Today we’d like to introduce you to Esther Mirabel.
Hi Esther, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey as an interior architect and designer is rooted in a dialogue between space, object, and emotion. Trained at the École Boulle in Paris, I spent the early part of my career in the world of luxury retail, drawing immersive spaces for houses like Christian Dior and Christian Louboutin. In my perspective, there are no boundaries between the architecture of a wall, the detail of a custom display, the texture of a floor, and the behavior of light. Everything is designed as a total, coherent experience.
When the pandemic hit and the retail world went on a sudden pause, it naturally pushed me toward residential design. It was a profound shift in perspective, allowing me to bring that same dedication to experience into the intimate realm of the home. This philosophy organically led me to furniture design; my debut collection, Seuil, was inspired by my travels across Europe and the Mediterranean, translating architectural memory into sculptural, living objects. For me, architecture and design were never just about beautiful details; it was about how a space or an object interacts with memory and human emotion.
This desire to bridge structural discipline with a deeper cultural narrative is what brought me to Miami as a fellow of the Villa Albertine program, marking a new chapter in my practice. Here, I explore ‘psychogeography’, which sounds highly conceptual, but is actually quite simple: it’s the study of how the soul, the architecture, and the emotional energy of a city affect our inner lives. Miami, with its vibrant cultural layering, poetic light, and shifting urban landscape, is perfect and fascinating for this work. So I am currently developing sensitive, psychological maps of the city alongside a second furniture line directly inspired by Miami’s unique urban rhythms, light, and cultural layers.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The transition from corporate retail to private residential design was a beautiful challenge because it changed the human scale of my work. Designing a home requires a different set of skills; it demands a deep sense of psychology, patience, and empathy to truly understand how a client wants to live and feel inside their private sanctuary.
On a practical level, my biggest challenge comes from my choice to manage my projects from the very first sketch all the way through site supervision. I do this because it is the only way to ensure that the initial poetic intention is executed with absolute fidelity.
However, a construction site is complex in terms of human management. Contractors, craftsmen, and clients rarely share the same priorities, timelines, or vocabulary. As an architect, your main job often becomes mediation. You have to carry the pressure, manage the stress, and know exactly how and when to communicate with each party to protect both the project’s integrity and the client’s peace of mind.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Through Mirabel Studio, I work fluidly across interior architecture, limited-edition furniture, and artistic installations, refusing to let my practice be restricted by traditional labels. I am best known for this multidisciplinary versatility; I have an eclectic, multi-disciplinary soul, and I don’t believe in separating disciplines. This constant crossover keeps my curiosity alive and enriches every project.
This approach has been recognized internationally and featured in publications like Elle Decoration, Côté Maison, and Marie Claire for my spaces and furniture, as well as Connaissance des Arts for the art installations.
What I am most proud of is precisely this freedom to never be boxed into a single category. In a world that often pushes creators to specialize in just one thing, I am dedicated to maintaining the agility to design an architectural landscape, sketch a furniture piece, or capture a city’s memory through photography.
What sets my architectural work apart is the focus on timelessness and well-being. I don’t design for a specific trend or era; I create soothing, peaceful sanctuaries that transcend time. Clients often notice my balanced use of color and a distinct reinterpretation of classic French interior codes—weaving that historic sense of elegance and scale into a deeply modern, personal, and intimate atmosphere.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
From my perspective, the key to success in this field lies in a balance between rigorous method and emotional sensitivity. On the one hand, you need a highly methodical, almost scientific approach to execution and technical detail—the discipline of drawing. But structure alone is cold; it yields no emotion. You must pair it with a sensitivity to your environment, remaining in constant motion to find perpetual sources of inspiration.
Lastly, true understanding is crucial. The exact same creative idea, if formulated or presented differently, can completely miss its mark. You must possess the ability to grasp what is truly important to the person in front of you, whether they are a master craftsman on a construction site or a client trusting you with their home, and communicate that vision in a way they can genuinely feel.
Pricing:
- Ishtar Console Table: $8,250 – Sculpted solid oak, tinted glass, brushed brass.
- Aldran Coffee Table: $6,380 – Solid oak, sculpted wood base with medallions, hidden central compartment.
- Nahala Daybed / Chaise Longue: $8,580 – Solid oak structure, high-density foam cushions.
- Hamsa Wall Talisman: $1,650 – Oak, walnut, brushed brass, Boulle marquetry technique.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mirabel-studio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrs.mirabel/
- LinkedIn: https://fr.linkedin.com/in/esther-mirabel-042a9ab8
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/mirabelstudiodesign/https://www.instagram.com/mirabelstudiodesign/
