An office that inspires. Photo by Amy Barnard. Courtesy of Timothy Corrigan. Timothy-corrigan.com
In the world of design, it’s frequently out with the old and in with the new. Trends, after all, cycle in and out of fashion, following changes in how we live and regard our environments. In recent decades, the mantra “less is more” has dominated the scene, with a sleek, at times even sparse, approach to décor driving a pared-down and less emotional mode of living. But all of that is changing, as world-renowned interior designer Timothy Corrigan predicts. What is old is now new again, and more is more.
“I believe that Maximalism is a direct reaction to the Minimalism we’ve had for 20 years, and some of the direction we see with that includes boldly mixing patterns, rounded furniture, and a mix of warm and cold metals,” he says. “As with all trends, this will eventually reach a more moderate and balanced mid-point, but for the most part, a more complex, layered look will be in fashion for the foreseeable future.”
It’s an approach that is perhaps unsurprising, given Corrigan’s professional background. Growing up in Southern California, he was primarily exposed to a singular local style which he describes as “comfort, casual living, and open self-expression.” Moving to Paris in the late 1980s at first provoked culture shock but then gave rise to a broadening of his own taste and experience. “I didn’t like gilded furniture and thought that it seemed flashy. But as I started visiting museums and reading about the history of French design, I began to develop an understanding and appreciation for it. This is true of any design style. The more you are exposed, the more your tastes evolve.”
“We are all so directly influenced by the things that we are exposed to. If we only see or know one thing, then we cannot understand that there are so many other options available to us.”
It was that expansion of his viewpoint that originally led Corrigan into the field of interior design. While working in the advertising field in France, he purchased and renovated a 17th-century manor house in Normandy. Finding the experience rewarding, he then eyed his Paris apartment as the canvas for his next project. Before long, Corrigan’s homes were featured in design magazines, and clients appeared, asking for help designing their homes. He recalls, “I started to realize that I enjoyed my secondary job more than my primary ‘day’ job.”
Soft colors meet sumptuous textiles in this showstopping living area. Photo by Nickolas Sargent. Courtesy of Timothy Corrigan. Timothy-corrigan.com
Blending breezy California vibes with classic French opulence might sound, on the surface, like an impossible clashing of two distinct and separate cultural and design schemas. And yet, Corrigan creates rooms that are effortlessly layered, mixing plush comfort, impeccable quality, and intricate details. More is more, but it’s never too much.
Perhaps that is due to Corrigan’s process, which begins by investigating the function of a room before creating its final form. “The creative spark usually starts with the client and their desires for their home. No matter the size or style of the project, I always focus first on how my clients want to live. Based on that, we work on getting the basic furniture plan right. Then I add in the comfort and décor. You must start with the right plan before you even begin to think about the decorative design elements. What good is it to have a beautiful room that you never use or doesn’t work for you?”
It’s no wonder Corrigan has made a name for himself as one of the preeminent interior designers globally, named to the Architectural Digest list of Top 100 Architects and Designers in the World. While décor is always a matter of personal taste, we all must live, and hopefully do so contentedly, in the homes we inhabit. Considering design from a usability perspective from the outset helps him feel as comfortable revamping a centuries-old French château as he does Madonna’s Beverly Hills mansion.
The cultivation of a distinct style, rooted in both comfort and elegant allure, is what allows Corrigan to transition seamlessly from one setting to another. Currently working in thirteen states and six countries, his team — which he deliberately maintains on the smaller side for more intimate collaboration — tackles projects as diverse as historic mansions in Charleston and Houston, an exclusive apartment in New York’s Billionaires Row, a 48,000-square-foot French château, a Parisian townhouse, an estate home in Montecito, California, and even one of the largest yachts in the world. Corrigan is personally involved in every assignment but says, “I particularly enjoy working on older homes and finding ways to appropriately update them for the needs of today while still maintaining their original architectural integrity.”
Blending his childhood roots with a broadened perspective helps Corrigan create interiors that are equally liveable and globally informed. “California is all about comfort, casual living, and open self-expression, and I try to bring those elements to all of our design projects, whether they are in New York City, London, Paris, Asia, or the Middle East.” No matter how ornate the furnishings or luxe the materials, the end result is always imbued with a sense of personal familiarity and practical liveability.
A refined retreat designed by Timothy Corrigan. Photo by Eric Piasecki. Courtesy of Timothy Corrigan. Timothy-corrigan.com
What would a man, so well-traveled and versed in different architectural styles, think of a remote Appalachian mountain town? As it turns out, Corrigan can answer that question, having previously visited the Highlands-Cashiers area. Of his visits, he says, “I fell deeply in love with the terrain and the people. It is such a special place, and I completely understand why it is such a sought-after destination.”
And so, it begs the question: If tasked with designing an idyllic mountain retreat in the Highlands-Cashiers region, what architectural and interior design styles would Corrigan envision?
Corrigan begins his answer by referring to the area’s stunning natural scenery. “In any project, I let the natural landscape inform the architecture, color palette, and overall design of a home. Large windows to enjoy the beautiful landscape of the region would be a top priority. The changing colors of the seasons would inform the color palette and types of fabric used throughout the home. Since this would be a place for relaxation, renewal, and time spent with family and friends, comfortable upholstered furniture and performance fabrics would be used. I would probably stay away from anything too expected or “kitschy” and instead mix styles, periods, and textures so it can feel fresh and alive, both today and for years to come.”
Though inhabiting a small corner of the world, Highlands and Cashiers undoubtedly feel the impact of global trends. Having already predicted the rise of Maximalism in recent years, Corrigan serves as a wealth of information on what’s in store for interiors. His presence each year at Maison&Objet in Paris, which he describes as “a harbinger of what’s to come for the American market,” lends the designer strong predictive abilities. He reports, “The most obvious design trend right now is the absolute death of angular mid-century-looking pieces. The trend of circular, curved, and round furniture remains strong.”
Indeed, antiques have become new and desirable again. “Investing in good quality furniture and antiques in classic shapes can anchor a space and prevent it from becoming dated and out-of-style,” Corrigan advises. “I urge people to strive to make their home look and feel like it has been achieved over time and truly reflects their interests and personality.”
That focus on the interests and personality of the homeowner is central to all of Corrigan’s work. “Most of our clients insist on furnishings that they won’t see anywhere else. So around 80% of the things on our projects are custom. In this age when you can find almost any brand anywhere in the world, bespoke or one-of-a-kind objects become even more important. We have clients for whom we have even designed fabric, rugs, and wallcoverings that were unique to them because of their desire for exclusivity.”
Mirroring the shift away from hard lines in furniture, architecture seems poised to follow suit. Corrigan predicts that floor plans of both residential and commercial spaces will experience a resurgence of curved walls and even circular spaces as the collective consciousness seeks to be enveloped in a snug sense of privacy. “There is a trend away from large open spaces toward more defined spaces… There is definitely a return to the dining room, even if it is with just a moving partition that can be opened and closed between the kitchen and the dining area.”
Warm colors and rich textures create the perfect balance of maximal comfort. Photo by Nicole LaMotte. Courtesy of Timothy Corrigan. Timothy-corrigan.com
The rise of Maximalism ushered in softer lines and evoked a feeling of sensual comfort, but the movement has had an equally transformative impact on color. Gone are the days of gray and beige everything, with bolder and more adventurous shades taking the stage. Tans and creams have become the popular neutrals, and brighter hues, no longer relegated to background accents, are used enthusiastically throughout the space. It’s a trend that Corrigan does anticipate will become more tempered, however, as it continues to mature. “Strong colors are big right now,” he says. “But they will shift to more nuanced shades of blues and greens, pinks and taupes… Colors are becoming more complex and sophisticated.”
Corrigan describes trends in the sense of being “on a pendulum going from one side to another.” Certainly, that is the case in both interior design and fashion, as we witness colors, shapes, patterns, and even attitudes swinging from one extreme to another over the decades and often finding more moderated resting points in between. But what of innovations that forever change the ways in which we live, work, and even view the world around us?
Artificial Intelligence represents one such monumental shift and has provoked trepidation that human beings, in all their occasionally flawed but uniquely creative glory, could soon be replaced by machines. In every field, from industrial factories to medicine to publishing and art, new AI-based technology challenges industrious mortals to reinvent their roles and redefine their contributions. Corrigan, for the most part, views AI as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for human ingenuity — one we should work with rather than against.
“As consumers become more comfortable purchasing furniture online and using “virtual” or AI design tools, the added benefit of seeing the scale of an item in situ will be invaluable. Scale is an area where most do-it-yourself consumers run into problems; an item may look good online or in a catalog but may not work well in the actual space… For designers to stay relevant, we need to bring a level of customization that cannot simply be purchased from an online website… Design professionals will need to move beyond the mindset that they can only make money by selling things. Their expertise is the real value that they provide.”
Ornate millwork is beautifully paired with a mixture of traditional and more contemporary furnishings create a stunning balance of inviting maximalism. Photo by Eric Piasecki. Courtesy of Timothy Corrigan. Timothy-corrigan.com
From momentary fads to innovative revolutions, the world of design — so reflective of our own perspectives and attitudes over time — never remains static. How, then, do we create interiors that both reflect the here and now while providing lasting value and a soothing sense of constancy at home?
Impossible to ignore, trends lend a sense of valuable relevancy to a space. At the same time, Corrigan recommends against relying heavily upon them. “Nothing dates faster than something trendy,” he advises. “The late fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld is aptly quoted as saying, ‘Trendy is the last stage before Tacky!’ Don’t get too fixated on finding the perfect item to match what you already have at home. Better to buy what you love, and you’ll end up with a much more interesting look that truly reflects your personality and taste.”
As Maximalism matures into an overarching trend that will inform design over the next decade or more, it will also grow more moderate in its expression. Concurrently, the returning focus on antiques and custom items reflects an intense interest in uniqueness along with personal, emotional statements in style. When asked how to create longevity in the result, Corrigan reflects on his love of mid-18th-century French architecture and design while reminding of the true purpose of a room: “I have always tried to create a mix of the best of the past with pieces from today with a constant focus on how to make a room practical and truly livable. The most beautiful room is not really successful if you can’t comfortably live in it.”