< PreviousSAMEERA AMEER Otherwise known as Wild Child Designz, Sameera is not afraid to use cheerful colours, eye-catching designs and bold textures when it comes to décor. Best recognised for her playful yet functional aesthetic, she has the ability to inject character and personality into the home that clients will fall in love with, for years to come. She is currently working on a large corporate offi ce design in Abu Dhabi. Keep a close eye on her upcoming commercial opportunities and collaborations which are all in the pipeline. wildchilddesignz.com Above: This joyful dining area designed by Sameera features a mix of colours and textures that showcase a playful yet functional aesthetic, incorporating character and personality into every corner Left: Sameera Ameer 60 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_58-63_DESIGN FOCUS_Five designers_11675445.indd 6027/09/2021 03:03:19 PMBUTHAINA HUMAIDY spearheads her own fast-paced, eponymous Riyadh-based interior design studio, which is synonymous with creating aesthetically pleasing work and bespoke, high-end designs. Buthaina has been delivering tranquil spaces since 2018 and is currently working on several luxury residential projects. Paying close attention to every detail, her work refl ects elegant luxury, without compromising on functionality and comfort. Her plate is full with several high-profi le projects in the Kingdom, including a private palace. buthainahumaidy.com A sophisticated living room designed by Buthaina Humaidy Interiors A bedroom designed in a subtle grey palette showcasing the quintessential tranquil vibes that Buthaina is best known for DESIGN FOCUS 61 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_58-63_DESIGN FOCUS_Five designers_11675445.indd 6127/09/2021 03:03:24 PMLAILA AL-YOUSUF is the design director and partner at SAY Studio, a leading design consultancy with a broad portfolio across multiple sectors including workplace, hospitality and residential projects. Personally, drawn towards bold designs that tell a story, she is highly mindful of sustainable design and the impact that it can have on the world around us. Her high-profi le projects are always distinct in style but consistent in quality and garner rave reviews. Currently, she is working on a really exciting large-scale multipurpose, sustainable design development in Abu Dhabi, and has many more local and international projects planned for the future. saystudio.com Above: A multifunctional offi ce space designed with an open-fl oor plan and a dose of vibrant colours Left: Gold lights add layer to the overall aesthetic of this stairway, designed by Laila Al-Yousuf 62 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 HBI_050_58-63_DESIGN FOCUS_Five designers_11675445.indd 6227/09/2021 03:03:35 PMAbove and left: Rooms which feature basic grey and white tones for a minimalistic and modern look. Designed by Stephany Hanna STEPHANY HANNA is a Lebanese native living in Dubai and the proud owner of boutique interior fi rm, Step Into Detail. Delivering fresh, unpretentious solutions to her clients, she takes a minimalistic and modern approach to design. With a penchant for creating unique and well-rounded interiors on all budgets, the result is impactful and timeless. Her hands are currently full with work on a duplex apartment in Beirut, villa renovations in the UAE and a landscape project for a client. Look out for her upcoming collaborations with brands from the region. @stepintodetail DESIGN FOCUS 63 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 IMAGES COURTESY OF RESPECTIVE DESIGNERS HBI_050_58-63_DESIGN FOCUS_Five designers_11675445.indd 6327/09/2021 03:03:41 PM64 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 Word s by SAVA NNA SMIT H Photog raphy by AASI YA JAGA DEES H Founder of Dubai and London-based design firm XBD Collective, Ellen Søhoel , takes us behind the scenes of a spectacular Emirates Hills home that was five years in the making Neutral HAVEN HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 6427/09/2021 03:07:03 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE 65 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 The pool and fi replace sit between the formal and family lounge to create as much openness and daylight as possible HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 6527/09/2021 03:07:10 PM66 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 The bright formal living space features sandy Visionnaire sofas and jet-black Cassoni coffee tables HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 6627/09/2021 03:07:18 PMIt is hard to believe that this magnifi cent Emirates Hills home, shared by entrepreneur Mahesh Shahdadpuri, his wife Payal and their two children, was half its size just fi ve years ago. A build initially intended as a commercial project, the space was transformed into a family home. “The homeowners worked so incredibly well with us and entrusted us to take the design forward,” shares Ellen Søhoel, founder of award-winning design fi rm XBD Collective. The vision? To create a striking U-shaped structure with a focus on indoor-outdoor living, functionality and sun-drenched spaces. As a fi rm motivated by human experience, a multi-functional home was of the upmost importance. “There are fi ve different purposes for the ground fl oor; A detail shot of a custom pendant in the family living space, with silver portoro marble and Arte wallpaper The FEATURE HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 6727/09/2021 03:07:28 PM68 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 they all melt into one,” explains Ellen. However, combining the interests of four individuals into one coherent space is not as easy as her team makes it look. “To get all the different elements together was quite tricky. When you try to get a gym in the middle of the family living room and then have to think creatively to combine a gaming area and a juice bar and an open kitchen – having different purposes in one space was a big challenge.” Floor-to-ceiling windows in both the formal and family living rooms open onto the outdoors, drenching the space in natural light and allowing for that all-important fl ow, even when separated by a swimming pool fi t for a Maldivian resort. “The pool and the fi replace sit between the formal lounge and family lounge to create as much openness and as much daylight as we could while simultaneously making it work as both a formal and family fl oor,” comments Ellen. Ambience and fl ow were core elements of the project, with each room designed to evoke feelings of calm through seamless transitions aided by the use of Crema Uno marble and Arte wallpaper throughout the ground fl oor. A neutral palette is a go-to in Ellen’s designs as it adds serenity and sophistication to the space; elements rooted in the design fi rm’s ethos. “Our main design philosophy was to create the atmosphere for comfort and luxury at the same time,” she explains. “So, you take beautiful but practical spaces that are especially impressive.” The living space – punctuated by sandy Visionnaire sofas and jet-black Cassoni coffee tables – features a book-matched The FEATURE A detail shot of Arte wallpaper and a custom light pendant used in the dining space Bespoke furniture with a neutral palette in the master bedroom, exuding an atmosphere of comfort and luxury HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 6827/09/2021 03:07:53 PMCREDIT HERE Your LIFE 69 HarpersBazaarArabia.com/Culture Autumn 2021 An interior view of the formal dining space featuring a custom-made table and chairs in neutral shades HBI_050_64-73_FEATURES_XBD_11678731.indd 6927/09/2021 03:08:03 PMNext >