After finally getting the keys to her first house, Monvia Johnson is left with the question, “How do I make this space a home?”
Through trial and error, I’ve discovered simple home design ideas that have an amazing effect – a subtle blend of style, functionality and self-expression to make your space beautiful, friendly and above all personal. Through experience, Johnson discovered a passion for interior design, and soon launched her company, Lignum and Oaks Interior Design, to help others create spaces that feel right at home.
Headquartered in New Jersey, she now professionally consults for both personal clients in the Tri-state area and virtual clients over the Internet. Johnson still sees her home as a creative playground, using her rooms and walls as paintings to experiment with her craft. Her home style is never permanent. She changes sofas, chairs, rugs, and accent pieces on a monthly basis.
“When I get to a point I like, I try not to get too comfortable, and push myself to the next step,” she explains. “How can we improve this design? How do we scale up? How can we change it to a different style? This gives me the ability to be more diverse.”
The Jamaican-born designer aims to add a “surprising” touch—think large chandeliers or a 7-foot-high mirror—to every space. “When something is unexpected, the unknown becomes fun,” she says. In our conversation, we explore the inspiration behind Johnson’s current iteration of the home and even reveal her secret to good design.
heart of the house
Although kitchens are the heart of the home, they often lack square footage. Johnson’s advice is that you can still create the kitchen of your dreams with the right seating, accessories and lighting. “You want to create a space where you can cook, but also where your family can gather,” she says. Warm lights are suggested to create a warm atmosphere. In her private home, Johnson opted to use white cabinets and dark worktops, adding woven elements like wooden bowls and copper pendant lights from Target’s Studio McGee collaboration.
center of attention
Johnson has a penchant for creating living rooms that reflect the personalities of her clients. In her own home, she showcases her love of color and eclectic design with Anthropologie’s delicately etched mural wallpaper and Terracotta Floria twin velvet chairs from Urban Outfitters. A dusty walnut-and-brass herringbone cabinet from World Market is the room’s centerpiece, while a 7-foot-high, off-central primrose mirror from Anthropologie reflects light into the sweet space.
cozy corner
Unlike the living room, the TV room is meant to feel a bit like living – a space where friends and family can casually gather. “This is where we hide all the trash and where we have popcorn on the couch,” she laughs. But less formal does not mean less style. She made a bold statement with deep blue walls, a pink Lionel sofa by Anthropologie, a contrasting pillow and a beaded chandelier. Accessibility is at the top of Johnson’s list of attributes for the rooms you design. “I think it’s essential to have beautiful spaces, but I’m happiest when I’m told, ‘We love them, we use them every day. ”
Siren Green
Green often appears when Johnson is working with natural plates. Muted Sage from Behr brings a sense of calm to the dining room’s walls, as she also installed some picture frame wall moldings to give the space extra dimension. The dining set is a playful mix of pieces, with a teak white CB2 Mariana dining table surrounded by Safia Bandelier armchairs. Another stunning floor-length primrose mirror sits in the corner as a focal point.
No blank spaces
For Johnson, a hallway isn’t just a basic passage from room to room — even hallways should have their own character. In her home, Johnson installed a wall of pictures. “It is especially important in the hallway to create vignettes all around. It is this point of interest that gives a glimpse of what is likely to be next,” she says. In another corner, she created an asymmetrical paneled wall in matte black, paired with a yellow velvet armchair. Taking care of these neglected spaces is a basic secret of good design.
outdoor oasis
Many people tend to think only of interiors when designing their homes, and they rarely carry aesthetic ideals in outdoor spaces. “I think the outdoor space should always be an extension of your home and not just a separate space where we hang out, so I created a nearly mirror design, as I did indoors, with a large sofa and two armchairs,” Johnson said. . Her outdoor patio, complete with Wayfair furniture, is perfect for lounging in the sun and barbecuing at night away.