COURTESY OF WILFREDO EMANUEL DESIGNS
Wilfredo Emanuel ’ s home décor is a reflection of the designs he loves , paying homage to a life well-lived . Everywhere in and around the Naples , Florida home Emanuel , an interior designer and TV personality , has created are artful vignettes , just as he is famous for doing for his clients . In each room , each scene has a beginning , middle and end — all tiny productions that tell the tale of its inhabitants . “ A house can tell a story in a thousand beautiful moments , unique to its owner and in my case , I really enjoy being at home ,” says Emanuel .
CHAOS VS . COLOR While “ more is more ” has become the motto for maximalism , it doesn ’ t suggest careless or chaotic design . Many designers stress the importance of being selective with one or two focal points when it comes to featuring accessories or artwork in a space . Too many becomes visual overload ; a maelstrom of artistic ideas . Though , if you want to showcase a melting pot of ideas , textures , and patterns , design experts advise to draw from the same color palette to create a more cohesive look .
Grounding finishes like marble or wood on side furnishings also help to avoid visual overwhelm when it comes to maximalist design .
According to SoCal interior designer Lisa McDennon , founder of Lisa McDennon Design in Laguna Beach , CA , maximalist design “ is rooted in bold sweeping color and layered pattern over pattern . The concept is more is better , yet in a carefully curated way — if not , it will just look and feel like a total mess . Often times taking a core group of colors and using repetition in your layering creates rhythm and harmony in the design . This helps connect the elements in a cohesive and visually appealing style .”
Whether designing a dark and moody Victorianesque bedroom or accessorizing a Bubblegum pink studio , the boldness of maximalist design has no category or boundaries . Perhaps that ’ s why many of us have , once again , fallen prey to the trend of maximalism ; a visual rabbit hole of “ muchness ,” texture and visual splendor . There ’ s just something about the colors that make you want to fall in .
72 FALL / WINTER 2023 / 24 | LATITUDE33MAGAZINE . COM