Art De Vivre: Inside Maya Toron Al Omary’s Eclectic Studio

Filled with fabric, flowers and fine art, the Dubai-based designer’s home studio plays host to the flavours of the world

Maya Toron Al Omary’s most vivid childhood memories are of her mother, Baha Omary Kikhia, loading colour onto her canvases. From her makeshift studio in Greenwich Village New York, Baha, a prominent Syrian painter and single parent, charted the collective journeys of Arab women, their social challenges and triumphs.

“My mother shaped my vision of womanhood,” said Maya. “I witnessed the struggles that she endured, but her paintings only portrayed strength, power and hope.” Formative years spent in buzzing New York were followed by an education in Paris.

Maya, absorbing these urban cultures and the trajectory of her mother, was destined for an existence informed by feminism and fuelled by visual stimulation. She established her base in the UAE more than two decades ago and pioneered the region’s first all-women-led real-estate agency but a desire to move into the creative realm prevailed.

“On a return visit to New York, I found myself on Fashion Avenue – giddy from the kaleidoscopic materials. It was time to create! Without any formal training in textiles, I established my furniture design concept, Maison Mishmashi.” The name ‘Mishmashi’ – loaded with dual meanings – honours Maya’s multi-layered heritage. In English, it translates to: ‘a collection or mixture of unrelated things’ while in Arabic it refers to the notion of ‘mismatch’, an entirely positive collision in Maya’s world.

“Designing is storytelling,” enthuses Maya. “Through the pairing of the raw with the refined, the old with the new, patterns, textures and colours from different communities, we establish fresh narratives. There are many versions of the Queen Pouf Chair – my favourite piece – yet each has its own DNA. Lush tropical foliage prints are combined with heritage prints in rich velvet, while, in other pieces, pop-culture slogans, animal and geometric prints join forces. We never waste material. Initially, fabrics were sourced from New York’s Fashion District but we also work with local vendors in Dubai. Through my global scavenger hunts I discover new materials and our journey in design continues.”

It’s not surprising that Maya’s eclecticism spills over into her own environment. “I want to remain true to my philosophy,” she insists. “To create beauty through thoughtful design in my work and in my home. I want my story to be one of adventure and soul.”

Maya’s Jebel Ali waterfront residence is not just a home, but a showcase for her creative universe; where her work and personal preferences inform and inspire one another. Her home, which doubles as her studio space, brims with art, lush potted plant, and objects collected during her travels; from antiques to her own textile creations.

“Five years ago I found myself in a miserable predicament,” she sighs. “An unexpected increase in rent at my Al Quoz studio left me faced with the reality that I might have to halt production, but good fortune came my way. A friend told me about an incredible new Nakheel community, tucked away in Jebel Ali, one that connects homes and retail spaces. I loved the idea that my studio and home could coexist.”

Maya’s youth spent in Paris imprinted upon her design preferences. White walls in her preferred shade: Morning Fog by Jotun, form a blank canvas while wooden parquet flooring, a classic chandelier, gilded mirror and floor-to-ceiling windows distil classic French design sensibilities. An appreciation for craftsmanship harks back to her Middle Eastern heritage – several pieces have been custom-made locally, while Manhattan taught Maya to embrace the art of fusion. She summarises her aesthetic as a “mishmash”, an intimate form of personal expression rather than a desire to follow trends.

In the dining room, a glass-framed stairway facilitates the flow of light while handmade rattan chairs from The Attic surround a light-oak dining table where memories are made for Maya. “We’ve hosted so many special moments here,” she recalls. “My daughter’s engagement and my niece’s intimate wedding took place in our dining room.” In the living room, a low-rise driftwood coffee table contrasts with the grandeur of the overhanging chandelier while floor-to-ceiling windows open up towards the courtyard – the heart of the home – physically and metaphorically.

Maya’s open-air oasis brims with foliage from her ever-growing collection of trees; ancient olives, banana leaves, lemons and figs all press against large glass panels, exposed to the rest of the light-filled home.

Creative spirit beams from every corner. Elements are stacked and combined to birth unexpected aesthetics. A glass console from Objekts of Design straddles an antique Chinese wooden bench, while Maya’s own technicolour Queen Pouf Chairs contrast with a sumptuous four-metre-long pale-grey sofa, custom designed in woven cotton, wool and linen.

She’s surrounded by objects that speak of her past and present. Crystal and glass vases overflowing with the designer’s favourite blooms are dotted throughout the home – an antique, handcrafted vessel discovered by her mother at their local Greenwich Village flea market remains a most treasured piece. Surfaces are adorned with Maya’s collection of curiosities, among them a turquoise marble Egyptian sphynx cat, her lucky bamboo plant and a cluster of delicate ceramic Persian pomegranates.

The walls are an opportunity for Maya to indulge in her love of art as she continues to be surrounded by those that inspire her both personally and professionally. Her mother’s Women series can be encountered in almost every room while the joyful abstract figures and creatures of Dubai-based Syrian artist and poet, Suheil Baddor, exude optimism.

It’s a collection of MENA art that forms her personal narrative throughout the environment: “I think my attraction to Egyptian art and design led the universe to send me the most amazing Egyptian son-in-law and family,” she suggests. “I adore the cubist-style compositions of Egyptian-French painter George Bahgory. His work is a celebration of Egyptian pop culture and I proudly own one of his Umm Kulthum paintings. Later I reimagined the icon as a textile print for Maison Mishmashi.” She smiles, “You see, my life, home and studio are always caught up in dialogue.”

Photographer: Fritz Asuro 

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s February 2022 issue