MuzedeChanga, Istanbul

Muzedechanga won Wallpaper* magazine's prestigious award as the best new restaurant back in 07', and I would be lying if I told you it's not the reason I was so eager to dine there! Situated above a museum adorned by stunning marble slabs, this contemporary Turkish restaurant designed by award winning Autoban Design offered more than just good food; the atmosphere was also spot on. We chose to sit outside, even though the weather wasn't exactly as friendly, but the view of the Bosphorus compensated quite a lot for the shakes and shudders, and the staff were kind enough to provide us with pashmina scarves. The interiors mostly consisted of natural oak, characterized by sinuous shapes and geometric patterns that produced that 60's aura. I was fairly impressed by the impact it gave, given the simplicity of the design. Well done Autoban!

[Image via enRoute Magazine]

Deema Oman by 'n dot interiors'

n dot interiors completed Deema Oman's showroom featuring white textured panels and LED lighting as the main elements of the space; allowing positive energy and warmth run throughout each and every corner. The showroom is situated on the first floor of Lamar building, Bowshar.

Deema Oman's logo executed in brass finish and used as door handles.

Restaurant Interiors: {Develi, Istanbul}

Develi (Turkish Cuisine) is the very first restaurant we dined in during our stay in Istanbul and was recommended by the concierge of our hotel, whom we are extremely thankful for, as it was overall a very pleasant experience; from customer service, to ambience, and most importantly food.
I was blown away by the spectacular interiors the minute we walked in and was immediately inspired. We were greeted by the manager, who escorted us to our table and gave us a quick run through the menu. However, I simply couldn't resist and instantly stood up to take pictures of the space - yes, it was that beautiful.
The restaurant was designed by Space Architects and Designers and according to the manager, their goal was to generate a modern industrial feel; steering away from the typical traditional Turkish design. Although, I got a sense of Hollywood Regency/Art Deco with their choice of lighting, brass detailing and even style of furniture. The concept on the whole was pleasing to the eyes. Take a look at the images below.

Calico Wallpaper

I am currently on the hunt for unique wallpaper and just recently stumbled upon Calico Wallpaper, in which I am very grateful for, as they are beyond sensational and by far the most innovative wallpaper I have come across as of yet!
The admiration mostly comes from their inspiration behind the designs; as they are produced by experimenting with different art forms after extensive research on the 'Arts of Suminagashi' (where paper marbling originates from) and with that, they managed to create a signature of their own. What makes it even more exceptional is the fact that the patterns presented are non repetitive.

Paul Smith:The New London Flagship Shop

Hello hello to the expansion of Paul Smith's store situated just on Staffaord Street in London Town. And an even bigger hello to the dynamic interior design that is an imppecable setting for the marque!
Firstly, let us appreciate the amount of yellow integrated, if you don't already know, I simply love that color; it adds outright liveliness and soul, especially when it's used as a backdrop for a mixed assortment of wall art. I'm also drawn to the consistency of the sculptures that surrounds the different sections of the store; it conserves a certain flow within the space, which is an essential point that a designer must not neglect.
Another feature that is more than worth mentioning is the creative dominos wall in the women's accessories section. How inventive can one get?
However, what I really did admire about the new shop is the unique exterior made out of cast iron panels that has been explicitly designed according to Smith's very own detailed drawings.
Take a look!

Shuwa Express, Oman

Proudly presenting to you "Shuwa Express", a restaurant situated in Bareeq Al Shatti, Oman and beautifully designed by Omani Interior Designer Khulood Sultan, her aim was to generate something that has "movement and originality" integrating certain colors and materials that represent the Omani culture, furthermore, to retell history.
Without question, this space exudes opulent innovation, and I love the gold trays placed on the tables against the high chairs wrapped in traditional vivid fabric, I think it creates such a beautiful contrast! I'm now pleased to also share that she's a good friend. Well done, missy!

Design For Chocolate

If you're not a chocolate person than this post is not for you. Wait, I take that back, this is merely on the designs of my favorite spaces that shelter those heavenly succulent cocoa blocks, so please take a look at the images below.

100% Chocolate Cafe, Tokyo.

Raz Spa, Oman by 'n dot interiors'

The demanding and traumatic summer work has finally paid off! I am now sharing with you the third commercial project that was designed and supervised by me. Raz Spa is situated on the lower ground of a current existing hair salon owned by the lovely Shaymaa Barwani, the space was once treated as a storage room filled with unwanted items and was very low spirited and gloomy so you can only imagine how challenging it must have been to transform it.
Because the space is located underground, where one wouldn’t think there would be much light or essence, the goal was to engender something that is different and unanticipated; I thought it was the perfect opportunity to play with the mind and create something lively in a tranquil and sophisticated fashion. I also wanted to introduce something new and fresh so I chose the colors white, a touch of silver and tiffany blue as the main theme, thankfully it wasn’t as hard to assure my client that it was best to move very far away from the distinctive spa-look of dark wood and neutral palettes.

I absolutely love the color tiffany blue and I made sure it was integrated in a relaxing manner by bringing it together with arabesque design and white LED lighting, together they all give emphasis to the modernity of the space. I also included wall panels made out of raw silk silver fabric, having them mounted on the wall horizontally added a soothing minimalistic touch.

In the end we achieved something that is not only visually pleasing but also atmospherically calming and uplifting. What do you think?

Lee Broom: Crystal Bulb

Interior and Product Designer Lee Broom is behind this amazing creativity. He had those crystal bulbs hand blown and cut in a certain way to reflect beautiful shadows when lit. It is classfied as industrial, however with the decanter pattern it can be an elegant touch in any corner of any room, no matter what the theme is. I absolutely love!

Boutique Muscat {REVAMPED} by 'n dot interiors'

A few weeks back I have been approached by Hazar and Hanadi Al- Zidjali who are the loveable stars behind Boutique Muscat, and because they have been MIA for about two months they wanted a little help with the interiors of their new location at Jawahart Al Shatti.
I was more than happy to be a part of this project, therefore I decided to give them a compelete transformation; something a lot more graceful and chic and most importantly something that represents their brand.

Because Boutique Muscat provides colorful clothing and accessories from all over the gulf, the color palette I proposed was a nuetral one, only to leave the products displayed to do most of the talking.
It was quite fun making the change as most of the furnishings within the space have been repurposed; there was a lot of reupholstery and spray painting involved!

I am particularly crazy about the one cushion I found whilst shopping for accessories, it was absolutely beautiful that I even had a 'moment' with it. Hazar had wanted to display a belt that she had designed and what better way than to wrap it around a cushion? It is more notiecable and a lot more appealing.
The one piece that has been favorited by the owners is the velvet panel board mounted on the wall, where they display their 'Outfit of the Week' which is pretty much the focal point of the boutique.

We all worked as a great team and thankfully for that the whole procedure became a success, especially within a very short timeline.

Design Seeds

Yogelato Oman by 'n dot interiors'

I am so glad to finally be back here and most importantly share with all of you my second project; a self- serve frozen yogurt and gelato store that goes by the name 'Yogelato' at the Muscat Grand Mall, one of our newest malls here in Oman.
One the best things about this project was the fact that my client was open to almost anything! Which is always good, as it only means that they have faith in what you are selling and are willing to take the risk.

The design concept was to generate something playful, modern and inviting. We wanted to target adults just as much as we did children, therefore I designed it in a way that it was more like a journey; where the customer walks into the shop from one end, grabs a cup from the cup station, picks a flavour from the self-serve frozen yogurt machines, adds their choice of toppings, weighs it and pays. And on the other end we have the gelato ice-cream that also has its own mixer.

The entire space is sinuous, white and filled with lively and colorful graphics on the walls that just exude a ton of fun and energy. As for the ceiling, it is the most creative and most favorited. I incorporated skylights in different shapes and directions, along with my version of a suspended modernized 'chandelier' in which I also included different colored LED lighting.

Check it out and let me know your thoughts :)

Crazy Over...

It's March and I am crazy over high ceilings! Not only is it a sign of good taste, but it also allows light to seep through deeper into the building, maximizing the space and giving it a natural glow during the day.

Cape's Town Unknown Union

If there is one thing I really like about this space, it has to be the fact that it is not the predictable kind of atmosphere you would normally find in a men's boutique. New York designer Rafael de Cardenas has done something different and more to the perky side to be a representative of a "men's club" aura, by using contrasting vibrant colors for the shelving display with a white background, only to make the clothing and accessories more prominent. This most certainly is more of a gentle touch than the regular dark, rich and bulky ambience, which could also be a message to all men who constantly portray themselves that way, we are very aware that you can be the complete opposite.

A Slide Here, A Pull There

Check out how architect Gary Chang transforms a small apartment into 24 rooms.

Sparkles Beauty Salon and Spa, Al-Khuwair, Oman

To the regular female readers from Oman, if you have not been to 'Sparkles' yet, I suggest you go already! I am most certain you will once you have taken a look at the images below.
Located in Al-Khuwair, 'Sparkles' owned and designed by Ahlam Al-Sabahi is not your typical beauty salon, as it also consists of a cafe, a ladies one might I add, where the customers can relax and keep busy if they ever arrive earlier than their agreed appointment, it's something new and different and I simply love the idea.
The interiors of the hair salon are a mixture of vintage and art deco with a touch of contemporary, vibrant colors are used within the space to emanate a lively atmosphere, a classic feel is also given out with the use of timeless wallpaper in some areas of the salon. It is clear that the designer wanted something vivid and intense, I definitely think the color composition is quite brave. I also like the notion of displaying black and white abstract pictures of the classic Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, it most certainly adds to the theme of the space. Check it out.

My Very First Project: OFM, Mattrah, Oman

Just a year after graduating from university, Khulood Sultan and I have been given the amazing opportunity to design the sub-office for Oman Flour Mills that is situated in Mattrah. I am not going to bore you with all the details on how strenuous the journey was for both of us as we both lacked the experience, however, we managed to pull through over the long haul.
The client had specifically requested a very modernistic design, something different and new. Of course we noted that down, but we knew that it was also important to generate a space that radiates a sense of freshness to keep the staff going strong throughout the long working hours of the day. The space is quite small so we had to ensure that the right materials were picked to make the best use of the place, therefore a lot of glass has been used, we also picked neutral colors for the walls that went perfectly well with our choice of walnut laminate for the floor. And a big thanks to the client who allowed us to customize some of the furniture. The highlight of the space for me would have to be the ceiling design, we were inspired by their logo and designed a stylized version of it. Check it out!

Macaroons in San Pedro

When I first came across the store images of Theurel & Thomas I thought they were rendered! Yes, that is exactly how clean and slick I think the place is. The designers have done a great job in choosing only white for the interiors and accessories, as it focuses full attention on the colorful macaroons displayed all over, and also plays a huge role in radiating a classic and polished tone to the space. I now am craving those little things.

C.Wonder, SoHo

Check out Chris Burch's (former husband of Tory Burch) latest retail concept 'C.Wonder' in SoHo. The store had just recently opened its doors for the world to see. It consists of five different destination-influenced surroundings and provides you with almost everything from fashion to home decor to lifestyle. I like the choice of colors and patterns for the interiors, they radiate a cheerful and playful feel, which is a bonus for the retailers as they succeeded in creating such a fanciful ambience, all their items are showcased in beautiful manner that it would certainly make me want to spend my money in there! 

Taiwan Noodle House Restaurant

The Taiwan Noodle House restaurant located in Beijing is designed by Golucci International Design. I'm really astonished by the originality of the interiors of this place, it is so simple yet dramatic. The designers have done an amazing job by using the different size cultural bowls as a decorative wall, as it definitely grabs one's attention and probably what makes the restaurant more memorable. I was mainly drawn to the chopsticks that were beautifully designed to act as wind chime on the ceiling. To me, that would have to be the focal element of the space. I'm inspired.

My Cupcake, Qurum, Oman

Nada Al-Moosa has just opened up a heavenly cupcake shop called "My Cupcake" that is situated just opposite Qurum park and I recommend that each and every one of you give it a shot! The space is quite small however, the interiors are aesthetically pleasing. The color palette mainly consists of pink and white, emitting a feminine and somewhat of a playful feel, especially with the choice of knickknacks showcased within the space. 
I am a sucker for cream cheese, even so, my personal favorite cupcake would have to be "Go Bananas".
Check it out :)