Once Johnston was on board, it was all hands on deck. On day one, he had landscapers refreshing the exteriors and contractors measuring every room and window. Johnston also called on Thompson to come back and give new life to elements that had become worn or damaged over time.
With the reinvigoration of the home’s bones in motion, Johnston and his team of designers turned their attention to the furnishings. “We needed to comb every resource that we had in Houston, broader Texas and across the country,” he remembers. Given the time restriction, custom pieces were limited to window coverings and stair runners. In addition, they looked for existing upholstered pieces on showroom floors that could be re-covered in a hurry in the client’s preferred palette of warm, modern neutrals. “In several rooms, we shopped rugs and art first because we knew they’d provide color, and we’d need to build around them,” the designer explains. For instance, an antique runner in the kitchen inspired bursts of rust and gold in the accessories.
For art, Johnston again turned to trusted partners at local galleries. He was looking for pieces that would fit with his clients’ preference for things that were neither too modern nor too traditional and that reflected an active family. “Scale was a critical element in the success of the art curation for this house,” he adds.
Walking through the finished abode, any visitor would be hard pressed to notice anything that seemed rushed about the decor—a testament to the power of Johnston’s interior architectural detailing. “For all of the adrenaline and the stress of getting it done, it was also joyful and gratifying, especially when the homeowners stepped inside,” the designer says. “They were excited to make Houston their home.”
A shell chandelier from Hudson Valley Lighting Group and warm wood on the ceiling elevate the primary bedroom’s neutral palette. Luke Diiorio work from Dimmitt Contemporary Art appears above the Bernhardt bed, which is anchored by a floor covering from Matt Camron Rugs & Tapestries and flanked by window treatments from D&D Drapery Co.
Tour The Home:
In the dramatic double-height entry, a travertine table from RH and woven Surya ottomans rest atop a Feizy rug. A painting by Meredith Pardue was sourced through Laura Rathe Fine Art, while the prints below hail from Soicher Marin.