< Previousucked away in Dubai’s lush green Al Barari neighbourhood, Kate Instone’s family villa is a treasure trove of vintage, antique and bespoke pieces housed within blush pink walls and chinoiserie wallpapers. Kate discovered she’ll be moving into the home while on vacation with her three kids in Vietnam, following a surprise call from her husband. “I was at fi rst a little taken aback, as you can imagine I am quite particular about which house I am going to live in,” Kate laughs. “I had the plans emailed over to me and immediately started work there and then. With three young children, a dog and a cat, I needed fi nishes that would not get damaged, but would still work with my aesthetic, hard-wearing and practical furniture that would still look elegant and detailed, but withstand a nerf gun attack!” Design has always played a pivotal role in Kate’s life. Her father is an architect-cum-interior designer who specialises in converting historical English country homes into country house hotels, estates which Kate visited during much of her childhood. “I was obsessed by this transformation,” recalls Kate. “I was amazed by how he could take something that no one else seemed to care about, something that was deemed totally out of fashion and create a modern-day masterpiece. He could always see their former beauty and grandeur and he had the vision to breathe life back into the old and create something new and once again adored.” Seeing these transformations marked the beginning of launching interior design studio Blush, and designing her own home fast became her ultimate passion project. Founded in 2007, Blush specialises in residential projects around the globe, from private residences to luxury yachts and jets, for discerning clients in the Middle East and beyond. Kate has created designs for Madonna, Thierry Henry, Seal, Michael Flatley and Caroline Stanbury, to name just some. The studio fi rst launched in London and now has a home in Dubai and the US. “We are not interested in creating easy and formulaic designs to earn a quick buck,” Kate admits. “We want to fi ll homes with beautiful objects that simply make our client happy.” The colour palette of Kate’s villa, where she has lived for two years now, predominantly comprises white mixed with a warm grey, complemented by pops of colour and bespoke designs throughout. The powder room, one of Kate’s favourite spaces, includes a simplistic grey-white chequered fl oor, surrounded by an Art Nouveau- inspired wallpaper featuring a pattern of intertwined, bright turquoise peacocks, dotted with hints of golds and pinks. “It serves as the perfect backdrop to my collection of limited edition ‘Erte Alphabet’ prints and my quirky vintage bronze and copper toucan that is suspended from the ceiling,” says Kate. “I am obsessed with brightly-coloured art and my base palette of white, textured walls allows the art to dominate the walls and be the main focus. This simple and timeless base palette gives me versatility to change colour schemes and accents within the spaces without having to touch the more costly hard fi nishes of the villa.” The furniture and décor has been sourced from many places; antiques from Paris’ Saint-Ouen, an ostrich feather lamp from Aynhoe Park in Oxfordshire and there are also custom-made pieces from Dubai by Kate’s upholsterer at Cyril Furniture in Al Quoz. Mid-century pieces are dotted throughout the home, including a pair of tulip-shaped table lamps by Roger Rougier in the dining room, sourced from a shop called Talisman in Kings Road, London, and a Louis Vuitton trunk bought at a Christie’s auction. “I always buy pieces because I love them, not because I have anywhere particular in mind for them,” she says. “I recently popped into The Odd Piece in Alserkal Avenue and found some beautiful treasures, a vintage Italian butterfl y mirror which I fell in love with and just had to have, and a kiwi green velvet, tasselled curved sofa. I then had to rearrange my furniture so that I could fi nd spaces for my new gems.” Kate designed the family room with her youngest son George’s love of turquoise and leopards in mind. The space is adorned with a dreamy mural painted on a white-gold background comprising leopards lazing away on trees and African cranes with bright, turquoise plums. “I wanted to create a space that everyone would be happy in,” she smiles. “I wanted my house to be able to grow up with my family.” The dining room recalls Al Barari’s jungle-like scenery, with a wallpaper inspired by morning walks around the estate amidst picturesque lakes and the tranquillity of the surrounding greenery. But Kate’s ultimate happy place, understandably, is the kitchen. “When my girlfriends come to visit, we perch around the island unit to discuss all Teddy’s bedroom; Blue corduroy bed; Bright green Hermès oil painting by Luc Waring bought from Imitate Modern Gallery in London An interior view of Kate’s living room Your LIFE HBI_047_76-83_AFL_Kate Instone_11376425.indd 8004/10/2020 06:30:43 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE 81 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Fall 2020 Interior view of the dining room; Hand- blocked wallpaper; Serip organic chandelier; Roger Rougier table lamps; Saint Laurent bookmatched marble dining table HBI_047_76-83_AFL_Kate Instone_11376425.indd 8104/10/2020 06:30:52 PM Your LIFE Entrance hall showcasing leaf chandelier By LUUM Lighting; A cascade of aluminium discs pierced with a sunray design; Inlaid fl oors with an Art Deco- inspired pattern The bespoke dressing table in the master bedroom; Chair hand-made by Cyril Furniture; Candle by Lalique Poppy’s Boho-inspired bedroom; Antique Persian rug bought at Lots Road Auctions in London; hand-painted trunk by Sophie Cowdy that was gifted to her when she was born; Chunky bed throw and white fl uffy throw cushions that has been happening; it is my home offi ce and where I eat dinner with my husband each evening and we chat about our days. It is the heart of our home.” The villa is even home to an art room; a space where the kids can be completely free and nurture creativity. They’ll often be found in here painting on the walls and the fl oors, or sewing away by the work bench. “I lose my children for hours in this room!” Kate laughs, adding, “During the pandemic, I’ve been so grateful for this space.” Overlooking the main hallway on the fi rst fl oor, the library is Kate’s quiet escape from the daily hustle and bustle of the household. The vintage bookshelf, sourced from Alserkal Avenue’s The Odd Piece, features a collection of books which can be traced back to when Kate and her husband were children. Also of note are the vintage chairs sourced from a thrift shop in Notting Hill’s Portobello Road, coupled with a vase fi lled with fresh fl owers. “I often sit here with one of the children and we curl up on a chair and spend an hour reading.” The master bedroom houses a fl amed mahogany chest of drawers, dating decades back. “My mother gifted it to me when I fi rst moved out of home,” Kate fondly recalls. The piece has travelled with her from Cotswolds to London, and now to the Middle East. “I love vintage and antique furniture,” Kate shares. “I believe it gives a home soul! I look at my furniture as old friends; it is sourced from so many interesting places and when I look at certain pieces, they evoke so many memories.” All the furniture and décor items housed within Kate’s eclectic abode are testament to the fact that actually, there are no rules when it comes to sourcing antiques and artwork - it is all about nailing what brings you joy. Kate’s expert advice to those redecorating? “I believe in both life and in design, you should always follow your instincts. I would always avoid being too infl uenced by trends. Select items that you really love and mean something to you, redecorate for yourself and never worry about what others will think, this is your special space, it’s all about you.” ■ blush-int.com Poppy’s timeless pink bathroom features blush pink mosaic tiles and pink- gold terrazzo printed wallpaper HBI_047_76-83_AFL_Kate Instone_11376425.indd 8204/10/2020 06:30:59 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE 83 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Fall 2020 “I L O O K A T M Y F U R N I T U R E A S O L D F R I E N D S ; I T I S S O U R C E D F R O M S O M A N Y I N T E R E S T I N G P L A C E S A N D W H E N I L O O K A T C E R T A I N P I E C E S , T H E Y E V O K E S O MAN Y M E M O R I E S ” Kate sits in Sam’s study; Antique leather wingback chairs next to chess table; Louis Vuitton trunk; Bench upholstered in Hermès silk mohair fabric HBI_047_76-83_AFL_Kate Instone_11376425.indd 8304/10/2020 06:31:12 PM Your LIFE 84 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Autumn 2020 Curvy CAS I T A Moving into her fi rst Dubai property during a global pandemic, homegrown interior styling studio C’est ici’s co-founder Monica Durou demonstrates the impact a few thoughtful renovations can make Words by IMAN VAKIL Photography by NATALIE COCKS HBI_047_84-89_AFL_Monica home_11376810.indd 8404/10/2020 06:33:10 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE 85 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Autumn 2020 Monica stands by the recessed bespoke niches. Wood rustic table from Crate & Barrel; Decorative items from West Elm, The Bowery Company and Comptoir HBI_047_84-89_AFL_Monica home_11376810.indd 8504/10/2020 06:33:17 PM Your LIFE 86 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Autumn 2020 An interior view of the living room. Bespoke curvy sofa made by C’est Ici’s in-house team; White coffee table made by The Line Concept; Rug from The People Of Sand; Rattan chairs by Wood Culture; Leather cushion by White Moss; Kitchen lights by Normann Copenhagen; Bespoke round cushion HBI_047_84-89_AFL_Monica home_11376810.indd 8604/10/2020 06:33:24 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE Having had multiple clients in the area, Colombian lawyer-turned-interior-designer Monica Durou fell in love with Dubai’s Jumeirah Golf Estates several years ago. After twelve years of living in the UAE, the Durous decided to fi nally put down their roots and purchase their dream property in February, which over the years, has remained a fi rm favourite. “The open space and windows with high ceilings were love at fi rst site,” Monica recalls. “The property had an amazing structural open layout and the balanced distribution of the rooms was exactly what we were looking for.” But as lockdown struck in mid-March, the impending move evidently became impossible. “To tell you the truth, we got cold feet,” Monica admits. “There was so much uncertainty about our jobs and stability in Dubai.” Able to postpone their move to April, a modern Scandi- infl uenced, refi ned Bohemian, monochromatic space came to life just four weeks later. Including some traditional Parisian and Greek features, Monica utilised clean-lined furniture and natural materials to create a warm and organic environment that integrated the needs of her family. Starting off with a packed archive of references, which included the homes of Claudia Schiffer, Jennifer Aniston and Kim Kardashian, as well as multiple projects by renowned author Athena Calderone, Monica created a 75-page document outlining the design of 15 spaces in three weeks. “I always kept a fi le called My Dream Home with all my thoughts and inspirations,” she smiles. “Then, the day arrived and I just had to structure all those ideas into reality. Yes, it is all about structure and organising your thoughts. That’s how it works!” Structurally, the house needed very little work. First and foremost, the designer implemented neutral light oak fl oors and porcelain over the original, laminated dark-wood fl oors and beige tiles, adding to the property’s open structure. Her next move was to paint the house all- white. “This was the most simple but signifi cant makeover,” she says. “Do not underestimate the skirting! By choosing a monochromatic colour palette, the space is open to absolutely anything. While our base colour is within a neutral colour palette, we emphasised on playing with curves, sharp materials, shapes and genres which fi nd a sense of fl ow.” Classic square wall niches were added to seamlessly showcase prized possessions, as well as black-painted steel window frames to give a chic, understated and industrial edge. With an olive tree inside her living room, Monica created a centralising curved white sofa with C’est ici’s in-house team, fl anked either side by mid-century lounge chairs. Wishbone chairs surround a wheel table with a ribbed beam in the adjoining dining room, which is overheaded by a curvilinear chandelier and a nearby simple circle mirror. A commissioned painting by Lebanese multidisciplinary artist Ann Gedeon greets visitors in the entrance. The timeless black and white kitchen, with cabinetry by Scavolini, is disrupted by a wood counter and nude lights from Normann Copenhagen. “I was very conscious to add warm touches and one of my favourite fi nishes of all time, wood slats,” she shares. “Ever since Milan Design Week in 2018, I am a fanatic for this fi nish on all shapes and forms!” It’s easy to see that Monica best works in tandem. With her clients, she turns to her business partner Tatiana Jaramillio. “A second eye and mind is crucial for eye-catching styling. I believe that our recipe, when it comes to designing spaces, is having that second opinion and distinct eye.” Having founded C’est ici with Jaramillio four years ago as a homegrown business dedicated to understanding the nuances of expat life, to date, the duo have completed more than 40 projects over the last fi ve years. “C’est ici’s aesthetic is very much infl uenced by a minimal approach to life with warm touches,” shares Monica. “Factors such as “I A M D E F I N I T E L Y TH E L A TI N , SP I R ITE D R I SK- TA K E R ” 87 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Autumn 2020 HBI_047_84-89_AFL_Monica home_11376810.indd 8704/10/2020 06:33:34 PM Your LIFE 88 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Autumn 2020 history, greens, sustainable materials and a mix of different raw materials complement our designs. While I defi nitively follow C’est ici’s aesthetic, my style is very much married to my roots.” Within her multicultural family, she turns to her husband. “I am defi nitely the Latin, spirited risk-taker,” she laughs. “My Frenchie is the one who keeps me grounded and always takes a step back.” With the indoor greenery a homage to the forests surrounding her childhood home in Bogotá, and the master bedroom’s simple white paneling lending an ensuite feel, the couple found that in both Colombia and France, the kitchen is always a hit. “No matter how many spaces we have, we always end up in the kitchen,” she admits, letting the naturally dominant space in her family become her labour of love in her ‘my turn’ moment. ■ cesticidecor.com “W HIL E I DE F I NITI V E L Y F O L L O W C ’ E S T I C I’ S AE S T H E T I C , M Y S T Y L E I S V E R Y M U C H M A R R I E D T O MY R O O T S ” Interior view of the master bedroom. Side table from Fronteriors; Art piece by The Bowery Company. Side lamp by HKliving sourced through Urban Nest; Bench from White Moss; Cushions and linen from The White Company; Other cushions from Minimal White; Throw from Zara Home; Rug from West Elm The play area. Lion décor from Martin and Ella; Storage system from IKEA; Art from Georges of Dubai Interior view of the dining area. Bespoke dining table by The Line Concept; Lighting from a boutque in France; Chairs from Wood Culture; Accessories from Urban Nest and The Bowery Company; Plant pot from West Elm; Mirror from Home and Soul; Flooring by Baldocer, Spanish porcelain tiles Youngest child Gaby’s jungle- inspired room. Wallpaper by Paper Wall Sweden; Soft furnishings by Zara Home; Desk and chair by Ferm Living; Rug from Wood & Steel; Cushions from Minimal White HBI_047_84-89_AFL_Monica home_11376810.indd 8804/10/2020 06:33:41 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE 89 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture/Interiors Autumn 2020 Monica sits on the bespoke, white curvy sofa made by the in-house team at C’est Ici; Cushion from White Moss and rug from The People Of Sand HBI_047_84-89_AFL_Monica home_11376810.indd 8904/10/2020 06:33:57 PMNext >