We’ve teamed up with industry expert Anam Clarke, founder of The Designers’ Studio (@thedesignersstudiouae) for a new section packed with tips, advice and insider information to make you the master of your home
STYLING TIPS | ROOM RECIPE | HOW TO MASTER | ASK THE EXPERT | LITTLE BLACK BOOK |
Replace coffee mugs and the TV remote for a front cover-worthy coffee table | Easy style updates to transform your living room without breaking the bank | Add some French design flair to your home with a tutorial in Parisian chic | Tips and tricks to create the perfectly proportioned room, whatever the size | Anam’s go-to suppliers for all things material, from sheers and natural fabrics to opulent upholstery |
Styling Tips
Dress your coffee table to impress
Room Recipe
Four ways to give your living or family room an easy style makeover without breaking the bank
Brush strokes
Cabinets and sideboards can easily be revamped with a creative coat of paint. A DIY job for the weekend, get hands on and upgrade your favourite piece for a bold colour statement or subtle visual impact. For a no mess, no fuss option, chalk paint is the way to go with no need to sand and prime.
Check out: Annie Sloan Chalk Paint, available at artistique-dubai.co; House of Colour, official distributor for Mylands paints, mylandspaints.ae
Wall art
Gone are the days of boring wall-to-wall patterns. Today’s wallpaper designers have transformed the genre to bring in texture and designs that deliver an immediate wow factor. Introduce wallpaper as colourful supporting feature or treat it like art to create a striking focal point with a mural that immediately draws the eye.
Check out: wallshoppe.com for removable wallpaper panels; stunning mural designs from wallsauce.com
Light it up
The importance of carefully designed and sited lighting cannot be underestimated, and switching out existing lamps, pendants and ceiling lights will instantly transform the ambience. Add chandeliers for a sense of grandeur, thoughtfully placed floor lamps to create mood, and even battery powered picture lights.
Check out: the wall lamps and chandeliers at 2XL Home, 2xlhome.com; Ebarza’s range of contemporary pendants, ebarza.com
Floor talk
An easy quick fix to hide old-fashioned or damaged tiles is to introduce vinyl flooring. This isn’t the ugly linoleum of the Fifties, as today’s brands offer high-quality wood or tile-effect designs and finishes. Installation and removal is also painless thanks to a click system, which means your floor moves with you.
Check out: floorworld.com for the latest vinyl click floor tile designs; and LVT flooring solutions from nordichomeworx.com
How To Master
WHAT IS IT?
The roots of what we now classify as Parisian interior design lie in 19th-century Haussmann architectural style, named after Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann who was tasked to modernise the city at the behest of Napoleon III. This new style featured apartments with wooden herringbone patterned floors, wood moulding, and ornate fireplaces, setting a new gold standard for Parisian interior design.
ABOUT THE STYLE
Elegance and luxury in muted natural tones set the scene for a 21st-century interpretation, which plays on the juxtaposition of classic antique and vintage pieces with contemporary furniture accents to add elevated character. Timeless rather than merely trendy, the inclusion of high-quality pieces adds longevity to this style and reflects an intentionally laissez-faire design approach that’s all about showcasing the finest elements of classicism with a refined twist.
HOW TO NAIL IT
Timeless palette. Think neutral colours dominated by soft, muted hues such as ivory, beige and light greys with just a hint of colour to bring balance. The Parisian colour palette includes chalky whites, soft neutrals, pastel blues, greens, muted powder pinks, and reds.
Old meets new. A key design element is the mismatch of antique and modern furniture. Achieving a truly Parisian space is about the right mix of rough and refined. Don’t stick to one style but aim for a more lived-in, eclectic approach that feels assembled over time.
Decorative walls. Wall mouldings are a pillar of the Parisian style. If renting, opt for wallpaper with moulding designs, foam moulding or have a go at painting it on yourself. Bold art pieces are also a must, so dare to create that wow factor by hanging large abstract artworks, impactful photography or illustrations.
Underfoot intentions. Flooring is also key with the use of reclaimed French oak herringbone or chevron patterns, repurposed planks and Versailles panels all hitting the mark. Complement wood finishes with oversized natural fibre rugs and faded flat-weave design wool or silk Aubusson and Persian rugs for colour, texture, and softness.
Illuminating settings. Dial up the Parisian in your lighting choices with large antique chandeliers, table candelabras and wall sconces to accentuate the decorative ceilings, mouldings and unique architectural details. As a finishing note, fresh flowers or plants add a burst of colour and life to any space.
Ask The Expert
From box bedrooms to grand reception rooms, designing small and large spaces to look bigger or cosier can be a challenge. Check out our tips and ideas to create the perfectly proportioned room
What tips and tricks can make a small space or compact room appear larger?
Small can still be beautiful if thought and effort are put into working around space restrictions. Even if you live in a studio apartment, you can absolutely make it work for you. The obvious go-to is to maximise natural light where possible. For example, instead of using heavy curtains opt for soft sheers or – if the privacy aspect permits – leave the windows completely unadorned. This works especially well in living rooms. When considering colour palette, choose lighter shades for furnishings, fabrics and paint as darker colours tend to shrink as opposed to open up the space. It is critical to plan the flow of space in a small room in order to avoid clutter, which can also impact the overall liveability and make the space feel cramped. This includes selecting furniture that fits the room size and layout. Large pieces or too many pieces of furniture will make the room instantly appear smaller than it is. Finally, the use of mirrors with their reflective properties, is a fabulous way to create the illusion of space and maximise existing light.
What are the design considerations when working with a large space?
A large room may sound like a dream blank canvas, but it can be equally challenging to create the right ambience and flow. A frequent mistake is to place furniture pieces against the wall; instead ‘zone out’ spaces in the room to create intimate areas and settings. And in the same way that small rooms need furniture at scale, bigger spaces are synonymous with larger pieces so that everything is in proportion. Large area rugs are your best friend in a big space as they help delineate the zoning as well as add warmth. Curtains and drapery are essential as window dressing also fosters a sense of warmth and cosiness, plus an added textural element to offset plain walls. When it comes to decorating your walls, mirrors are a great space filler while large art pieces create visual impact – and a great talking point when guests visit. Lighting is often overlooked but is incredibly important. The idea of layering lighting is integral to ambience and the use of table and floor lamps for low-level atmospheric lighting is again all about infusing the room with a cosy feel. Colour-wise, here what I always tell clients is don’t be afraid to play with patterns and colour.
What role does room zoning play in creating the perfect home?
Zoning is a clever way to give different areas of your home their own distinct identity. The first step, before rearranging furniture or choosing colour palettes, is to define the purpose of the room. Is it a cosy family living space, a productive home office, or a serene bedroom? Knowing its primary function is critical in guiding the entire design process. Once you’ve decided on room functionality you then divide the space into specific functional zones. In the living room, for example, you might have a seating area, an entertainment centre and a reading nook. The art of zoning also means that you can make the space feel intimate and comfortable by creating one or multiple focal points within the space and clearly outlined areas to focus on. Within each zone you can create a flow and connect how people move between them. This purposeful segmentation ensures that individual areas serve their purpose efficiently and make them enjoyable places and spaces to relax, work, study and play. Zones are ultimately built around people and this starts from when you enter the home to where you choose to eat, to where you sleep. Get it right and you create the perfect space for every individual.
Little Black Book
Anam’s top shopping picks for all things textile
Choosing fabrics for your home is exciting, with a world of colour, texture and pattern adding instant ambience, warmth and personalisation. Before you shop, give some thought to where and how the fabric will be used. You don’t want an expensive raw silk cushion cover to be chewed by the dog, for example. Care and cleaning should also be factored into your final decision. Your interior designer will be able to guide you in the right direction as well as the fabric experts at the stores listed below. And always remember the 3 Ds: design, durability and (dry) cleaning!
Al Guthmi
Online store known for its fabulous upholstery fabrics, and more, with over 5,000 designs to choose from. Next day shipping is a bonus.
alguthmionline.com
York Furnishing
A treasure trove of fabric and accessories staffed by a friendly, knowledgeable team. Also retails outdoor solutions and wall coverings. Dubai Textile City 04 364 9675, astyork.com
Al Reyami Fabrics
A staple on the fabrics scene for 30 years, check out Al Reyami for its supple leathers, high-quality synthetic leather, velvet collection, and more. Al Quoz, Dubai, 04 346 9424
Hussain Textiles
The is the place to head to online for quality bed linens (as seen in hotels across the UAE). hussaintextiles.com
D3 Dynamic Designs Décor
You’ll find curtains, upholstery and outdoor fabrics in every colour and material imaginable from this online Indian store. d3dynamic.com
Ultra Fabrics
From timeless drapery designs to contemporary upholstery collections, this is the home of ultra high-quality fabrics. Dubai Textile City, 04 426 7572, ultrafabrics.ae
Design Library
Exclusive agent for luxury British interiors brands Clarke & Clarke, Harlequin, Morris & Co, Sanderson, Scion and Zoffany.
Business Bay, Dubai, 04 361 9766, designlibraryme.com
Dubai Textile Souk
Small local vendors offering a rainbow of fabrics and fripperies.
Al Fahidi Historical Neighourhood, Bur Dubai
Want to know more? Reach out to Anam at anam@thedesigners-studio.com