Bekeb By Maye Studio: A Contemporary Homage to the Bajío
Bekeb By Maye Studio: A Contemporary Homage to the Bajío in San Miguel de Allende
In San Miguel de Allende, Bekeb emerges as a striking 160 m² project, part intimate cocktail bar, part open-air terrace, designed as a warm and contemporary tribute to the cultural soul of the Bajío, found inside Hotel Live Aqua. Designed by Maye Ruiz of Maye Studio, the colour palette, materials, textiles and artworks on display, are collectively alive, immaculate and visionary.
Project photography,Leandro Bulzzano
MAYE Studio: A New Wave of Latin American Design
Across the design world, Latin America is being recognised for a fresh, fearless perspective, and few names embody this better than Maye Ruiz. Known for her vibrant use of colour and her ability to seamlessly fuse craft traditions with modern aesthetics, Ruiz has positioned herself at the forefront of the region’s creative vanguard. Her work reflects a broader movement within contemporary Mexican interior design: a celebration of heritage and handcraft reinterpreted through the lens of modern luxury.
In 2021, Ruiz founded MAYE, the collaborative design studio that carries her name. The practice was established to channel her risk-taking, feminine perspective into projects that feel both personal and daring. MAYE Studio works across residential and commercial interior design, but what unites the portfolio is a clear identity: spaces alive with colour, narrative, and cultural reference.
A Creative Base in San Miguel de Allende
Ruiz is based in San Miguel de Allende, the UNESCO World Heritage city renowned for its artisanal traditions, vibrant architecture, and design community. The city not only serves as a backdrop but as an endless source of inspiration, grounding her work in the richness of Mexican material culture while opening it to global dialogue. From San Miguel, Ruiz and her team are currently working on projects across Mexico and the United States, demonstrating the studio’s growing influence and international reach.
The Maye Signature
What defines Ruiz’s design approach is a fearless embrace of contrast. Pushing beyond minimalism, the projects embrace bold colour palettes that feel alive and celebratory, while handcrafted details, from ceramics and textiles to bespoke furniture, honour Mexico’s rich artisanal heritage. These elements are balanced with contemporary forms and sleek architectural lines, giving each space a modern, sophisticated edge that feels both rooted in tradition and distinctly forward-looking. It’s a style that feels both luxurious and deeply personal, resonating with clients who want spaces that express identity and character as much as comfort.
From Homes to Hospitality
While residential interiors remain a cornerstone of her practice, Ruiz has also brought her vision into hospitality projects, most notably to Bekeb in San Miguel de Allende, a contemporary cocktail bar designed as a warm homage to the Bajío. In Bekeb, Ruiz captured the syncretism of the region: the collision of sacred and every day, rural and sophisticated, rendered through a palette of tobacco, ochre, and vibrant blues. The project stands as a statement of how Ruiz interprets Mexican design for a global audience.
Rooted in Place, Inspired by Heritage
Set against the backdrop of the historic Obraje dam, Bekeb is more than a hospitality project: it is a cultural statement. Conceived by MAYE Estudio with branding by Daniel Martinez Larsen, lighting by Yamil Slim, and murals by Neftali Espino, the space was commissioned by Fabiola, a client whose personal story begins in Los Altos de Jalisco but has firmly taken root in San Miguel de Allende. Every detail of Bekeb reflects this dual narrative: a project that is intimate yet expansive, traditional yet boldly contemporary.
The “Baroque Cowboy” as Design Inspiration
The design language draws from what MAYE Estudio calls the “baroque cowboy”: a layered aesthetic blending cantinas of the Bajío, local ranch culture, sacred temples, and the exuberant decoration of colonial architecture. Rather than a literal reproduction, Bekeb interprets these influences into a new, syncretic vocabulary, one that celebrates the contrasts between rural and refined, sacred and every day, rustic and sophisticated.
A Palette of Warmth and Contrast
The interiors unfold in a palette that feels both sensual and grounded. Tobacco, ochre, and deep brown tones evoke aged whisky, weathered wood, and leather patinas, while accents of vibrant blue, vegetal green, and butter-yellow introduce moments of brightness. Chrome details nod to the region’s dairy traditions, subtly reframed through a contemporary lens. The effect is a space that is warm and enveloping, yet full of contrasts, a reflection of northern Bajío itself.
Bekeb Design Narrative: Furniture, Art & Craft
Every piece of furniture was custom designed for Bekeb, with a deliberate emphasis on collaboration with local workshops and Mexican design houses such as Azotea, Los Patrones, and Mestiz, the latter being a leading reference for the new generation of Bajío design. By working exclusively with suppliers from the region, the project reinforces its identity as a celebration of local talent and material culture, while also keeping the production footprint intentionally close.
Art plays a starring role at Bekeb. Neftali Espino’s murals transform the walls into canvases of layered symbolism, while other artists, including Ro Méndez, created pieces that reimagine everyday objects, such as milk pails and elevate them into the realm of fine art. The result is a space that tells a story through every surface and detail, weaving together memory, identity, and contemporary expression.
Murals, Neftali Espino for Productora Productora
A Celebration of Northern Bajío
In a country as vast and diverse as Mexico, Bekeb takes a deliberately specific stance: it celebrates the aesthetics, textures, and spirit of the northern Bajío. It is a Mexico that is deep and warm, both nostalgic and forward-looking.
Set in the creative heart of San Miguel de Allende, one of the world’s most vibrant destinations for art, design, and cultural travel. Bekeb stands out as a contemporary homage to heritage. It is a place where cocktail culture meets architectural storytelling, offering locals and travellers alike a new way to experience the Bajío.
With an expanding portfolio across North America and a reputation as one of the most exciting voices in Latin American design, Maye Ruiz continues to redefine how we see Mexican interiors: not as a static tradition, but as a living, evolving aesthetic. Her work challenges convention, embraces artistry, and proves that luxury can be as much about narrative and craft as it is about elegance and form.
Credits
Interior Design: MAYE Estudio @maye_estudio
Branding: Daniel Martinez Larsen @dmmmmmmmmmmmmmmml
Lighting: Yamil Slim for Iluminamos @iluminamos
Murals: Neftali Espino for Productora Productora @productora_productora
Photography: Leandro Bulzzano @leandrobulzzano