ARTIST KRISTI KOHUT’S CHICAGO HOME IS LIKE HER ART—ENERGETIC, PRETTY, AND FILLED WITH COLOR.
From the outside, mixedmedia artist Kristi Kohut’s open-plan stone-covered house might look like some others in her Chicago neighborhood. But indoors, it’s a riot of color and pattern, thanks to her large-scale paintings and rugs, pillows, and poufs designed with prints from her original artwork. Kristi, perhaps best known for her bold striped pieces sold on Minted and One Kings Lane, has always understood the importance of a neutral base. When she and her husband, Matt, bought their home 13 years ago (a year before their son, Owen, was born), they were after its prime North Shore location—a short bike ride to downtown—and its great bones. As for decor, “I didn’t want to distract from the moldings, windows, and big hallways,” says Kristi. So she chose gray paint for the walls, added trim to the rooms that didn’t have any, and shopped for warm wood furnishings.
Then came the best part: layering in pops of vibrant color. While sprinkling her bold art throughout the house, Kristi made a few smart moves to add some calm. In the living room, she chose a Chesterfield sofa in navy velvet to ground her rainbow-colored line-and-drip canvases and rug. Symmetry is another tool in her bag of tricks: Pairs of paintings, mirrors, and pillows soothe the eye. Finally, because Kristi’s work skews modern, every space finds balance with at least one traditional piece, whether it’s a curved-leg desk in her home office or chairs with caned backs in the dining room. “These oppositions—old and new, neutral and bright—are what create the energy that makes our home happy,” says Kristi