1889 August | September 2018

home + design
Benjamin Benschneider
DIY: Incorporate Art into Your Home
THE ARTISTIC FLAIR in the South Lake Union houseboat has us inspired. Here’s
how the homeowners achieve such an artful effect in their interior décor.
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EXPLOIT TEXTURE
The homeowners affixed a section of a vintage
Golden Girl Cola sign to the front of the kitchen
island. The texture of the sign lends an unexpected
break in the fir cabinetry, while the colors relate to
the nearby yellow-painted wall.
THINK BEYOND WHITE PAINT
The stairwell wall, dubbed the “Sunshine Wall,” was
painted a bright yellow as a bright backdrop for
various pieces of art.
INCORPORATE FOUND OBJECTS
Anything can become art if it’s displayed right.
“For one of the doors we collected beer bottle caps
from all over the world and just hammered them
around a mirror,” said architect Jim Graham.
SET THE MOOD
The Plexiglass in the kitchen cabinets is lined
with photos from the family’s travels and backlit
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with interior cupboard lights. The goal, said the
homeowner, was not to necessarily see the images
clearly but to set the mood.
CUSTOMIZE
In a nod to the aquatic neighborhood, the
homeowner worked with a lighting designer to
create the silk fabric overhead lights in the living
area, in order to evoke jellyfish or bubbles rising
out of the water. Each fixture has various colored
bulbs inside in order to cast a different glow
depending on the occasion.
SOURCE FROM FAR AWAY—AND CLOSE TO HOME
Since the family loves to travel, they pick up
treasures along the way and weave those into their
décor. For instance, one bedroom has a handcarved
door from Morocco. The photo mural of the
marina in the living area was photographed by a
good friend of the family.
32 1889 WASHINGTON’S MAGAZINE AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2018