Marije Richards was born from a deep fascination for atmosphere, human emotion and the way spaces silently shape the way we feel, connect and experience life. What started as a passion for interiors slowly evolved into a multidisciplinary design studio focused on high-end residential projects, hospitality concepts, villas, restaurants and emotionally driven environments where identity and storytelling became just as important as aesthetics themselves.
Over the years, my work became known not only for its visual style, but for its ability to translate feeling into physical space. I was never interested in designing interiors that simply looked beautiful on a photograph. I wanted spaces to feel alive. Warm. Grounded. Timeless. Spaces that slow people down and create emotional connection the moment someone walks in. This vision led to collaborations and projects throughout the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, and eventually brought media attention through television, magazines and Dutch design platforms.
My design language has always been deeply shaped by travel and cultural immersion. Years spent traveling through Southeast Asia, Indonesia, India, China and Southern Europe taught me that the most memorable places are often the ones that feel honest and connected to their surroundings. Sitting inside a small family-owned restaurant in the mountains of northern Italy, sleeping in bamboo huts surrounded by jungle sounds in Thailand, watching local craftsmen work with raw materials in Indonesia — these experiences slowly became part of the way I see design itself.
I became drawn to spaces where architecture and nature exist in harmony. Places where materials age beautifully, where light changes throughout the day, where textures tell stories and where imperfection adds soul instead of taking it away. My inspiration comes from earthy minimalism, Mediterranean warmth, Japanese simplicity, indigenous craftsmanship, tropical slow living and timeless hospitality atmospheres that feel emotionally grounding rather than trend-driven.
Natural materials have always played an important role in my work. Stone, wood, leather, linen, handmade textures, soft earth tones and warm lighting became recurring elements throughout my projects. Not because they were fashionable, but because they create emotional calmness and authenticity. I believe true luxury is not found in excess, but in atmosphere, simplicity, craftsmanship and emotional comfort.
What makes my background unique is that almost everything I created was built independently from the ground up. Over the years I not only designed interiors, but also developed complete concepts and businesses around them. I handled concept development, branding, interior architecture, technical drawings, custom-made furniture design, supplier sourcing, production coordination, visual presentations, renders, websites, photography, storytelling, administration and project realization myself. From the very first sketch to the final atmosphere on location, I learned how to build worlds from vision into reality.
Part of this journey included traveling to China and Indonesia to work directly with suppliers and manufacturers for custom-made furniture and interior elements. These experiences taught me how to negotiate internationally, oversee production processes and translate creative ideas into tangible products and environments. It also gave me a deeper respect for craftsmanship and the human stories behind materials and production.
