Maximalism’s
San Franciso Origins
Maximalism is everywhere on Tik Tok and Instagram. But despite what some influencer has tried to convince their followers, maximalism isn't just another modern design trend.
Maximalism has its roots set in the Victorian era (1837-1901) when curio cabinets seized the imagination of the wealthy and powerful.
The Victorians were a creative bunch who shared a belief that their homes should showcase their private selves to visitors.
Any modern tourist will tell you SF has many beautiful Victorian-era homes, but back in the day, SF was considered the capital of North American Victorian style. Between 1850 and 1900, SF was home to over forty-thousand Victorian houses. All decked out in their witch hats and large windowed exteriors. But what many don't know is that the interiors of those homes would have been designed in the maximalist aesthetic.
At radhouse, we want to pay homage to San Francisco's Victorian-era roots while exploring what maximalism means in a modern setting.
Will the dominant design trend be maximalism? We think so.
COVID has also played a central role in the rise of the popularity of maximalism. COVID forced people to spend a lot of time in their homes leading many to re-examine what they wanted the design and function of their houses to be.
We predict that as people start traveling more post-pandemic, during those travels, they will collect items of interest, populate their homes with meaningful art and accessories, and want to show those "artifacts" off to their guests.
After two long years of worry and self-reflection, maximalism's flirty and adventurous styling expresses confidence, security, and a sense of personality that hasn't been popular since the Victorians first peered into their curio cabinets with awe and amazement.
