KARYN MILLET
“ White boxes are for presents , not homes ,” said interior designer Alex Alonso , founder and creative principal of mr . alex TATE Design , which has design studios in Los Angeles and Miami . Alonso , who refers to himself as a maximalist at heart , said he launched his studio “ to embrace a global perspective and celebrate the power of storytelling through spaces , reflecting a distinct design approach that is all about the mix . The result is a bold sensibility I call ‘ modern Victorian .’ We see every project as an opportunity to curate fearlessly and tell a unique story for each client .”
THE “ MUCHNESS ” OF MAXIMALISM Maximalism isn ’ t a shy trend by any means . Bursting with life , maximalism welcomes lovers of color , textures , layered patterns , accessories and art . It includes what top designers describe as “ bold gestures :” the art of “ more-is-more .”
If minimalism was the responsible adult , then maximalism is the inner child , painting empty spaces with life and joyful bravado . Even though the rising trend is known for its hyperbolic ethos , that doesn ’ t mean you need headache-inducing wallpapers or claustrophobic mantlepieces filled to the brim . In fact , maximalism adopts the idea of decluttering anything that is neither useful nor beautiful to you .
In essence , it ’ s a dramatic display of one ’ s inner expression : a spacial artwork in itself or a wonderland for the senses — something Lewis Carroll would call your “ muchness .” It ’ s no surprise then , why maximalism is resurfacing once more as an ageless friend to interior design .
AN AGELESS TREND Maximalism has been making the rounds in the design world for centuries . In early history , wealthy figures were taken to the trend as a way to display their affluence .
The story is not much different for maximalism in the Victorian era , where material goods were more affordable , and those who had accessories loved to display them in their homes with grandeur .
However , much like today , there was an ulterior motif that maximalism satiated for Victorian culture : to showcase one ’ s own personality and inner world . After years of more frugal or conservative trends like minimalism , it ’ s safe to say that many are once again ready to be seen expressing their spaces in living color .
“ This staircase design is punctuated with a simple massing of steel for the stair , edited to maintain a bold yet sleek silhouette which is juxtaposed with a colorful layered custom wallpaper ,” said Lisa McDennon of Lisa McDennon Designs . “ The paper concept was developed as a collaborative concept between myself , the client and local textile designer Diana Garreau . We wanted to create a graffiti wall that looked like it also had layers of paint and torn wallpaper underneath .”
70 FALL / WINTER 2023 / 24 | LATITUDE33MAGAZINE . COM