If it weren’t for a family holiday to Peru at age 19, Maria de la Orden’s career would have gone in a very different direction. The designer—who has become known for her collections of colorful, nostalgic silhouettes—was studying law and economics at the Sorbonne University at the time. But Peruvian craftsmanship struck a chord, and when she returned to Paris (colorful textiles in tow), Orden changed course.
She began with a small line of jackets called Mau Loa, eventually rebranding into her eponymous label that is now sold in retailers such as Galeries Lafayette and Liberty London, as well as her own boutique in Saint-Germain. These days, she and her family split their time between Paris and Madrid (her hometown), where Orden just completed a masterful renovation on a house in the quiet residential neighborhood of Cruz del Rayo.
Orden and her husband found the home a few years ago, began renovations in 2024, and enlisted the help of her favorite interior designer, Isabel López-Quesada, to bring her vision to life. The entire process took around a year to complete. “Starting from scratch gave us the freedom to shape every detail to fit our vision,” Orden tells Vogue. “I had always dreamed of working with Isabel. We connected immediately and discovered we have very similar taste, which made the entire process feel effortless.”
López-Quesada instinctively understood Orden’s appreciation for print—and the art of mixing them. “Isabel presented me with beautiful combinations that I instantly loved,” she says. “Sometimes, when you re selecting individual elements you wonder if they ll ever work together, but the final result is even better than expected.” Take the floral dome canopy in her daughter Cosima’s bedroom as an example, which hovers over a bedspread in a separate floral pattern, with a minimalist paisley wallpaper as the backdrop. The whimsical mashup feels like something from a Sofia Coppola film set.
Almost everything in the home is vintage or made to measure, with items that have been sourced all around the world. “We found pieces at Les Puces in Paris, and some are family heirlooms. It’s a mix of personal and curated,” Orden explains. One especially charming bespoke creation is the woven crib for her son Arthur. “I had it on my wishlist for ages and finally found someone in the south of Spain who works with rattan and could bring it to life. It’s perfect.”
Orden’s appreciation for craft and her attention to detail is evident throughout all of the home’s various vignettes, from the deVOL Kitchens sink to the vintage white-and-grey marble fireplace in the living room. She also pays tribute to her Spanish heritage with artwork, including the Hernández Pijuan piece hanging above her sofa. Her favorite object? “Our vintage Gio Ponti bar in the living room is one of my absolute favorites, along with the Maison Jansen panels behind it. They both add so much character to the space.”
Another area of the home that turned out to be a favorite of Orden’s is her dressing area, clad in floral wallpaper. “That was one of Isabel’s ideas,” she explains. “We wanted a dedicated space just for me—separate from the bathroom—where I could do my makeup and get dressed. It feels very personal and serene.” She also points to their two patios as cherished nooks. “Madrid is such a sunny city, so having outdoor spaces felt essential. We love being able to open all the glass doors to create a seamless flow between indoors and outdoors, and to enjoy a relaxed, open atmosphere throughout the house.”
