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Modern Matter Blog
Collaborator Spotlight: Ajiri Aki
Q&A Part 1
Ajiri Aki is an author, design tastemaker, and founder of Madame de la Maison, a Paris-based lifestyle brand offering curated antiques, linens, and elevated tabletop experiences. Known for her warm, intentional approach to entertaining, she inspires others to embrace beauty and joy in the everyday. Now, Ajiri brings that same sensibility to her exclusive collaboration with Modern Matter, a collection of cabinet and door hardware that captures Parisian elegance through timeless design and craftsmanship.
Q: Could you share a bit about your journey and what has shaped who you are today?
A: I grew up in Austin, Texas, the daughter of Nigerian and Jamaican parents, and after graduating from TCU in Fort Worth, I couldn’t wait to move to New York City. There, I worked in the fashion industry and at museums before eventually moving to Paris almost 15 years ago. What has shaped me most, though, are the women in my family—my grandmother, my mother, and my aunties. Whether directly or indirectly, they showed me the importance of building community and keeping fellowship at the center of life. Both my parents left their home countries to create new lives abroad, and I have carried that same spirit with me. No matter where I have lived, whether in Fort Worth, New York, or now Paris, I have made it a priority to bring people together.
Q: Your personal journey has taken you across industries and continents, ultimately leading you to Paris. What led you to Paris?
A: I first came to Paris as a graduate student at Bard, studying the decorative arts and writing my thesis. I wanted so badly to stay and make Paris home, but at the time, finding a job in a museum or a fashion archive proved impossible. After two three-month stints, I reluctantly returned to New York and the fashion industry. But life had other plans. On a job in New York, I met my future husband, a Swiss-German TV and film producer. We dated long-distance, got married, and eventually, I followed him back to Paris, where he was based. Two kids and almost 15 years later, here I am, and Paris has become not only my home but also the inspiration for my work and creativity.
Q: Your background in fashion, from styling to curating exhibitions at institutions like the Met and the Museum of the City of New York, has given you a unique perspective on beauty, craftsmanship, and storytelling. How have those experiences shaped your approach to design, and what led you to create Madame de la Maison?
A: Working in fashion exposed me to so many new references and worlds I had never encountered before. The inspiration behind photo shoots sent me down rabbit holes—watching old films, reading books, and learning the stories and influences that shaped what I was working on. Wanting to deepen that knowledge, I studied the decorative arts, which gave me historical context and taught me about different design styles and disciplines. My time as an assistant in the fashion departments of museums was another layer of education. It was a lesson in true research and in connecting objects to larger narratives. I learned to ask questions like: how do individual pieces tell a story? How does material reflect culture, and how does culture shape material? All of these experiences have shaped the way I approach design today. They inspired me to create Madame de la Maison as a space where history, storytelling, and beauty come together through creative projects that bring meaning and joy into everyday life.
Q: Madame de la Maison beautifully blends your love for fashion and antiques. How did the idea for it come to life, and in what ways does it reflect your personal aesthetic and philosophy?
A: Madame de la Maison was born from my love of gathering people around a table and creating community, especially while living abroad. As I explored what I wanted to build, I visited a linen farm in Normandy to learn about the process of making linens. At the same time, I was already going to flea markets weekly and enjoying the overflow of antiques and the deep cultural appreciation for them. I wanted to merge new and old beauty at the table. My personal aesthetic is all about creating warm, colorful spaces and layering in different textiles, sizes, patterns, and history. Everything I do begins with honoring the past and reimagining it for the way we live today. And of course, living in Paris provides endless inspiration. Even a simple walk through the city can spark new ideas.
Q: You’ve had such a versatile career, including being the author of Joie: A Parisian's Guide to Celebrating the Good Life and co-author of Where's Karl? A Fashion Forward Parody. Each project reflects a distinct facet of your passion for storytelling and style. What inspired these books, and how did each project come to life?
A: Where’s Karl?, which I co-authored with Stacey Caldwell, was a playful way to capture the fashion world and its unforgettable characters at a moment when blogs and larger-than-life characters were booming. Years later, JOIE grew from my life in Paris and a desire to share how the French find joy in everyday moments. Both books are very different, but they each reflect my love of storytelling and how every stage of my career has influenced the next.
Q: Finding treasures and creating joy with family and friends are at the heart of your work. How do you think the objects we surround ourselves with contribute to a sense of 'joie de vivre'?
A: We spend so much of our lives in our homes, and the objects we choose to surround ourselves with should spark joy. Furniture and treasures we love, whether they are reminders of our travels, gifts from loved ones, or pieces with history, create an atmosphere that feels both personal and uplifting. I am not interested in living in a cold, stark environment that doesn’t feel lived in or layered. That is not for me. The objects we live with should tell our story and make everyday life more joyful.
Q: Your philosophy centers on finding joy in everyday moments. How do Parisians embrace this mindset in ways that feel distinct from American culture, and what lessons can we take from their approach to living well?
A: In the United States, culture often feels hurried and centered on the idea that time is money. People live to work rather than work to live, and much of life is spent doing for others. What I learned in France is almost the opposite. Slowness is celebrated, and while work is important, it doesn’t define you. Taking time for yourself is both respected and protected. Lunch is enjoyed at a table, not hunched over a computer. It is normal to pause for a coffee in the morning before rushing off to work or for an apéro on the way home. Vacation days are treated as sacred. The lesson we can all take from this is that joy comes from honoring those pauses. Taking a break for a meal, coffee, or time with friends is not indulgent. It nourishes you and, in the end, makes you more present and valuable in every part of life.
Q: As an expatriate in France, how does your home reflect the blending of your Franco-American heritage, and what elements of both cultures have you woven into your living space?
A: It’s not so much a design element of American culture that I’ve brought into my home, but rather the “my door is always open” mentality I picked up in Texas. I am definitely more open than most French people when it comes to welcoming new acquaintances into my home. From France, I’ve embraced the art of slowing down and realizing that perfection is not what matters once people are gathered. I also love the tradition of lingering around the table without a television in sight. My home is really a blend of those two influences: the openness and warmth of American hospitality paired with the French love of savoring life around the table.
Q: At Modern Matter, we believe in transforming everyday fixtures—like cabinet and door hardware—into luxurious design moments. What drew you to create a hardware collection, and how do you think these small yet impactful details influence the character and feel of a space?
A: I’ve always believed that small details have the power to completely transform an experience. It’s the same philosophy I bring to setting a table with name card holders, knife rests, napkin rings, or special serving utensils. Hardware works in exactly the same way. These design elements may seem minor, but they add texture, personality, and even a touch of surprise to a space. Creating a hardware collection felt like a natural extension of my love for objects that are both beautiful and functional. I wanted to design pieces that make everyday interactions, like opening a cabinet or door, feel full of joie de vivre.
Q: In part two of this Q&A, we’ll dive into your favorite Parisian spots. But before that, is there a particular item commonly found in French households that you wish Americans would embrace more?
A: I wish more Americans embraced the everyday use of table linens. In France, even a simple lunch often includes a tablecloth and cloth napkins, which makes meals feel special without being overly formal. I also love the tradition of an apéro before a meal. Most French people keep it very simple with nibbles like chips, olives, or nuts. Pretty bowls and glasses make it beautiful, yet it stays unfussy and just enough to whet the appetite without spoiling the meal. And the French aren’t shy about bringing out the good dishes, even for a casual meal.
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