I’ve decided my 6-year-old has the makings of a maximalist. As Interior Designer Ryan Austin Hagood defines it, the maximalist design philosophy is guided by the belief that “more is more, not less”. This describes my daughter Clare very well.
When we moved into our ranch-style home last Summer, Clare wanted her bedroom on the main floor—near my husband’s and my bedroom. We agreed, so she’d be comfortable in our new home—though the room is small and better suited for an office, not a child with a desire for more and more. This mama does not do well with mess and disorganization, so when Clare’s room began to spread to our guest room in the finished basement, I was ready for a change. After referring to the guest room as the “playroom” for several months, I asked Clare what it would take to move her into that larger bedroom where she could keep all her things in one place. Turns out, it was a redesign! The builder-beige walls currently are undergoing a transformation to “sizzling sunset” on two opposing walls and “Caicos turquoise” on the other two opposing walls. And, yes, those colors are as bold as they sound.
There is a theme for these bold colors: The turquoise walls represent Bluey from the famous Australian cartoon, and the orange walls represent Bluey’s little sister, Bingo (which Clare also named the kitten we adopted last Summer). There will be Bluey-themed bedding, curtains and wall art to match. In fact, we have commissioned one of my childhood friends, who is a talented artist, to paint Bluey and Bingo directly on Clare’s bedroom wall.
I learned about maximalism from Hagood, whose own home Bismark is profiled in this issue in “MaximalistHouse”. “Every element in the room serves a purpose, either for function or as a style statement,” Hagood says in the article. This is exactly Clare’s ethos, as well, though her design is, shall I say, not as refined as Hagood’s style.
The article about Hagood’s home is a departure from the typical retrofits we cover. Hagood actually changed the design of the home to suit his and his partner’s style before construction began. He restructured floor plans, altered room layouts and ceiling heights, and incorporated strategically placed windows to enhance the living experience while maintaining the house’s alignment with the community’s European-village concept. The article is not only a lesson in maximalist design but also a lesson in how to work with a builder to facilitate a swift blueprint revision process.
I’ll keep an extra copy of this issue on Clare’s bookshelf so she can continue to improve upon her maximalist style as she gets older. I imagine she and I will redecorate her room many times in the years ahead!
