With returns to the distinctive Art Deco flourishes all the rage in contemporary furniture design these past few years, old techniques like marquetry have appeared in clever interpretive and narrative applications. This approach introduces complementary, sometimes contrasting, materials to the surfaces of normally monolithic forms. These meticulously inserted details break up the monotony of rigid modernist designs, while fitting them into their resolutely uniform profiles. They imbue these otherwise nondescript objects with emotional resonance, as well as visually and viscerally tantalizing complexity.
Taking the renewed trend of marquetry one step further is what’s new Eva collectionjust released by the New York-based luxury furniture brand Maiden Home. This fresh, limited-edition offering sees the trim rise slightly above the surface of seasoned case furniture — oak and walnut wardrobes and sideboards. It takes the unexpected form of perfectly boxed ceramic tiles, a finish usually found lining bathrooms and kitchens, but rarely anything else.
While there are a few companies that have elevated tile to novelty status – promoting quality bespoke production, introducing eye-catching colors and developing bold patterns – few have taken it out of its mainstream architectural application.
In the Eva collection—Maiden Home’s second series of collective commissions—the carefully considered configuration of geometric panels is not only decorative but also functional. They help indicate where flush cabinet doors can otherwise open without problems. It’s a subtle nod to the virtues of honest assembly espoused by the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century. There is a sculptural logic behind the handcrafted tile that meets the wooden surface, perfectly anchored in place—almost like puzzle pieces—with a soft but determined frame.
“But it’s not overly referential or reverent,” says Nidhi Kapur, founder of Maiden Home. “Eva has a timeless quality, but maybe we have to find a better word to describe that quality. She’s not here, she’s not there. She stands on her own.”
“(All) our work starts with the material and the hands that shape it,” he adds. “These commissioned works stem from our obsession with a particular material and craftsmanship. Eva is developed from ceramic, which has a real immediacy. Each tile is made by hand, you can see it. The geometric language of this collection came from the combination of these elements with the precision of the wooden frames. Material against material, each shaping the other.”
Launched during NYCxDesign 2026, the Eva collection was unveiled in a special setting befitting the weight and refinement of its construction. The moody installation in golden hues played up the warmth of the seemingly disparate but truly symbiotic materials incorporated.
To shop this and other furniture from the brand, visit maidenhome.com.
Photo courtesy of Maiden Home.
