Search
Interiors

Designer Tara Bernerd Curates a Sultry Lounge Around a Ben Johnson Artwork

Taking cues from the architecturally inspired painting, the hospitality visionary selects sculptural furniture and inspired pieces made with rich, warm materials

By Ryan Waddoups
Collage of modern interior design furniture and art, featuring a chair, sofa, tables, lamps, and abstract paintings.

British designer Tara Bernerd approaches interiors as layered compositions where architecture, furnishings, and objets serve as distinct notes in a cohesive melody. She often looks for ways to let art enrich a room’s atmosphere without overpowering the aesthetic.

Modern office interior with large windows overlooking a sunny city street and tall buildings outside.
Van der Rohe Building with Barcelona Chair (1972) by Ben Johnson. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Art doesn’t necessarily have to match, but it should marry into a room”

Tara Bernerd

That philosophy animates the lavish hotels—from Munich to Hong Kong—presented in her recent monograph, A Design Journey (Rizzoli), as well as a stylish lounge she conceived around Ben Johnson’s 1972 painting Van der Rohe Building with Barcelona Chair. The work’s crisp architectural perspective and angular geometry complement the sculptural furniture she assembled to introduce warmth and softness. “Art doesn’t necessarily have to match,” she explains, “but it should marry into a room.”

1 | 10

Get the Look

Albireo sofa by Anthony Guerrée for De La Espada.

Arche ottoman by DeMuro Das.

Cygnet floor lamp by Vladimir Kagan from Holly Hunt.

Deco throw 002 by Tara Bernerd for Frette.

Goblet drink table by Holly Hunt Studio.

Cocktail table by Vincenzo De Cotiis.

Carlo club chair by Tara Bernerd for Medea 1905.

Biot Bruni rug by Riviere.

Curtis table lamp by Paolo Moschino.

Octave console by Arthur Vallin from Studiotwentyseven.

Modern beige sectional sofa with wooden legs and matching pillows on a white background.
Brown upholstered ottoman with a rounded top and dark base, ideal for living room or lounge area decor.
Mid-century modern wooden floor lamp with a brass neck and beige lampshade on a white background.
Geometric patterned textile with navy, beige, and brown stripes and triangles on one edge.
Bronze modern pedestal table with a square top and geometric base, set against a plain white background.
Artistic coffee table with a unique, multicolored marble top and a sleek bronze base on a gray concrete floor.
Modern beige armchair with wooden frame on textured carpet against a neutral wall backdrop.
Abstract geometric rug with circles and triangles in brown and white tones.
Brass table lamp with a geometric design and a wide pyramidal shade
Modern stone console table with curved design and cylindrical support leg.
Modern beige sectional sofa with wooden legs and matching pillows on a white background.
Brown upholstered ottoman with a rounded top and dark base, ideal for living room or lounge area decor.
Mid-century modern wooden floor lamp with a brass neck and beige lampshade on a white background.
Geometric patterned textile with navy, beige, and brown stripes and triangles on one edge.
Bronze modern pedestal table with a square top and geometric base, set against a plain white background.
Artistic coffee table with a unique, multicolored marble top and a sleek bronze base on a gray concrete floor.
Modern beige armchair with wooden frame on textured carpet against a neutral wall backdrop.
Abstract geometric rug with circles and triangles in brown and white tones.
Brass table lamp with a geometric design and a wide pyramidal shade
Modern stone console table with curved design and cylindrical support leg.

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2026 Summer Issue under the headline “View Finder.” Subscribe to the magazine.