This is a case for “more is more”, masterfully argued by the brushstrokes of history’s finest interiors artists. Before we had glossy decor magazines to pour over, we had a pictorial genre known as interior portraiture which became all the rage during the Belle Epoque, but first appeared in Europe in the 17th century to show the contents of art galleries, personal libraries or cabinets of curiosities. Great architects also created watercolours of their projects to entice prospective customers, which started a fad amongst the wealthy elite to commission paintings of various rooms in their homes, showing off their taste for excess. Decorative styles were constantly being changed and resurrected, so interior portraits were a way of preserving bequeathing a sense of style to the next generation. In the wake of today’s minimalist trend takeover, we’re taking alternative inspiration from most over-the-top rooms of yore with their busy wallpapers, gilded accents, abundance of botanicals and curiosity-covered walls…
Feel free to borrow a few rooms for your moodboarding…
Small dining room of the castle of Saint Mem
