At Home with Maura
From a grandfather clock belonging to her great-grandparents to a penis ornament from Mallorca: all of these can be found in Maura Maschke’s home. High ceilings and art not just on the walls make the apartment a cultured 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: Hello 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 to start with.
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, office, and bedroom.
In Maura's kitchen, you'll find copper-coloured utensils alongside 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, my mother doesn't, but she's 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 incredibly at home very quickly because we had each other. 'Heimat' is very multi-layered for me. I also always enjoy returning to my original home in Düsseldorf to see my family. The feeling of 'Heimat' depends very much 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 absolutely no skills in that direction, 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 were added. Also, because we've had more space available for the past 2 years, allowing these treasures to actually find a place. For the DIYs, I was mainly inspired by Instagram, TikTok, and the like. I thought to myself that it couldn't be that complicated – practice makes perfect. 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 with the very modern other furniture pieces in the dining room, makes it stand out.
V: Such a beautiful piece. I was totally startled by the first chime; you don't get used to that anymore unless you're standing in a church square. Mega charming, super cool. We also found some rugs in your apartment, which aren't from us, but are wonderful. For example, this small 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 her food collection, and the colours immediately appealed to me. I'm usually quite understated, so I thought the office could do with a few colourful 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 to have the USM Haller sideboard in my home?
M: I always find the interplay particularly beautiful. Modern and simple forms are more understated and allow accessories or special pieces to speak for themselves. Modern furniture always provides a good stage for everything that happens around and on it. But I also find the older treasures, which have a certain timelessness, equally 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 very evident here in the apartment. You chose a wonderful Rizbaf to complement your collection of modern and old furniture – matching your sofa. What I love about it is that it evokes a holiday feeling. Especially now, as winter is just around the corner. Why did you choose this rug?
M: The colours appealed to me first. These beige tones are found all over the apartment, and darker tones also run through my decor from time to time, and then there's that holiday feeling the rug conveys with the palm trees. This rug perfectly complemented the room, which, due to its clean lines, could benefit from some texture.
V: What is your favourite interior trend at the moment that you're observing and that might lead to your next purchase?
M: Very good question. I actually think anything that makes a home feel more homely. We've already talked about tablecloths with embroidery. I really like the development towards maximalism, even if 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. Yet, I love completely cluttered rooms with lots of plants, various pictures, and accessories from flea markets. Perhaps in the future, I'll dare to be bolder in one corner or another.
V: I think you're already very bold. 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 pleased to have been able to visit. Thank you for the cinnamon buns; you literally sweetened my day. We'd be delighted if another Rugtales rug might find its way here in the future.
M: Yes, absolutely. Thank you very much.