Packing Personality into your home isn’t trendy, it’s just great design….
There’s a new term starting to buzz around the Design Industry for 2023, “Refined Maximalism”, and I find it to be a fun and fresh new way to view an interior space. There is a misconception that Maximalism must mean lots of color, lots of things, busyness, but that is not the true intent in my opinion.
Maximalism means color, even if it is just one, and it means layers, it means a home that is lively yet structured. It can be minimal furnishings but with a strong point of view. It can express the complexity of the home and the multi-faceted nature of the homeowner. It means big, bold decision making when it comes to your home. And throughout these choices, keeping a strong thread of color, patterns, shapes, form, and texture can be a bit tricky. One of the most used terms from my clients is: “you get me”, “you get our family” and in a sense, my experience in design has led me to this point of bringing out the personalities of my clients in a way they couldn’t imagine. Being fun, playful, and curating the objects that speak to the client is what drives a home from being a Pinterest platitude to perfection. The last few years there has been a strong surge towards modern and minimalist but sometimes it can leave a home looking like a catalog and you have no idea who lives in the space! Decorating a home so that it looks like a” home staging” is never the goal!
Once I had an inquiry from someone to help with their home. They had a red brick colonial with white pillars in front. They had traveled to Italy and decided to put a Tuscan travertine flooring throughout the space. Then they went to Hawaii on vacation and did a pool with palm tree tiles and a palapa out back. I called it the “Colonial Italian Hawaiian American House!” Didn’t take the project but it did make me laugh whenever it came to mind… Just what are we trying to say here?! That’s not maximalism!
Tip: Always honor the architecture of your home if it is vintage. Do not update with a tile, plumbing or flooring detail that is out of character. You can modernize an old home with new fixtures but do your research on the best way to do so if you are going DIY. There are great inspirations from old homes in Europe that have been updated with new plumbing that I love!
Many of us love travel, we love art, we love our homes, and Refined Maximalism is the way to bridge all your loves and passions into your space. Being careful and considered in your intentions and how you curate your space is a new way to embrace Maximalism. You can travel to Italy, Hawaii, and anywhere else your heart desires, and your home can reflect all these travels as well as other passions.
Here’s just a few tips on Going Big when you Go Home:
Tell a story. When guests, family, or friends arrive they should know they are in your home. If you have travelled the world and have great photos, then frame them all in the same type of frame to make it cohesive, beautiful and tell a story. Do a huge floor to ceiling gallery wall with your photos. Go for a significant impact!
Use Symmetry. Adorning bookcases on either side of a Media wall? Intersperse personal items and use books as risers for display. Repeat picture frame styles on both bookcases. It’s OK to match frames and helps make a stronger point of view. Love gardening and houseplants? Then create a beautiful garden room, paint the walls green and add in beautiful botanical artwork. We have a whole home project I entitled “Garden House” because the client loves her surrounding gardens and wanted to bring the outdoors in.
Love what you display. Just because you bought something, or had it given to you doesn’t mean you love it. Your home should reflect things you absolutely love. Maybe there’s a great story behind it, or maybe it’s just a drop-dead gorgeous vase you found online. No matter the source, love it! And if a friend does a painting, and you don’t really “love” it, then put it in a guest room, or bathroom, it’s OK! I think that it is still important to honor the gift, and I think if you can display it somewhere, you should.
So, there you have it, my nickel tour of Refined Maximalism. Remember the key is Refined, not an all-out decorating frenzy. A home that imbues fun, personality, and has intention is my favorite type of home!
Cheers, Krissy