A happy announcement from natural paint brand Atelier Ellis this month: Their True Matte Emulsion is moving to a newly developed bio-based formulation. It’s a move that has taken company founder, Cassandra Ellis, and her chemist two years to perfect. It’s also a move that is completely new to the UK. We spoke to Cassandra—whose gentle approach to homemaking we have long admired—about the next iteration of her paints.
Above: The Atelier Ellis paint factory in Bath.

“I’m very lucky in that I’ve built this business from the kitchen table,” Cassandra says. “There’s no debt; I don’t have investors or anybody else telling me that I need to expand. That means, with every sale I make, I can do better by concentrating on what I know is the right thing to do.” For Cassandra, that means making the best product she can with the minimal amount of variations while gradually encouraging people to think a little differently about what it is they are consuming.
Above: Bio-based paint charts are hand-brushed by a team of art students.

Atelier Ellis has always been transparent about what goes into their paint and where the ingredients are sourced from. This latest innovation will see their vinyl acetate resin replaced with bio-based raw materials—including sugar, bio ethanol, and vegetable, linseed, or castor oil. Over 90 percent of Atelier Ellis’s ingredients are sourced from the UK (including their cans); the remainder is sourced from Europe. Until there is greater demand in the UK, the new bio-based resin is sourced from a supplier in Germany.
Above: The new bio-based paints will have the same durability as the Atelier’s existing Steadfast finish, meaning it is wipeable as opposed to scrubbable. (Says Cassandra: “I will let other people do scrubbable paints, because I won’t put fungicides in my paint.”)

The new bio formulation was rigorously tried and tested by a team of professional decorators and found to improve both the materiality and performance of the emulsion with no compromise on breathability or maintaining minimal VOC levels. “It’s got a grip to it, coverage is better, and it’s more robust,” Cassandra says.
Above: “Tweaking, iterating, and adjusting” inside the Atelier Ellis factory.

The Atelier Ellis showroom in Bath will be given a fresh coat of bio-based paint this spring for visitors to see, stroke, and smell the new formulation for themselves. The scent of the new product has been likened to a ripe bowl of apples or a rich, unscented face cream. “What it doesn’t smell of is what we think of as paint,” says Cassandra. “There’s a really interesting discussion to have,” she adds. “If it doesn’t smell like paint, what does paint smell like? And what’s in paint that makes it smell like that?”
Above: Color samples on display in the Bath townhouse.
Above: “The smell of ripe apples”: The Atelier Ellis townhouse in Bath.

The formulation is currently undergoing testing on the Atelier’s range of eggshell and soft gloss finishes for wood, metal, and floors; Cassandra hopes to launch that line later this year. Until then, she’ll be in her paint factory “tweaking, iterating, and adjusting” her offering. “I just want to be proud of what our customer puts on their walls,” she says. “I have to keep moving forward, to make it better and better and better. Did the world need another paint brand?” she asks rhetorically. “No, but as long as I’m making beautiful products in beautiful colors and the process of buying from us is kind and beautiful, then you can start to think about it as a conduit for having a proper conversation about home and humanity.”

For more on Atelier Ellis’s eco paint lines, head to their site.

And more earth-friendly paint lines we love, see 10 Easy Pieces: Latex-Free Paints. | BidBuddy.com

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We recently discovered the work of architects Nicolas Mussche and Elodie Doukhan and Nicolas Mussche of Paris-based Mudo through photographer Mary Gaudin who shot their latest project in Gentilly, an inner suburb just south of Paris.

Located on a former working class street where factories have been replaced with offices and residences, the house has been lived in for several years  by the client, a landscaper who contacted Nicolas and Elodie about the refurbishment. “The building was in pretty bad shape at the time, with leaks and moisture issues, and a few cracks related to the underground quarries below (they’re very frequent in that side of Paris),” Nicolas explains. It was time for an update. The gut renovation kept most of the concrete and cinderblock structure, built around 1910, in tact. “We proposed a very sober and clear architecture, working on some archetypal Parisian pavilion traits while bringing a touch of modernity,” says Nicolas.

Photography by Mary Gaudin.
Above: Mudo worked to keep as much ground space in the front yard as possible. The existing enclosed carport was replaced with a wooden pergola. The fence was replaced with steel frames and perforated panels finished with zinc plating.

The house is just 75 square meters (about 800 square feet) and includes two bedrooms and one bathroom in addition to a basement floor. “The building was deteriorating, mostly the roof and the existing lean-to,” says Nicolas. “The lean-to was too dilapidated to be preserved, so we had to rebuild it with a timber frame extension, on top of a concrete raft due to the quarries geotechnical constraints.” The roof was rebuilt to create more space on the second floor and the house was “wrapped” in a wood fiber insulation.
Above: The wood cladding on the exterior is Douglas fir that Mudo chose for its durability. The sliding doors and all windows are framed in spruce to match the interior. The initial proposal was entirely in Douglas fir but due to inflation of cost during the project, the architects opted for a more affordable option.

Having both studied at the École Spéciale d’Architecture in Paris and worked at firms in Paris and Montreal, Elodie and Nicolas founded Mudo in 2020. The duo appreciates architectural solutions that are pragmatic and poetic in equal measure, with sustainability top of mind. In the Gentilly refurbishment, the architects worked to achieve ecological objectives by preserving as much of the existing layout as possible (to reduce the carbon footprint of the construction as well as to preserve heritage). They used a limited range of materials and kept construction as light as possible. Finally, they “wrapped” the house in wood fiber insulation to limit cold bridges.
Above: Sliding glass doors open into the kitchen.
Above: The countertop is a grey Romanian marble with deep shades of blue veining, brought to Mudo by the contractor’s acquaintance who owns a quarry in Romania. In keeping within budget constraints, the appliances are all Ikea.
Above: The custom kitchen is built out of 3-ply spruce panels coated with a clear satin varnish.
Above: Mudo created a 3-ply spruce entryway cabinet surrounding the staircase to serves as storage and a partition between the dining and living rooms.
Above: A view of the dining room and an antique settee that was part of the original living room.
Above: A view looking into the living room.
Above: The living room is designed with the client’s furniture that centers around a vintage Artemide chandelier by Toni Cordero.
Above: “The few concrete structural elements are kept un-plastered as a trace of the structural interventions on the house,” says Nicolas of the exposed concrete window and door framing.
Above: The staircase is original to the house. “It was covered with many layers of paint, so we had to strip it bare. We matched a green paint for the steps and riser elements that is very close to one of those existing paint layers.
Above: The sconce is a vintage Artemide Teti Sconce.
Above: One of the bedrooms designed simply with selective color and the client’s existing furniture.
Above: “The two bedrooms are the bathroom benefit from high ceilings under the 3-ply spruce sloping ceilings, bringing warmth and generosity to these small rooms,” the architects explain.
Above: The second, more compact bedroom on the second floor.
Above: The bathroom is designed with 3-ply spruce storage and Romanian marble to echo the kitchen.
Above: Mudo integrated a circular skylight above the original staircase to bring natural light into the center of the home.
Above: A set of Fermob Luxembourg tables and chairs in bright red stand out against the zinc and Douglas fir backdrop.
Above: “The gate and fence in metal sheet steel provides a gradient of privacy to support future planting,” says Nicolas.
Above: Being a landscaper, the front yard is being planted and managed by the client.

Before

Above: A view of the former property. Photograph courtesy of Mudo.

For more French interiors see our posts:

* A Considered Renovation in Old Versailles by Architect Saba Ghorbanalinejad

* Artist Heather Chontos at Home in Her 18th-Century Stone Farmhouse in Southwest France

* Kitchen of the Week: Designer Gesa Hansen’s Restaurant-Inspired Rustic Kitchen in the French Countryside

* The New Provencal Style: An Artfully Reinvented French Mas

* Indoor-Outdoor Living in Paris: A Windowless Warehouse Converted into a Family Loft, Central Courtyard Included | BidBuddy.com

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Pell Grants are a form of financial aid issued by the United States Department of Education. Unlike other forms of financial aid, Pell Grants are not loans. Recipients don’t have to repay the money that they receive from the grant.

With the average cost of a bachelor’s degree at a public four-year university now costing over $40,000, many students assume that they’ll need to take out student loans to cover the cost. But we always recommend that students try to limit their student debt by pursuing “free” money options first like grants, scholarships, 529 plan funds, and more. 

For those who are able to receive them, Pell Grants are one of the best free financing options for students to offset the high cost of pursuing an undergraduate degree. But there are strict rules about who qualifies for the grant. Here’s what you need to know.

Table of Contents
What Is The Pell Grant?What Are The Qualification Criteria?What Does It Mean To Demonstrate Financial Need?How Much Money Can I Get Through A Pell Grant?How Pell Grants Are CalculatedHow To Apply For A Pell GrantFinal Thoughts

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What Is The Pell Grant?

Pell Grants are federal educational grants (meaning they are free money that does not have to be repaid) that are meant to provide financial aid for students who display “exceptional” financial need. For the 2024-2025 school year, it can provide up to $7,395 per student per year that meets the qualifications.

Unlike many forms of financial aid, Pell Grants aren’t available for graduate students. They’re typically only accessible to students who haven’t earned an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree. In some cases, students training to be teachers can also receive the grant during their master’s degree.

Students who meet the qualification criteria, may receive the grant for 12 terms, which translates to approximately six years of school. This is helpful for students who are not attending school full-time, but still need financial aid.

Related: Do You Have to Pay Back Grants?

What Are The Qualification Criteria?

To qualify for a Pell Grant, you must meet the following criteria:

* Be a US Citizen.
* Are enrolled as a student in an undergraduate program.
* Have not earned an undergraduate (bachelor’s degree) yet or are part of a qualified post baccalaureate teacher’s training program.
* Have completed the FAFSA.
* Have received the grant for less than 12 terms.
* Are able to demonstrate financial need

What Does It Mean To Demonstrate Financial Need?

With college being so expensive, most students are able to demonstrate at least some financial need. However, the Pell Grant is for students from families with very low incomes.

The US Department of Education determines your family’s level of need using a calculation called your “Student Aid Index”. Student Aid Index (SAI) is approximately the amount of money your family is expected to provide to help you with your education.

Students who have parents who earned less than $40,000 in the previous year and were part of a federal benefit program (such as SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, Free Lunch programs etc.) automatically have an SAI of $0. Those from families with higher incomes will have SAI’s above $0, but they may still qualify for the grant.

The Student Aid Estimator is a free calculator that can help you determine how much money you may receive from a Pell Grant if you apply for an undergraduate degree in the future.

How Much Money Can I Get Through A Pell Grant?

For the 2024-2025 School Year (which runs from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025), borrowers can get between $740 to $7,395 from the grant.

* Minimum Pell Grant Award 2024 – 2025: $740
* Maximum Pell Grant Award 2024 – 2025: $7,395

The amount of money you receive depends on three primary factors:

* The cost of attending your school (you cannot receive more than the estimated cost of attendance).
* Your family’s Student Aid Index (which is determined by the FAFSA).
* Your enrollment status (full-time, part-time, etc.)

To get the maximum Pell Grant ($7,395), you must have a Student Aid Index of -$1,500 to $0. Beyond $0, you’ll start to phase out. 

You can see the full 2024-2025 Pell Grant Payment Schedule here.

How Pell Grants Are Calculated

To calculate the amount of Pell Grant a student can receive, schools will use this calculation:

Subtract the student’s SAI from the Max Pell Grant amount. Round to nearest $5. If the result is greater than the Pell Grant minimum, and less than the student’s Cost of Attendance (COA), the student is eligble for a Pell Grant of that result.

There are the main scenarios to calculate a Pell Grant:

Maximum Pell Grant Award (SAI $0 or Less)

The maximum Pell Grant will be awarded to families with an SAI of $0 or less. So anywhere from -$1,500 to $0, you’ll receive the full $7,395 Pell Grant.

SAI Less Than COA 

If the student has an SAI less than the cost of attendance, here is how this calculation looks.

Student SAI: $1,004

Cost Of Attendance: $10,000

Calculation: $7,395 – $1,004 = $6,391 (round to nearest $5) = $6,390

COA Less Than Max Pell Grant Award

A Pell Grant is also capped by the cost of attendance. If the Cost of Attendance is less than the max Pell Grant award, that is used as the cap.

Student SAI: $1,004

Cost of Attendance: $6,000

Calculation: $7,395 – $1,004 = $6,391 (round to nearest $5) = $6,390 | BidBuddy.com

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As the seasons change, coach Darryl Davis writes, it’s time to freshen up your marketing and breathe new life into your connection with your sphere of influence. | BidBuddy.com

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