Refined Interiors
Timeless Homes for Modern Living
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Rizzoli International Publications
Published:17th Feb '26
Should be back in stock very soon
As a trained architect, Johnston has a keen eye for the classic design principles of balance and proportion. His application of clean lines and tailored details demonstrate his timeless sensibility, but he imbues every space with something unexpected to make it feel modern. The homes he creates are both classic and cool, curated with a contemporary eye, a distinctive fusion of styles, time periods, and cultures to create interiors that defy the cliche. In an opening section of his principles, Johnston discusses Intention, Theatre, Architecture, Juxtaposition, Imperfection, Art, Scale, Texture, and Color. The book then segues into seven homes embodying modern elegance, many of which have never been seen before. The rooms reflect a unique blend of creativity, functionality, and a deep understanding of aesthetics. Johnston explores each home in detail, and provides a comprehensive look into his design philosophy, methodologies, and his most important dos and don ts when it comes to creating a home. Whether discussing the role of scale, daytime vs nighttime rooms, creating drama in hospitality spaces, or why every room needs a bit of black, Johnston will guide readers through every part of the design process, making this book a source of inspiration and learning not only to those in the design community, but to anyone looking for ideas and lessons on designing a home.
ELLE DECOR'S 17 New Design Books We're Reading This Spring: "The Houston-based designer’s debut monograph includes eight rarely-before-seen residences—plus Johnston’s own home—to demonstrate his belief that refinement isn’t about formality but about the harmony of intention and ease."
"A background in architecture often guides Ben Johnston to think of homes in terms of proportion and volume...his first book features eight of his recently completed residences, and showcases how he is experimenting with balance." — BUSINESS OF HOME
"Featuring Johnston’s own home alongside eight rarely seen residences, the volume highlights the thoughtful principles and refined aesthetic that have defined his work over the past two decades. Published in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Benjamin Johnston Design, the book marks a milestone moment for the sixth-generation Texan." — CURATED TEXAN
"Classical design principles meet modern livability across the pages of Houston-based designer Benjamin Johnston’s first-ever book. The eight unique projects presented show Johnston deft use of crisp lines and tailored furnishings, as well as his ability to infuse a youthful vitality into more traditional spaces." — VERANDA
"This Tudor Revival project by interior designer Benjamin Johnston reimagines traditional architecture through a softer, more modern lens, using curves, plaster finishes, and dramatic light to create a sculptural, calming atmosphere. A thoughtful mix of antiques, contemporary pieces, and unexpected materials keeps the design feeling layered and timeless rather than tied to one era. Bold, unconventional color combinations and intentional imperfections add personality and energy, creating spaces that feel collected, expressive, and alive. See it and more in Johnston's coffee-table book, Refined Interiors." — VIE MAGAZINE
"In a design world often obsessed with more: more color, more pattern, more spectacle, Benjamin Johnston has quietly and successfully built a career on the radical elegance of less. Less noise. Less clutter. Less trend-chasing. And, in doing so, the Houston-based interior designer has created some of the most enduring, livable, and quietly luxurious homes in Texas today." — CURATED TEXAN
"Johnston's 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." — INTERIORDESIGNMASTERCLASS.COM
ISBN: 9780847876341
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
256 pages