Family comfort meets a bright, open approach to interior style in this delightful Mira 2 home
“Paula and Conor’s brief was clear – they wanted more light, better circulation, and a real sense of openness“
A compact home that didn’t meet the needs of its new owners – a growing young family – for Akhil Asok and Ajesh Mohan of Origa Design (@origadesign_uae), the focus was to rework the interiors, opening up the ground floor footprint and creating a more fluid and interactive way of living. “Paula and Conor’s brief was clear – they wanted more light, better circulation, and a real sense of openness,” Ajesh explains. With a three-month turnaround, the team delivered a series of smart space maximisation interventions that transformed the home without altering its footprint.
One of the first moves was at the entry where the former laundry room was pushed back into the maid’s area, freeing up the front of the house and making the arrival experience far more welcoming. Upstairs, the designers proposed a Murphy bed to give one of the bedrooms a dual purpose as a dedicated playroom for the children that could also comfortably host guests. A close collaboration with the homeowners shaped the aesthetic direction.
Paula had a strong vision for the colour palette and desired ambience, and the team worked around her ideas, adding tactile natural elements such as the herringbone wood flooring that now anchors the main living spaces. In contrast, the powder room became an opportunity for a bold tiled feature wall. “This space in particular could have been a clash of colours and pattern, but together with the showpiece vanity it became a standout moment,” says Akhil. Black accents track consistently through the home – in chair frames, door details, artwork mounts, even kitchen fixtures – helping maintain visual continuity across open spaces.
“We wanted every area to shift seamlessly from daytime functionality to evening atmosphere“
KITCHEN
The original kitchen was enclosed, and while the clients considered relocating it entirely, the designers recommended opening the existing space instead. By removing walls and extending into the unused area beneath the staircase, they created a larger, more efficient layout with valuable additional storage. The custom-built kitchen maximises every inch, with soft-touch handle fronts for a clean, minimal profile and a warm green finish for character. A central island – an essential for the family – now secures the open plan and keeps sightlines clear when the kids are playing in the living area.
TV AREA
The TV wall doubles as a full-height storage system, creating a media hub that sits neatly between kitchen and living zones. This consolidated approach frees up floor space, giving the children more room to play and the family a more organised everyday environment.
ENTRY & STAIRS
Previously opening directly onto a utility room door, the entryway was reconfigured to introduce a floor-to-ceiling shoe cabinet that discreetly conceals the service room behind it. The result is a functional yet streamlined arrival space with ample storage for daily essentials. Minimal updates were made to the staircase, which was refreshed with a terracotta-toned feature wall and artwork from the family’s collection, adding warmth and personality to an otherwise compact vertical zone.
“Paula loves art, and the family had an extensive collection, so we positioned key pieces around the dining zone to give it a distinct identity,” says Ajesh. This gentle zoning is reinforced by opening what was once a solid wall into a large patio window, letting natural light flood the space and visually separating dining from the main living area without physical partitions.
GARDEN
Completed later in the process, the garden continues the home’s emphasis on family togetherness. The living room now connects directly to a pergola, creating an outdoor extension of the social space. “We wanted a cosy, easy-going spot where the whole family could spend time – or where Paula and Conor could unwind in the evening once the kids were asleep,” says Akhil.
MASTER BEDROOM
The master bedroom is designed as a calm, distinctly grown-up retreat. A green-grey brushed paint effect forms a soft yet dynamic backdrop to the bed, which is framed by a tactile bouclé headboard for a subtle hotel-like feel. A compact walk-in wardrobe was created by extending the ceiling height and building upward to maximise storage. Left open intentionally, the wardrobe becomes part of the room’s architectural composition while showcasing the efficiency of the redesigned space.
DINING AREA
“Paula loves art, and the family had an extensive collection, so we positioned key pieces around the dining zone to give it a distinct identity,” says Ajesh. This gentle zoning is reinforced by opening what was once a solid wall into a large patio window, letting natural light flood the space and visually separating dining from the main living area without physical partitions.
Want to know more? Reach out to akhil.asok@origa.ae