How She Wears It With Maya Narin

 

 

Interior Designer, Mother of Three, and Insanely Stylish Friend

Maya Nairn is the kind of person who leaves a lasting impression. She is incredibly attentive to every little detail and finds beauty in kilims, art deco sconces, faucets, and artists like Danielle McKinney, Robert Kelly, Eileen Gray, Gabriella Crespi, and Fortuny. The beauty of her home lies in its vibrant, colorful spaces, designed tastefully while remaining a cozy place to raise her children.

 

 

Nairn has chosen to forgo a coffee table, allowing her living room to transform into a dance party whenever the adults or kids want to move their bodies. It’s a fun, uplifting, inspiring home she has curated in Austin's vibrant, eclectic, dynamic city. It was love at first sight when I met this natural beauty; her infectious smile, sense of humor, and the light she brings to her home are just inspiring. 

CONNECT WITH MAYA 

 

 

"My childhood was filled with eccentric, creative people that have definitely shaped who I am and what I am drawn to."

Sherman: How did you get into interior design and did your background and upbringing influence you? 

Nairn: My mom is Iranian, and the house I grew up in, an old ranch in San Antonio, was draped in textiles, kilims, and pillows, with deco sconces, simple tiles, and great faucets in the bathrooms. She can make something fabulous out of anything…be it a meal, a photograph, an outfit, or an interior. She is a wellspring of beauty! My childhood was filled with eccentric, creative people who have shaped who I am and what I am drawn to. I wish I had shifted my passion for interiors into a profession earlier in my life, but in the end, we always arrive where we do when we’re meant to. I loved doing my own interiors, and my career began with my friends hiring me to do theirs!

 

BARRE DOUBLE SIDED LOCKET

 

 

"Fortuny I just adore - their light fixtures, fabrics, their tassels! I love sourcing textiles and pillows at auction…especially when lots include a grouping of items."

Sherman: What artists (painters, photographers, furniture designers) are you inspired by?

Nairn: My favorite painter currently is Danielle McKinney. Her paintings just do something to me…I’m obsessed—and so is everyone else, it seems!! I live with a lot of art by Robert Kelly, who is also my stepdad. His paintings have an elegant simplicity that allows them to work across various decor styles, and I find that to be very inspiring. I love Eileen Gray and Gabriella Crespi in all they created—their spaces, their furniture.

 

 

TIGER'S EYE DIAMOND PENDANT

CONVERTIBLE DOUBLE NECKLACE, 20"

ANCHOR CHAIN NECKLACE, 16"

ONYX DIAMOND RING

 

 

"I think function is as important as beauty…I like spaces that are very livable and not overly precious."

Sherman: How do you like to approach a new project? 

Nairn: I approach a new project first by getting a real understanding of what my client is looking for. I think function is as important as beauty…I like spaces that are very livable and not overly precious. Once I have an idea of the overall vibe, I then scour my coffee table books and images I’ve saved on Pinterest and Instagram. That’s most often my starting point and the rest unfolds from there. Some of it is completely happenstance. It’s a funny process really…you never really know where you’ll end up.