Homes

Kylie Johnson

Today’s home in sunny Brisbane is more than just a house – it’s a home, studio and shop all in one, and it belongs to well known ceramicist Kylie Johnson of Paper Boat Press.

From here, Kylie and her small team create their extensive range of handcrafted ceramics, and Kylie runs her shop and gallery, which showcases her own work alongside the work of other local artists and makers.

Written
by
Lucy Feagins
Supported by Dulux

The Brisbane home of Kylie Johnson of Paper Boat Press. Above – lounge room looking through to Kylie’s studio. ‘These big doors were found under the house, we put them to use straight away!’ says Kylie.  Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Living room looking into dining room. Parker furniture coffee table, Genoa lounge suite from the 1930’s, artwork by Jennifer Orland of Kylie as a child (top right), oil on board by Nick Olsen, and abstract painting by Lincoln Austin. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Lounge room corner. Original Morandi poster from an exhibition in the 1970’s, vintage light fitting and some of Kylie’s ceramics collection. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Dining room. Expandable table and chairs from The Modern in Brisbane, and custom made book shelves. ‘The light fixture is made from old film reels, designed by myself and my lovely electrican friend Alex Dean’ says Kylie. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen. ‘This used to be a doorway but we blocked it off and had custom shelves built, I wanted my collection on display and easily accessed. That and it is my way of having my ‘complicated crockery’ as I call it as a moveable art piece,’ says Kylie. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen details. A close inspection of some of Kylie’s extensive ceramics collection, she is working towards her goal of having nothing but handmade ceramics in her home! Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Bedroom. Queensize bed with a bed head Kylie had custom made with a Mina Perhonen fabric purchased in japan, with Nancy Bird and handmade shibori cushions. The wall behind has ceramic cloud wall pieces made by Kylie, and the arrow is by Georgie Cunningham Design. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Back verandah details. The moon hanging planter is from Paterson and Steele and a big collection of old vessels and Bridget Bodneham planters. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kitchen details. The pantry is custom made piece that sits at the entry of the home and kitchen. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

A quick look at Kylie’s extensive collection of ceramics as seen in her kitchen. Kylie says, ‘my collection is full of gifts and pieces from my travels. I can remember who gave me each piece or where I bought it or who made it.’ Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kylie’s studio adjoins her home. ‘My studio shelves and pigeon holes are filled to the brim with work and ‘pieces’ to make the work finished, the baskets are full of backing boards and ribbons,’says Kylie. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Details from Kylie’s studio featuring her collection of stamps used to personalise each ceramic piece. ‘I make my own tools and tool holders,’ says Kylie. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Kylie Johnson at work in her studio. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

Writer
Lucy Feagins
15th of July 2015

Kylie Johnson of Paper Boat Press bought this building in the leafy suburb of Ashgrove just three years ago.  The home was originally built 1926, and a lot of structural work was required as soon as Kylie took possession of the property.  ’It didn’t even have a kitchen, and the bathroom was from the 1980’s’ Kylie recalls.

With the assistance of various skilled tradesmen, Kylie re-roofed the whole house, gutted most of the rooms, restored and installed enormous doors that she found under the house(!), and created a new kitchen in what was once a walkway and verandah. ‘I designed everything here and had various tradies and furniture makers create my vision’ says Kylie.

Kylie’s home is cosy, artful and eclectic.  Every surface is crammed with handcrafted pieces by Kylie and other makers, and every wall adorned by artwork by Australian artists and creative friends.  Kylie often travels to Japan, and is very influenced by a Japanese aesthetic, so there are inky blues and ceramics on every surface. She also loves being surrounded by books!

Kylie is particularly fond of her ‘ridiculously large’ ceramics collection, and also her collection of Australian art. ‘I’ve been collecting art since I went to art college 25 years ago, and my walls are covered with some of my favourite artists, some of whose work is quite personal to me’ she says. Artists include David Usher, Michael Leunig, Allyson Reynolds, Stephen Brash, Leonard Brown and Lincoln Austin.

What Kylie loves most about her home is that this property has allowed her finally to combine all three aspects of her creative life – a gallery, a shop and a home.  It means that although she lives alone, her home is always filled with conversation and company, with friends, family and staff here every day of the week!

‘I love that this building is a true atelier – shop, studio and home all in one’ says Kylie. ‘And I love that it’s an old building, it holds history and stories and memories from long before my time’.

Back verandah details featuring vintage light from Wooloongabba Antique Centre. ‘My bedroom adjoins end of the verandah. The big clam shell is a gift from dear friend Kara Rosenlund and the bird sculpture by amazing friend Miriam Porter from Daylesford,’ says Kylie. Photo – Eve Wilson, production – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

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