Kenza Bekri explains her original approach to design as she shows us around her Arabian Ranches home
Those who meet Kenza, who grew up in Morocco and France, will quickly recognise her inherent flair for style. The same can be said upon entering her three-bedroom home, which has a distinctly tropical feel yet simultaneously exudes an air of French sophistication. And while it’s difficult to define the exact look, it’s certain that her home has a calming and worldly aesthetic.
“Style is fluid,” Kenza says as she sits on her huge sofa that commands most of the attention in her living room. “I’ve lived in three different countries and have friends from all over the world, so I don’t feel limited to any set style. You’ll find a mix of different trends in my home that work together to create the finished look,” she explains. “I keep consistency with the shapes and colour palette.” Showcasing her keen eye for detail, even the skirting board has succumbed to the villa’s creamy colour palette. “To me, it’s the small details which give the wow factor,” Kenza says.
Achieving the show-stopping look she set out for, it was her home’s unique style that sparked her interior design career. “I wanted to sell some of my old furniture to make space for new pieces in my home,” she explains. I painted them to revamp them first and then created a Facebook page, ‘Dubai Luxury Hunters Home’ where I listed the furniture.”
After seeing her interesting yet soothingly-styled space, the customers who came to collect their upcycled pieces began asking Kenza to help them decorate their homes. After taking on some jobs she says it was then that, “I fell in love with making spaces that invoke feelings in people.” As Kenza’s Facebook community grew, the work continued to flood in, so she she made it official by taking a diploma in interior design.
Now a full-time interior designer, Kenza spends her days dreaming up luxury spaces for those who resonate with her non-conformist approach
to style.
Family living
As a wife and mum of two boys, family time is a thread intrinsically woven throughout Kenza’s home. “The sofa is so big that we can all fit on it, even with my tall husband laying horizontal” she laughs. “We don’t have a TV, instead we like to talk and spend time together.” Similarly, the dining table, which she painstakingly had restained multiple times until it matched the colour scheme, fits ten people around it. “Having a big table is important for creating special moments with your family and friends,” Kenza explains.
“Style is fluid,” Kenza says as she sits on her huge sofa that commands most of the attention in her living room. “I’ve lived in three different countries and have friends from all over the world, so I don’t feel limited to any set style. You’ll find a mix of different trends in my home that work together to create the finished look,” she explains. “I keep consistency with the shapes and colour palette.”
Showcasing her keen eye for detail, even the skirting board has succumbed to the villa’s creamy colour palette. “To me, it’s the small details which give the wow factor,” Kenza says.
Achieving the show-stopping look she set out for, it was her home’s unique style that sparked her interior design career. “I wanted to sell some of my old furniture to make space for new pieces in my home,” she explains. I painted them to revamp them first and then created a Facebook page, ‘Dubai Luxury Hunters Home’ where I listed the furniture.”
After seeing her interesting yet soothingly-styled space, the customers who came to collect their upcycled pieces began asking Kenza to help them decorate their homes. After taking on some jobs she says it was then that, “I fell in love with making spaces that invoke feelings in people.” As Kenza’s Facebook community grew, the work continued to flood in, so she she made it official by taking a diploma in interior design.
Now a full-time interior designer, Kenza spends her days dreaming up luxury spaces for those who resonate with her non-conformist approach
to style.
Creating character
“I don’t like interior spaces to look the same.” Creativity is clearly very important to Kenza who says, “even if it looks chic, the space won’t bring up feelings, it will be like a hotel. For me, it’s about creating an experience. For example, right now I’m loving the fun jungle collection at Kare – their pieces instantly add character.”
Child’s play
Ideal during the hot summer (and a global pandemic), Kenza had a children’s play area installed in her home. “It’s really good for the children’s development and keeps them entertained without screens. I was designing a nursery when I found this structure – it was exactly what I was looking for.”
Sweet dreams
The bedroom has a zen-like Japanese feel with a bed designed by Kenza herself, while the upstairs hallway features quirky hand-painted lines running across the walls. Try as you might to define it, the home doesn’t fit into a box. “I like to mix all styles,” Kenza explains. “From modern, to classic and natural to industrial, you’ll find everything here.”
Enjoy looking around local homes? Take a peek inside Jo England’s in her boho villa, or nosey around interior designer Sopranda’s truly original apartment