51 www.CharlestonWomenPodcast.com | www.ReadCW.com | www.Instagram.com/CharlestonWomen Her hair was red and her shoes — that day, at least — were pink. Her dress was spackled flowers of every hue that looked like paint spatter from a distance. Her eyes, the darkest brown, are what happens when every color is liberally mixed. Her name, Gray, quite the juxtaposition to her style, fits her in some strange way. It’s as if it challenged her to go out and color her world. If there’s any truth to that, she took that challenge to heart. Earlier this year, Chip and Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Network launched a new reality series highlighting a color-happy designer, her handy husband, loveablebut-grumpy father, two adorable kids, and a handful of quirky staff. Filming from the historic district of Charleston’s little sister, Summerville, “Happy to be Home with the Benkos” showcases the restorations and glowups of historic Lowcountry homes. And. We. Are. Here. For. It. Why? It’s not only another home improvement show, and it’s not just because this is our backyard. Those are reasons enough when weaving in the charms and nostalgia of the antiquated Charleston homes into the mix, but we are romanticizing the new program for another reason: Benko herself. She is the “x” factor. She is inspiring everyone around her to be authentic, to be bold in choice and to literally color their worlds. This is a girl Anything but Gray Summerville woman “shows” off Lowcountry color in new series BY LORNA HOLLIFIELD Charleston Women at Home Gray Benko (front) with Chelcie Eastman (background). Photo by Bobby McCullough.
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