about
Maximalist is a multidisciplinary design studio that blends strategy, storytelling, branding, interior design, and experiential design to create immersive destinations that drive measurable results. Our proven process focuses on delivering revenue growth, increasing occupancy, and elevating rates by crafting experiences that draw people in and keep them coming back.
We specialize in building concepts from the ground up, seamlessly integrating brand, design, operations, and strategy to ensure every element works cohesively. With a decade of experience, we’ve partnered with restaurateurs, hoteliers, developers, and operators nationwide to bring captivating hospitality concepts to life.
This multidisciplinary approach ensures every detail—from operational efficiencies to sensory touchpoints—is considered, resulting in concepts that are as operationally sound as they are emotionally engaging.
Meet the team
Abigail Plantier
Founder, Principal Designer
Abigail Plantier is the creative force and founder behind Maximalist, where she orchestrates every aspect of the agency’s vision and execution. A master of experience-driven design, Abbey’s journey began at a boutique hospitality firm where she honed the art of crafting immersive environments that seamlessly fuse interiors, branding, and sensory storytelling. She then spearheaded one of the first fully integrated in-house Experience Design studios within an architecture firm, reshaping how brands connect with their audiences.
A natural storyteller and boundary-pusher, Abbey is both an interior designer and brand strategist by trade, but her true gift lies in conjuring emotional, experiential worlds that transcend walls and logos. Her work is informed by insatiable curiosity and a global perspective, drawing inspiration from the vibrant cultures, art, and flavors of her travels across Japan, New Zealand, Europe, Central and South America, Canada, and Southeast Asia.
Known for her visionary approach, Abbey is a celebrated name in Denver’s creative scene. Her unforgettable pop-up concepts—spanning Aspen Food & Wine, The Ramble Hotel, and Denver Startup Week to name a few—redefine the intersection of food, drink, and design. With her venture, Thrice Experiences, she transforms overlooked spaces into temporary cultural hubs, collaborating with chefs, mixologists, artists, and musicians to deliver transformative, multi-sensory moments.
Maximalist is a cornerstone of House of Plantier, Abbey’s visionary collective that also encompasses Thrice Experiences, and the Emporium Collection, a product line currently in development featuring custom wallpapers, lighting, and furniture.
Abbey’s work is a testament to her relentless drive, bold imagination, and passion for creating experiences that linger long after the last cocktail.
Lauren Marker
Project manager, senior interior designer
Lauren is a systematic thinker, a boundless creative, and a hands-on designer. She’s the brains behind some of the most innovative workplaces in Denver, stunning hotels in the mountain towns of Colorado, and most recently led a design team focused on high-end residential buildings across the country. Her range of experience has made her a specialized expert in interior architecture, concept design, master planning, resort & hospitality design, custom furniture design, lighting design, and corporate design brand standards.
Her passion as an interior designer lies within the creative process. Lauren is energized by collaborative atmospheres and loves working with clients and teammates to create curated solutions that are unique to each concept. Her overflowing curiosity continues to take her to new places to explore. Travel is the main influence on her work. It has opened her eyes to new cultures and people that ultimately impact her way of thinking and her design approach. Some of her favorite spots include Marrakech, Lisbon, Tokyo, and Montreal.
Brand Studio
At Maximalist, our Brand Studio is the creative heart of everything we do, blending brand strategy and experience design to elevate hospitality brands. Led by Abigail’s creative direction and strategic insight, our team of graphic designers, brand strategists, content creators, and hospitality integration experts craft compelling brands that drive business results.
We specialize in creating everything from brand naming and visual identity to brand collateral and digital integration, ensuring your brand is consistent and impactful across every platform. Our experience design extends to every touchpoint—menus, uniforms, tableware, and signature elements—that enhance the guest experience and reinforce your brand’s identity.
At Maximalist, we don’t just design brands—we craft immersive, sensory-rich experiences that engage your audience and leave a lasting impression, helping your hospitality business thrive.
Trusted Partners
Our team’s strength lies in its diversity and depth. In addition to our in-house expertise, we connect clients to our extensive rolodex of trusted partners and resources, including:
Operators, F&B consultants, Kitchen Equipment
Lighting designers
Fabricators
Plant and landscape designers
FF&E Procurement groups
Scentologists
Artists, creatives
Content creators and graphic artists
Addie Smith
Certified Lighting Design (CLD), Assoc. IALD, IES, LEED ID+C
Addie Smith founded Studio Adelia in 2018 as a creative capsule for meaningful expression. With a mission driven by her love of beautiful experiences, human connection, and place-making, Addie strives to elevate the human experience with the subtle and transformative power of light. With light, she aspires to enliven the built environment with drama, and inspire people to do, feel, and be better. She is continually moved by her observations and emotions in space through dance, art, and human interaction.
With over a decade of experience at renown lighting design firms, including Fisher Marantz Stone, Schuler Shook, and Bouyea & Associates, Addie’s unique experience brings sophisticated ingenuity, elevated practicality, and a technical eye to a wide range of project types – from luxury retail, residential, and hospitality to mixed-use, civic, exterior facade, site, and landscape. Addie is a Certified Lighting Designer, holds a Bachelor of Fine Art from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a degree in Interior Design, and a Certificate in Design Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania.
in the news
”Abbey is a star. I say this all of the time and I know she gets tired of hearing it, but she is. I followed her pop-ups and activations before and during Covid and was amazed at the way she saw things not just from a design perspective, but from the perspective of the guest. This is rare. Quite often in our world, decisions are made by what looks or seems cool, but it’s short-sided and not sustainable. Abbey has the unique and rare ability to not only create wonderful spaces, but she thinks about every touch point for the guest and how it will affect them. She sees both big and small. It’s what sets her apart. When we were struggling with our design for a new brand, I knew the only person capable of delivering a challenging and one-of-a-kind design and brand activation was Abbey. She took it on and nailed it! Since then, we have collaborated on multiple projects and will continue to do so for years to come. She makes our brands better. She makes me better. She’s a bright, shining star. And more importantly, she’s my friend.”
-Sheamus Feeley / COO, Partner, Food Is Family
