Maximalism: Bold, Bedazzled, Gold, and Tasseled Interiors

This book by Phaidon editors takes readers on a tour through maximalist style with its signature big, bold, more-is-more aesthetic. Naming the Palace of Versailles as ground zero of this design category, the book travels back to the 17th century and makes its way to the present. Throughout the colorful pages, there are beautiful images of more than 220 maximalist residential interiors that range from sumptuous to campy and kitsch. Interiors from different eras are mixed and matched, not presented chronologically, which sets up interesting comparisons. If readers want to see the historical evolution of maximalism, they’ll need to look at the end of the book. The tongue-in-cheek introduction by Simon Doonan mentions gardens as well, but there are no photographs of these exterior spaces included in the book. Snappy quotes from famous people considered to be maximalists—Andy Warhol and Dolly Parton, for example—are peppered throughout, which is a highlight.