The Artful Doctor
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The XXX This page: Pop art pieces, You r family photos and a furry ‘monster’ take pride of place in Maryam Zamani’s London home Opposite page: Maryam wears: Dress, Loris Azzaro Couture. Earrings, Glenn Spiro, LIFE both her own TH E A R TFUL head of her Middle Eastern debut, Bazaar steps inside the art-filled London home of DOCTOR one of the international aesthetics circuit’s most sought- after surgeons, and discovers Medical professional, skincare the depth behind her two winning formulas – style and anti-ageing. Dr Maryam Zamani is already a name whispered among Hollywood’s brand founder and pop art elite, with her age-defying treatments some of the most desired in the industry. The Iranian beauty is also a can-do, will-do woman with an admirer, Dr Maryam Zamani appreciation for the like-minded who work to achieve. She is wife to has turned her London Reza (who heads his own hedge fund), mother to Casper, nine, and Lily,A seven, an aesthetic doctor and oculoplastic surgeon, and the hideaway into a loved and founder of MZ Skin by Dr Maryam Zamani – the latter of which counts the likes of Elle Macpherson, Arizona Muse and Princess lived-in gallery space Charlene of Monaco amongst its customer base. She also works out daily, her routine including “two days a week with a Pilates instructor on a reformer, plus Words by ELAINE LLOYD-JONES 45-minute gym sessions and boot camps at the Photography by SEBASTIAN BOETTCHER weekend.” She’s not one to take time for granted. “If I’m not in a dress, or working, I’m in workout clothes. Do you mind?”, she asks. As a key player on the cosmetics scene, she is expectedly beautiful, svelte and calm as the flurry of activity unfolds around her – there are PRs (multiple), a PA, a nanny, the photographer, a hair-dresser (her regular), make-up artist (also a regular) and house staff, all on hand to prune, preen, promote and preserve, as well as her slightly bewildered-looking husband who gets bumped from room to room as we move around the house. Maryam and her family live on a quiet and exclusive street in between Sloane Square and South Kensington in a rather grand Grade II-listed town house and what looks like three storeys from the outside luxuriates into a cool six floors. Already ahead of the current trend of building into basements, they built a sub-basement before they moved in – circa 2009 – after spending four years renovating their dream abode. “My husband always loved this house, so when it came on the market, we just went for it,” she says. The property has a history of intriguing owners, too. It was once owned by William De Morgan, an English ceramic artist and novelist, and his artist wife, Evelyn De Morgan, a Pre-Raphaelite painter who was considered one of the most significant and influential of her generation. Sometime later, it was also owned by Gunter Sachs, the German photographer – and bon vivant – who was married to Brigitte Bardot. Sachs was also an avid art collector whose private collection included works by the likes of Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Mel Ramos and Allen Jones. “If walls could talk, a lot of interesting stories could be told about this house,” Maryam muses. She and her husband are also collectors, and in a case of history repeating itself, pop art is the forefront of their art-setting agenda. It was their collection that set forth the interior design foundations of every room in the house. “The art work is a main focus. We wanted to have the colour pop from the art so we started there and worked backwards. There are a few artists we really like, there’s Antony Donaldson (the British pop artist) – although he’s not necessarily very famous, we have a lot of his work. The green one – Women on Green – upstairs is him. We really connect with him, he makes us happy,” she says. “We also have a few bits of ➤ 239 HarpersBazaarArabia.com April 2018 The XXX The XXX Maryam’s love of colour is apparent from her use of vivid hues. Right: Maryam wears: Dress, La DoubleJ Editions. Shoes, Dolce & Gabbana, all her own. Inset: Espadrilles, Chanel. Shoes, Christian Louboutin, both her own “If walls could talk, a lot of interesting stories could be told about this house” Maryam Zamani Warhol, the shoe pictures upstairs in the living room – Warhol’s Diamond Dust Shoes. And we have Warhol’s Hamburger pieces” – which overlook the dining room table. One of American artist Mel Ramos’ Peek-a-Boo series (also a Gunter Sachs favourite) greets you on the landing and Tom Wesselmann’s Sleeping Venus holds court in the master bedroom. Almost every room in the house is watched over by something iconic, but of course it suits the grandeur of the place, its occupants and its location. Needless to say, trips to Art Basel are often on the agenda, as well as regular jaunts to St Tropez in summer, and Gstaad and Andermatt in the winter. Through “gutting” the whole house, the pair has managed to transform its vast blank walls into their own personal gallery. “It was like any project, once you start, it’s never ending. We wanted to maintain the architecture and the façade, and modernise the interior,” – something Maryam’s husband managed with aplomb. “He loves architecture. He likes modern and simplistic too – everything has to be functional but aesthetically pleasing.” While their taste for art and architecture are mostly in-sync, there is one piece in the house they have agreed to disagree on. “I love my little monster,” she explains, pointing to the furry sculpture sitting front and centre on her coffee table – “he’s by a couple of artists called the Haas Brothers.” Nikolai and Simon are twins, who like Maryam, have served Hollywood’s elite with their sculptural genius – although her talent is definitely a measure of beauty, while theirs is an acquired taste. “My husband isn’t a fan, but for our anniversary he surprised me with one. They’re called Crazy Monsters, I’d love to have a family of them,” she laughs. Maryam and Reza also worked together to custom-make every piece Maryam wears: of furniture in the house, adding finishing touches with pieces picked up Blouse, Chloé. Maryam wears: Dress, Tibi. Trousers, Céline. at Lots Road Auction and Firstdibs.com. “We’re not impulsive, we tend Necklace, gifted by a Shoes, Gianvito to think a lot before we buy,” Maryam says. And while her husband took friend, both her own Rossi, all her own charge of the project as a whole, Maryam turned her attention to vital details such as wardrobe requirements. “I was very involved with all ➤ CREDIT HERE 240 HarpersBazaarArabia.com April 2018 241 HarpersBazaarArabia.com June 2016 Your LIFE revolved around family holidays, Maryam admits, “as my skincare line expands, I have to be more available to travel.” Her trip to the Middle East this month is just one such work-related expedition, as she looks into the importance of the region for the skincare market. With such a distracting veil of style, it’s easy to forget that underneath is a fiercely intelligent oculoplastic surgeon whose hero formulas are waging their own war against ageing. “I like to harness, in my philosophy, that skin is the foundation of your youth and beauty so you have to take care of it. It’s the one thing that will last you forever.” She also notes that “having a healthy lifestyle, eating well and sleeping well” all helps. “I eat in moderation, and intelligently, but I don’t diet. I don’t deny myself anything.” There are handfuls of peanut M&Ms in bowls on almost every coffee table in the house, appearing almost as chocolate’s own pop art contribution to her home’s décor. “Peanut M&Ms and Nutella are my weaknesses, and the cheaper the chocolate the better!” she smiles. Of course, Maryam uses all her own skincare, and prefers to do personal treatments at home, rather than venture out. “I’m developing new products all the time so I try everything first. I always use the Cleanse & Clarify cleanser and mask and the De-puff & Define Eye Contouring Eye Rescue though, they are my staples. And I love my Rest & Revive night serum – it really is like having eight hours of cream in Caption here please a bottle, you wake up and your thanks Caption here Maryam’s Prada bag, skin just feels so fresh and so soft.” please thanks customised by Radhta Ultimately, what Maryam wanted at Jugga Design for her range was a “feminine and luxury experience despite the scientific formulation.” In addition, she hopes to cement her place in the industry as a modern visionary – a female doctor, creating scientifically- proven products for women. The beauty industry is full of powerful women, teaching other women how to enhance, contour, love, and look after themselves a little more, but “no other female doctors, apart from Dr Barbara Sturm, offer when I see it. That’s another thing,” she a complete skin care range,” she of the cupboards. I know that sounds random, things before they come out into the stores,” she tells interrupts herself, “I like to buy colourful explains, “most are made by men.” but I worked with the builder to make sure there us. “And I often forget about the order, and all of clothes.” Colour breeds happiness and, luckily So while she might be slowing was a place for every accessory, measurements of “We’re not a sudden the door bell rings and it’s a lovely surprise.