Author Daniela Gottschalk: Stepping into maximalism for bold expression

The words of the great Marianne Williamson: “We are not afraid of our shortcomings, but of our greatness. We are not afraid of our darkness, but of our light” – are the Maximalism Manifesto.

We believe that Maximalism is for artists, and artists are rare, precious creations that grow in an oyster or are awarded by a person with crazy pink hair and oversized horn-rimmed glasses in the foyer of a bank. Artists actually evolve on their own, like a Mandelbrot set.

In reality, everyone is an artist as soon as they have the courage to call themselves that.

And that is the essence of Maximalism. 

You don’t have to follow any rules but the art direction of your inner compass.

I’m well aware that every campaign tells you to just be yourself (and still buy their products) and that’s what people struggle with, knowing or showing who they are – and being ashamed of that lack of self.

So they jump on the Ikea train because it’s better to be safe and boring than to be exposed as nothing.

But none of us are nothing or nobody.

No one has no taste, no style, no opinion.

We are someone from birth, and our likes and dislikes and sense of self have had to shrink to fit into our families, schools, or the rest of the world.

So if you cannot listen to your inner voice because there is none, be reassured, it is there, it is just whispering.

So pay very close attention to what sparks the tiniest amount of joy in you and make a bold move and buy whatever it is.

Even if you have no clue how to decorate it, even if your BFF, your mom or your boss won’t approve-you do it and it’s none of anyone’s business nor do you need the fashion police to give you a thumbs up.

You dig in your interior sandbox without claiming to have an architecture degree, but you still have enough taste to create whatever you feel like creating.

You are your own customer and your own supplier.

You find your inner voice, your own rhythm and style by leaning on a new word every day, picking it up and adding it to your word pool until you have written your own novel instead of living in worlds other people who claim to know better have created for you

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Daniela Gottschalk is the creative force behind TINZELTOWN, a high-concept project development and interior design firm. Known for bold, immersive interiors, Gottschalk’s landmark project, The Bohoho in Camps Bay, South Africa, recasts 1960s Palm Springs glamour with striking hues and retro-Hollywood flair—offering creative freedom through luxurious maximalism for travelers and creators alike.

An influential figure in Germany’s hospitality scene, Gottschalk also owns Frankfurt’s iconic Theplacetobe bar. With a unique background spanning marketing and psychology, her spaces transcend mere aesthetics, inviting deep engagement and fostering self-expression worldwide.

Author: Daniela Gottschalk, Interior Designer of Tinzeltown