STYLE GUIDE Your essential hot list of essential ... - Thenumber4

design
space gets
surreal at
Burlesque
red velvet
in modern
mode, below
AATI
a room set-up
by Fendi Casa
prestige at aati
Since it opened in 1982 Dubai’s original
luxury-brand furniture store has always been
miles ahead of the game when it comes to
designer homeware and accessories – from
European heavyweights such as Ligne Roset,
Armani/Casa and Fendi Casa to American
icons like Barbara Barry and Ralph Lauren.
It’s evident from the selection that Aati’s
buyers trawl the international design fairs
with gusto to spot the best names at their
game – yet their choice of collections shows
a deep understanding of what really works
in a UAE context. +971 (0)4 337 7825
inga sempé’s ruché sofa for
Ligne roset Dhs25,700, above
b
a distinctive
re-worked vintage
chair by BoKJa
CCHAKIB RICHANI
When couturier to Hollywood stars Elie Saab
wanted a designer to dress up his home, he
chose the acclaimed Lebanese interior architect
Chakib Richani for the job. Venezuela-born
Richani, recently named as one of the 100 best
international designers by Architectural Digest,
lends his pared-down aesthetic to create spaces
that have majestic proportions and rich textures
while keeping the overall look subtle and
elegant. Richani is also an architect of choice
among royal family members in the UAE. +961
(0)5 808 140; www.richani.com.
BOKJA
the interior
of elie saab’s
home in Beirut
Design duo Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri are much
sought after in international design circles by buyers,
critics, curators and galleries alike. Based in Beirut, the
super-talented designers blur the boundaries between
art, craft and design with their innovative and
contemporary use of gorgeous vintage textiles and
tapesteries from the Levant region and the Silk Road
countries of central Asia to create one-of-a-kind
furniture. Having exhibited at major design fairs such
as Salone del Mobile in Milan and Design Miami,
BOKJA has also caught the fancy of none other than
master craftsman Christian Louboutin, who regularly
commissions the Lebanese designers’ work for his
stores around the world. Hollywood celebrities
such as Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Kate
Hudson and songstress Norah Jones are also
fans. +961 1 975 576; www.bokjadesign.com
plus B also stands for Burlesque
Founded by emirati, laith Abdul Hadi,
Burlesque is a madcap, surrealist-inspired store
that both shocks and enthralls. Whatever your
reaction, it’ll be a strong one. With one-off pieces that
make a strong statement, the store prides itself on the
drama and unique experience it provides to its
connoisseurs. spend time at Burlesque and you’re
bound to come out with plenty of quirky ideas and
some fabulous furniture. +971 (0)4 346 1616
Darren Lyon’s
Mashrabi Night
console Dhs11,00
LIVING
deETCETERA
DARREN LYON
The Dubai-based South African designer’s
LOVE coffee table (Dhs5000), inspired by the
aesthetic beauty of Arabic calligraphy and the
power of positive words, has acquired something
of a cult status. The self-proclaimed
environmentalist believes that love and nature
are what we all need to survive and it reflects in
his work– including an off-the-grid, selfsustaining
eco estate in the South African
wilderness, that he’s currently designing. Lyon is
also busy at his studio near Cape Town, 1010
Creative, designing and making even more
interesting products to follow the LOVE table.
+27 44 5348060; www.1010creative.com
plus D also stands for DAMAsCus, the bestkept
secret of the Middle east design world.
Just starting to emerge from the shadow of its
hipper neighbour, Beirut, the syrian capital is
coming into its own with cool boutique hotels,
trendy one-off stores and a new generation of
contemporary artists and designers. We love
Beit Al Mamlouka, an 8-bedroom gem of a
hotel set in a beautifully restored mansion. A
stay here will provide all the design inspiration
you need for hitting the souks and stores.
+963 11 543 0445; www.almamlouka.com
f 4 (FOUR)
If you haven’t already heard of
Lesley Zaal and Marie-Inez Botha,
the duo behind the interior design
practice ETCETERA LIVING,
take note because you will be
hearing about them a whole lot
more. With their work on
Al Barari and the high-profile
Nurai Island in Abu Dhabi, the
designers have already scored
highly among clients who want a
chic and comfortable home. With
their design philosophy of keeping
the clutter at bay and maintaining
simplicity, the designers believe that less is more. However,
it’s the little objects and details that they feel gives a space the
much-needed personal touch. So sourcing unique items from
the markets of Fez to ‘antique street’ in Saigon, is all in a day’s
job for the pair. Ask them who would be their choice if they
could design one high-profile home and the reply is pretty
much reflective of their sensibilities: Barack and Michelle
Obama – the world’s most powerful couple, known for their
sense of style. +971 (0)4 344 8868; www.etceteraliving.com
There’s a lot more to Kuwait than endless oil fields
and amazingly stylish women who wear the most
recent designer wear under their elegant abayas.
4, for instance, is a must-visit lifestyle store located
in Kuwait’s Shuwaikh industrial area that takes its
cues from the über-cool Meatpacking District in
New York. As well as stocking some of the edgiest
fashion labels, such as Ann Demeulemeester,
Damir Doma and Haider Ackermann, the
destination store also retails exclusive and limitededition
furniture and accessories by the legendary
Fornasetti, Established & Sons and the Dutch
design powerhouse, Droog. The avant-garde store
also features special collaborative pieces from Jaime
Hayón as well as antique chairs with a
contemporary makeover by Jimmy Martin, and
the British designer Lee Broom’s quirky creations.
There’s also a hip art gallery that hosts exhibitions
by Kuwaiti and international artists and a cafe to
unwind and digest all of that style.
+965 249 25444; www.thenumber4.com
38|Harper’s BAZAAR interiors Harper’s BAZAAR interiors |39
a courtyard
sitting area at
Beit al Mamlouka
a Fornasetti
wallpaper by
Cole & sons
creates a
dramatic focal
point at 4
➤
Lesley Zaal and
Marie-inez Botha
a huge ‘dripping
paint’ number 4
announces the
store’s presence