It’s always fun to find new designers, especially ones that share the same aesthetic that you do. I never had seen Christopher Maya’s work before, but apparently he’s had a long and very successful career. I try to keep up with designers, young and more established, and thought I had done a good job at that, but apparently, not good enough! I’ll have to try harder in the future. It was this living room below that caught my eye . I think it’s just beautiful!
I found this apartment in New York Spaces, March issue, and just fell in love with it. The designer, Christopher Maya, from NYC, used deep pink as an accent color and it really pops what could have been another typical beige space. Instead, pulling the pink color from the Bennison print on the arm chair, the room looks young and fresh. Apparently the owners of the space had inherited a house full of antique furniture and accessories, such as the collection of porcelains on the shelves, and they wanted the look to be family friendly instead of stuffy. Maya certainly obliged.
TO LOVE:
Bennison Fabric (if you can only afford it! Too expensive, but worth every penny.)
Deep pinks mixed with beige – a youthful alternative to red mixed with beige.
Deep cushions on the sofas and chairs, filled with down, plumped to a high crown (much maintenance, but looks great when no one sits on it!)
Seagrass in a pattern – slightly more dressy than the typical pattern.
Curtains that hide the wall space between windows. Instead of just two panels, Maya installed four which adds richness, luxury, and interest.
In the dining room, Maya used painted Louis XVI chairs and settee.
TO LOVE:
Using a check fabric on the back of wood framed chairs – taking a page from history when the French put the more expensive silk or embroidered fabric on the front of the chair and the less expensive, not seen, cotton checked fabric on the back.
In the bedroom, Maya designed an upholstered headboard to mix with a collection of fruitwood French antiques. The side table is just beautiful.
TO LOVE: An exaggerated headboard design mixed with a luxurious sapphire velvet.
In the bedroom again, more 18th century French antiques – the gallery top table is really special. I love the collection of period portraits in antique frames.
TO LOVE:
Beautiful striped silk taffeta curtains.
Christopher Maya has a large portfolio on his web site, filled with all his other projects, mostly in New York. In this large house in upstate New York, Maya mixed blues and greens in the family room.
In another living area in the same house, he mixed the blues with beige. The patterned rug in this room is wonderful.
Close up of the chinoiserie styled coffee table and Fortuny inspired fabric pillows.
In this informal living area of the same house, Maya matches reds with khakis. I love the checked fabric on the sofa. The red is picked up again in both the antique chest and in the lamps. Maya added flat trim to the hems of sofa and chairs for additional interest.
Other rooms I really loved in Maya’s portfolio include this two store living area. Here Maya used ice blues and creams. I love how curtains are so important to his design aesthetic. Just beautiful!
Wonderful view of the same room.
In this bedroom, the curtains, again, are the focal point. In order to hide the AC unit, Maya used textured blinds along with the fabric panels. The shaped valance is a great way to hide the space between the curtain rod and the window, making the eye see the two small windows as one large unit.
A symmetrical dining room – painted Louis XVI chairs paired in dark brown leather, give the room a masculine feeling.
Maya has done several show houses – here in this Hamptons Showhouse, Maya mixed blues, red, and yellows with black accents.
Here in another view of the Showhouse, the striped valance curtains add a summery look to this beach house.
Another view of the Hamptons Showcase room – painted French chairs surround a more contemporary styled table. Notice the detail of the valance treatment.
Maya designed this beautiful secretary that EJ Victor sells. This design shows up in his rooms in different finishes. Available through Robert Allen showrooms.
Here, the same secretary, painted blue for a summery feel.
And at Kips Bay Showhouse, handsome Christopher Maya sits in the room he designed. Here the secretary shows up in red lacquer. He also designed and sells the bookcase.
To see more of Christopher Maya’s portfolio, be sure to visit his web site here.
