This Colorful Contemporary Home Puts Artwork Center Stage

Chicago artist Kristi Kohut is all about welcoming: her joyous canvases and neon frames beckon guests into spaces all over the world like hosts with warm hugs. She’s also interested in making her clients more comfortable with buying art — which, in the case of her own work, you can find online rather than in a frosty gallery — and making it part of their everyday lives.

How does that work, exactly? Join us for a stroll through Kristi’s home — which is bursting with art, textiles and decor that’s available through her studio, Hapi Art — and let her explain how you can make any space hum with happiness.

Who’s afraid of a massive floral piece? “Do not fear color,” Kristi says. “Fear beige! Color and pattern can add so much joy to a space.”

That said, if you’re hesitant about shifting out of neutral in your home, “accessories are a great way to take that leap,” she adds. “Adding pops of color with a few throw pillows, a stack of great art books or that piece of art that speaks to you is a great way to dive in no matter what your style. You won’t regret it!”

Kristi deployed intricate accents like the patterned panel beneath the ceiling in the hall to add additional interest to her rooms; it creates a frame beyond her art’s frames. “We put in this ornate-style molding in select areas throughout our home,” she says. “There’s just something about mixing styles and periods that makes things a bit more interesting and I just love the more ornate molding reminiscent of period homes! Contrast this with cleaner lines and more modern pieces and I just think it’s such a magical combination.”

Kristi also “frames” her collection with one of her all-time favorite paint colors: Benjamin Moore Sterling, a classic light gray that can feel both warm and ethereal. (Consider how its tone feels against the bold hue in the massive canvas here; she uses this same color to create another effect on the gallery wall in her bedroom.)