Item: At Home with Maura
At Home with Maura
From a grandfather clock belonging to her great-grandparents to a penis figurine from Mallorca: you can find all of this in Maura Maschke's home. High ceilings and art not only on the walls make the apartment a cultivated adventure playground. For our home story, the Art Director opens the doors to her old building apartment in Hamburg Mitte, where she lives with her partner.
Vida: Moin Maura
Maura: Hi.
V: Thank you for letting us visit you and our Rizbaf, which is here with you. Perhaps a few key details about your apartment beforehand.
M: We are in Hamburg Mitte - near Gänsemarkt - in an old building apartment with a total of 4 rooms. We live here as a couple with a large living-dining area, an office, and a bedroom.
In Maura's kitchen, you'll find copper-coloured utensils as well as the odd cheeky holiday souvenir.
V: Your Instagram name is @heimmmat with 3 Ms. What's the story behind that and what does 'Heimat' (home) mean to you?
M: The three Ms come from my initials. Maura Maximiliane Maschke. My father and my sister also have 3 Ms in their names, but my mother doesn't, though she is of course just as special. I played around with different Instagram names for a while. For me, 'Heimat' isn't necessarily a place, but also the people you surround yourself with. We've lived here for 2 years and felt extremely at home very quickly because we had each other. 'Heimat' is very multi-layered for me. I also always enjoy coming back to my original home in Düsseldorf to see my family. The feeling of 'Heimat' strongly depends on the people for me.
V: You're a total DIY and upcycling queen, and that's very evident in the apartment. You discover little details everywhere that are special and heirlooms from your family. I have no skills in this area, which is why I find it so fascinating. How did you get into it?
M: It just sort of happened. The heirlooms came over time, more and more of them appeared. Also because we've had more space for the last 2 years, allowing these treasures to find a place. For the DIYs, I was mainly inspired by Instagram, TikTok, and the like. I thought to myself that they couldn't be that complicated - trial and error. Of course, not everything works out, but many things do, which makes me particularly happy.
V: What is your favourite heirloom in the apartment?
M: Most recently: the grandfather clock in the dining room, because it sounds special, fits this place particularly well, and comes from the special old building apartment of my great-grandparents in Cologne Mitte. It's also not very deep, so it doesn't take up too much space. Its appearance alone, and the contrast to the very modern other furniture pieces in the dining room, makes it stand out.
V: Such a beautiful piece. I was startled by the first chime, as one isn't used to that anymore, unless you're standing in a church square. So charming, so cool. We also found some wall rugs in your apartment, which aren't from us, but are lovely. For example, this small wall rug in the shape of a cupcake – where is it from?
M: It's from a French artist, Clotilde Puy @clotilde.puy, who hand-tufted it. It was part of a food collection that immediately appealed to me, especially because of its colours. I'm usually quite understated, and I thought the office could use a few colour accents. I particularly like the tactile quality and depth that simple pictures on the wall often lack.
V: What makes combining old and new charming for you? What advice would you give to people who say: I go to flea markets, but I also want the USM Haller sideboard in my home?
M: I always find the interplay particularly beautiful. Modern and simple forms are more understated and let accessories or special pieces speak for themselves. Modern furniture always provides a good stage for everything that happens around and on it. I also find the older treasures, which have a certain timelessness, to be just as important. The pieces I have from my great-grandparents, I would pass on to my children if the opportunity arose. I feel they will always have their justification and their place and add a lot of personality. Just heirlooms or old furniture might be too much and too heavy, but I particularly like the combination of both and find it exciting.
V: That's particularly evident here in the apartment. You chose a wonderful Rizbaf to go with your collection of modern and old furniture – matching your sofa. What I love about this piece is that it evokes a holiday feeling. Especially now that winter is just around the corner. Why did you choose this rug?
M: The colours appealed to me first. These beige tones are found everywhere in the apartment, darker elements also run through my decor from time to time, and then there's that holiday feeling that the rug conveys with the palm trees. This rug perfectly complemented the room, which, due to its linearity, could benefit from some texture.
V: What is your favourite interior trend at the moment that might influence your next purchase?
M: Very good question. I actually think anything that makes a home feel more homely. We talked earlier about tablecloths decorated with embroidery. I really like the development towards maximalism, even though the trend hasn't really found its way into my home yet. I'm often torn between whether I can add another piece or whether I should let the pieces I already have speak for themselves. However, I love completely cluttered rooms with lots of plants, various pictures, and flea market accessories. Perhaps in the future, I'll dare to be bolder in certain corners.
V: I think you're already very brave. Especially when it comes to wall decoration. As I said earlier, I'm always extremely cautious about that. It's a particularly beautiful apartment. We're very happy to have been here. Thanks for the cinnamon buns, you literally sweetened my day. We'd be delighted if another Rugtales rug might find a home here in the future.
M: Yes, absolutely. Thank you very much.
