New-wave maximalism

Pair graphic pattern with calmer elements for a modern take on the ‘more is more’ ethos. It’s a quieter way to be loud

Pair graphic pattern with calmer elements. Roberto Baciocchi’s villa in Tuscany reveals a quieter way to be loud

THE TREND An extension of the happier mood in design that’s prompted an injection of colour and pattern into our interiors, maximalism is also back in vogue. However, there’s a new, more distinguished air to this exuberant way of decorating. The trick is to neither overwhelm with wall-to-wall pattern, nor miss out on how the over-the-top can enhance a room’s look and feel. The owner of this Italian villa, Roberto Baciocchi (right), has achieved this delicate balance. Large, colourful geometric shapes dominate the walls in his home, but their boldness is offset by expanses of bare plaster and the simple, clean lines of classic, modern pieces of furniture. It’s about giving more extravagant designs room to breathe. Indeed, Baciocchi believes in the benefits of being selective. ‘For me,’ he says, ‘pattern has most impact when it’s featured sparingly.’ THE HOUSE Nestled in the hilltop city of Arezzo in eastern Tuscany, Baciocchi’s beautiful 16th-century, five-bedroom villa, where he lives with his wife Rosella, sits opposite a church on a picturesque piazza within the city’s ancient walls. The fourstorey house, with a courtyard complete with a vegetable garden, makes the most of the Mediterranean light and heat with high ceilings and large windows. It also comes with the irregularities of age, such as worn stone steps and rough plastering. Work has been done to reinforce the original 500-year-old structure as sympathetically as possible, preserving many of the original materials and maintaining the historic feel of the property.

THE INTERIOR Baciocchi’s chief aim for his family home was to celebrate the building’s past, while also reflecting his own aesthetic. This included featuring his love of art – commissioning local artist Giuseppe Friscia to paint large colourful frescoes – as well as paying tribute to the work of his father-in-law, the painter Rossano Nalidi.

Against the 16th-century backdrop of the villa, Baciocchi also wanted to explore other eras, showcasing classic furniture by modern designers, from Eero Saarinen to Charles and Ray Eames. The look is wonderfully mismatched – wooden Chinese chairs from the 1700s sit atop bright 1970s rugs and 1950s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs figurines, given to him by his wife, share space with Gucci lamps, books and beautiful ceramics. Baciocchi wanted each room to have its own design narrative and, like a master storyteller, he has created a look that is enjoyable and timeless. ➤

TREND IN DETAIL: NEW- WAVE MAXIMALISM Homeowner Roberto Baciocchi on how to be bold, but never brash

Be disciplined Limit the amount of pattern you use in a room. You really only need one big design to make a statement. Consider the rest of the furniture The plainer the better. Be careful about what you place next to an exuberant pattern. Think about proportions and colours. Don’t allow anything to dominate your space. Make the most of materials Let them add to the richness of the pattern and enhance the overall aesthetic. For example, in some rooms I’ve painted shapes onto canvas, as opposed to directly onto the walls. The effect adds extra texture to the geometric designs. Don’t forget space and light Be conscious of how a pattern interacts with the room around it. How will the light fall on it? How big is the print in relation to the space around it?

Bedroom A Japanese flag hangs at the head of a bed designed by Pierre Paulin in the 1970s. The ‘Arlecchino’ bedside table was designed by Edoardo Paoli in the 1950s, while the lamp is from the 1960s Bathroom The ‘Square Antonia Campi’ sanitaryware is by Pozzi Ginori, made in 1976. The sofa is a vintage 1970s design Stockist details on p169