A space of my own
- The International
- Mar 31
- 4 min read
In her own home, Maja de Silva shows how thoughtful choices can create a space that feels personal, balanced, and enduring.
Photographs: Maja de Silva
Text: Maja de Silva
It’s a quiet Sunday morning. I’m sitting comfortably, a warm cup of tea in my hands, letting my thoughts wander and gently gather into something I’d like to share with you.
I’ve moved many times in my life - across countries, across seas, through countless apartments and temporary spaces. Each place held a fragment of me, a chapter, a feeling. And now, I find myself here. For the moment, at least, I’ve landed. This place has become one of my favourites - not just because of where it is, but because of how it feels. It’s peaceful, inspiring, and deeply comforting. I truly love my home.
It’s a space that welcomes others as warmly as it holds me - friends, loved ones, guests who pass through and leave a little of themselves behind. It’s stable, safe, beautiful, and cosy. But more than that, it’s intentional. It has been created with hope, shaped by passion, and grounded in trust. Every piece within it has been chosen with care - soft nuances, tactile textures, objects that feel right rather than simply look right.
I don’t follow trends. As an artist and designer, I follow my heart, my intuition, and my vision. And that often leads to a more personal, more honest kind of beauty.
A home that reflects you
So what does it really take to create a beautiful home? How do you know what feels right?
The answer, I believe, lies within. Your home is, in many ways, an extension of you. It should reflect your contrasts - your softness and your boldness, your calm and your energy. Trends will always come and go, but when you stay true to yourself, your space naturally begins to feel aligned. The colours, the atmosphere, the details - they fall into place.
It’s a process of exploration. Try things. Experiment. Rearrange. Add, remove, adjust. Creating a home is not so different from cooking, dressing, or even travelling - it evolves with you. And unlike many other things, we live in our homes for years. Even when we move, we carry pieces of our lives with us.
“Your home is, in many ways, an extension of you - it should reflect your contrasts, your calm, and your energy.”
Collecting pieces with meaning
That has certainly been my experience. I’ve brought furniture with me from one home to another, holding onto pieces that continue to feel meaningful. Over time, I’ve only replaced a few things, usually to adapt to a new layout or possibility. And still, I love what I’ve kept. There’s something deeply satisfying about that continuity.
I also enjoy adding new elements now and then - small accessories, subtle changes. I’m especially drawn to second-hand finds. Many of my furniture and décor pieces are vintage, and I treasure them for their character. They carry stories, a sense of history, a quiet soul that new objects sometimes lack.
“I don’t follow trends. I follow my intuition - and that leads to a more personal, more honest kind of beauty.”
Creating atmosphere through detail
My current home is an attic apartment, and I feel incredibly lucky to have found it. It’s just a short ride from the city centre, yet surrounded by greenery. There’s even a garden - a rare and beautiful bonus. The space itself is open, allowing the kitchen, dining, and living areas to coexist naturally. I love this kind of layout; it feels connected, never isolating.
The sloped ceilings and exposed wooden beams, with their small imperfections and cracks, bring charm and authenticity. They remind me that beauty doesn’t need to be flawless.
Inside, I’ve chosen a palette of soft tones and neutral colours. The living and dining areas are subtly defined, yet connected. I unified them by painting a large wall in a warm beige tone - transforming what once felt plain into something grounding and cohesive.
At the centre of the dining space is a vintage round table from Paris, made of washed wood, surrounded by classic bentwood chairs. These chairs have a long history - the technique dates back to the 1850s, when a cabinetmaker named Michael Thonet pioneered the method in Vienna. I love how design carries stories across time.
Comfort is essential to me. My sofa is incredibly soft, paired with a viscose rug in gentle beige tones that adds warmth and texture underfoot. And lighting - lighting is everything. It shapes the atmosphere more than we often realise. I’ve placed several lamps throughout the space, both on tables and on the floor, creating layers of light that shift with the time of day and mood.
Art is another deeply personal element. I create my own pieces - paintings and small watercolour sketches - that hang throughout the home. They bring a sense of intimacy and expression that no store-bought piece could replicate.
There are also a few special corners I cherish. An old Swedish desk where ideas take shape. And my swing chair - a small sanctuary of its own. Sometimes I sit there with my tea. Sometimes in the evening, listening to soft jazz. And sometimes, simply being still, appreciating the quiet beauty of the space around me.
In the colder months, I light candles, filling the home with a soft, flickering warmth. In the warmer seasons, I open the windows wide, letting in fresh air and the gentle sound of birdsong. Each season brings its own rhythm, its own atmosphere.
Living here brings me a deep sense of joy. It feels personal, comforting, and inspiring - a place that truly reflects me.
And that is something I value greatly, not only for myself but also in my work. When I design interiors for others, my goal is to help them uncover their own preferences - their own sense of beauty. Together, we bring in the right colours, textures, and warmth to create spaces that feel balanced, practical, and deeply personal.
I hope this little story inspires you to look at your own home with fresh eyes. To give it a bit more attention, a bit more care. And perhaps to make a few beautiful changes that bring it closer to who you truly are.
