Moroccan-born architect and interior designer Rita Chraibi is the founder of design firm International Designers. While she began her firm with an office in Casablanca, Morocco, Ms. Chraibi recently moved to Miami, where among her first projects in the U.S. is a $30 million residence in Miami Beach. For that residence, she partnered with French furniture company Roche Bobois, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary.
Ms. Chraibi’s grandmother was a pioneering real estate developer in the 1950s, and she followed in her footsteps. After studying design and architecture in Paris, she launched International Designers, where she’s designed luxury residential and hospitality projects in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and the U.S.
We caught up with Ms. Chraibi, 47, to discuss how to create a calming space, how the whole world comes to Miami, and more.
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Mansion Global: Do you have any suggestions on how to create environments that feel Zen, safe and calming?
Rita Chraibi: Interior design is more than just the beautification of spaces. A well-designed environment should be evocative, and in these uncertain, trying circumstances, it's natural to want a space that evokes a sense of safety, calm and well-being. The first thing is to get rid of any clutter and to keep it simple. Whether people realize it or not, clutter can stir up feelings of stress and suffocation.
You don't have to get rid of everything in sight. I would suggest displaying a couple of key pieces that are simply there to make you smile or are important to you. For example, you might consider something as simple as a framed picture of your kids, a blanket you made, a rare piece of artwork you stumbled upon on a trip abroad, or a quote that inspires you. I would also tell readers to pay attention to colors and light.
Natural light can do wonders for one's well-being and create a sense of peace. Let in as much natural light as possible and try not to cover up windows with any pieces of furniture or decorations. There is an entire field dedicated to color psychology and how specific colors can affect the way we feel. Stick to colors associated with feelings of calm and relaxation, like light blues, blush, gray, soft greens. Many things are beyond our control during these difficult times, but creating an environment that offers comfort and reprieve from it all, doesn't have to be one of them.
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MG: How would you describe your interior design style?
RC: I follow my inspiration. It depends on the space I need to design. Interior design is a very artistic job. I love modern style, but I also love classic style. I’m very comfortable with each style.
MG: How much does that style differ depending on where you’re working?
RC: It will change based on the space, the client, the location. A good interior designer has to be able to do all the styles.
MG: You’ve partnered with Roche Bobois. Why them?
RC: I love Roche Bobois because they have both the modern and classic style. You don’t want to do one or the other completely.
Eight years ago, Roche Bobois asked all the designers in France to design their collection—Jean Paul Gaultier, Kenzo, others. I love the fusion between fashion design and interior design.
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MG: Will your design reflect the sensibilities of your new home—Miami?
RC: Miami is changing every day. I love this city. I have an office in North Africa, and I work in estates all over the world, but Miami is special, because it’s a mix and you have all the world inside Miami.
Many Europeans are coming here, so in many ways it’s like Monaco.
MG: What are some of the most important things to keep in mind when hiring an interior designer?
RC: It’s a very special job. People used to think an architect was enough or a furniture supplier is enough, people didn’t realize that the interior designer is key.
Now people see that it’s crucial to have both an architect and an interior design mind.
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MG: Describe your personal dream property.
RC: My house is very cozy. The most important thing—my most important creation—is my kids, and it’s important for my kids to be happy there. I don’t like to live in a home that’s too modern or minimalist.
My house is elegant but has many different styles. It’s about being cozy, comfortable and peaceful.
MG: What does luxury mean to you?
RC: I’m very fascinated by fashion, and Coco Chanel said that luxury is the opposite of vulgarity. I prefer to talk about elegance than luxury. If you have money, you can buy very luxurious things, but they can be very cliche.
Marketing companies want me to put that word on my website, but I prefer elegance. It’s not about money only.
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MG: What’s your favorite part of your home?
RC: My bed and my bathroom.
I work so, so hard, and during the week I just want to come home, take my shower and rest.
But on the weekend, I play piano, that’s my passion, so my favorite place is to be on my piano.
I’m not a materialistic person. It’s about spaces, not materials.
MG: What best describes the theme/style of your home and why?
RC: I like to feel at home and comfortable.
I love art—sculpture and many other pieces. I make my own sculptures. I would never sell them.
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MG: What’s the most valuable thing in your home?
RC: It’s the feeling. The love for my kids and my family, I’m not a material person. My grandmother was a Moroccan Jew. The Sephardi Jewish culture is about love and family, not material things. I have things that are very expensive in my home, but if tomorrow, there’s a hurricane, and everything’s gone, I’ll stay rich.
MG: What’s your best piece of interior design advice?
RC: I always tell my clients they need to follow their hearts. I reject and refuse projects that feel like they’re only for money.
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