Today we’d like to introduce you to Maya Kaizer.
Hi maya, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I’m Maya Kaizer – founder and principal designer of Design by Maya K, a boutique design studio rooted in soulful, meaningful, and culturally inspired spaces. Living in the heart of the Sunshine State, Florida.
My design journey began not through trend but through a deep emotional connection to spaces, how they feel, what they tell, and the memories they hold. From a young age, I was drawn to the textures of tribal art, the stories behind handcrafted objects, and the quiet power of natural materials. I grew up in a home where creativity and culture were part of everyday life. My father was a painter and artist, always surrounded by color, texture, and imagination. My mother was passionate about traveling the world, constantly bringing home stories, objects, and inspiration from different cultures. That combination—art and global discovery—deeply shaped my childhood and continues to influence my design perspective today.
Over the years, I developed a signature style that blends influences from Native American, African, Mid-Century, Wabi-Sabi, Vintage, and Balinese Boho-Chic aesthetics. Each one of these styles speaks to something personal in me—groundedness, imperfection, heritage, and freedom. Today, I work with clients across the globe, designing spaces that are not just beautiful but intentional. For me, every project is a collaboration, a story, and a way to help people feel more at home in their lives.
Above all, the connection with each client is the most important aspect of our work as a studio. We believe that great design begins with trust, understanding, and genuine human connection.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
my journey not easy at all ,becoming a designer was one of the hardest and most transformative steps I’ve ever taken in my career.
In the beginning, I had to juggle multiple jobs just to land my very first project. I worked for companies across the globe / Cali/ NY / where I learned a lot, but I also felt completely voiceless. Like I was just a small piece in a big system, where you’re expected to follow and not lead. I had ideas, inspiration, passion—but no room to express any of it. For years, I was scared to speak up. Scared to truly show who I was as an artist. And then one day, I reached a point where I said: enough is enough !!!
I knew I had more to offer. I had to break free, show the world who I am, and trust my vision. I changed everything—my mindset, my environment, even my location. I started fresh, with no guarantees, but with full belief in myself. That’s something I’m deeply proud of: I never gave up on my dream, and here i am today worldwide deignaner that came from nothing and did something,I truly believe thought creates reality.
When you think about something very, very strongly, it eventually becomes your world.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My design style is the result of a deeply personal and cultural journey. I don’t believe in limiting myself to one fixed aesthetic—each project I take on tells its own unique story.
I draw immense inspiration from the Native American world, with its spiritual energy, grounded connection to the earth, and ritualistic balance that brings a sense of calm and power all at once.
From African design (Afrofuturism ), I read a lot of books and visit old book/flea market stores that I take all my inspiration from. I embrace texture, warmth, bold organic materials, and a sense of timeless storytelling through every element.
Mid-Century Modern offers me a sense of architectural balance—clean lines, iconic silhouettes, and a timeless sophistication that never fades. there
Wabi-Sabi teaches me to celebrate imperfection, to embrace rawness, age, and natural simplicity as essential parts of beauty.
Vintage style is pure soul—there’s nothing quite like the emotional connection that comes with objects carrying memories and character.
And Bali’s Boho-Chic spirit breathes freedom into my work—natural fabrics, handmade details, light, wood, and soft spirituality come together in harmony.
My work lives in the space between emotion and elegance, tradition and modernity, restraint and soul. I don’t just decorate tell stories through space.
I’m not a typical interior designer. My work is inspired by the bold imagination of Afrofuturism and the spiritual depth of Native American tribal design.”
These influences allow me to create spaces that are soulful, and forward-looking—where the earth, a cultural aesthetic, philosophy of science vision meet.
What makes my work stand out is my ability to blend cultures, aesthetics, and emotion into a unified whole, without losing the identity of the person I’m designing for.
I don’t approach projects with a preset formula. I come with deep curiosity, intuition, and a strong sense of listening.
I pull inspiration from ancient worlds, craft traditions, and philosophies of life. Design for me is about feeling, not just form.
Every space I design is meant to evoke something personal and soulful. That’s where the real magic happens.
I’m also proud of the woman I’ve become today, that not afraid to show herself, my team and i working on the next step we working on creating a few things, such as rugs that will come soon statues / cnadels, etc. i cant share it at a moment but i promises it will be shomtning no one see yet.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
short story that I like to share, one of the most powerful examples of this was a home my husband, Shlomo Danon and I renovated in Palm City, North Florida. The house had been destroyed by fire—burnt to the ground, reduced to ashes and rubble. When we first saw it, I told my husband, “Maybe this is just too much. Maybe this is impossible.”
But something inside, after a few weeks, tells me No—it can be done.
My husband is a contractor, and together we made the bold decision to rebuild the entire home from scratch. It took us nearly two years of hard work to restore the structure, rework the foundation, and breathe life back into what once felt like a lost cause.
The elderly couple who had owned the house before us couldn’t believe that anyone would even try to bring it back. But we believed in it. And when you believe in something deeply enough, anything is possible.
Again, I repeat that anything is possible, and more importantly, it’s the Human connection—always. It’s all about that
Before materials, moodboards, or layouts,
I focus on the person behind the project.
What moves them? What makes them feel safe? What brings them joy or calm?
Once I understand that, I begin to design a space that feels honest and deeply personal, beyond just beautiful.
Aesthetics matter, but to me, the emotional depth is where design becomes meaningful, is the connection with humans.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://designbymayak.com
- Instagram: designbymayak
- Facebook: designbymayak
- LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/designbymayak/?igsh=MTR3dXdoc3luMzdzaQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr#
Image Credits
Shlomo Danon, Lidor Malka / jastin shah ( magikbox )
