Marina Shrestha Interior Design

Continuously bathe in the mystique of Mustang as decorative earth red niches float you back to the esoteric caves of Luri.

Inspired by the caves of Luri, a serie of niches were created in the lobby.
Back stage - work in progress.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit (photo 1 & 6) : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Sacred monuments are dressed in warm colours brushed from the very sands of mountains powerfully guarding the land - as if to say we are not separate and never will be… These unique colour accents, rich in symbolism and natural textures envelop your stay so that you too will feel part of the whole.

Back stage - Creating the painted wall with colour lines inspired buy the stupas.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit (photo 1) : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Backstage - Work in progress
Maya's Heritage Inn

The structure was already there when I started working on this project.
Compressed brick were made on site with mud and cement, then dried in the hot Mustang sun.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit (photo 1) : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Resting you in the comfort of a home nestled among traditional houses...at Maya's Heritage Inn




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Maya's Heritage Inn at night!




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Welcome to Mustang! Maya’s Heritage Inn plunges you into the mysteries and rustic sophistication of the land.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit (photos 2 to 5): Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Maya’s heritage Inn is a destination welcoming you in pure Mustangi spirit, to connect deeply and taste the heart and soul of a kingdom in constant union still defying the winds of time…

Here different views of the lobby.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit (first 4 pictures) : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Details and bathrooms at Maya's Heritage Inn




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

At Maya's Heritage Inn, comfort and warm colors enhance the dining experience at 3600 m altitude.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Resting you in the comfort of a home nestled among traditional houses, enjoy the comfort and the Mustangi athmosphere of Maya's Heritage Inn.

This interior was created in order to feel at peace but also to feel related to the local culture, a kind of transition between Mustang athmosphere and contemporary interiors. A way to connect to this rude environment while feeling comfortable.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Resting you in the comfort of a home nestled among traditional houses, that seem to have expanded out of the mineral landscape, there is a nostalgic sense of continuous union with nature as all is shaped from raw elements, gifted by the land.

Here some views from Maya's Heritage Inn second floor which includes the ancient Monastery of Tsarang (first picture) and the Palace seen from the Suite window (last picture).




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

The cold harsh climate and crisp blue skies have blessed Mustang with a vibrance that is uniquely nurtured as they treasure every moment of connection with each other.

At Maya's Heritage Inn, the library bar enhance this vibrance of colors while giving a feeling of warmth.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

In Mustang, sacred monuments are dressed in warm colours brushed from the very sands of mountains powerfully guarding the land - as if to say we are not separate and never will be… These unique colour accents, rich in symbolism and natural textures envelop your stay so that you too will feel part of the whole.

At Maya's Heritage Inn, the walls superposition of colors of the restaurant are inspired by the textures and colors of the stupas in Lo Manthang.
Lively and joyfull as the people in Mustang.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Continuously bathe in the mystique of Mustang as ancient cave paintings adorn the walls.

Each room displays a different ancient cave painting with its story.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Orange rooms at Maya's Heritage Inn

Colourful rooms with traditional apron insert.
The apron weaving was done purposely for the project using the same colours as chosen for the carpets. Fresh colours were picked out to bring some contemporary feeling to the interiors.




Maya’s Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

In the midst of Mustang arid wildernesses where glimpses of the Himalayan Bear have often entertained many a myth of the Yeti, traces of refined spiritual and artistic actualizations lie untouched. They whisper the mysteries of a highly enlightened culture breathing in primitive simplicity…

Colourful interiors of Maya’s Heritage Inn.
Teal rooms where you can see traditional apron weave insert and matching carpet with traditional cloud designs.




Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Continuously bathe in the mystique of Mustang as traditional colours adorn the lobby wall and decorative earth red niches float you back to the esoteric caves of Luri.

Few glimpses of the lobby of Maya's Heritage Inn…
Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal




Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

Maya’s Heritage Inn plunges you into the mysteries and rustic sophistication of the land of Upper Mustang

Since 2019, I have been working on the interiors (and partly architecture) of Maya’s Heritage Inn in Upper Mustang. The hotel opened mid-may, just in time for the famous Tiji Festival in Lo Manthang.

From a structure already in place (pillars and slabs), I worked on creating a building integrated in the local surrounding architecture but slightly revisited, especially in terms of colours.
Few glimpses of the building…




Maya's Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, Nepal

Photo Credit : Eric Chandra Shrestha -

The new organic shop in Boudha : Nüpaofficial

With a resting area where one can taste Nüpa's special herbal teas.



Photo credit : Eric Chandra

Textures

A variety of textiles and colours not only attracts the eye, but the sight of the textures brings a tactile sensation, even without touching them.
This way textures participate in creating particular feeling and emotions.

I love the idea of using a variety of textures to create particular sensations.

Here, a hand-woven Himalayan giant nettle weave with dyed linen stripes provides a lush, yet rugged nature feel.
Nature thus takes all its value, as if a piece of refined forest entered your home.
The feeling it gives and the emotions it brings are specific to handmade and natural textures.
Its irregularities carry an "emotional liveliness".

What do you feel?



Photo credit: Eric Chandra

So simple yet so soothing!
Sometimes not much is needed to make you feel good.

I love using colors, I really do! But white and natural wood color in simplicity can really promote deep relaxation.
White is not the absence of colors, it actually encompasses all the colors.
White reflects light, black absorb light, this is why black is the absence of color.

Light is additive, meaning when you mix all colors of the visible spectrum you get white light.
This is shown by the experiment where all rainbow colors are painted on a disk which, when spinning, appears white.
It is also shown with the diffraction of white light through a crystal, where all the rainbow colors appear.

I find this quite interesting to know that all the colors are contained in the appearance of white.



Photo 1 credit : Hutomo Abrianto
Photo 2 credit : Eric Chandra

Kathmandu valley is home to the Newar community, guardians of some of the oldest traditions in Nepal. Among the multi-ethnic populations of Nepal, the Newar Artisans emerged very early with a distinct identity. In Newari language, Kathmandu valley is called Nepa or Nepal. This is what gave, by extension, the name to the country itself.

In Nepal, I feel we can dream and get it done, the artisans have such great skills.
Being able to make contemporary custom made items for interiors is quite fantastic!
Here the ambiance is enhanced by a brass candle jar which reflects its light according to the wavy cutout.

design

Photo credit : Eric Chandra

Contemporary copper lamps.
These inspire me to create some new designs in copper for future interior design projects.



Photo credit : Jean-philippe Delberghe

Emotion and interior space design

I feel that the combination of soft colors, natural handmade fabrics and the brass candle jar gives a very cosy and peaceful atmosphere.
Here are cotton napkins, placemats and table runner handmade with nettle weave and dyed linen and plain linen table cloth.

It creates a very peaceful environment and has a calming effect on those sitting around that table. The energy created will certainly be inspiring for peaceful exchanges and understanding between the relatives or the guests.
I can hardly imagine quarrels in such an environment.
Do you feel the same?



Photo credit : Eric Chandra

Work in progress

Mustang colors
Maya Heritage Inn, Tsarang, Upper Mustang, is slowly getting ready.

In such an interior, you feel like doing nothing and listening the old stories of this tradition.
A place to dream of some other times, when life was slower...full of mysteries...

Traditional space with a story and still well adapted to contemporary life in warm locations.
I find it very inspiring.



Photo credit : Orlova Maria and Annie Spratt for the last picture

This is a proposal for a meditation centre in Pharping, Nepal that I made in the 80's.

I created a contemporary space that carries the ambiance of a monastery in a mix of Tibetan and Bhutanese architecture features.
I wanted to make it simple, with a feeling of peace and so well integrated in the landscape that it appears to have grown organically from its location.

Do you feel the calmness of this environment?

Still in the 80s I was given the assigment to design the head office for the Rastriya Banijya Bank, opposite Singha Durbar in Kathmandu.
These are the drawings of the original design (later during construction, some modifications were made).

The concept was to create a building that rises gently, broken into segments, thus respecting the human scale and made in continuity to the existing urban fabric.

I was happily working with Rachana consulting Architects and Engineers, founded and managed by the late Indra Bahadur Thapa.
I remember making the physical model of the project and we needed round white pillars. So I bought lollypops for everyone in the office with the instruction to eat them quickly and give back the clean white sticks so we could use them as round pillars on the model!

I am now back to the field of architecture proposing my services for Interior Design.
And I was told recently, several times that I should go back to architecture as well. I am ready for it.