Houston-based designer Benjamin Johnston is truly an international designer. After completing his master’s in Architecture from the University of Texas at Austin, Ben was honored to be the first American selected for a design residency with the prestigious firm, Cesar Pelli & Associates in Tokyo. Since returning to Houston, Johnston has opened his own eponymous firm, Benjamin Johnston Design, LLC and has been featured in publications such as Architectural Digest and Luxe Magazine. Learn more about Ben Johnston and his work in this week’s Designer Friday.
Warm grays permeate this room from the furniture to the doorframe, while pieces of abstract art and pink flowers offer vibrancy and keep things from feeling overly monochromatic.
Andrew Joseph: If you could live in any home in a movie or television series, what would it be?
Benjamin Johnston: I would want to live in the ever-changing interiors of the NYC apartment from “Auntie Mame” (1958). This movie inspired my childhood love of design and architecture, and I was amazed by how much you can change the feeling of a space by the way you furnish and accessorize it. Auntie Mame constantly redecorated her apartment to reflect her own personal growth and change, and I love experimenting with my own home in the same way today.
AJ: What’s your design pet peeve?
BJ: My biggest design pet peeve is the false belief that it’s “cheaper” to buy throwaway furniture, rather than invest in pieces you love that have the power to stand the test of time. Part of my job as a designer is to educate my clients on the markers of quality and to explain why certain pieces are worth investing in longer term. Stop the madness with the particle board and cheap imported furniture! I’d rather see people explore their local thrift shops and garage sales to find pieces they can refinish, reupholster, or reinvent.
Artwork, a modern chandelier and beautiful organic forms act as an immediate attention-grab for this seemingly simple office.
AJ: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
BJ: I am very fortunate to be able to work on dream projects with dream clients each and every day. However, my absolute favorites involve two key details. First, clients that call on my team to develop a comprehensive design from the ground up, executing everything from the architecture to the finishes and furnishings. And second, clients who have a unique and personal point of view who want their home to reflect their experiences and interests. Yes, we must all consider resale when building a new home . . . but this often results in some seriously bland architecture and interiors. I love working with clients who want a home that embodies their unique point of view.
AJ: What do you find yourself daydreaming about most these days?
BJ: I’m actually in the process of building my personal home at the moment and, even though I do this all day long for my clients, it’s entirely different when it’s your own home. I have both the benefit and the curse of knowing all of the options that exist throughout our industry, and I find myself constantly thinking about all of the different ways I can approach design details in every corner of the house.
Vivid colors sit against the rich wood tones surrounding this office and show off the owner’s personality.
AJ: Where is the first place you want to travel now that everything is opening up?
BJ: I recently returned from two weeks in South Africa. I had one of those milestone birthdays during the first year of COVID and didn’t really get to celebrate, so I rolled my past few years of no travel up into the most incredible trip filled with exquisite wildlife, great wine, incredible art, and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. I’m already planning my return!
AJ: What is something you hope to see trending in design in the future?
BJ: There is so much technology available today that has the power to create healthier homes for families, but entry costs remain quite high which puts it out of reach for many homeowners. I hope to see technologies that contribute to both mental and physical health become more readily available and affordable, because everyone deserves to live in a safe home that meaningfully contributes to their well-being.
About The Designer | Benjamin Johnston Design, LLC is the culmination of Ben Johnston’s international design practice and lifestyle brand. Ben has dedicated his life to the pursuit of artistic expression as a designer, artist, teacher, and tastemaker, all with the focus of bringing beauty to the world around him and enabling others to do the same.
Inspired by his travels and work around the world, Ben has partnered with luxury brands Chaddock, S. Harris, and Madison Lily Rugs to design licensed product collections that are simultaneously classic and current, each marked by a crisp modernity, and an undeniable sense of luxury.
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