John Barnwell, of J. R. Barnwell Design, Inc., welcomed me into his gorgeous home only three months after moving there. As I wandered through his rooms, I was stunned to find everything in perfect order so quickly after his move, including art up on the walls. John is an avid collector of art, and a strong believer in trusting intuition when choosing what pieces to live with. As he gave me a tour of his collection, what resonated most was that each piece had a narrative that would draw you in, whether it was the life story of the artist, or the tale of the gem he discovered on one of his travels.
Contact: jrbdesign@sympatico.ca
How would you define your style?
I would define my style as 'soft contemporary.' I believe in blending antique pieces either inherited from family, selected from finer antique shops or finds from flea markets abroad, coupled with contemporary/modern pieces that together create tension between both styles.
What is your design philosophy?
I believe a major part of my job as a designer is to 'push the envelope' for my clients: to move them out of their comfort zone. Travel is my biggest inspiration, but I also find it in books and fashion as well as hotel lobbies.
What draws you to a work of art?
I feel art is about beauty, and individual expression. I feel design, and how art plays a part in design is about being unique; it's about having your personality infused with your residence, and not having rooms look like everyone else's - not playing it safe. A great piece of art is something that should move you and that you'll want to keep forever.