Name: John Guthrie
Location: Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Size: 1,350 square feet
Years lived in: 13 years — rented
Apartment Therapy first introduced you to the beautiful artwork of John Guthrie in 2008. Since that time, I've been so drawn to John's work that I was more than delighted when mutual friends connected us for an Apartment Therapy House Tour. I thought that if John's home bears any resemblance to his artwork, we'd all be in for a treat.
A treat indeed, John's home of 13 years not only includes a generous representation of his own work, but also that of a wide range of artists. His amazing collection of art and pottery give John's home a gallery feel, yet it still manages to feel immensely welcoming. I wanted to hang out here for hours. I love the progression from the more sophisticated color palette of the living room, to the slightly more saturated dining room color palette, to the exuberant and most saturated kitchen color scheme. The flow of these colors, and their combination with generous touches of wood in the living and dining room, makes the apartment feel like a living organism. (Speaking of living organisms, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how much fun it was to be escorted from room to room, as I studied the space for good photos, by Penny the pug.)
I've heard people assume that artists, by default, would make talented home designers. I'd say that's no more or less true than assuming that home designers would make good fine artists. But in John's case, the assumption is true. John has skillfully and dramatically transferred his fine art skills to creating a rich, novel, and beautifully designed home.
Unfortunately you can't come to John's house BUT you do have a couple days left to check out his latest work, live at Boston University's 808 Gallery! Traces and Places, John's side by side exhibit with studio mate Isabel Riley, is up until THIS Friday March 26th. Click here for more information.
To visit John's website, click here.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
My style: Eclectic with elements of Modern, folk, and antique. What I try to do with my apartment is showcase my collection of art and objects. I don't have a TV and I don't use my apartment for lounging around and watching TV. Its not really an apartment for kids either! I'm set up primarily for entertaining.
Favorite Element: Currently its my Saarinen chairs in the kitchen which I purchased last summer.
Biggest Challenge: Dealing with the bay windows in the dining room. For years I never knew what to do with that area. A few years back I got a new couch that was going to be for the living room. When I got it home it didn't work there so I put it in the bay of the dining room. It fit perfectly. Now its my favorite hang out spot in the house and great for parties.
What Friends Say: That my place is warm and inviting.
Biggest Embarrassment: The pantry. A bomb should be set off in there.
Proudest DIY: I'm not really handy. But I did do all of the painting.
Biggest Indulgence: Pottery.
Best advice: Always look at furniture when you have the chance — even when you aren't buying. Then when you are ready to buy you can do it with confidence knowing what prices and quality are out there. Also ask when floor samples are going to be available.
Dream source: Machine Age in Boston
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Living room: Algonquin Train (Benjamin Moore)
• Dining Room: Toasted Pecan (Benjamin Moore)
• Kitchen: Splash (Benjamin Moore)
• Front Hall: Dorset Gold (Benjamin Moore)
• Back Hall: Sierra Hills (Benjamin Moore)
• John's Bedroom: Pebblestone (Martha Stewart)
• Guest Bedroom: Winter Surf (Martha Stewart)
ENTRY
- • Artwork by front door: John Guthrie
LIVING ROOM
- • Rug: Yayla (Camridge)
• Couch: Natuzzi (Italy)
• Bench in front of couch: Red River Trading Company
• Side tables: Finn Juhl - Denmark c. 1957 Purchased in Montreal
• Walnut side table: Hand made by Dave Barber of Portsmouth Maine. Purchased at auction - Haystack Mountain School, ME.
• Artwork above mantle: Juliann Cydylo
• Sculpture leaning on wall: Donna Veverka
• Bust on mantle: Danielle Krcmar
• Glass sculpture above couch: Graham Reid
• Wood wall scuplture: Rob Moore
• Red floor scuplture near door: Isabel Riley
• Small painting of tree to left of fireplace: Susan Belton
• Small painting of house to left of fireplace: Leah Giberson
• Pottery on mantle and table: 1960's and 1970's West German and Italian
DINING ROOM
- • Theater sofa: Design Within Reach
• Brno chairs: Design Within Reach
• Coffee table: Unknown manufacturer (Canadian) solid maple c. 1965. Purchased in Montreal.
• Teak 60's Side table: Unknown manufacturer (Canadian) Purchased in Montreal.
• Dining table: Plantation Wood, Crate and Barrel.
• Pottery on mantle: mostly Kevin Viens of Boston, also some scandinavian pieces.
• Pottery in china cabinet: 1960's and 1970's West German and Italian
• All dining room paintings: John Guthrie
KITCHEN
- • Chairs: Eero Saarinen, 1966, in original blue vinyl. Purchased in Montreal.
• Table: Saarinen rip-off by IKEA
• Red Wall Storage Unit: Malibu, purchased in Boston at a store that used to be at 63 Wareham St. Forgot the name of it.
• Two Cut paper collages above kitchen table: Juliann Cydylo
• Painting to the right of stove: Naked Guy by Clair Rojas
• Cactus painting to left of kitchen built-in: Spencer James
• Diamond painting to the left of sink: John Guthrie
• Wilson Little League painting to the left of sink: Spencer James
• Star painting that can be seen in hallway from kitchen: John Guthrie
JOHN'S BEDROOM
- • Malibu cabinets purchased all over Boston
• Rug: IKEA
• Heads painting above bed: John Guthrie
• Lilly pad Sculpture on top of storage unit: A.M. Lilly
GUEST BEDROOM
- • Artwork above dresser to the right of door: Cut paper collage by Juliann Cydylo
• Embroidered napkin artwork above dresser to the left of door: Juliann Cydylo
• Oak dresser to the left of drawer: 19th century piece refinished by John's mother
• Dresser to right of drawer: yard sale
Thanks, John!
Images: Kyle Freeman
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Love it! Desperate to know where I could find cabinets like those in the bedroom...online or in the DC area.
love it! ...and that kitchen is so fun!!
Lovely! Thank you so much for including paint color names. great choices!
It seems like just about every Jamaica Plain house featured on AT has had intense, beautiful colors used very well. The colors here are fabulous.
The colors here are really unappealing to me for some reason. Just goes to show, in matters of taste there is no dispute.
I LOVE THE COLORS.
I love the paint colors here! Any chance you'd be willing to share your paint colors/brands?
any know where i can find those fabulous cabinets???
@cityeric -- the paint colors are listed above under "Resources of note".
Gorgeous use of color. Gorgeous. Shows Penny's pelt off beautifully, too :-)
LOVE the pug! :-)
Fun Kitchen!!!!!!!!!
great place, you have a fantastic eye for color (and we have lots of the same pottery--I love your Roths)...
Love the puggle and all the wonderful colors! If I had a place where I could go crazy with color, I would use this as my inspiration. Also, your pottery collection is crazy...as in crazy good!
Lovely colors... but an apartment not used for lounging??? ummm whats the point of a home that you cant lounge and feel at home in?
GORGEOUS!!! I have been lucky enough to have been a guest here and it is just as fantastic in real life. The pottery, the colors, the furniture, but most of all the original artwork make this a sensational place. Nicely done, Kyle and John! (And Penny!)
This is one of my favorite tours! It has so many elements I love:
-Beautiful moldings and woodwork
-Great color choices
-Wonderful artwork
-Checkerboard floors in the kitchen
What more could you want? Oh yes...a pug!
I love the color; looks like a very fun home!
I am not normally a fan of blue paint, but boy, that kitchen just ROCKS. I love the pops of red.....and of course, pugs rule.
Great use of color. Thanks for captioning some of the photos. Not colors I would choose, but they work really well with your aesthetic.
Cute pup as well!
crisp and clean; nicely done.
Thanks for the tour of your lovely home, but especially thanks for listing your paint colors and furniture sources - all postings should be this meticulous.
LOVE THIS! I live in Boston and always look forward to seeing great COLORFUL homes from New England on AT. It is not all dreary and dead up here! This is so cheery looking, the dining set in the kitchen is also lovely!
I Love the mantel piece! Looks like you have just added it without first having had a fire place. I might even add a mantel to my living room to add some character- thanks for the idea!
Wow John... I love your home! And penny the pug looks like such a sweet little doggie :) My favorite elements 1.I love the built in cabinet in the dining room with those gorgeous glass doors. In fact all of the mouldings and glass in your house are incredible... 2. Love the Malibu cabinets... where would you suggest one look for those if we are not in Boston? 3. Was that Leah Giberson painting in your living room? I love her work - I just framed and hung a print of hers in my bedroom this past weekend:)
www.mydesigndreams.com
Hi John,
I love the cabinets with the see-through doors in your bedroom (especially the orange one!!!). Are those the Malibu Cabinets you were referring to? I searched for "Malibu Cabinets" online, but found nothing except for installed cabinets for kitchens and living rooms - nothing like what you've got in your room. Just like Alison was wondering in the post above, do you know where I could find some Malibu Cabinets in CA?
how come no one ever includes a quick room layout? It would be so helpful for those of us with layout problems.
A very beautiful home. It's amazing to me that you've managed to have such a vast collection of beautiful pottery and yet your place doesn't feel at all cluttered. A couple of questions, 1. where did you get the beautiful blue and white bedding? 2. I'm going to be visiting Boston next month so where should I go vintage pottery hunting? 3. did you paint your kitchen after you bought the chairs or did the chairs inspire the paint colour?
thanks.
Please, any info on the Malibu cabinets?? I've searched the net, but haven't found anything like the cabinets featured in this home!!!
I may be the only person to say, I could never live in this apartment. The colors are too harsh. I expected more from an artist. It just doesn't seem like a "home".
Favorite Element: Pug
I love the colors. That blue sofa in the terracotta dining room with that artwork - wow! What a great combination! The blue in the kitchen is beautiful. I really like the fireplace surrounds too - but I feel like I want to hang a cool picture inside. Looks like a blank canvas. Anyway, awesome place! I would TOTALLY lounge in here, even if you don't :)
i like the artwork and the pottery....but nothing else. colors are not my style and the furniture is cramped.
why is there so much furniture in the room where the dining room table is at? Eliminate all the "non" dining room stuff, put 3 chairs on the other side of the table, and the room would be much more open.
The colors are wonderful. I've been loving purple and orange but thanks for reminding me about the dynamic duo of blue and orange - yum yum! And those Malibu cabinets are divine!!! Thanks for the inspiration.
Your house reminds me of pop art.
Here's a link to a place that sells Malibu cabinets: http://ip-216-134-204-92.name-host.com/apt/tellafriend.cfm?uid=apt-071024201330&uid2=apt-071024201330
This one is better: http://www.tenzo.se/custom/pages/products.asp?M=100000523&L=EN&brand=1
Thanks for the Malibu cabinet links!
Thanks to everyone for the nice comments! @Alison - that is indeed and original Leah Giberson painting that I bought last summer. I love her work! @smpin - I bought that duvet at Overstock.com. My kitchen used to be a Benjamin Moore color called Seafoam Blue. When I brought home the Saarinen chairs it clashed. I re-painted the kitchen the next day! The new color is called Splash. The old color can still be seen in the dish cabinet. The pottery is pretty hard to come by in stores around here. Try e-bay. Look for "lave vase. " Its all from Montreal or e-bay. Mostly my collection is W. German, Italian, and Scandinavian. @vix vax - yes under the fireplace mantels it is little naked! I don't want to put art down there. I have an idea for a project. Maybe you will see it here some day! Both Mantles are completely decorative. There were never working fireplaces in this house. @monita - thanks for the Malibu link. I haven't seen a piece of it around Boston for sale in years. I love the stuff. Very good quality. The drawers slide like butter. All the hardware on them is very good.
First, thank you for sharing your most amazing collection of pottery (and so elegantly displayed). Second, the color scheme you have chosen is in my opinion second to none. Third, you dog is totally cute.
And fourth, to AT, I have commented several times on how much I enjoy tours of artists' homes. I should have referred specifically to artists who express their art also in their surroundings. Indeed, I have several artist & musician friends who ask other artist friends to 'decorate' for them. The same applies to clothing as well, I guess.
Thanks for superb tour - one of my favorites.
why are we having a repeat of this house tour?
Id like to know where the bedspread and matching pillowcases (blue w/white vines) came from in the bedroom
I love your collection of pottery. You have inspired me to put my compariably rather sad collection together in one place. I'll keep thrifting and hopefully will one day have a collection worthy of displaying at AT.
I don't like the way the furniture is all pushed to the outsides of the room. I imagine you do this to keep the center of the room open for a party. Also, the spaces (walls, floors, etc.) seem to alternate between being loaded with objects to stark bareness. There is no flow. I do dig the fireplace mantle sans fire. I did that with an antique architectural arch I bought in Beverly Hills. Overall, the place is good. I understand the look you are going for.
I love the art hanging above your bed! Fantastic!
P.S. CUTE PUG!!!!
John! I love what you've done with the place. And the original Cydylo is sublime! Great colors.
bill d.
Pasadena
Yes indeed, such a vibrant, yet naturally flowing progression of color! It also shows off the dark wood stains quite nicely, making them seem both richer, yet somehow lighter, than usual. Being originally from Boston, I was nostalgic at seeing the classic New England moldings, bureau, etc. so rarely found in LA.
My favorite is the kitchen. I had the same Angela Adams rug you have in the bedroom. It doesn't combine well with the orange piece if furniture you have in there.