D.B.
D.B.
Mexico City - Mexico
Services: In collaboration with – Architect Carlos Herrera
By coincidence at a dinner party I met my client and we clicked immediately. She was looking for a young designer and had not found anyone who met her expectations. She wanted to give a chance to someone like me , and her best decision was to bet on a young talent.
My client placed all her trust in me which gave me the freedom to propose my style without imposing. I understood her needs,then I was able to translate them into a coherent design proposal according to her tastes and lifestyle.
I have been trained as a textile designer, and fabrics are always a starting point for me. The textiles and their textures and colors were the common thread of the entire project. The style to define it in some way is contemporary classic . I don’t want to be defined by my clients in a particular style, because my studio is dedicated to solving all kinds of projects, from offices, residential projects and hotels.
The client was very open in acquiring design pieces that would enhance the spaces. Not all the elements of the house are from important firms, however the challenge was to combine, for example, a Baroncelli lamp (made in Venice) with furniture made in Mexico.
The same thing happens in all areas of the house. The room has an impressive installation of sixty pendants from Series 14, designed by Omar Arbel for Bocci.
There are pieces from Casa FENDI, as well as from Mexican designers like Héctor Esrawe. Outside we placed Gervasoni furniture.
I have a very solid work team that allows me to create custom pieces made in Mexico, such as the latticework that divides the dining room from the kitchen.
In terms of art, we acquired pieces by artists such as Eduardo Terrazas and Nicole Wermers.
Carlos Herrera’s architecture gave me the guidelines to define the style and the materials to use.
We combine natural stones with wood and metal. The use of materials is very honest, we wanted to respect the nature of each one. The result is a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The wraparound was my canvas to generate a contrast between the interior and the exterior.
Other materials such as carbon steel, which can be seen in the fireplace, were part of my proposal.
The color accents were achieved with the selection of fabrics. My research is focused on trend prediction based on fashion textiles. There are companies like Nelly Rodi that are dedicated to generating these predictions and I always use them as a reference.
The color scheme is very bold in some areas. Green predominates in the room with Designers Guild fabrics. The spaces for children are also colorful to make them fun. Even the walls are hand-painted describing an imaginary journey that begins with a typewriter writing a letter for children.
This represents that life is a journey to be lived and enjoyed. The different stages of youth are represented on these walls, being a message for the children in this house about not to lose their origins. We also developed this concept in my studio.
The office has a rug by Paul Smith for Rug Company that is an explosion of color that contrasts with the other elements.
It’s always amazing to work with someone you admire. Carlos is a well-known architect and his openness to working with a young designer like me was total.
We create a project that reflects respect for each other’s work, always looking for the final result and our clients satisfaction.
I believe that what we have achieved together is a coherent and harmonious architecture and interior design project. His architecture speaks to my interiors and my interiors to his architecture.
This project is the biggest that I had done up to that moment as an independent designer and I knew it would be my letter of introduction to consolidate myself in the market as Margaret Bissu.
The biggest challenge was making this project talk about my work, my philosophy and what I am capable of achieving. I think I got it.
I was 28 years old when I started this project and it was always in my plans to do a project like this before I was 30. Achieving it gave me the strength to continue believing in my dreams.
Today I know that I am capable of fulfilling them if I set my mind to it. I know that things happen step by step and I am trying to walk with firm steps.
My greatest satisfaction is knowing that I am privileged to do what I love.
The kitchen is a space that nobody takes into account and where many of the important moments of family take place.
I wanted the kitchen to project a sense of tranquility and peace. This home space is distinguished from the others by being monochromatic. White predominates as a symbol of cleanliness with design accents such as lamps or chairs.
I dedicate the same care to public spaces, or those that are seen more than to those that go unnoticed. The spaces where home life happens are those that matter most to me.
The most important thing about making a house like this is to think about the inhabitants daily life , and that important events take place in every corner.
More than a phrase defining this one in particular, I like a phrase by Alvar Aalto that would define any of my residential projects:
“In this constant search to create a special space for each of my clients.”
