History needs to be preserved. Gray Benko, who has an eye for aesthetics and color, understands this and is on a journey to preserve that charm. Luckily for us, we get to see her work on the Magnolia Network show Happy to Be Home With the Benkos.
Read on “Gray Benko Biography” to learn more about her.
Gray Benko Talks About Magnolia Network’s Joy of Coming Home to the Benkos
Magnolia Network’s Happy to Be Home With the Benkos features Gray Benko, her husband, and her father as they breathe new life into historic homes in Summerville, South Carolina.
“This new series introduces designer Gray Benko, who brings color and happiness to historic homes in the South Carolina lowlands,” the official description reads. “Her caring craftsman husband, Mike, and eccentric contractor father, Grumpy, join her in making her whimsical visions a reality.”
The premise of the show is the same as any other design show. Gray drives to a new client’s home and sketches out what she wants from their project, and then her dad oversees the entire renovation process. But it’s not as simple as it seems. “With these old houses, you’re looking at 200 years of layers,” says Gray’s husband, Mike. “Renovating a historic house has its own problems.” Still, Gray concludes that they happily accept those challenges because “being able to bring that happiness into the homes we work on means a lot to us.”
Sadly, the show ended after six episodes—each one hour long. And we don’t know if a season 2 will be made.
What is Gray Benko’s net worth?
Gray Benko achieved a net worth of $1 million in 2023.
This renovation expert originally started her career in photography. In fact, she studied Fine Arts and Photography at three major universities—the New York School of Visual Arts, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and Clemson University of South Carolina.
So after graduating, she founded her own company Gray Benko Photography in January 2009 in Charleston and started photographing children and newborns. Eventually, after achieving some success, she expanded into family and commercial photography.
Her work has also been featured in national advertising campaigns, both in print and online, earning her a fierce devotion from the families whose memories she loves to capture. Find out more on FB @graybenko and her official page “graybenko.squarespace.com”
So, after years of photographing children and families, her photographic eye also influenced her design eye; eventually leading her to design her own home. Upon seeing her amazing work, people started asking her to help them design their homes. So, becoming an interior designer was a natural fit for her.
For anyone interested in pursuing a career in interior design, Gray urges them to be patient because “the work is never done.” She implores others to consider themselves “stewards of these homes because they have a long history and will outlive us.”
The relationship between Mike and Gray Benko
Gray married her husband Mike Benko on June 1, 2008. This means they have been together for over 14 years and are still going strong until 2023. However, the road to 14 years of happiness has not been easy.
“I’m not going to lie and pretend it’s always been smooth sailing. We’ve been through some tough years together, some places I wasn’t sure we’d make it through. But we held on and we made it through and I think our relationship today is so much stronger not in spite of it but because of all the hardships, tears and determination,” Gray explained.
As for their children, the couple has a son named Charlie and a daughter named Farris. They were born on August 25, 2012 and September 27, 2009, and will be in fourth and seventh grade respectively in 2023.
Fun Fact: Mike often puts his hand on Gray’s belly as if she were pregnant in pictures.
Gray Benko’s Age
Gray Benko was 41 years old when she appeared on Happy to Be Home With the Benkos in 2023.
She is 8 years younger than Mike.
Gray Benko Family
Gray Benko comes from a family of at least four.
Her parents, Joe and Mary Highsmith, both work at Highsmith Construction. However, while Gray’s father does most of the construction or design work, her mother handles most of the accounting functions for Highsmith Construction. You could say that she does a lot of the behind-the-scenes work that keeps Highsmith Construction running like a well-oiled machine.
Their company, Highsmith Construction, has been building custom homes since 1952. They pride themselves on creating a brand new custom home, renovating an existing residence, building a commercial property, and building a suitable rental home.
Joe and Mary turn 72 and 75 in 2023, respectively.
As for Gray’s younger sister, Catherine Highsmith Deutsch, who is three years younger than Gray, is the Director of Human Resources at Ally Financial. As of 2023, she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband Stephen Deutsch and their daughter.
Did you know: It was Gray’s father (an avid photographer) who first told her when she was in high school that she had a great eye for art.
Is Gray Benko on Instagram?
Find her on Instagram @graybenko.
Also, here is her Facebook @gbenko.
Gray Benko’s Height
Gray Benko stands over 5 feet 8 inches (173 cm) tall.
Related FAQs
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What is Gray Benko’s birthday?
Gray’s birthday is June 4 and he is a Gemini.
For her 40th birthday, Gray and her friends took a vacation to Miami. But before the trip, she asked both of her children to take a portrait of her. “I told them I wanted the portrait to represent me as they know me. Their mother. I let them dress me, pose me, and pick a location that they felt was appropriate,” she explains.
As a result, Charlie dressed her in pajamas and a sweatshirt, and Farris drew her in a “fashionable” outfit that she thought fit the term.
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Where did Gray Benko come from?
Gray is from Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
But in 2023, she lives in Summerville, South Carolina.
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What is Gray Benko’s real name?
Gray Benko’s real name is Kathleen Benko.