Designer Spotlight: Gray Benko

It’s hard not to fall in love with the spirited, joyful interiors of Gray Benko. With a background in photography and a love for all things colorful and bold, the designer transforms spaces in a way that feels effortlessly layered and completely fresh.

We got the chance to chat with Gray about everything from her vibrant design approach to the story behind her stunning multicolored checkerboard bathroom filled with Fireclay Tile. Keep reading for the full interview!

Meet Gray!

Hi Gray! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your design background?

Hi! My path to interior design has been a little bit different than most people’s. I actually started off as a photographer. I think that my photographer’s eye has really played a part in my love for interiors in a lot of ways. Anyway, I started photographing and sharing my own house and people eventually started asking me to help them with their homes! And I guess the rest is history.

What does your design process look like? What’s your favorite part?

I honestly am still not sure if I have a “process”. It looks a little bit different for me every time. I know that when I am working on a room in my own home, it looks a lot like a random idea popping into my head and then me over thinking every aspect until the room “feels” 100% right. I think a lot of my process is just about how I want a space to feel and then just trial and error until it’s right. Seeing it all come together in the right way is by far the best part.

How would you describe your aesthetic, and where do you draw inspiration from?

I think I would describe my aesthetic as “happy but also moody and eclectic maximalism” lol. I am a Gemini so I am kind of all over the place with what I want to see and feel in my house.

Can you share your 3 best design tips?

1. Don’t feel like you have to do everything at once. Collect things over time that you love and don’t just buy something to fill a hole. Wait to find the thing that makes you feel happy every time you look at it.

2. Sprinkle in antiques, always. I love a good mix of old and new.

3. Use things in your spaces that have meaning to you. Whether it be an antique dresser that belonged to your grandmother or that special trinket that you found on a vacation with someone who means a lot to you. Those are the things that give a room soul.

How do you factor sustainability into your designs?

The number one way for me would be that I use A LOT of antiques. There are so many cool things that exist out there already without having to buy something shiny and new. You just have to go look…and the looking part is so much fun!

Why do you like using tile in your designs?

I love using tile in my designs because it’s a great way to add really amazing color and texture!

Let’s talk about your colorful checkered bathroom! Can you tell us about this space? Was it a remodel or renovation?

This was a full renovation. When we moved into this house, the bathroom was very out of date but still fully functional. It was a room that I filed away as a “one day project” and not necessarily a “right now project”. I waited until I felt inspired (which actually happened one day while scrolling through Fireclay’s Instagram account) and then I sprang into action.

What were the goals for this bathroom? What kind of look were you going for?

Fireclay Tiles come in the prettiest colors. I really wanted to lean into that and design a space that was just for me and would spark joy every time I set foot in it. For me, it’s the happiest bathroom and I honestly still can’t believe it’s real.

Which of our tiles would you love to use in future projects?

I love all of your ceramic tiles so much but lately I have been really interested in trying your hand-painted tile collaboration with Block Shop! SO many fun possibilities.

If you're inspired by Gray's stunning use of color, sample her Fireclay favorites to bring home her look—your first five color samples are free through a rep!