F5: Maye Ruiz on Lamp Sketches, Unexpected Finds, Her Dog Quesadilla + More

When Maye Ruiz was a child she was already immersed in her life’s work even though she didn’t realize it. She would happily organize the bookshelves at her grandmother’s house or invent new uses for objects like a wicker planter made into a side table. As an adult, Ruiz continued to rearrange the items in her own residence. “Over time, I understood that the same impulse was still there,” she says. “That’s when I knew that designing and shaping spaces was much more than a game – it was my vocation.”

Art also left a strong impression on Ruiz, particularly the work of Hieronymus Bosch. She would pore over the pages of a book filled with the Dutch artist’s paintings, both intrigued and terrified by his scenes of the afterlife. A fascination with layered details and hidden narratives is something that she strives to bring to her creative process today.

Ruiz eventually studied interior design at university, and continued to hone her skills. In 2021 she established Maye Estudio in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico. Specializing in residential and hospitality projects, her bold use of color is her signature.

The designer has always been easily distracted, and when she was in elementary school she would often procrastinate. Instead of studying, she listened to music or went for a ride on her bike. Yet she was also able to improvise and do well on assignments. The ability to ad lib is one of Ruiz’s greatest strengths, and she thrives on finding solutions in the moment.

In her constant exploration of materials, Ruiz likes to form stories about the rooms she envisions. Stepping up to the mic and sharing the tales of others has its appeal as well. “I am a huge fan of long, winding conversations, and I think a podcast would be the perfect excuse to dive deep into unexpected topics,” she notes.

Today, Maye Ruiz joins us for Friday Five!

1. Red Tiled Bookshelves and Reinvented Everyday Objects

My red tiled bookshelf is one of my favorite spots at home. It’s a place where I combine books, found objects, and design pieces that inspire me. I love it because it reflects my obsession with reorganizing and experimenting: moving books around, shifting objects, mixing the unexpected. It reminds me that creativity doesn’t always come from a blank canvas, but from the constant play with what’s already there – and how contrasts bring each other to life.

2. Unexpected Finds in a Tile Shop

Something that deeply inspires me and always helps me out of a creative rut is visiting material shops. Not fancy or polished places, but those where you can feel the genuine creativity of people without pretension. I love those unexpected finds, like this wall in Dolores Hidalgo that I photographed myself: simple tiles intervened with color, creating a vibrant pattern that transforms the space. It’s a reminder that inspiration can be found in the everyday, if you pay close attention.

3. Lamp Sketches

Beyond designing spaces, I’m increasingly drawn to creating objects. These lamp sketches I made some time ago reflect my love for color, postmodernism, and playful forms that can also be sophisticated. In general, I feel I balance my messy inner world with geometry and symmetry, which bring order to my ideas. For me, drawing remains one of the most authentic ways to start any creative process.

4. Quesadilla

For someone like me, who is often so immersed in my thoughts, Quesadilla (yes, like the Mexican dish) has been a true anchor to the present. Her presence helps me reconnect with myself, recharge with energy, and find inspiration.

5. The Vision of Tondal by Hieronymus Bosch

One of my earliest visual discoveries was Bosch’s work, especially The Vision of Tondal. As a child, while rearranging books at my grandmother’s house, I found her Bosch volume and would flip through it again and again. I was both fascinated and terrified by the intricacy of his infernal scenes. That level of detail, full of symbolism and hidden narratives, left a deep mark on me.

 

Maye Ruiz Works:

Carmín
Located in the emblematic neighborhood of Coyoacán in Mexico City, Carmín is a bar that transforms as the night unfolds. It begins as an intimate space for small bites and gradually turns into a vibrant, red-hued nightclub where music and dance take center stage. The interior design, led by Maye Estudio, was inspired by the 1970s Italian horror film Suspiria. Its haunting atmosphere became the starting point for a space filled with mysticism, intensity, and drama. At its core, a monumental bar crowned by a deep red textile canopy serves as the central axis, illuminating and defining the entire experience.

Bekeb
Bekeb is a bar dedicated to select mixology – led by one of the most renowned mixologists in the world – and inspired by the heart of Mexico: El Bajío. The design draws from the imagery of Los Altos de Jalisco: the ranch, the cantina, and the Catholic temples, in a concept we call vaquero barroco. This project is also deeply personal to me, as my father worked his entire life on a dairy ranch.

Casa Coa
For Casa Coa, serpent details discovered within the property became the guiding thread. As with all our projects, context was essential: we respected the eclectic architecture with its pointed arches and enriched it with influences from both Mexico and Morocco. The clients’ favorite film, Great Expectations, inspired us to create a nostalgic, vegetal atmosphere. We used ceramics from the region and gave a twist to the “traditional” design language of San Miguel de Allende.