Manalapan Maximalist Home Remodel

What is Modern American Maximalism?

Timeless doesn't mean safe or neutral—it means choosing layers and patterns with intent. Bold doesn't sacrifice longevity—it ensures the space remains compelling decades hence. Sophisticated needn't intimidate—true refinement invites rather than excludes.  These aren't contradictions—they're the very definition of modern American maximalism. 

Given the proximity to Palm Beach, the Manalapan project presented an opportunity for me to collaborate with the clients to create a design that didn't fall into the expected Palm Beach Tropical Troupes.  Rather we wanted to strike a balance between that whimsical, colorful botanical motif and the sophisticated elegance of Palm Beach, while adding in a unexpected maximalist layer that i design-forward and bespoke. 

For the wine room you see adjacent, I wallpapered the ceiling in a geometric suede wallcovering that had texture and sheen.  It created a lounge vibe that was intimate.  I love love using wallcoverings in unexpected surface.  It add an unexpected elements that is so custom. I purposely opted for channeled swivel club chairs which we upholstered in a deep aubergine velvet which added an art deco element to the room. The silk and wool rug carried a heavy repeat pattern on the floor to create strong visual interest underfoot.   

Layering Eclectic Sensibility in Spanish Mediterranean Architecture

This Spanish Mediterranean canvas—with its Orville Bulman provenance and architectural bones steeped in old Florida romance—became my laboratory for perfecting modern American maximalism. Not European excess. Not Victorian revival. Something distinctly, powerfully American.

I layered eclectic interior design sensibility with surgical precision:

• Contemporary art against fret-worked ceilings
• Mid-century furniture that had been reupholstered and given new life in more eclectic settings
• Global textiles—Carefully curated fabric choices that blended pattern, color and texture
• Inherited pieces elevated beside vintage store discoveries
• Custom designs created specifically for the home

The formal living room is where you get the full effect of the design. The space was previously all white with little millwork. The ceiling on its own had a lovely detail in its coved effect, yet it still feel flat. I wanted to tie back to a timeless motif of trellissing. It is a detail that has been used for centuries in homes over europe and asia. I loved added that detail of design to the space. Underneath, I had the ceiling painted in a soft blush to add contrast.  The effect is a dramatic canopy under which we would tell our design story. The vintage Hoffman chandeliers are like gilt and crystal peacocks in the room. Two kidney-shaped 1970 Pearsall sofas were reupholstered in a cheery green while a 1970s steel beam and glass coffee table anchor the room. The silk drapery panels add a modern graphic and masculine element to balance the pinks the room.   

Whimsy Meets Careful Curation

The magic of this Manalapan estate’s interior design lies in its beautiful tension: whimsy dancing with careful curation, spontaneity guided by intention.

Whimsy appears in unexpected moments:

• A fringed pendant in a corner of the hallway
• Bold pattern that work within an eclectic space
• Color combinations that make guests smile before they understand why

But undergirding every whimsical gesture is careful curation. Over five years, I edited relentlessly. Pieces auditioned and didn't make the cut. Arrangements tested and reimagined. This is the discipline that prevents maximalism from becoming clutter, abundance from becoming overwhelming.

Honoring Orville Bulman's Artistic Legacy

Creating interiors in Orville Bulman's former home carried special responsibility. This wasn't a blank slate—it was a space that had witnessed artistic creation, that had housed a creative mind, that bore the residual energy of someone who understood beauty deeply.

I approached the project not to erase that legacy but to celebrate it through my own unique point of view. An artist lived here; now a masterfully designed home would carry that creative torch forward. Bulman painted his visions; I would curate spaces with the same reverence for color, composition, and bold expression. The previous owners had made modifications to the house that had tempered the architectural elements of the home. In its place, they created a white, waterside box. It was time to bring it back with a strong design point of view.  

This is what modern American maximalism offers: the confidence to honor history while writing new chapters, to respect what came before while insisting on what comes next.

Designing for Real Life: A Home for Family and Friends

Despite its Manalapan address and architectural grandeur, this home's ultimate purpose remains beautifully simple: it's a gathering place for family and friends.

Every design decision I made supported this mission:

• Seating that invites lingering conversations
• Dining spaces that expand for celebrations
• Nooks for quiet moments and open areas for boisterous gatherings
• Durable luxury that withstands real living
• Beauty that enhances rather than inhibits daily life

The dining room flows seamlessly into the kitchen. It was important for me that the approachability of the kitchen seating didn't jar with the formality of the primary dining room. The murano chandelier in the dining room elevates the space but doesn't make it overly elegant.  The open-weave chairs in the dining allow for a less visually heavy space, that gives light. 

The Joy of the Journey: Why Five Years Matters

Five years might seem excessive to those who view design as transaction rather than transformation. But for those who understand that the best homes aren't decorated in weeks but cultivated across seasons, who recognize that getting it right matters more than getting it done, who believe that collaboration between designer and homeowner should deepen rather than deplete—five years becomes gift, not burden. This was very much a project where fearless curation had a strong seat at the table. The collaboration with the clients over those five years were instrumental. We experience so much of each other's lives during that time. Sometimes good, sometimes sad. In the end, the lasting value of the partnership with the clients parallels the timelessness of the design.

And the truth? The process was oh so much fun.

Every exploration. Every discovery at an antique market. Every "what if I tried this?" moment. Every installation day reveal. Every evolution as the home grew more itself. The journey wasn't obstacle to overcome—it was the entire point.

-Alex