“I’m all about exuberance.  We only have one short life to live and we shouldn’t waste it being tasteful.”  -Isaac Mizrahi, fashion designer

My first response to this quote was color…. bold, exuberant, outrageous color, so I found a few ‘exuberant’ rooms representing that interpretation.  I’m not sure I find them particularly tastefully done so that meets the second criteria of his statement. (These are from my magazine photo archives so I can’t always give correct credit, sorry.)

A lively room with a bold pattern.

A bright mix of colors.

Monochromatic exuberance designed by Muriel Brandolini from the book Designing Women

 ”The more hues there are, the more life there is.”  – Rose Anne de Pampelonne, decorator/fashion designer

A colorful dining room.

Do you find any of these rooms tasteful?  Can’t you have both exuberance and good taste? 

 Maybe exuberance refers to a mixing and layering of patterns.  Designer Mario Buatta is often called the “King of Chintz” and is renowned for his English styled rooms where he manages to blend patterns, color and comfort.  Below notice how he has a patterned rug on a patterned rug, each chair has a different fabric (yellow, stripe, check and coral) working with a floral sofa.  There’s even pattern on the fireplace surround. 

 Buatta’s design style philosophy is “rooms evolve, they don’t simply appear overnight via a department store showroom.”

Designed by Mario Buatta

Bedroom by Mario Buatta

After reflection, I think living and designing with exuberance should mean feeling free to live in a space that exemplifies your best self (I sound a little like Oprah there).  It should be filled with things you love and that make you feel rested or creative or content or energized….whatever you need the room to be.   Maybe you crave calm, quiet colors when you walk in the door - express your exuberance with a restrained collection of shiny silver or a lush floral arrangement. 

Display a collection of treasured silver pieces.

Use fresh flowers to express your exuberance with life.

 If you love color – embrace it and use it boldly.  If you love plants, showcase them beautifully in every room.  If you love dolls, display them lovingly, charmingly.  There is a way to embrace your exuberance and still do it tastefully and beautifully.  Need some help?  Contact me with your questions.