I think the issue with maximalism is that is a poorly defined term, it is really just anti-minimalism, it is defined by what is is not. So yes it should be a more is more approach to design but that does not have to mean clashing or bright - each of the contestants said “ for me, maximalism is....” and basically described a toddler running riot with all the crayons. The problem being their idea of what maximalism should be was simplistic and basically they were uncomfortable with the concept, honestly I think the only designer that truly ‘got’ maximalism was Siobhan and it wasn’t her brief! Barbara’s room was ok but felt a little safe/formulaic to me - it wasn’t really wow, it felt easy tbh, no particularly bold or different choices - just patterned wallpaper and a few fairly obvious colours. I don’t think Michelle likes maximalism tbh so maybe that was an issue as well.
Also - I didn’t see much reference to the whole Percy Shelley connection! There was definite missed opportunity there, he was an amazing radial thinker and poet... even just some poetry quotes in the art or something, it’s a hotel, you could get away with that cliché.
For me (ha!), with the brief being a maximalist hotel bedroom in a boutique wedding country hotel....I might have chosen deep/clear toned colour palette. I might have tried to steer clear of the botanical wallpaper trope as it is just what everyone reaches for, although I did like the contrast of botanical & geometric in Johns design. But it needs a more curated colour palette - perhaps something like deep violet/aubergine with a similar toned jade/deep sea green for contrast - that seems restful and cosy to me, but purple/green instantly gives a slightly OTT feel, and then small splashes of bits like fushia, sapphire, teal in things like cushions, curtain tiebacks, trim on the (patterned!) lampshades etc.
Mixed metallics wherever possible (Johns ceiling but with gold or copper paint rather than grass green would have been quite fabulous), mixed textures in the soft furnishings and yes mixed patterns but in a sumptuous and opulent way, not clashing and mismatched. Just because something isn’t subtle doesn’t mean it needs to be jarring. It should be about taking every opportunity to adorn and embellish, every chance to turn something into an interesting detail - BUT not in a way that is distracting or detracting from the room and the setting itself. A collection of antique drawer knobs on the furniture perhaps, replace the light switch with an unusual metal/design, curate a collection of wall art or objects displayed thoughtfully, the windows - maybe a velvet curtain but tapestry/patterned tie backs and pelmets that you then pick up in the bedside lampshades.... there should be whimsy and never doing that thing where you put all your jewellery on and then take one thing off - a maximalist adds one more thing or maybe two! That’s why I think John’s effort, whilst it missed the mark because of the clashing and colour palette chosen, had a lot more of the spirit of maximalism than any of the others. The idea of adding pattern inside the panelling for example I thought was brilliant. He just should have lost some of the fully papered lemur areas and just had beautiful coloured paint there instead. A less disorienting geometric above the panelling. The basic ideas were really good just executed poorly because of the assumption of the need for clash.
One day, when we have saved up enough for plasterers and joiners and new carpets etc, I shall have a maximalist purple bedroom....the mood board is ever evolving but currently involves no wallpaper, shock!