No place like Home

With a new season sweeping in, it could be time to give your home a mini makeover.

With an increasing number of home stylists in the UAE, it’s now time to let your home reflect your style and personality with just the touch

Some people have hair, makeup and clothes stylists, and now increasingly in the UAE — home stylists. Being economical is important, but you don’t have to sacrifice your quality of life. With a little ingenuity, resourcefulness and a touch of playfulness, you can transform your living space into the home you always imagined and deserved — no matter what the budget.

“Your home should be your happy place to kick back and enjoy everything you work for. How you choose to live is the greatest reflection of who you are,” says Janvi Gaur, the owner of Blissland Home Fashion. Janvi is a designer who believes in creating uplifting and inspirational environments for all of her designed homes — spaces that allow you to be productive in your daily life and that inspire you to smile every time you walk through the door.

Janvi is passionate about colour — known to paint gold leaves on almost everything — be it doorways in her house, or stone statues, just to try something new. She is an avid traveller, who has searched the globe for the best designs and creative pieces from Thailand, Indonesia, India and China. Be it distinctive cabinet creations, antique wooden pieces, art and wooden mirrors and crystal glass, lighting and fibres, Janvi scouts vintage pieces to mix with her modern favourites to reflect her signature “’lil bit country, ’lil bit urban girl” style. “I notice that in Dubai people refrain from taking risks. They stick to the ordinary colours like brown, beige, creams and off-whites. I think it’s time to move to bold and brighter colours,” she says.

BEAUTIFYING SPACES: Janvi Gaur, home stylist and owner of Blissland Home Fashion, uses lots of colours like gold, silver, copper and rust in her interior designs

Janvi feels that the wallpaper is the most essential decorating item in the house and not the curtains. “Curtains should complement your interiors; don’t base your entire look simply on those drapes. The walls are what are important,” she emphasises.

Choosing artwork for your family’s wall can be challenging. You want the pieces you choose to reflect everyone’s tastes and be meaningful, but more often than not nobody agrees on what art works for your walls. “Choose one bright coloured wall paper or better still, turn your personal photos into canvas works of art. So you can choose a photo of your family’s favourite vacation spot, a momentous occasion or just a one-of-a-kind moment,” says the designer who has designed villas in Emirates Hills and Falcon City among others all over the UAE.

Modern touch: Bersum Erturk with his coffee table ‘LOCT’ which won at the Festival of Interior Design competition

The first space that 
Janvi decorates in a house is the bathroom. “I feel 
the bathroom is a reflection of who you are. If you have the guts to spend money on a bathroom, then I’d say that that person lives in style. The in colours are gold, silver, copper and rust,” says the designer who once designed 
a bathroom in such a tropical-like manner, it looked like you were having your bath in a rainforest! She has also designed a bathroom in the shape of a wooden cabinet for a teenager. “You can use sandstone sinks and mosaic. A mirror-image ceiling will also enhance the look,” she adds.

Most interior design styles and changes in fashion are improvements on previous designs and trends. Today’s streamlined contemporary look harks back to 1930s modernism combined with a dash of 1960s spirit. And, yes, today’s turquoise, yellow and pink toasters, kettles and lemon squeezers have the 1950s to thank for their design. “Remember the colours, sounds and sights of your last holiday. Why did they make you feel happy? How can you use these elements to recreate that contented feeling in your own home? Just work on it,” says Janvi.

At the Festival of Interior Designers, Bersum Erturk’s winning entry was a coffee table called ‘LOCT,’ which demonstrates the strength of family ties via the traditional octagonal Islamic pattern. Having designed a museum at the Manarat Al Saadiyat, the designer, hailing from Turkey, has planned to mass-produce his table. For those styling their homes, he says, “Go for something which is simple but detailed. Aesthetics is important and so is the function. You can’t keep a beautiful looking chair in your living room when you can’t even sit on it for five minutes,” he points out.

Rami Al Khatib, production and operations director of pinkrain, a creative design company, and who has also done the interiors of the DJ Pool at Wafi Mall, submitted ‘Loop Concept Table’ at the festival showcasing a fluid line to form an interesting structure supporting the fulcrum points of a table. He insists on colours, “If you are not creative, the world will look grey. You need to design in such a way that there’s a human touch to it as well as enhance the look of a space. Always seek advice. What you may think looks great may look stupid to others,” he says.

There seems to be 
a revival of classics these days, according to some UAE home stores. “We 
are seeing a revival in the classics, and French-inspired classic pieces 
are doing very well,” says Tehzeeb Huda, marketing manager, 2XL Furniture and Home Décor. “We stock exclusive pieces that have a modern take on the regal past. A good example would be the new Poem collection which features hand-carved solid wood pieces that have verses of poetry inscribed all over — a real collector’s item.”

Some of the biggest mistakes that people make while decorating their homes are, “Buying bulky furniture and items for 
the room. Also the usage of dark colour furniture 
in a small space causes clutter. And what’s the worst is looking for cheaply priced items and not planning room by room requirement while decorating your space,” says, Hameed Khawaja, visual merchandising manager, Homes’r’Us.

A move towards eco-friendly homes is a trend with most new homes going green. “These days there’s a move towards nature and natural elements to create a relaxing atmosphere at home. The quiet shades of forest green, or a light blue sky gives a perfect summer day feel. You can also use hot colours like blue, green, pink, orange, red and purple along with a white base and mix it. The colours will look bright, but soft,” says Hazim Wafa, marketing manager, ID Design.

Your interior design style is something which should grow as you grow. Your style is part of 
who you are. Why not make it part of your 
home interior?

Get that new look…

Sleep King-Size! Contrary to popular belief, a smaller bed will only make a small bedroom seem even smaller. Opt for a high bed with a tall and interesting headboard.

Skip the Sofa. No one said you have to have a sofa in your living space. Arm-chairs add a touch of elegance, and make your space look more spacious.

Whiteout. Painting your walls white will never be a mistake; no one tires of white walls and they go with any décor setting.

Light up in style. Layer your lighting with elegant chandeliers and two to four lamps to set the ambience. Direct lighting is only needed for reading.

Coffee Chest. Say goodbye to the traditional coffee table, and opt for a vintage-style treasure chest instead. Not only are these pieces interesting conversation starters, but serve a dual purpose as storage space as well.

raziqueh@khaleejtimes.com

• WKND