Cinzia and Marco Tedeschi take us on a cultural design journey to The Meadows
Home to a family of four with roots in India and the UK, an eclectic collection of global art was the inspiration for a design aesthetic that marries modern British with France’s Côte d’Azur, and a touch of cosmopolitan Dubai.
“We connected with the client by chance. They were at a dinner party in a house we had renovated and fell in love with the basin in the powder room,” explains Cinzia. The Smart Renovation (@smartrenovationdubai) modus operandi has cultural design as the anchor for every project with the Tedeschis passionate about creating interconnected spaces that reflect the client’s personality and pieces.
The first step for the duo was to open up the interiors as much as possible, with the 4,000-square-foot villa lacking a harmonious flow. Says Marco: “The original footprint was based on successive rooms that didn’t have emotional connectivity, and we decided to enlarge the openings between the various living spaces to foster a sense of natural progression and connection.” This was further enhanced by creating picture windows to let in abundant natural light and foster a more synergistic connection between the garden and interiors.
Existing furniture pieces were refreshed and repositioned to complement different spaces. In the dramatic powder room, for example, an Oriental cabinet belonging to the family was repainted and repurposed as a vanity. “We added the distinctive ceramic basin, juxtaposed against the white countertop, as a focal point within the space,” notes Cinzia. The overall effect evokes images of Rajasthan’s colourful palaces.
A bold colour palette infuses warmth throughout this happy home and ties the living spaces together while giving a nod to some of the hues and shades linked to memories of family travels.
“To merge the beautiful garden with the inside interiors was really important, and the large picture window was a focal point“
LIVING ROOM
A relaxed and vibrant family space with a large picture window that celebrates the natural beauty outside, artworks collected from exotic travels are used to create a talking point with the central ‘painting’ a cleverly disguised TV screen.
BAR CORNER
Functional and visually intriguing, a small corridor was opened up and softened with an archway to connect the living and dining rooms, adding depth and perspective. The idea to construct bar shelving around the arch gives the space purpose and interest – and makes the extra-large wine fridge appear less intrusive. The use of dark green is both a framing device and also a calming colour choice for a busy household, clearly defining the area as a place for leisure.
HALLWAY
First impressions count and the hallway was an anonymous space with no real identity. The perspective has been changed completely simply by introducing an oval ceiling feature with recessed lighting that casts a warm, welcoming glow. Slab stone flooring and light, bright walls really open up the space, complemented by a blue statement wall mid-staircase and collection of polished wooden consoles and tables accented by blue and white Asian influenced pottery.
PICTURE WINDOW
By opening up the floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides of the dining room, this allows the light to stream in and connects with the natural beauty outside. The room décor is kept deliberately simple to make the views the star. As the garden is not overlooked, this negated the need for curtains or sheers, which Marco and Cinzia felt would diminish the visual wow factor. A rustic dining table and chairs also played on the natural theme, accented by a retro hostess trolley and eclectic artwork.
WALK-IN CLOSET
A practical his and hers space where functionality was the focus, the use of simple, clean lines keeps the aesthetic clutter-free with the beauty in the smallest details. Closet handles with an unusual colonial-inspired deliver a stylish counterpoint. The wrap-around closet on three walls also features glass-fronted doors as a design point of difference. A small desk vanity completes the room.
MASTER BATHROOM
A summer’s day in St Tropez is translated into a playful yet sophisticated bathroom. A brace of vivid blue brick tiles in complementary shades were custom cut to decorate the bathtub back and vanity mirror area, with the neutral colour palette elsewhere allowing the colour to truly pop. The upmarket Mediterranean ambience is also reflected in the use of matte gold for the mixer taps and other hardware. Hidden storage is found under the vanity as well as in the toilet space.
WORKSPACE
An empty space on the first-floor landing was transformed into two hugely practical areas connected by a sliding door. The workspace, which is decorated in energy-giving shades of denim and orange, again features custom shelving. The window overlooking the calming garden features a cosy banquette seat for welcome moments away from the pressures of deadlines. The other half of the space has been designed for use as a gym or workout studio.
KITCHEN
More Mediterranean influences are seen in the kitchen with the Italian island of Sicily informing the style. The backsplash has hints of Dolce and Gabbana and adds an upscale rustic note to this contemporary space. The blue in the backsplash tiles is similarly echoed in the kitchen island. A busy family kitchen, the smart decision to incorporate a sliding door gives the freedom to enjoy an extended perspective out to the garden when standing at the kitchen island or, close it off when formal entertaining is on the menu.
DINING ROOM
The kitchen leads through to the dining room with custom-built bookcase shelving repeated as a connecting device, but this time painted in an elegant shade of Tiffany blue
Want to know more? Reach out to Marco and Cinzia at info@smartrenovation.ae