Clients from global royalty to sporting superstars have been entranced by the modernist glam and old-world grandeur of Nina Magon. The Houston-based, Canadian-born interior talks to Effect about the influence of travel on her interiors and her new book, Evoke.
When Nate Berkus handpicked interior designer Nina Magon to be one of the 12 competitors on the NBC hit reality show American Dream Builders back in 2014, little did he know that he had just discovered one of the design industry’s biggest future stars. Having spent nine episodes showcasing her modern-glam aesthetic and passion for high design, Magon may have been eliminated in the semifinals, but she was far from defeated, and today the Canadian designer boasts some of the world’s biggest names among her prestigious client list including the royal family of Abu Dhabi, MGM Resorts International, and MLB World Series winner José Altuve, to name a few.
A creative from a young age, Magon harboured an interest in fashion before studying economics and finance in college, going on to open her own luxury lingerie boutique at the ripe age of 22. It wasn’t long, however, until she realised her predominant focus had shifted from the lingerie itself to the store’s interior. “It prompted a pivotal realisation,” she tells us. “The amalgamation of my foundational knowledge in business, my family’s background in real estate and my passion for fashion unveiled my genuine passion.” That passion was, of course, interior design.
I take cues from fashion’s ability to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Nina Magon
Known for balancing a high-gloss modernism with old-world grandeur, Magon cites her international travels, particularly her time spent in India, for shaping her global approach to design, with her interiors offering a passport into some of the world’s most captivating destinations. “I have translated the palettes and materials that captured my imagination in places like Sicily, Santorini, Mykonos, Istanbul and Paris into homes as close as Houston and as far as Abu Dhabi,” she says. She is now detailing these glamorous spaces that have made her so sought after by jet-set clientele throughout her first monograph, Evoke.
For luxury jeweller Zadok, for example, Magon designed an upscale lounge, aptly called the Nina Magon Lounge, inspired by prominent European architecture like Rome’s Colosseum and the Pont du Gard aqueduct in France. “This project is one of my favourites because it is a testament to the fusion of architectural principles, artistic inspiration and meticulous execution,” she explains. “The defining feature of the space is the use of arches, strategically configured in a Mondrian-like pattern that elevated the perception of the ceiling. It is a homage to the arches of the Colosseum.”
Then there’s the Solaya Spa & Salon in Houston, where Magon bucked the trend of tranquillity through neutral palettes and natural woods, instead paying tribute to historical landmarks like the Széchenyi thermal baths in Budapest and the Friedrichsbad spa in Baden-Baden through the use of mirrored metal doors in a verdigris hue and oversized antique double doors covered in expressive carvings that look as if they were plucked directly from a hotel in Paris’s 6th arrondissement. “We utterly transformed the spa using the vibrant colours of the Mediterranean,” she says. “My residential and commercial interiors are powerful, style-setting and, I hope, truly unforgettable.”
The Mediterranean, or more specifically the Greek islands, also inspired another of Magon’s favourite projects to date – the WD Residence, which comes nestled in one of Houston’s most coveted neighbourhoods. Building on the vibrant hues of Santorini, defining features include a soft white plaster finish akin to the island’s famous vernacular as well as the introduction of dramatic jewel tones that echoed the colour of its landscapes. “This project holds a special place in my portfolio as one of my favourites,” she adds.
Aside from travel, Magon’s other true love of fashion is a paramount source of insight for the designer. “From haute couture to avant-garde street style, the spectrum of fashion influences informs my choice of materials, textures and colour palettes,” she explains. Case in point? In one modern home, again in Houston where Magon grew up, she opted for a monochrome colour scheme that drew inspiration from the likes of Truman Capote’s famed Black and White ball, and the Aquazzura showrooms in fashion capitals like New York, Miami, and London.
Step into the kitchen you will find ebony stone with just a hint of feathery-white veining, while elsewhere a structured floating staircase comes stained in a noirish shade, and two oversized chandeliers composed of black disks are held together on gossamer ebony threads. “I take cues from fashion’s ability to elevate the ordinary into the extraordinary, crafting interiors that transform functional spaces into works of art,” she adds.
Not content with sticking to her home soil, Magon’s projects span far and wide. Perhaps most impressive is her collaboration with the royal family of Abu Dhabi, which saw the designer transform a waterfront villa from a simple white cube into a family home full of rich colours and sumptuous fabrics. “This project was a testament to my affinity for minimalistic elegance,” she explains. “In a setting where cultural landmarks like the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Manarat Al Saadiyat arts centre cast their influence, the challenge was to infuse the villa with a sense of opulence while paying homage to the cultural capital. The inspirations were drawn from iconic figures like Zaha Hadid, Piero Portaluppi and Julia Morgan, and it underscores the profound impact of architecture on interior design.”
My biggest aspiration for any of my interiors is to evoke a profound emotional connection.
Nina Magon
As such, in the majlis, a formal sitting area designed for welcoming guests, a composition of moulding pairs with a beautiful wood floor set in a chevron pattern reminiscent of a Haussmann-style apartment, while the integration of natural materials like expansive stone slabs add an extra air of authenticity. “We also carefully selected furnishings that were luxurious without the need for overt branding,” she adds. “Each piece was meticulously chosen to create a sense of refined opulence.
“My biggest aspiration for any of my interiors is to evoke a profound emotional connection, leaving an enduring imprint on my clients,” she concludes. “I don’t just want to create spaces that captivate the eye, but also envelop my clients in a tapestry of sensations and narratives.”
Evoke by Nina Magon is published by Monacelli
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