The India Mahdavi x H&M Home collection launched on April 28th at Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. And you can also shop the new H&M Home collection online. We met with the famous interior designer, known for her bold use of color, during her recent trip to Cairo. Mahdavi talked about her latest design collaboration and also shared some of her most sought after decorating tips.
“The colorful collection home-ware collection is designed for everyday life and includes a curated range of crafted ceramics and textiles in natural materials. With this collection, H&M HOME has offered me the opportunity to spread a joyful palette of colors on an international scale”, India Mahdavi starts to explain the purpose or her latest collaboration.
Key pieces in the exclusive collection include a variety of alluring ceramics, such as iconic plates, serving bowls and vases, exquisite textiles in natural materials, in the form of cushions, a blanket and a large rug, and is developed from a craftmanship perspective, putting the artisanal know how in focus. “I designed this collection by first identifying European manufacturers among the H&M HOME suppliers and with whom there was an understanding of common values.”
Since the launch of her own studio more than 20 years ago, India Mahdavi has established herself as the queen of color in the world of design and architecture. Her creative identity and artistic references are unconventional and multicultural. Her designs have awarded her with acclaim all over the globe.
The countless and diverse collaborations range from bathroom designs for Bisazza, Nespresso capsules, the concept for Red Valentino stores, fabrics for Pierre Frey or a table for Louis Vuitton Objets Nomade. Residential designs include the home of British gallery owner Michael Hue-Williams in the Egyptian oasis of Siwa, a favorite destination for Mahdavi since many years. It’s also where she has a home, which she describes as “vernacular architecture and the use of local materials translated into a very atypical all non-color scheme.”
In stark contract for example the Tod’s London boutique, which you might also have discovered as part of her commercial work.
Born in Tehran, raised in the United States and in Europe, based in Paris, she is also no stranger in the Arab world. Although she has never lived in the countries of her origins, Iran and Egypt, she confides that she constantly draws inspiration from both places. “Colors are the light and shade from all the Souths I originate from. They have become the expression of the nostalgia of a paradise lost and which animates in me the desire to imagine others. My home is a landscape of my life – I add layers as I move on in life – until saturation.”
Her iconic projects are known to have created some of the world’s most photogenic interiors as shown in her latest monographs released in 2021.
India’s visual world and design philosophy revolve around a certain joie de vivre, showing how colors, materials, shapes can positively influence your mood and echo into your everyday living space.
In her book “Home Chic” she shares some ground rules for interior design:
Mix and match, like you do with your wardrobe: cross vintage and contemporary furniture, cheap pieces and expensive ones, floral and geometric motifs, bright and neutral colors, cold and warm elements. Aim for a pleasant balance so the effect isn’t tacky.
Balance feminine and masculine influences: to make a space more feminine, use round shapes, carpets, curtains, and textiles; to make it more masculine, use a sleek, clean design, angular shapes and structural arrangements.
Home decor pro tip: avoid 50/50 combinations; a room should leave a dominant visual impression.
Use organic shapes: an attractive form is more important than high-quality materials.
Play around with color for chairs and sofas; use neutrals for tables and bookshelves, etc.
Sell it, move it around, replace it: changing up your furniture gives everything a fresh new look. If you’re bored with something or keeping it just because it belonged to your great-aunt, throw it out, give it away or sell it. “Nostalgia isn’t always stylish.”
Accents, accents, accents: a few cushions, a striking vase, or a new side table, mirror, photo or piece of art can really brighten up a room. Each object should have real visual presence.
The golden rule: every room should feel comfortable, lived-in, and full of life (with hints of disorder, but professionally arranged)…And stylish, obviously.
Home decor pro tip: if a problem jumps out at you, place a strong accessory in the room to draw attention elsewhere.
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