More Is More: Maximalism Embraces Palm Springs

By Jason Ball

Step inside Palm Springs’ newest hotspot and you’ll know immediately, maximalism has made itself at home in the desert. At Bar Issi, plush upholstery, saturated colors, and jewel-toned cocktails signal a new chapter in the city’s design story. It’s a place where modernism’s clean lines meet an unapologetic celebration of excess. Designed by London and Los Angeles–based firm Fettle, Bar Issi isn’t just a restaurant; it’s a maximalist manifesto.

Maximalism: Not a Trend, a Return

Maximalism is back with a modern flair. Where Bauhaus declared “less is more,” designers like Tony Duquette countered with “more is more,” no explanation needed. Interior designer Dan Kiser, a veteran who has worked in New York, Florida, and now Southern California, points out that today’s climate makes this return inevitable: “With so much uncertainty, people want spaces that comfort them.  Spaces that are full of story and character.”

Kiser notes the title of Duquette’s book, More is More, says it all. For Kiser, maximalism isn’t just style, it’s a mood, a cocooning response to the times in which we live.

A Visual Feast

Bar Issi doesn’t whisper. Chandeliers shaped like palm fronds throw golden light across walls drenched in deep, saturated color. Upholstery bursts with bold prints. Layered artwork and sculptural details fill the room with confidence and wit. Outside, black-and-white tables inspired by Milan’s Memphis movement with red bases playfully clash with French bistro chairs.  “The outdoor furniture is very Memphis,” Kiser says. “It’s that kind of tension that makes maximalism sing.”

Even the drink menu joins the show. Jewel-toned cocktails mirror the interiors’ playful extravagance. Imagine sipping a citrus-spiked spritz in vintage glassware while a velvet banquette envelopes you. It’s part of the same indulgent narrative.

More Than Décor: A Cultural Shift

For decades, Palm Springs leaned hard into sleek, desert-toned minimalism. But even its modernist roots carried bursts of personality, color, and texture. “The idea that modernism was all beige and gray came later,” Kiser reminds us.

Today’s revival of maximalism feels less like rebellion than rediscovery. “Minimalism doesn’t always feel livable,” Kiser says. “Maximalism, when done right, feels curated, meaningful, and rich.”

Palm Springs, with its lineage of Hollywood escapism, feels like the perfect stage for this comeback. In many ways, it’s less a revolution than a homecoming.

Curated, Not Cluttered

Maximalism done wrong can devolve into chaos. But when done right, it’s storytelling. “It used to be called ‘organized clutter,’” Kiser explains. “But really, it’s about editing, fewer pieces, maybe larger ones. Or pieces you love, heirlooms and travel finds, mixed with contemporary touches. That’s when it works.”

Bar Issi achieves that balance. Everything is deliberate with classic and contemporary elements harmonizing. “It has a cohesive look,” says Kiser. “It’s not just about filling a space. It’s about creating an experience.”

An experience that lingers so guests don’t just dine, they’re immersed in a narrative of luxury and wit, leaving a little dazzled.

The Desert as Design Playground

Palm Springs has always been a place of visual reinvention from Spanish Revival to midcentury modern, and now, to maximalism. This wave embraces fun and escapism: animal prints, bold prints, even fine China returning to tables. “It’s permission to pull out the good stuff,” Kiser says.

Commercial interiors aren’t built to last forever; they’re built for the moment. And right now, maximalism fits the moment. In Palm Springs, that means playful extravagance written in bold colors and unapologetic style.

Maximalism Is Here to Stay…For Now

Will maximalism endure? Kiser is philosophical. “We’ll see. Maybe we’ll get sick of it. But right now, it’s fresh. It’s different. And people are going to it.”

Bar Issi embodies this spirit. In the desert, maximalism isn’t just an aesthetic, it’s a mood, and a welcome one at that.