< Previous62 The Riyadh apartment of interior designer HRH Anoud Khalid Mishaal bin Saud embodies her eclectic style, mixing vintage and modern pieces with nature-inspired hues and statement art TONE POEM Words Amy Bradford Photography Tamara Hamad AD_036_62-69_Arena_Riyadh_11445016.indd 6213/12/2020 10:49:51 AMOPPOSITE PAGE: A rusted metal partition in the dining room conceals a food prep area. The artwork on the wall is by one of Princess Anoud’s favourite artists, Mohammed Al Ajalan. A trio of crystal chandeliers that once adorned the dining room of Princess Anoud’s great grandmother now form the centrepiece of the majlis. The low-level seating and central wooden table were custom made by Greek company Karageorgiou. To the far left is a pastel- and-thread artwork by Greek artist Zoi Gaitanidou. AD_036_62-69_Arena_Riyadh_11445016.indd 6313/12/2020 10:50:16 AMF THERE' S ONE W OMAN WHO CAN SWEEP ASIDE any lingering cli- chés about Saudi Arabian interiors style, it’s HRH Anoud Khalid Mishaal bin Saud. An accomplished interior designer, the princess has decorated her own apartment, set within her family’s palace in Riyadh, in an understated yet ele- gant way, balancing traditional features such as a majlis (or sociable sitting area) with a refi ned, modern aesthetic. A palette of warm neutrals is brought to life with the princess’s signature design touches: think one-of-a-kind vintage pieces (some of which are heirlooms from her family archive), bespoke furniture, and oversized contemporary artworks. Discerning readers will spot opulent details of the kind traditionally associated with Saudi homes – including a trio of crystal chandeliers that once adorned the dining room of Princess Anoud’s great grand- mother – but these are deftly reinvented. Used with a light touch, they seem at one with their new surroundings. Princess Anoud, who shares her apartment with her sister, set up Riyadh de- sign studio A Interiors after honing her craft at Prince Sultan University, where she studied interior design, and Al Faisal University, where she did a masters in business administration. She’s since created a number of prestigious private homes, including several for her extended family. “I was passionate about interi- ors from a young age – I travelled so much with my parents and my mother was always interested in design and antiques,” she explains. “So for me, my work isn’t just a job, but something I really enjoy. I love how personal it is; you get to know your clients incredibly well.” Pre-pandemic, the princess was still travelling the globe and bringing back rare fi nds for her projects – despite lockdown, she’s still juggling several commis- sions, although she says they’ve changed slightly in nature. “Because everyone’s I 64 AD_036_62-69_Arena_Riyadh_11445016.indd 6413/12/2020 10:50:43 AMABOVE: A collection of vintage amber glass vases adds warmth to the neutral dining space, and is fi lled with grass stems. The dining table was reclaimed from the princess’s childhood playroom and the chairs are custom-made pieces by Karageorgiou, inspired by a vintage design. OPPOSITE PAGE: Two artworks in ballpoint pen by Greek artist Alexandros Tzannis, co-ordinate perfectly with a collection of vintage vases in the majlis. AD_036_62-69_Arena_Riyadh_11445016.indd 6513/12/2020 10:51:02 AM66 “ The painting was the starting point for the whole space. I love that it commands attention ” AD_036_62-69_Arena_Riyadh_11445016.indd 6613/12/2020 10:51:22 AMThis formal living room is decorated with a mix of vintage and modern pieces, and brought to life with a vibrant oil-on-wood artwork by Egyptian artist Mohamed Ismail. The sofa is a bespoke piece by Karageorgiou. AD_036_62-69_Arena_Riyadh_11445016.indd 6713/12/2020 10:51:37 AM“ I looked to the colours of the country around me. They create a perfect backdrop ” AD_036_62-69_Arena_Riyadh_11445016.indd 6813/12/2020 10:51:52 AM73 at home much more, they’re fi nding certain areas that they want to fi x – smaller things like a living room, perhaps. It’s a different clientele to what I’ve had before, which is interesting and fun.” She loves to share her design discoveries with cli- ents at her Riyadh showroom, which is decorated like a home to show how pieces will translate to real life. “I curate a lot of vintage designs in my work, and fi nding unusual furniture and art is my favourite thing to do,” she says. “For instance, I could spend every day exploring the marché aux puces in Paris – it’s the place that I love most in the world.” Many of the treasures Princess Anoud unearths on her travels fi nd their way into her own home, including bespoke seating by Athens-based furniture maker Karageorgiou, sculptural table lamps found on a visit to LA, and crafts from Jaipur in India. She also has an affi nity for contemporary Middle Eastern art, es- pecially pieces on a grand scale which she uses to add drama to a room. In her ef- fortlessly laidback majlis, which she uses for entertaining, there are a number of monumental canvases that draw attention to the space’s high ceilings. “Art is an important part of my aesthetic and I’m in love with every one of the pieces that I own,” she enthuses. “The oil-on-wood painting of fi gures in my liv- ing room, by Egyptian artist Mohamed Ismail, was the starting point for the whole space - I love the way it commands so much attention.” Natural materials and objects are another obsession, and form part of the in- spiration for the apartment’s warm, earthy colour scheme. “I looked to the col- ours of the country around me,” says the princess. “I love their calmness and they create a perfect backdrop for all the items I collect – they have a sophistication and simplicity that is timeless.” In fact, you’ll see similar earth tones in many of A Interiors’ projects, alongside the princess’s trademark eclectism. “It’s not about picking a certain style and sticking to it – rather, I love piecing things to- gether like a puzzle.” ainteriors.com ABOVE: Princess Anoud in her living room. The vintage trunks, which she’s repurposed as a coff ee table, once belonged to her father and have his monogram on them. The stencilled lamp was found on a trip to LA. OPPOSITE PAGE: A small reading nook is made cosier with grasscloth wallcovering by Phillip Jeff ries and artworks, including a fi gure of a woman in burlap and oil by the artist Loretta Tearney Warner, from 1st Dibs. 69 AD_036_62-69_Arena_Riyadh_11445016.indd 6913/12/2020 10:52:03 AMWords Jessica Doyle Photography Francis Amiand 70 AD_036_70-79_Arena_Provence_11436464.indd 7013/12/2020 10:53:41 AMSLEEPING BEAUTY The dark, maze-like rooms of this chateau overlooking the Gulf of St-Tropez have been transformed into a luxurious holiday home by design duo Oitoemponto AD_036_70-79_Arena_Provence_11436464.indd 7113/12/2020 10:53:49 AMNext >