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ONMONDAY
DECEMBER 29, 2014
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T
is the end of the year andmany are into,
if not already, spring cleaning their
homes. This is usually the time many
people do away with the old tomake way
(space) for the new. Resolutions are made
and where the home front is concerned, new
themes and decorating styles are sometimes
taken on in line with the start of the new
year and hope for better beginnings with a
fresh start.
As the crowd is either donating or giving
away that which can be used, or throwing out
what can’t, re-decorating is usually done this
time of year. With that, we ask: Are you a
maximalist or a minimalist?Whether you
follow the less is more approach or prefer to
go all out with your decor, there is no doubt
that both interiors display character.
“People’s jaws drop when they enter my
room,” says maximalist Ann Jacobs, “I’ve
been calledmessy, a hoarder, and even
insane, but I call it a roomwith substance.”
On the other hand, Steven Yong is said to
be a minimalist. “I stay alone, so I decorated
my apartment the way I wanted it. It is pretty
bare, with no unnecessary frills and that
translates into boring for some, but I like the
simplicity and Zen that comes with it. It is
my personality.”
Whichever category you fall into, the
following tips will help you approach these
looks aesthetically, avoiding extremities.
MAXIMALIST INTERIORS
If there is one decor style that stops people in
their tracks, it would be themaximalist.
Compelling for its boldness, it is not for the
faint-hearted. To its gutsy adherents, there is
no better mode of self expression.
The termmaximalist can be interpreted as
busy or cluttered, thoughwhen approached
mindfully, maximalist interiors can be both
stylish and visually stimulating.
Awhirlwind of creativity, it is eccentric,
that gowith this look, such as yellow,
black and animal print, andwork from there,”
saysWoo. By establishing a baseline, you can
figure out howother pieces or design
elements will fit in. This also ensures that you
are not left with a clutter of unrelated items.
Go heavywith ornamentation
“A fewheavy ornamental touches are all it
takes to give a roomamaximalist style,”
explainsWoo. Tomake a room stand out, “go
for highly decorative, thick, baroque photo
andmirror frames in gold colour,” she adds.
Other ornamentation ideas include velvet,
silk and organza fabric with heavy overlays.
Thesemake for perfect cushion covers,
curtains and table runners for this particular
interior style.
“Bunches of brightly coloured flowers are
also trendy inmaximalist interiors now, so
choose a few colours and varieties and place
them in copper vases for a wow factor.”
MINIMALIST
INTERIORS
The famous Leonardo
da Vinci said that
simplicity is the ultimate
sophistication. If you
agree with this, you
could be aminimalist.
Minimalist interiors have
become prevalent in
recent years, especially
with homeowners
acknowledging the
benefits that come with
a clean, clutter-free
home environment.
“Minimalist interiors
can be implemented in
any roombut you have to
remember that there can
be a fine line betweenminimalist and boring,”
saysWoo.
Here are some suggestions to achieve this
kind of look.
Contemporary look
This particular approach aims to create a
visual distraction in an otherwise
monotonous minimalist room. The look is
achieved by incorporating one piece of
furnishing, of a different colour, style and
pattern from the rest of the furnishings,
and blending it in. For example, in a
predominantly blue dining roomwith
a glass dining table with blue chair coverings
and curtains, you can place a grey and
black carpet with swaying patterns
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underneath the table.
“Minimalist interiors are often
associatedwith being bland and this
look addresses that issue. The extra
additionwill not clutter the room, it
simply adds colour and pattern to an
otherwise neutral looking space,”
saysWoo.
Ornamental cohesion
To introduce aesthetic cohesion
in aminimalist a room, Woo
recommends arrangingmovable
décor such as cushions and coffee
table books asymmetrically, leaning
on one another. To get maximum
visual impact from this tip, these
items should be placed in a part of the
roomwhere the eyes go toward first
when entering.
“Use between two to four items.
The goal here is to add visual
harmony to the roomand not overpower it
with toomany things.”
Bring the outdoors in
For a subtle but noticeable change tomake
a subduedminimalist roomeye-catching,
Woo suggests bringing the outdoors in.
Highlight the clean, horizontal furnishings
of the indoors with the light and landscape of
the outdoors. Use this as décor. “In general,
window furnishings should be avoided to
remove any distraction. If it is absolutely
necessary, it is best to use sheers that can be
drawn completely, in order to allowplenty
of natural light inwith a viewof the landscape
from the outdoors.”
With that and the newyear just round
the corner, let us dare to be different and do
the unexpected. Maximalist or minimalist,
it is your call. HappyNewYear and
happy decorating!
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theatrical and captivating all at once, but how
much is toomuch?
“Themaximalist interior is all about
striking a balance between curating a space
and over decorating, and this is no easy task …
it needs a lot of thought,” says interior
designer JillianWoo.
Here are tips on how to get the look.
Workwith your collectibles
The great thing about maximalist interiors is
that when done right, you can creativelywork
withwhat you already have and create an
entirely new look. Start by taking note of all
the vintage ornaments, travel keepsakes or
personal artworks that you have accumulated
over the years and separate themaccording to
type. Decide what group of items youwant to
workwith and incorporate it into your décor
accordingly. For instance, if you have a
collection of colourful tea light holders,
embroidered cushion covers and a Persian
carpet, you canwork these items into an
Indian or Persian
themed room.
Complement
with layers
Effective layering is
fundamental to
maximalist interiors,
and the look cannot be
achieved by simply
combining different
styles haphazardly.
Each style or design
featuremust be
carefully selected,
based on how it will
integrate with other
pieces andwhat it will
contribute to the room.
“Toworkwith this
approach, start with a
theme inmind ... for
instance safari. Select
the colours or patterns
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>Simpleways to achieve these looks aesthetically
Maximalist
Minimalist
Four signs youmaybe
amaximalist
You have more than four
favourite colours.
Florals make you excited.
There was never a pattern you did
not like.
You have more than one collection
of collectibles.
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Fivebenefitsof a
minimalist home
Makes cleaning faster.
Less
clutter
means
less
mental stress.
Minimal spending on maintenance
and purchases.
Cutting down on purchase less
effects the environment.
Fewer things means less dust, dirt
and allergies.
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