meeting her in person for the first time. She was absolutely lovely, and we quickly lost track of time chatting about all things colour!

I’m thrilled to welcome Esther to The Colour Couch, where she shares her journey, inspirations, and the passion for colour that defines her creations.

What is your earliest colour memory?

My mum loves gardening and flowers. So perhaps they were my first powerful colour memories – in the garden with my mum picking buttercups and daisies.

What does colour mean to you?

I can’t imagine a world without colour. It’s at the heart of everything. Our food we eat, the clothes we wear, the car we drive. The colours we choose to have a round us speaks volumes about who we are as individuals. Colour can make you feel well with the world and harmonious or it can even drain your energy and make you feel flat. Colour is powerful.

Do you have a favourite colour or a colour that you find yourself constantly drawn to? And why?

Possibly green is the colour I identify with – mainly as it reminds me of nature and the many greens there are captured in one landscape. Green is warm and comforting but can also feel fresh and new and full of hope.

Do you have a colour that you least like? And why?

Black – I had a phase of buying black clothes. Probably when the kids were little and I didn’t have time to think. It was easy. Now I go out of my way to not buy black as I know I’m being lazy – with colour you have to put more thought into it – it demands your attention but black is too easy. So yes I’d say black.

What do you love most about working with colour?

I have a love for colour palettes. Sometimes it’s more about how we combine colours than the colours themselves. I like to be surprised by colour too. I like it when I stretch out of my comfort zone and bravely go for a colour combination that isn’t typically me. It stretches you and colour challenges you. It entices you. 

What do you think your life would be like without colour?

A little boring.

What’s your favourite colour story?

When I first went to college, around 18 years old, I started to learn to choose my own clothes that expressed me. It’s quite hard growing up but it’s an important step to finding your own style. As I didn’t have much money and I needed individual clothes you couldn’t find on the high street, second hand clothes shops were the thing. I remember my first slightly wild purchase – a bright red coat with a bright red hat. I can picture it now, it was a thick cotton material and it had a 60’s Mac style with a matching belt. The hat was felt with a rim. I felt so happy wearing it.

Were you ever afraid or wary of colour? And what did you do to overcome this?

No really – I’m more wary of non-colour and sometimes try to tone my colours down to have a more classic look.

Do you have a favourite colourful place that you visit (or have visited)?

Charleston House in Sussex is a hidden treasure and the most wonderful place to visit to get inspired by colour in the home. Every possible surface is painted from doors to walls, to curtains or lamp shades. It’s truly a celebration of pattern and colour.

It was purchased in 1916 by Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant – artists and writers and members of the Bloomsbury Group which included Vanessa’s sister Virginia Wolf. It was a great place of refuge and meeting of creative ideas and its beauty is the result of their collective minds, filled with artworks, murals and mementos that reflect the groups, sometime controversial, aspirations.

If you could pick any colour and give it a name, what would that be?

That lovely bright mossy green – Verdant.

For anyone afraid of colour what would your number 1 piece of advice be?

Start with something small and work up slowly – grow into colour and gently drip feed yourself. You’ll get used to being with colour and it will get used to you.

Which colourful person do you most admire and would love me to interview for the On the Colour Couch series?

Adam Nathaniel Furman – he embraces colour like no other and a brilliant designer.

I just love Esther’s comment: ‘The colours we choose to have around us speak volumes about who we are as individuals. Colour can make you feel well with the world and harmonious, or it can even drain your energy and make you feel flat.’ That’s the power of colour, right?!

And it just so happens that I have Adam Nathaniel Furman on my wish list so stay tuned!

If you would like to discover more about Esther Patterson, head over to her Instagram @estherpattersondesign.

Watch the Decorex panel discussion, ‘Why Do We Need Colour – Can We Live Without It?’, featuring Esther and others (including myself).

Wishing you a colourful day,
Karenx

You can find out more about Decorex over here.