For a couple of years, he loved it. “I pretty much had what was necessary in each room for it to serve its purpose, and then would add one singular over-scale piece of art to balance it all.”But then the pandemic hit. “That’s when I started to realize how happymade me feel during uncertain times, and I welcomed my nieces’ and nephews’ preschool art and started thinking about making each space way more joyful and personal.”Now, the home feels more authentic. “The best way to describe it is that I feel much more ‘me,’ because my home is full of stuff that nobody else has,” he says. “And now as a dad of a one-year-old girl, every single space is playful and kid-proof. Those two adjectives and minimalism do not work well together.”Now, his home is full of colors, patterns, and toys. Photo: Bryan Patrick FlynnFlynn’s home is loud again thanks to big statement art and even bigger entryways. “I had 10-foot-tall arched and channeled doors made to add a grand entrance feel to the parlor,” he says. “The doors that were there were just fine, but this huge architectural moment makes me so happy. And the massive amount of art hung around the opening also brings me joy.”For those looking to make their home lively again, Flynn said his go-to trick is to reupholster furniture. “A sturdy piece is not the easiest to find these days, so I really like to keep stuff when possible and just update with new fabric,” he says. Flynn’s parlor now features a custom Norwalk sofa upholstered in teal Sunbrella performance fabric set beneath a 48-inch-by-48-inch Karen Musgraves pop art rubber ducky painting.And he still loves those school drawings from his nieces and nephews. “It’s amazing what some mat and a legit frame can do to elevate a simple pencil sketch or finger paint.”Col Connelly and Ari GarciaMinimalists from 2014-2017Col Connelly and Ari Garcia repel minimalism like a Gore‑Tex jacket repels water drops. The queer couple have gone viral for their home renovation videos, especially their purple “catio”—a patio designed for their cats. The Chicago homeowners felt pressured to become minimalists in its heyday, but ultimately they said the exercise was a flop. #three #recovering #minimalists #how #they