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Black Walls Don’t Have to Feel Goth—Just Ask This Ottawa Homeowner
This article highlights interior blogger Kim Johnson's approach to designing her 80-year-old heritage home in Ottawa, Canada, emphasizing her eclectic style and strategic use of color, particularly black. Johnson describes herself as someone who designs by intuition rather than a strict plan, allowing the house's original features, such as stained and leaded glass, to guide her choices toward a traditional yet eclectic aesthetic. A key selling point of the home for Johnson in 2014 was its architectural elements, including a distinct entrance and wainscoting, which provided a refreshing change from her previous "characterless" residence.
The foyer of Johnson's home now features a dramatic introduction with swirling wallpaper, and the stairs, trim, and wainscoting are painted black. Johnson's strategy for preventing dark colors from making spaces feel gloomy involves balancing them with lighter elements. For instance, in the foyer, white ceilings and light floor tiles prevent the black paint from closing in the narrow space, instead contributing to an elongated effect. She also stresses the importance of understanding a room's natural light sources; with east- and west-facing windows, the warm light is most effective during mornings and evenings, aligning with her daily schedule.
Johnson's color palette often draws inspiration from the home's stained-glass windows. The kitchen, for example, features a deep red, echoing the roses on the dining room door, while the living space and bedroom are painted in a cloudy gray. However, Johnson also incorporates unexpected color choices, such as a lime green outdoor porch and a dining area decorated in varying shades of peach from Farrow & Ball. This dining space is a tone-on-tone combination of Nancy’s Blushes on the ceiling, Red Earth on the walls, and Picture Gallery Red on the trim, complemented by mustard velvet curtains and a turquoise pendant lamp to break the monochrome.
Initially, Johnson furnished her home with sleek, modern light fixtures but has gradually replaced them with antique, often Art Deco pieces, feeling that these better align with the home's historical character. A significant project undertaken by Johnson and her husband was the construction of a custom greenhouse in their backyard, complete with painted striped floors and cozy seating. This greenhouse, which also served as a makeshift office during lockdown, reflects their shared passion for plants. To manage the high material costs of this project, Johnson personally handled all the landscaping, including the demolition, saving an estimated $10,000 despite having no prior experience. This hands-on approach resulted in a space she cherishes and spends most of her time in. Johnson also shares her favorite local home stores (Alteriors and The Modern Shop), plant source (Robert Plante Greenhouses), and online decor site (Etsy).
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