Tamsin Johnson

Book excerpt: The first book from acclaimed Australian interior designer Tamsin Johnson, known for her fresh interiors that evoke luxurious ease and coastal elegance. Tamsin Johnson’s international high-end residential projects reflect her signature ability to combine pieces from across decades and continents in ways that feel understated and natural. This knack for appearing effortless brings the ultimate level of sophistication to her work. Johnson favors elements of surprise and a sense of play in her designs, as evident in contrasts of scale, the bold use of art, and the sculptural nature of the furniture she selects or commissions. Her spaces celebrate comfort, character, and user-friendly design, and this philosophy is tangible in her showroom, where a veneration of European heritage is balanced with characteristics of modern coastal Australia. Under Johnson’s artful eye, traditional pieces become unexpectedly lighter, and a sense of luxurious ease pervades. In a trade which requires an eye for historical value, the objects Johnson sources and collects to accent her interiors have contemporary appeal—everything feels relevant and persuasive, as if even the most formal of objects could sit comfortably by your bedside. Johnson gracefully shares her ideas, images, and stories to illustrate these principles for readers, resulting in a book that is both a rich visual resource and design reference.