Tamsin Johnson: Spaces for Living

Tamsin Johnson is an Australian interior designer whose work manifests a certain devil-may-care energy, all the while underpinned by a rigorous planning of proportion, form, colour and texture.

In Johnson's first book, Spaces for Living, we see 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.