By Benjamin Johnston
Houston-based designer Benjamin Johnston has a gift for teaching, and his debut monograph from Rizzoli makes that clear from the first page. He’s structured Refined Interiors into two distinct but connected sections — an approach that pays off for readers whether they’re design novices or seasoned professionals.
The first section, “Principles,” is where Johnston shares his thought processes. Across nine concise but substantive chapters — Architecture, Scale, Intention, Juxtaposition, Theater, Imperfection, Art, Color, and Texture — he articulates the conceptual framework behind his rooms. He isn’t offering shortcuts; he’s laying out an aesthetic.
On Imperfection, for instance, he argues that “perfection is rarely memorable” and that the unexpected, even the slightly jarring, is what gives a room its true identity. On Theater, he reframes the designer’s role as something closer to a director’s, choreographing stars, supporting cast, and sets. This section alone is worth the price of admission (pun intended).
The second section, “Homes,” illustrates those principles in practice. Eight residences — among them Organic Modernism, Regency Remix, and Defying Tradition — demonstrate how Johnston translates philosophy into physical space. His projects reveal a gift for holding contrast and cohesion in the same room, across styles, periods, and cultural influences, always in service of how his clients actually live. Julie Soefer’s photography captures both the sweep and the intimacy of each space.
A 2025 Palladio Award recipient whose work has appeared in Architectural Digest and LUXE Magazine, Johnston brings classical training and hard-won practical wisdom to these pages. As a sidenote, he also appears in my book, Interior Design Master Class: 100 Rooms.
Refined Interiors is among the most instructionally valuable design books in recent years — essential reading for anyone serious about the decorative arts.
REFINED INTERIORS: TIMELESS HOMES FOR MODERN LIVING LAYERED from Rizzoli New York. All images © Julie Soefer / Courtesy of Rizzoli
Available from The Rizzoli Bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and IndieBound.