An Elegant, Light-Filled Houston Home Blends Indoors And Out
The stylish entry hall spotlights a sleekly curved plaster staircase with white oak treads. Behind MDF Italia’s Rock table, a custom bench covered in Holly Hunt wool rests beneath a Hunt Slonem oil painting from Laura Rathe Fine Art.
BLURRING INDOORS AND OUT, A HOUSTON DESIGNER CREATES AN ELEGANT HOME FULL OF SHOWSTOPPING MOMENTS.
When a Houston couple found a gorgeous lot populated with towering pines in the city’s Memorial neighborhood, they knew two things: One, it was the location of their future home, and two, they wanted to capitalize on the property’s outstanding trees by creating a seamless connection inside and out.
“The clients were inspired by California living and the notion of indoor-outdoor spaces,” designer Benjamin Johnston explains. Working with builder Iraj Taghi, he installed as many north- and south-facing windows as possible to embrace the ample sunlight. Using huge expanses of glass helped to visually dissolve the separation between the interiors and their surroundings. “During the day, the light changes, and you have such a dynamic effect throughout the home,” the designer observes.
With architect Greg Roffino and interior designer Rajani Alvarado, Johnston approached the project holistically as part of his firm’s recent architecture program. “We have a lot of really exciting projects, some of which we are the interior designer for, some of which we are the architect for, but this was one of our first projects where we did both,” he notes.
Having the opportunity to complete the architecture and interiors hand in hand elevated the level of cohesion, from the floor plan to the final decorative touches. Each aspect was designated with a clear intention, beginning with the overall layout. The long, deep lot runs east to west, so the designer structured the abode as a long and rambling home that took advantage of its site. “The family knew they wanted privacy from the front,” Johnston says, so the study was placed near the entry to create a buffer for the more private living spaces toward the rear.
Exterior materials were selected for their ability to blend with the outdoors, then pulled inside. The living room’s limestone wall surrounding the fireplace matches the façade, and the plaster was painstakingly narrowed to a shade that visually harmonizes with the stone. In the adjacent kitchen, cabinets of white oak veneer reflect the natural light. “Much of the color palette was pulled from the clients’ preferences, incorporating neutrals and their love of green,” Johnston adds. The latter infuses the home in various iterations, from a plush olive armchair in the bar to pops of avocado in a bold and sophisticated playroom upstairs.
Home Details
Architecture:
Benjamin Johnston and Greg Roffino, Benjamin Johnston Design
Interior Design:
Benjamin Johnston and Rajani Alvarado, Benjamin Johnston Design
Home Builder:
Iraj Taghi, Iraj Taghi Custom Homes
Set against a dramatic two-story limestone wall, the blackened-bronze fireplace by James Dawson Design, Inc. serves as a focal point in the living area. A custom lighting installation by Larose Guyon cascades above the seating arrangement defined by two Minotti sofas.
Showcasing a captivating custom series of nested arc light fixtures with opal glass globes by Volker Haug Studio, the dining room incorporates a mix of materials like whitewashed oak and plaster to create a tranquil atmosphere. Twelve open-back Inès dining chairs from RH encircle the expansive Mirak table.
In the chic home office, Iraj Taghi Custom Homes installed whitewashed oak cabinetry with aged-bronze accents. The asymmetrical linear pendant by Volker Haug Studio and velvet Bensen swivel chair add a touch of organic modernity, continuing the overall design theme.
The kitchen centers on an oversize island lined by Walter K. leather stools. A curved banquette enveloped in green plaster and adorned with a custom globe installation by Cedar & Moss forms an additional seating area. The appliances are Sub-Zero. undefined
The wine room features a white oak surround with a dowel system crafted for bottle storage. Poised atop the honed Mont Blanc quartzite countertop is a landscape by Sachiko Furui. The ribbed detailing on the cabinets introduces texture to the space. undefined
Designed for cocktail hour, the lounge boasts an island clad in honed Silver Wave marble, Bross leather counter stools and sandblasted glass pendants from Allied Maker. Art by Milton Resnick leans against the ribbed white oak wallcovering. A chenille armchair by Tomlinson affords a view of the landscape.
The primary bathroom is a sanctuary, blending relaxation and style with nature-inspired elements. Italian porcelain from Thorntree Slate emphasizes the shower, outfitted with a quartzite-clad tub by BainUltra and polished nickel fixtures from Dornbracht.
Neutral tones establish a serene backdrop for the primary bedroom, with punches of sage green in the Chloe Hedden artwork. A Baker bed, raffia-wrapped nightstands by Interlude Home and Tomlinson’s swivel chair and ottoman enhance the cozy atmosphere, grounded by a Loloi Rugs floor covering.
In the powder room, a vanity from Stevenswood and floor tile by Material Bespoke Stone + Tile feel playful and organic. Walls painted Sherwin-Williams’ Rookwood Sash Green join a backsplash of Ann Sacks tile. Visual Comfort & Co. sconces flank a looking glass by Mirror Home.
A custom-built banquette upholstered in Kravet velvet is paired with a geometric wallcovering by Kelly Wearstler in the playroom. Double opal glass spheres by Michael Anastassiades for Flos and a bistro table by Gubi complete the space.
Similarly, the ceilings tell a story that guides you through the house. A double-height living room and atrium create an air of grandeur, the entry made more dramatic by a sculptural floating staircase. Its railing is artfully enclosed in plaster and lined in LED lighting to create a sheltered, secure feel. In the family-oriented spaces, the overhead height drops to encourage an intimate tone: The kitchen’s wood-clad ceiling presents a cloud-like plaster feature that hovers over an expansive island, and in the primary bedroom, the white oak paneled ceiling wraps the retreat in richness and warmth. Both elements hide recessed lighting, a divergence from the statement fixtures that live in the entertaining spaces.
“We really desired the notion that the lighting itself had an identity—they were sisters, but not twins,” Johnston muses. “We didn’t want anything to feel redundant, so we explored themes with the lighting that all seemed to flow with each other but didn’t compete with one another.” A notably orbicular aesthetic is reflected in the living room’s winged fixtures, the galaxy-like chandelier above the dining table and the globes on the study’s otherwise linear pendant. It also repeats in a mounted milk-glass installation in the kitchen’s breakfast nook, intended to play on this same theme while straying from the obvious. “Instead of adding a pendant light, we thought it would be fun to use these little globes to define that space while also challenging the idea of placing light fixtures above a breakfast table,” Johnston explains. Covered in a custom green plaster, the nook has quickly become a favorite space for the family to dine, a special corner thoughtfully carved out by a unified team.
“We always like there to be an intention to the selection of products and furnishings,” Johnston shares. “We love the way it turned out, and we love that our clients allowed us to realize our vision for their home all the way through to its completion.”