Maike
Maike on Material, Mood, and the Quiet Art of Slowing Down.
There’s a quiet confidence in the spaces Maike creates. Her work feels tactile and deliberate, a balance between structure and softness, where every texture tells a story. We sat down with her to talk about her process, the joy of materials, and the rituals that help her slow down.
Your spaces often feel deeply tactile, grounded yet soft, like they invite you to slow down and touch every surface. Which materials and colors do you find yourself returning to again and again, and what makes them so special to you?
Natural textures, always. Wood, brass with patina, stone, fabrics in wool, cotton, linen, I love it all. The colors I’m drawn to are warm and earthy: ochre, olive, burnt orange, deep burgundy. They bring comfort, a sense of calm you can almost feel.
How does a project usually begin for you?
It always starts with the architecture. I need to feel it, understand how light moves through the space, how people will flow. From there, it’s about building a concept. Inspiration comes from everywhere: interiors, fashion, art, travel. It’s a process of layering impressions until something clicks.
Materials play such an important role in your work, they set the tone, the atmosphere, even the emotion of a space. What draws you most to certain materials, and how do you begin combining them?
That’s my favorite part. It’s like being a child in a candy store. Touching textures, layering colors, imagining how they’ll live together. Materials have a language of their own, they set the tone for everything that follows.
How do you move from idea to finished design?
Once the concept feels grounded, we move into 3D. Every detail matters. Sometimes it’s the smallest things, the curve of a handle, the weave of a fabric, a sculptural relief, that completely shift the atmosphere.
Those final touches bring warmth and playfulness, making a space feel alive and personal.
What helps you slow down when life gets busy?
Travel, always. Whether it’s cities or nature, I love losing myself in architecture, art, food, coffee. Closer to home, long walks through the forest, the dunes, or along the beach, sometimes with a podcast, sometimes just silence. That’s when my thoughts clear.
Do you see interiors as purely aesthetic or something more?
Both. Aesthetics are the entry point, but interiors are deeply emotional. They shape mood and energy, they tell who you are. I always aim for spaces that feel lived-in, like they hold memories even when they’re new.
What’s the most meaningful compliment you’ve ever received?
When someone says, “It feels like home a warm blanket we never imagined.” Or when, months later, they still discover small details. That’s when I know it stayed with them.
At Mare, we often talk about the importance of slowing down, creating little pauses in between the rush of things. Do you have a personal ritual or moment in your day that helps you unwind and reconnect?
Now in autumn, evenings are my favorite. A Frama candle, a book, a little quiet before bed. Simple, but somehow enough.
To explore more of Maike’s work, visit studioandspace.com and follow her on Instagram @studioandspace for an inside look at her design process, inspirations, and the evolving projects that bring her vision to life.
