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H o u s t o n d e s i g n e r Benjamin Johnston is putting his sui generis design stamp everywhere, from London to New York to Beverly Hills, including a project that kicks off in Monaco this fall. He has new collaborations with S. Harris for fabric, wallpaper, and trim; rugs for Madison Lily; and has added fresh designs to his furniture collection for Chaddock, which debuted last year. Johnston is also building his dream house in Houston's Woodland Heights with Erich Ploog, his partner in life as well as managing partner at the namesake design firm. Architecture is a big inspiration for Johnston, who has a Master of Architecture from The University of Texas at Austin and was the first American selected for a design residency with Cesar Pelli & Associates (now known as Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects) in Tokyo. The couple's new home is one of many projects to be included in his forthcoming book, the details of which are under wraps — for now. Top of Mind — Benjamin Johnston So many great collaborations. When working on larger homes with ample interior space, it can sometimes be difficult to find pieces that fit the room's proportion and scale. Using my architectural background, I wanted to create a collection that combined my love of neoclassical and mid-century architectural elements with Chaddock's custom capabilities, a collection that would serve as a market solution but also have a timeless quality and contemporary aesthetic. Favorites: the Giotto bed, which perhaps might be the world's first eight-poster bed, and the Adriano bar cabinet, which debuted this spring at High Point Market and was a hit. It's inspired by an apothecary bar cabinet and cleverly disguises a combination of two larger doors using 24 square-brushed brass knobs. My first Madison Lily collection, Flight, was inspired by a keen interest in mixing unexpected textures with elements of the natural world — exotic plumage was showcased through a sweeping array of feathers rendered in 20 high-definition, saturated colors. My second collection, Geometrica, called to my background in architecture, meshing vibrant hues with bold, graphic patterns. Palazzo was the initial step of what would later bring about Vacanza, my fabric collection for S. Harris, which was born from my travels through Italy. I wanted to create a bold collection of textiles, trim designs, and wallcoverings that reinterpret the Italian art of living and pageantry of contemporary Italian culture. Cause and effect. As soon as the pandemic hit and people began spending more time at home, our phones started ringing. The home design and decoration business thrived, leading me to carefully expand my team. This growth coincided perfectly with the launch of our comprehensive total home design practice. In addition to traditional design services, we can now create a client's dream home from the ground up, overseeing every aspect from initial development to final decoration. Our leadership team includes director of interior design Paola Neri and director of home design Greg Roffino. Michael Viviano is our new design director. I've known Michael for years, and when the idea of restructuring arose, he was the first person I reached out to. I hold great respect for his work, and his addition has truly elevated our already talented team. On the drawing board. Our office is currently buzzing with incredible projects. We have 25 new home DIANA PARRISH By Rebecca Sherman Benjamin Johnston with his furniture collection for Chaddock 32