Vintage Maximalism Meets Quiet Luxury

Design by Sarah Lyon, Photography by Tori Sikkema Photography

In a design world often drawn to minimalism, there’s something quietly magnetic about vintage maximalism. It’s not about excess, it’s about intention. A curated layering of textures, gilded frames, sculptural moments, and timeworn detail. It’s not just design—it’s memory made visual.

Design by Sarah Lyon, Photography by Tori Sikkema Photography

Vision of Sarah Lyon

This project is a visual homage to the design voice of Sarah Lyon—a celebrated writer and stylist known for her storytelling-rich interiors and collected aesthetic. Sarah’s work reminds us that spaces aren’t simply arranged, they’re lived in. Every drawer, every mantel, every frame tells a story. With bylines in Architectural Digest and House Beautiful, and a knack for unearthing the one vintage piece that makes a room sing, Sarah Lyon’s world is one of thoughtful abundance. I approached this editorial shoot with her sensibility in mind and truly highlighting the heritage luxury throughout her home.

Design by Sarah Lyon, Photography by Tori Sikkema Photography

Capturing Heritage Luxury

From a sculptural bust on a carved fireplace mantel to a layered dresser vignette dressed in classic textiles, every scene in this collection was styled with heritage in mind. There’s restraint, yes, but it’s the kind that invites you closer. Through an editorial lens, I focused on more than the pieces—I photographed presence. The pause. The patina. The quiet charisma of homes that hold history.

Design by Sarah Lyon, Photography by Tori Sikkema Photography

Vintage Maximalism Today

Vintage maximalism today is less about clutter and more about curation. Each detail in these interiors was intentionally chosen to evoke narrative and emotion. Antique gold tones mingle with marble and wood. A painterly wallpaper wraps a cozy moment in warmth. Weathered books stack beside aged pottery. These aren’t just styled objects. They’re stories waiting to be read. There’s an intimacy to spaces like this: they don’t perform; they breathe.

Design by Sarah Lyon, Photography by Tori Sikkema Photography

Editorial Photography & Emotional Storytelling

As an editorial and architectural photographer, my role is to frame these moments with strategic softness and light. To let shadows tell part of the story. To create imagery that editors crave and clients remember. This collection lives in that space where design meets memory, where light honors legacy, and where quiet luxury finds its voice through heritage and vintage moments. The result? Photography that feels emotionally resonant, visually striking, and editorially strategic.

Design by Sarah Lyon, Photography by Tori Sikkema Photography

Your Story, Captured Intentionally

If your next project celebrates collected interiors, heritage layers, or vintage restraint, I’d love to help you shape the visual narrative. Editors are seeking spaces that feel personal and honest—not overly staged, but richly styled with intention. The kind of work that endures beyond trends. Because timeless design deserves to be remembered, captured not just as a space, but as a story.

Transform your exceptional spaces into compelling visual narratives with your audience.
Schedule your Vision Consulation, here!