We were lucky to catch up with Maya Cohen Rappaport recently and have shared our conversation below.

Maya, appreciate you joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

Industrial production processes imply the standardization and the uniformization of the products in order to reduce costs, champion efficiency, and create economies of scale. This is probably why one is able to find the same IKEA furniture in every household all over the world. You wouldn’t be surprised to encounter the same coffee-table you have at home in a local restaurant while sight-seeing in Europe, or noticing the same cabinets you have at work at your aunt’s house. When my husband and I purchased our first apartment in Paris we renovated it, following which we had very little money left for decorating. This is why almost everything we bought came from IKEA. But, as I am a true believer that one’s home should reflect one’s personality, I find it very important to personalize its aesthetics and design. This is why, the standard IKEA models were not the best solution for us, and I decided to go to a carpenter in order to design myself new fronts for our standard cabinets. The result was beautiful. Quickly friends and family asked me to design fronts for them. As we moved to Israel I decides to jump into the deep-end, and create “Ma Façon”. My Business provides a great solution for those who do not have the means for a tailor-made design but still feel the need for individuality and quality products. Another important aspect where I try to differentiate my business from corporates in the field, is the awareness to the environment, a topic dear to my heart. I designed my products in order to allow easy ways to reuse and upcycle old furniture, to promote and partake in the circular economy. This answers one of todays most important topics that unfortunately goes against the business model of typical industrial companies: recycling the old and turning it into something beautiful. Instead of getting rid of your furniture, you “dress” it so it becomes something totally new. The easiness of change permits the furniture to grow together with its owners.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Maya, I’m married and have two adorable kids.
Aesthetics have always been a very important part of my life. I believe a nice interior that suits one’s character and needs can change the feel one has about themselves and their environment, as well as it has been proven that colors can affects one’s mood.

I studied archaeology, art history and interior architecture in Paris.
Later on, I first worked in art galleries, at Christie’s auction-house and finally was an event planner and designer for gala evenings in the French Academy.

Once I left France and had to “re-invent” myself. I’ve decided to jump into the water and create a long lasting dream of mine- my business “Ma Façon”, a decision for which I feel grateful every day.

Ma Façon offers an easy and fun way to redecorate your IKEA furniture. We design and produce a variety of customizable additions to enhance and personalize what would otherwise be a standard piece of furniture. By dressing the bare cabinet frames with our fronts, top and side bords, our legs and handles, the furniture instantly “peeles” of its generic appearance and gains a new unique identity and quality – all to the request and wishes of the customer.
Ma Façon is a young and trendy business that appeals at the same time to all IKEA customers that want to have a custom-made piece of furniture as well as for design lovers who are looking for something unique and high-quality.
In the office world “Ma Façon” allowed to add an extra feel to their brand using our large selection of colors and our unique designs.

How it works?
All you need to do is buy Ikeas’ Pax or Besta frames, or use those already in your possession, and do the following:
1- choose your fronts design and color
2- chose a top and sides in the color of your choice
3- choose handles and furniture legs for the final touches

We offer a verity of choices that can be adapted according to the customers needs and budget: For example, one can choose to only purchase fronts, legs or just new handles…

The mounting is as easy as the standard IKEA mounting

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I am currently the only business in Israel that offers designed IKEA fronts. I myself was looking for a similar product, and quickly noticed the general need and lack of offer. I’ve decide to take matters into my hands and create such a business myself. Once I finally opened Ma Façon the reactions were amazing. As I started, by posting on social media and contacting interior designers, I immediately got requests from design specialized magazines and blogs to write about Ma Façon. Following those articles I soon had more requests, some local celebrities who posted and shared what my business does, requests for collaboration with other product designers or magazines….
My business quickly became known and orders came flowing.
I have very good people skills and I really care about the final outcome of my clients furniture. This has allowed me to create very good relations with customers that came back or recommended me to others, as well as loyal designers I often work with in their projects

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I find there is something extremely rewarding in believing your inner voice and have the courage to bring an idea to life. I think the creative process obliges me to have an open mind and a flexibility of thought. I absolutely love seeing one of the models I’ve imagined transform: from paper, to the computer, to the machines and see it take life, abit like a birth.
I think that the biggest reward as a creator though has to be to see the emotional response one might have to something I’ve created. Knowing my furniture becomes a part of someone’s home, a part of his wellbeing and a witness to a familys’ growth and story is something I find very touching

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mafacon.co.il/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/mafacon_studio?igshid=626vu5nqsfcs
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/studio.mafacon/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNAhFA06Uuamie76OXnJ5lA

Image Credits
Portrait credit: Liat Federman Furniture image credits: Pink, mint, white closet and white sideboard: Tal Sivan Ziporin Black and beige sideboard in living-room and brown closet: No credit (I took the pictures)