12 Decorating Tips for the Ultimate Maximalist

"When working in a softer palette, I always look towards Impressionist paintings. Those paintings almost always are soft interpretations of natural elements, and I think that with pastels you should think of mixing colors together like you would in a bouquet of flowers, or in a garden. A lot of these softer tones can also read as neutrals in a space; light pinks can read like nudes and creams, while lilacs come off like misty grays. If you revert back to nature and see how all those colors work together organically, you can easily apply them to a space as well."

Using hand-painted wallpapers with layered tablescapes and living spaces adds visual interest, creating a trompe l'oeil appeal that feels surreal yet natural. "Approach a room like a canvas–I always need a starting point, and it's usually either the carpet or the wallpaper," explains Bikoff. "Everything here plays off the pattern in my focal point, in this case, the chandelier, the vessels and the floral arrangements all hearkened back to the motifs in the hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper." 

While trips to galleries and auctions are typically used to scout for the perfect pieces for her latest projects, Sasha turns to her fine art background for a dose of inspiration. Her favorite museum? The Musée D'Orsay in Paris.

A vibrant layer of a luxe hue brings fresh life to an otherwise subtle space–and gilded moldings and a breathtaking chandelier don't hurt either. Sasha's favorite paint collection to choose from? Fine Paints of Europe's Dorothy Draper Collection. "There has to be a balance in a home of wallpaper and paint — and sometimes a smaller room or a nook or a space that feels like a jewel box is ideal for wallpaper. I love wallpapering powder rooms and cozier spaces; larger spaces feel like they need to be painted." 

"There are a lot of young designers out there, and a lot of them play it safe–doing modern, 50 Shades of Grey-style apartments. I grew up in the 90's in the heart of minimalism and contemporary design, but I was more inspired by my grandmother's aesthetic; and there's all these beautiful antique pieces out there that you can breath new life into. I'm trying to open people's eyes to that kind of design, not necessarily playing it safe. Your space should always exude who you are. Have fun with it."

"For an office, I try to pick pieces that represent my brand, or my client's brand, and the work being done in the space. I do two buying trips in Paris every year, and I go to Italy, Palm Springs and Palm Beach and an endless number of vintage fairs and auctions. For my own office, I take finds from those trips and re-upholster them. My office decor consistently changes, so a client coming in one day will most likely sit on a different chair each time he or she comes in for a meeting. Your office should feel happy, cheerful and inviting — especially if you're in a creative field–it should inspire the people that come in and serve as a means of balancing out the stresses that naturally occur at work. Have things out that you're working on, like mood boards, fabrics and swatches in my case. It should always feel like organized chaos. The fun should trickle down to the desk accessories. I always have fun pens and paperweights–have fun with that stuff, and always make sure it's reflective of your personal brand."

Getting inspired not only by what you surround yourself with, but also in what you wear, is key. Bikoff's favorite brands — like Chanel and Alaia — never skimp on color or luxury and strike the balance between sweet and sexy. 

Chanel Alaia belt, $1,640 and sandals, $1,550, net-a-porter.com.

"A lot of my decorating stems from Feng Shui. For spaces that are supposed to feel intimate, sexy, comforting and cozy, I love using wallpapers as my starting point. When you fall asleep, its amazing to close your eyes in a painterly sea of fish, or with florals trickling down the wall. Your bedroom needs to feel beautiful, serene, intimate, moody and special. You don't need that as much in a living room, but your bedroom should feel like a jewel box; where you dream should feel magical."