Johnny Galecki's maximalist living room is like a 'cave of treasures' – with so many eclectic focal points

Best known for his role as Leonard on the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Johnny Galecki purchased the Nashville home in 2018 to provide a home for his family, away from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, and curate a home that could house his entire collection of maximalist treasures and curios. 

Where minimalism champions stripped-back design, the philosophy behind maximalism is that less really isn’t more; in fact, the busier the better. The aesthetic of excess, maximalist decor ideas has found favor among interior brands and designers in recent times, but the principle is nothing new.

Throwing the entire color and pattern book at a room is very now, with everyone's mood boards heaving with flamboyant florals, bold stripes, global ikats, and block prints. More recently, style mavens are curating lived-in spaces that embrace the excess. If you love the 'more is more' interior design trend, I'd wager you're already a little max in your tastes, too.

The actor tapped interior design firm Pierce & Ward to transform his living room into a treasure trove of eclectic colors, mismatched furniture and offbeat accessories. The final result is truly outstanding and individual.

In a conversation with Architectural Digest, Galecki spoke about wanting to embrace the old. 'While most remodels want to make the old new, our goal was very much the opposite,' he said. 'Sadly, much modern workmanship and materials simply don’t compare to that of a hundred years ago.'

His love of bygone curated elegance emboldened Louisa Pierce and Emily Ward of Pierce & Ward to create the maximalist living room we see before us. However, despite the eccentric look, the overall scheme is cohesive and the room color ideas, chosen to reflect nature's earthy palette, harmonize beautifully in this comforting and cocooning haven. 

Recreating a maximalist look in your own home is easier than you think. 'There are no rules to pattern or color mixing – the more eclectic the collection, the more interesting and fabulous it will be,' says Anna Spiro, interior designer. 'Select a range of different textiles, patterns and colors. Put into the mix, for instance, a large floral fabric, a small floral, a stripe and a geometric textile or two.'

Ann Grafton, creative and managing director, of GP&J Baker is a champion of clashing pattern and color to create a bespoke style: 'Layering pattern on pattern creates a rich, maximalist look,' she says. 'Maximalism tends to be most successful when the patterns used share a color palette. Try using several designs in a similar tone but vary the scales of the patterns by combining large statement prints with smaller block prints, to create a layered scheme.'

The key is repetition in interior design, scale and form. 'Hitting the same print a few times within an interior is crucial,' says Sean Symington, director of Sean Symington Design. 'I love using the same fabric for different applications. Scale is equally as important. I think it is important to play with varying scaled patterns within a room.' 

Finally, form is probably the most important rule of pattern mixing. Nothing makes us more excited than seeing a bold geometric next to a feminine floral. This contrast is key, and Galecki's living room is a perfect example of this style.

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