By Lindsay Field Penticuff
Benjamin Johnston is rare—both in the classically curated cool styles he brings to the interior design world and the fact that he’s a sixth-generation Houstonian.
“Our family came [to Texas] in the 1840s on a covered wagon and settled in the Fort Bend area, and part of our family has been here ever since,” says Johnston, Owner and Creative Partner of Benjamin Johnston Design, which is headquartered in Houston.
Johnston, who studied architecture at Texas A&M and earned his master’s from the University of Texas, was encouraged by his mother to follow his love for creativity and make a career of it.
“I’ve been in this industry, working for myself for 21 years,” he shares. “It’s been a long process, and I didn’t necessarily set out to do what we do today, which is primarily focusing on luxury residential properties. When I first put out my shingle, I was doing everything from small furniture commissions to small interior design projects doing kitchen and bathroom remodels.
“I also cut my teeth on projects that got bigger and bigger in scale as I was able to gain confidence and hone my skills. I felt more confident to go after larger projects, and through referral by happy clients, I got more and more work. It was a really organic experience.”
He recently released his first book, “Refined Interiors: Timeless Homes for Modern Living” by Rizzoli.
““It was really fascinating for me to be able to take what was existing in four dimensions and really compress it down into two dimensions and photography … it is its own creative process,” Johnston says. “It was fun writing the book and putting into words what hadn’t really existed in conversation, thought or in process in the office, and be able to crystalize and articulate what we did. It was a worthwhile experience.
“Our entire industry thrives on collaboration, and I’m really excited to be able to have this book that is really a reflection of the incredible contractors, artisans, craftsman and vendors that we had the privilege to work with throughout this process, and be able to have something tangible to really show for all that wonderful experience and collaboration together.”
The book showcases eight residences, many of which are being revealed for the first time to the public. Johnston says he chose the projects with intention, demonstrating what their “bread and butter is.”
“We chose projects that we felt demonstrated kind of philosophical points and our design thought process—projects that demonstrated the use of excellent architecture, scale, color, texture,” he adds. “We also wanted to be able to speak to the notions and my stance on theatricality in design, as well as notions of imperfection, and how we use art as inspiration in our interiors. The projects really reflect a lot of different aesthetics, and we really wanted to be able to communicate how we approach design.”
With Johnston’s first book being as much about philosophy as it is his portfolio, we asked what he hopes readers—design enthusiasts and professionals—will take away from reading it.
“We wanted to do a book that’s an authentic reflection of the kinds of projects that we do,” he says. “In our office, we are always stretching and challenging ourselves—doing things we’ve never done before or thinking outside the box—so I hope that if someone is looking at this book and enjoying what they are seeing, I hope it inspires them to take some risks themselves, to challenge themselves in ways they’ve never been challenged.”
A man wearing many hats, from designer and artist to teacher and tastemaker, our interview with Johnston allowed us to dig into his passion for interior design. To learn more about his life’s work, how his mom inspired him, his message to aspiring designers and more, be sure to check out the full video interview.
