Maximalism
Reading this month’s issue of Berkeley Magazine, the article ‘Return of the Max’ struck a chord.
It’s very common in interior design to opt for the minimalist style: to shy away from loud colours and big patterns in favour of beige, white and grey with accents of chrome and slate. Of course, many minimalist designs are beautiful; their simplicity drawing your attention to specific design features or functional elements. But when designing for a living space sometimes minimalism just isn’t practical.
Berkeley Magazine’s article comments: “‘Less is more’ is no longer the maxim for interior style. It’s time to take a ‘maximalist’ approach.” The article mentions that we should no longer restrict wallpaper to an ‘accent’ wall and that if you’re fond of a patterned rug “get five, make sure none of them match, and overlap them.”
At Extreme we gather inspiration from our client’s cherished moment and develop a truly bespoke design that reflects this. Our vision is to create a living space that is as powerful in it’s design led qualities as it is in the power of the story it tells. This doesn’t mean that we design with ‘themes’ and that we forget our wealth of experience in designing exquisite interiors. Some clients wish for bold design, opting for vibrant colours and textures, while others wish to be more understated. It’s the challenge of our creative designers to marry extraordinary, timeless design with a truly personal story.
Jade Jones, Creative Consultant at Extreme Berkshire shares her insights on how to use colour and pattern in interior design and how to live by the new aphorism ‘more is more.’
“If you’re looking to make a bold statement with your interior, maximalism is the way to do it. I believe that the home is an extension of the homeowner and therefore the home’s décor should convey the homeowner’s personality. The walls of your home can be much more involved in the narration of the room’s story: the application of colours, materials, textures, patterns and objets d’art can create an exciting, full-on sensory experience that can really add to your living space’s full picture.
“I don’t believe that there is such thing as too much but maximalism still has to be considered: it isn’t just a wild, random cocktail of anything. One still has to cleverly build a collaboration of colours, textures and patterns; layering them to create an attractive and exciting visual impact.
“To begin creating your own maximalist interior, I believe that choosing a united element for the room; either a colour, texture or pattern, is the simplest way of ensuring you don’t overdo the look. Mix pieces of art, travel mementoes, personal keepsakes and family heirlooms to create a truly personal style.
“At Extreme we have such a diverse selection of materials available that we source from all over the world. This enables us to use the rarest and most intriguing materials for the design of the furniture itself, from petrified wood to exotic shagreen. Whether it’s a bespoke kitchen design or a statement closet, bold textures don’t just have to come from wall coverings and soft furnishings.”
“This isn’t a style that can easily be created overnight. It takes time to assemble a variety of personal belongings and create a perfectly balanced maximalist interior. Don’t worry about sticking to one era or style. Mix it up and display an eclectic range of items from a number of different moments in your life. If you love Moroccan patterns, tribal prints, rustic furniture and you favour an industrial look, there’s no need to pick one over the over. Intermingle one theme with another to create a patchwork of your own diverse personality.”
“At Extreme, we enjoy the creative challenge of drawing on diverse influences when creating a statement kitchen, bedroom or living space. The inspiration for each design is as unique and layered as each client, whether the inspiration they choose is their personality, their property or a moment they cherish. Our passion is to turn these seemingly conflicting influences into a harmonious. luxury design; and we absolutely love it!”
To discover more about maximalism design or to find out more about the intriguing materials we use, speak with a member of the Extreme creative team at your nearest studio here.