Natural Stone & Artisanal Spaces by Estudio Maria Santos

Designers

3 Jun

Written By Anca Enica

Portrait of Maria Santos seated on a wooden chair with cane back in a light, neutral space showcasing her modern classic style. — **people • designers**

Maria Santos founded Estudio Maria Santos, a Madrid interior design studio, in 2015 and has since become synonymous with modern classic interiors. At Estudio Maria Santos, she combines respect for classical architecture with a contemporary sensibility, embracing natural stone and partnering with local artisanal craftsmen to shape peaceful homes that are both light-filled and highly functional. Known for translating timeless style into vibrant, relaxed spaces, Maria’s work exemplifies luxurious interior design rooted in authentic materials and meticulous detail.
**WEBSITE:** **estudiomariasantos.com** **INSTAGRAM:** **@estudiomariasantos**

Words: designeers
September 2023

designeers

The most important thing you’ve designed to date:

maria santos

All our projects are special, and with each of them we have taken a step forward, but I think the most ambitious are the ones we are doing this year: a country house in the French Provence and a huge beach house in La Romana, Dominican Republic.

designeers

A project you are working on now: 

maria santos

A wonderful beach house in Dominican Republic.

Elegant living room with classical ceiling moldings, star-patterned oak flooring, a brass console table and vibrant red artwork against soft plaster walls.

Hallway view into a light-filled room with white wainscoting, a black upholstered chair by a tall window and a framed orange artwork above a marble-topped side table.

designeers

What constitutes great design: 

maria santos

Great design is first and foremost about harmonising function with thoughtful detail. At its core, a well-planned layout ensures spaces flow intuitively, guiding movement and defining purpose. Layered on top of that, rich finishes—intricate flooring patterns, bespoke wall treatments and ceilings that tell a story—elevate an environment from merely practical to genuinely memorable.

designeers

What you do when you’re not working: 

maria santos

I love spending time with my family: my two sons, dog and husband!

Exterior courtyard of a modern classic home featuring a green-tiled swimming pool, white stone loungers with umbrellas and a pale stucco facade.

Formal dining room with a dark wood table surrounded by black chairs, a coffered ceiling with intricate moldings and a large gold-framed mirror on the far wall.

Bright living area with a curved navy blue sofa, glass coffee table, built-in white bookshelves and a detailed coffered ceiling in a modern classic interior.

“All our projects are special, and with each of them we have taken a step forward.”

maria santos

designeers

Concrete or marble?

maria santos

Marble.

designeers

On your coffee table right now:

maria santos

A coffee book of my upcoming trip to Gstaad and a sculpture of Spanish artist “Jose Chafer” I gave my husband as his last birthday present.

designeers

Top 3 suppliers you love working with: 

maria santos

Collaborating with local artisans, my master carpenter, marmolist, and brassworker, ensures every project benefits from unmatched craftsmanship, material authenticity, and agile innovation.