2013

2012 will certainly be one of the most memorable years for me, as it was the beginning of a new and fantastic journey! I am genuinely grateful and more than satisfied with what I have been able to accomplish so far, and this only motivates me to work harder and harder. I look forward to the next year and its challenges.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Celebrity Homes: Frank Sinatra (1915-1998)

These images of Sinatra's Palm Springs compound were published back in the 1998 December issue of Architectural Digest, who revisited the article this month as a celebration for the legendary performer's birthday. And being a fan of his music, it was necessary for me to include it in my blog. I love the colorful paintings and art work occupying almost each room, they add vibrancy and personality to the space.

Andaz Amsterdam

The Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht is something I definitely want to experience, I'm inspired already just looking at the images! The highpoint of this hotel for me is undeniably the salient lighting, all credit goes to Marcel Wanders who designed this beauty of a space in a way that provides a local experience for the visitors, depicitng the city's culture and openness.

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?

Kinetic Rain

Please check out the world's largest moving kinetic art scuplture situated in Changi Airport. Those beautiful copper tear drops move together in motion to create different shapes and movements. I love the idea- watching this video actually gave me goosbumps so I can't possibly imagine what it must feel like to actually be there!

Ousamma Diab

Palestinian artist Ousamma Diab emerges to the surface showcasing his recent collection "In The Name of Freedom" that illustrates his thoughts and reactions relating to the civil war and current events in the Arab world. His genius work falls under "graffiti" and "pop art", I appreciate works of art that I can relate to more than anything and I think Diab has done a good job in expressing himself.
Check out the pieces that appealed to me the most.

Crazy Over: Kelly Behun

"Kelly Behun grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, and attended the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she received a Bachelor of Science in Economics. After graduating she moved to New York City and for several years worked as a buyer and stylist in the fashion industry and for the US distributor for Factory Records. She joined Ian Schrager Hotels’ design studio in 1994, where she trained under internationally renowned designer Philippe Starck. In 2000, she and a fellow Ian Schrager Studio alum, Natasha Ziff started their own company, behun|ziff design, focusing on residential design projects. In 2008 she started her own company, k e l l y b e h u n |STUDIO. She is the 2012 recipient of the Stars on the Rise award from the Decoration and Design Building's annual Stars of Design Awards. Ms. Behun lives in New York City with her husband and two sons, ages 12 and 9."

Kelly Behun

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!

Geometry

I have recently been crazy over shapes and patterns and I only discovered this when I found myself incorporating them in almost everything design related, particularly geometric patterns!
A lot of people think it is quite challenging to unite something bold with exisiting pieces, but what they do not know is that even a little goes a long way, adding that touch of character to the space- so why not include something architectural to enhance or even change your look to send that message?

The Mood Board- A few of my favorite images put together.

Fruits and The World of Interiors

Good morning! Can you think of a better way to start the day? :)

Ideal Vanity

"You're so vain."

The Black and White Show - Kemble Interiors

Kemble Interiors is the genius behind this very simple yet stylish black and white living and dining room. I am not very fond of the floral wallpaper, however the elegnant furniture and accessories makes it look rather attractive.



FYI:

If you want to achieve greatness stop asking for permission.

Rachel Castle Paintings

I love Rachel Castle's new abstract painting collection, they are simply full of spirit and light. Colors play a massive role on one's mood and I think it's really important that you always have a piece in your home or even office that is vigorous and holds some sort of attention- not so much that you would get distracted but something that is pleasant to look at every once in a while.

'n dot interiors' at the China Furniture Expo 2012

Nehaaoooo!

So I just attended the furniture expo in Shanghai which was the 18th international exhibition in China and probably the most awe-inspiring experiences in my life so far. The city was absolutely invigorating and the people were warm-hearted and full of life!

Participating in the exhibition resulted in me feeling extra motivated and a lot more inspired to reach my goals, I am so glad as everything I came across made a strong and vivid impression that I cannot wait to convey through my own designs. I managed to meet some of the designers and have them talk me through their work which was great, however, the ones that were not present were the ones I desperately wanted to meet so that was pretty unfortunate.

All the pictures posted below are of those that I found most appealing. Hope you enjoy them as much as I have :)

The Home of Zayan Ghandour

If you don't already know, Zayan Ghandour is the co-founder of S*uce (A boutique store situated in UAE) and judging from the snap shots of her home, she seems to be one of a kind. The space includes items that she had collected during her travels to different countries, and are distributed evenly throughout the house, giving us an idea of her sense of style which I would say is somewhat unorthodox and citified. I always enjoy these kind of spaces, as they give you character. My favorite room would have to be the one with the neon writing "I hear you in my heart" just above the glossy white piano. I think everyone should at least have a small space they can occupy with all the quirky stuff they found appealing but had no idea what to do with it. It isn't a must that you play it safe all the time!

Kashida

I am a huge fan of typography and calligraphy, I took a really short course on Graphic Design during my BTEC and I always looked to Carson for inspiration, so when I came across those gorgeous pieces I knew I had to include it in my blog.
Lebanese designers Abou Jamara and Hamdy co-founded Kashida, they both have a passion for Arabic writing and after working on so many conceptual sketches they finally managed to come up with a way on how to combine Arabic calligraphy with fucntional furniture. I love the clean lines and how it produces an aura of modernity with a slight twist.

The Big Chair Project

The Big Chair Project is all about raising money to contribute to Jamie Oliver's apprentice program, the 15th one might I add. It pretty much involves designers such as Tracey Emin, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, Paul Smith and Quentin Blake, creating an innovative piece of design that is food related, using the iconic chairs Fritz Hansen has provided for them. The chairs will later on be auctioned and the money will fall into Jamie Oliver's Better Food Foundation basket.
Sounds like something I would most definitely enjoy doing!

Check out my favorites posted below:

PEACE

Rugs by Jan Kath

I was flipping through one of my favorite magazines 'Bazaar Interiors' when I came across those jaw dropping rugs designed by a Mr.Kath, and of course I instantly thought to share!
Jan Kath has various collections and I am particularly crazy about the modern one, where he has bold hot pink lettering that states his philosophy "MAKE RUGS NOT WAR".
I admire designers who create beautiful bespoke pieces that are nothing less than original, Kath is mostly inspired by the classic themes of different cultures and incorporates them within his designs.

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

Living the colorful life...

Let there be a pop of color in your home! Here are my Jonathan Adler favorites:

Mirror Mirror On The Wall

Anything reflective is a bonus for me, and that's where my love for mirrors comes from. Not only are they functional but they can also be used as an accessory to add a pinch of personality into your home. Mirrors are also known to brighten and make your space appear larger than it really is, so if you're suffering from a small tight space you know what to do!
Below are some images to show how you can utilize those lovely objects into your home.

Bedside Tables

As you all know, I love anything and everything original. Who wants to buy something off-the-peg when you can create your own design? Even if it's just that one little detail that seperates it from the rest, it's still UNIQUE and very much your own. And that's why I got these beautiful bedside tables custom made for my sister. I simply love them and so does she!

[Image taken and edited by my iPhone]

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 :)

Home Office

Modern-French is how I would describe my taste, at least for my brand new home office :) my new favorite place at the moment; my design cave!

Clift Hotel by Philippe Starck

I am a huge fan of Philippe Starck's work, he is on my top three of favorite designers and the Clift hotel should be able to demonstrate exactly why. Glamour and luxury flow gradually within those spaces that you cannot help but fall in love with the beautiful interiors!

Celebrity Homes: Deco Like Jagger

L'Wren Scott allows Vogue to capture never before seen images of her decorative home that she shares with Rock-'n'-Roll star Mick Jagger. And looking at the images below, it is pretty blatant that the lady has selective taste, the serene color palette and antique pieces create a space that is peaceful, welcoming and most certainly very far from rock-starish. I like it.

Go Brights!

The heat has kicked in and so has my love for color and as you all know the seasons play a huge role on your mood and I, am feeling very festive at the moment, therefore I picked out my favorite 'brights' from Bright.Bazaar to show how one can add color using different items and materials to give off that exuberant and friendly flavor.

Bokja Design

At the present time I am preoccupied with Arabic culture through design and I recently stumbled upon Bokja Design, a token of "respect and love for an age-old culture and aesthetic with human approach". The concept was developed by two Lebanese women Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri who are both passionate about antique furniture and textiles.  The idea in some of those sole pieces is the use of old cultural materials with the current style, where East meets West, illustrating sustainability and craftsmanship. Check out my favorite pieces.

My Top 10...Bedrooms

Boutique Hotel Thoumieux- Paris

This boutique hotel is situated in Paris just above the well known Thoumieux Brasserie and was beautifully conceived by designers Thierry Costes and India Mahdavi. It consists of only 15 rooms and provides its "own significant culinary input in the form of the 20-seat dining room".

The style portrayed emanates somewhat of an old fashioned feel, the kind that makes you want to put your pearls on and sip on a cup of English tea. I absolutely adore the pinch of animal prints distributed randomly within the space, especially the leopard with the printed sofa, they surprisingly mesh well together.

Long Beach Hotel, Mauritius

I am loving this long beach hotel designed by Keith Interior Design working together with Stauch Vorster Architects. Located in Mauritius this up to date hotel mainly consists of wood and stone work with a pinch of fresh colors, radiating an ambience of tranquility. Check it out!

The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On

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.

FACES Magazine, Times of Oman

I was recently interviewed about my past, current and future projects to be in this month's issue of FACES Magazine; a people and lifestyle English monthly in Oman, they normally have a different theme every month and February just so happens to be a Home & Decor Special. I am truly happy to have made it to the Cover Story, a massive thank you to Mary Palouse for such a lovely article. Happy February everyone!

Click here to read the full article.

The Home of Charles Spada

Built in 1652, this beautiful French country home based in Normandy was recently purchased by designer Charles Spada. The house has clearly been untouched for many years in terms of its structure and certain elements, nevertheless Spada has decided that it would be best for it remain that way, as it radiates an aura of antiquity. I am absolutely in love with every little detail within the space, it certainly represents contentment, which in my opinion should be the most important quality of any home. I could not think of a better home for Spada- seeing his taste in interiors is of the opulent kind.

California Roll House

This project portrays the perfect relationship between design and technology. Generated by Violent Volumes, the unconventionally shaped mobile California Roll House is made out of fibre-reinforced plastic and braced by carbon trusses. It is designed in a way where the heart of the roll acts as the interior space leading to an extension that provides a platform for the purpose of outdoor activities.
The amazing fact about this innovation is that the mobile house can be placed anywhere that offers just the desirable amount of natural light- that comes from the glazed wall, which can be modified to suit transparency.
"To maximize space, doors are automated using hydraulic power, and bedrooms are separated using either curtain dividers or bookshelves. In addition to being very interesting to look at, this home’s microclimate – controlled electronically – is actually very comfortable. During the heat of the day, the glass panels’ transparency can be manipulated to let in very little light, and later, when it’s cooler, daylighting can be extended. Modularized skylights permit even further light."

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.

Marecucina, Kitchen Design

Looking at this kitchen I think it is pretty evident where the inspiration was derived from. The design of Alno's mari-time kitchen has been carefully and beautifully generated, the walnut surface consists of amazing details and the cabinets are white sleek and clean. This one of a kind kitchen could most definitely be the centerpiece of anyone's home. This has to be my favorite post on bespoke furniture design of all time. I love it.

Penthouse, Urban Living

Check out this dapper three-storey penthouse manifesting the development of citified living. The residential home is situated in Johannesburg, South Africa and interior designed by OKHA in collaboration with SAOTA (Stefan Antoni Olmesdahl Truen Architects). I am loving that the color palette is just black and white with a dash of a couple of vibrant colors placed here and there only to accentuate the uniqueness of the space. 

“We created a continual flow from zone to zone, utilising materials that emphasised the sense of space, transparency and reflection. We introduced organic textural/tactile elements through the use of timber and flamed granite to soften and add a counterpoint to the contemporary drama.”.

Loft SWAG

I am sharing with you my first greatest find on this new year; a loft located in Kiev, Ukraine and designed by 2B Group. The interiors of this loft apartment are a combination of many different styles put together, creating a space that is simply astonishing in quality. The designers have done such an impressive job in proving that the use of concrete, wood and metal could project an air of restfulness. I love the detailing in every corner, particularly the dash of yellow on some of the walls, that color definitely adds a little bit of spirit. I personally believe that the entire space is exceptionally modish and based on the images below, it is evident that a lot of thought had been put into this, especially since the client had specifically requested eco-friendly materials. Well done.