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28 MARCH 2020
THE INTERVIEW
MAEGAN BLAU SPENT HER CHILDHOOD constantly
rearranging her bedroom and repainting her
bathroom, a harbinger of her future as an inte-
rior designer. In 2009, she became a wheelchair
user when a spinal cord injury left her as a person
with quadriplegia. After renovating and adapting
her first home to meet her accessibility needs, she
founded Blue Copper Design, a studio that spe-
cializes in adaptive interior design. Blau creates a
sense of belonging and welcome, as well as agency
and access, especially for people who love to cook
and entertain. Here’s how that works. —JULIA
TURSHEN, FOUNDER OF EQUITY AT THE TABLE (EATT)
AND AUTHOR OF NOW & AGAIN
Comfort Zone Maegan
Blau’s adaptive designs
make every body feel
at home.
LIGHTNING ROUND
The most recent thing I
cooked was grilled
cheese and tomato
soup (but an adult
grilled cheese with
three cheeses).
I put anything Bravo
on my screen when I
need to escape for an
hour.
Lizzo’s music makes
me energized.
I think of traveling
when I need some
inspiration.
My fridge always has
rosé waiting for me.
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JT: Where did the name
Blue Copper come from?
MB: My last name, Blau,
means blue in German.
I was going through a
hardcore copper and
rose gold phase. Also, I
love Arizona and South-
western design, and
copper to me is a symbol
of Arizona.
JT: What is adaptive
design?
MB: Adaptive design is
creating a custom design
plan for an individual
person or people who
live in a home. I’ve loved
design my whole life, but
being in a wheelchair is
what made me choose
it as a career. I would
explain things to vendors
or contractors, and they
would immediately put
me in an ADA-compliant
box. Those regulations
are great, but not neces-
sary for everyone’s daily
life in their own home.
I’m about getting really
deep into how a person
wants to live, with or
without disabilities.
JT: I’ve heard you talk
about designing for
individuals, not making
hospital rooms. Can you
tell me more about that
distinction?
MB: Home is my favorite
place. I’m passionate
about creating that
feeling for others, espe-
cially for folks who have
stayed in hospitals. It’s
important to feel that
your disability or your
physical requirements
have not taken over
your entire space. You
can still claim some of
that space to be the way
you want. It’s not about
getting rid of medical or
assistive devices, but
integrating them in a
more fluid way.
JT: How do you feel
when you’re in your
home that you designed
for yourself?
MB: I feel very com-
fortable and confi-
dent. Confidence and
empowerment go hand
in hand. I know that if
my friends want to get
together, I’m the most
confident in my home. It
takes out that worry of
“Does my friend’s house
have stairs?” or “Are
their doorways wide
enough?”
JT: So it’s eliminating
those uncertainties.
MB: We always have to
get out of our comfort
zones, but I don’t think
your home is the place
where you have to do
that.
This interview has been
edited and condensed
for clarity. PH
OT
OG
RA
PH
Y:^
MO
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ME
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TO
PR
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