My studio, Miminat Designs, is based in central London, but I live in a period property just north of the city. I like to be able to dip in and out of the hustle and bustle – it’s the best of both worlds.
My house feels relaxed and easy to live in: soft and feminine in places, with masculine edges. Furniture-wise, I’m drawn to sculptural, artistic pieces that add soul – the most important ingredient for a home. I wanted to create a distinction between the living areas and my home studio, where I spend a lot of time painting and sketching.
I would describe my aesthetic as relaxed elegance. My design process is more fluid than fixed – I look to capture the poetry of movement.
I have a long wish list of art, but right now I’m enjoying collecting antique and modern objects, ceramics and vintage Murano glass. Picking up random things as I go, then hoarding them, is something I do a lot. I’d love to own one of Isamu Noguchi’s incredible sculptures.
Figures who have influenced me? Mies van der Rohe for his elegant simplicity and less-is-more approach, and modernist icons like Oscar Niemeyer and Lina Bo Bardi for creating spaces and designs shaped by love.
Top tips? I go to Fiona Barratt-Campbell in London for exceptional lighting, 1stDibs for artwork, Decoratum for antiques and 88 Gallery for one-of-a-kind pieces.
If I could save one thing in my house from a fire, it would be a special gift that was passed down to me: a Damascene Islamic casket from 1879 that reminds me of my Muslim upbringing. The Arabic calligraphy is inlaid in bronze into the wood.
The strangest request a client has made was for a plunge pool in the bedroom – I was actually very envious!
Pictures from top: Mimi Shodeinde; a Cape Town interior designed by Miminat; lights by Fiona Barratt-Campbell; pieces from 88 Gallery; and a Miminat project in Kuwait
