Betterliving December 2018
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SHOP | Betterhomes Magazine<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
Complimentary copy<br />
The magazine of Betterhomes<br />
HOME RENO<br />
Creating<br />
an underthe-stairs<br />
playroom<br />
12<br />
FESTIVE<br />
DECOR<br />
IDEAS<br />
NEW<br />
LOOK<br />
NEW<br />
FEATURES<br />
ESCAPE<br />
TO A<br />
WILD<br />
GARDEN<br />
MOVE-IN READY<br />
HOMES WITH<br />
DREAMY POOLS<br />
Daring<br />
designs<br />
At home with a self-confessed maximalist<br />
20 | bhomes.com
At the heart of Roman is the desire to<br />
be the best. It is Roman's vision to lead<br />
innovate in the Showering industry.<br />
Bathroom, Kitchens, Building<br />
Products, Plumbing & Drainage<br />
Dubai: +971 4 266 1291<br />
Abu Dhabi: +971 2 674 1171<br />
Al Ain: +971 3 721 1219<br />
E: info@macuae.ae<br />
W: www.algurg.com
When you need to be<br />
cared for in a special way<br />
Bathroom, Kitchens, Building<br />
Products, Plumbing & Drainage<br />
Dubai: +971 4 266 1291<br />
Abu Dhabi: +971 2 674 1171<br />
Al Ain: +971 3 721 1219<br />
E: info@macuae.ae<br />
W: www.algurg.com
SHOP | Betterhomes Magazine<br />
Welcome to the <strong>December</strong> issue<br />
With a new name to go with its stunning new look, we’re really<br />
excited to present the brand new issue of the magazine from<br />
Betterhomes, the UAE’s most recognised property company.<br />
We continue to feature all the things you love, from touring the<br />
home of a very stylish local (page 38), inspiring trends (this<br />
month we focus on blue, page 27) and glean advice from interior<br />
designers. However, we’re now offering more practical, useful<br />
information, and stepping into more UAE homes and stores to<br />
bring you top tips, the latest finds and fantastic, easy ways to<br />
renovate, revamp, decorate and update your own home, whether<br />
you rent or own.<br />
Finally, we’ve also refreshed our property section to give you a<br />
selection of coveted properties on the market. Plus, this month we<br />
explore Jumeirah Golf Estates, which has as much to offer nonplayers<br />
as golf aficionados. Enjoy!<br />
Lucy Land, Editor<br />
lucy@hotmediapublishing.com<br />
14 | 14 bhomes.com |
Editor’s letter | CONTENTS<br />
SHOP<br />
16-26<br />
New finds, homeware news,<br />
a must-shop store focus and<br />
vacuum cleaners we rate<br />
INSPIRE<br />
27-62<br />
A clever renovation, home and<br />
garden tours with stylish residents,<br />
how to incorporate the latest<br />
trends into your home and<br />
bathroom tile inspiration<br />
Managing Director<br />
Victoria Thatcher<br />
Editorial Director<br />
John Thatcher<br />
Managing Editor<br />
Faye Bartle<br />
Editor<br />
Lucy Land<br />
MOVE<br />
64-72<br />
Things to know before you buy,<br />
a guide to Jumeirah Golf Estates<br />
with advice from the agent and the<br />
local’s view of the area, plus mustsee<br />
properties with pools<br />
on the market<br />
Art Director<br />
Kerri Bennett<br />
Senior Designer<br />
Hiral Kapadia<br />
Production Manager<br />
Muthu Kumar<br />
Advertising Group Manager<br />
Sukaina Hussein<br />
+971 50 515 9691<br />
To contact any of the<br />
above people, email<br />
firstname@hotmediapublishing.com<br />
Reproduction in whole or in part<br />
without written permission from<br />
HOT Media Publishing is strictly<br />
prohibited. HOT Media Publishing<br />
does not accept liability for omissions<br />
or errors in Better Living magazine.<br />
Tel: +971 4 364 2876<br />
Fax: +971 4 369 7494<br />
Thank you to Irony<br />
Home, Al-Futtaim Ace<br />
and The Lime Tree Café<br />
& Kitchen for supplying<br />
the festive goodies for<br />
these pages<br />
bhomes.com<br />
facebook.com/betterhomesuae<br />
@betterhomesuae<br />
@betterhomesuae<br />
linkedin.com/company/better-homes-llc<br />
bhomes.com | 15
UPDATES | <strong>December</strong> wish list<br />
Lucy Land, Editor<br />
Editor’s<br />
picks<br />
Five finds on my radar…<br />
1 If, like me, you’re looking to bring local influences into<br />
your home, then check out this chandelier featuring<br />
agaals, the woven headbands used to secure the<br />
traditional headdress worn by Emirati men. Price<br />
on request, FORMA collection for Arte Veneziana,<br />
arteveneziana.com<br />
2 Inspired by a cross section of a piece of wood, this<br />
Ambra bath mat is super soft under foot. Dhs885,<br />
Abyss & Habidecor, available from Amara, amara.com<br />
3 This set of handmade bowls will go with pretty much<br />
anything else in the kitchen so is a foolproof gift idea<br />
for homebodies. Set of four ceramic ’70s bowls, Dhs150,<br />
HKliving at Urban Nest, urbannest.ae<br />
4 With its black textured leather, this statement<br />
chair will add glamour to any space. Dhs12,000,<br />
ANCA, anca-1985.com<br />
5 Classic Swiss brand Vitra now has a home at<br />
department store Le BHV Marais Dubai and I’m<br />
coveting George Nelson’s timeless clock designs.<br />
Ball clock, Dhs1,599, Vitra, available from<br />
Le BHV Marais Dubai, lebhvmarais.ae<br />
16 | bhomes.com
This month’s<br />
Pinboard<br />
Our round-up of the latest in homeware<br />
news, design and interiors trends<br />
Dinnertime<br />
THIS WALL CLOCK,<br />
MADE FROM<br />
MOULDED METAL,<br />
IS PERFECT FOR A<br />
CONTEMPORARY<br />
KITCHEN. WE LOVE<br />
ITS AFFORDABLE<br />
PRICE TAG, TOO.<br />
Gino kitchen wall clock,<br />
Dhs79, Home Centre.<br />
Boxed in<br />
Don’t have space for a festive tree<br />
or just looking for a fun alternative?<br />
A wall tree installation could be<br />
your answer. Simply put a tiny tree<br />
into a display box and let matching<br />
frames create a graphic feel.<br />
Barkhyttan display box, Dhs79, IKEA.<br />
LIVING TRADITIONS<br />
Tiger & Arcadia (tigerandarcadia.com) was among the independent<br />
projects spotted at this year’s Downtown Design. Commited to conserving<br />
craft techniques around the world, founder Andrea de Rossetto has a<br />
unique story for every piece. In Mexico, for example, each Ocumicho mask<br />
(pictured, left) is created as a trophy at the end of an obstacle race.<br />
18 | bhomes.com
Trending | UPDATES<br />
SMART SPACE SAVER<br />
Those of us living in apartments and small spaces can<br />
now have a barbecue<br />
at home thanks to the<br />
award-winning Space<br />
Grill (Dhs3,799, ae.spacegrill.com),<br />
which has<br />
recently arrived in the<br />
Middle East. It’s the<br />
only indoor-approved,<br />
fold-away barbecue and<br />
it only takes 10 seconds<br />
to set up.<br />
TAKE TWO<br />
CRYSTAL<br />
SCULPTURES<br />
Save<br />
SAVE<br />
Agate sculpture, Dhs99,<br />
Home Centre<br />
SPLURGE<br />
Agate sprout, Dhs945<br />
(GBP200),<br />
5MM Design<br />
Splurge<br />
Style star<br />
If you’re looking for<br />
some help to revamp<br />
a room or your entire<br />
home, we recommend<br />
calling on the help of<br />
interior designer Alexandra<br />
Conti. She offers a simple approach and a flat<br />
fee styling service through her newly launched<br />
platform (ayi-designer.com), and if you want to<br />
see more of her style, be sure to check out next<br />
month’s issue of Better Living.<br />
On our radar Intelligent designs for cleaner air and minimal fuss<br />
SAY GOODBYE to an ugly extractor<br />
hood: the cooktop extractor of the<br />
BORA Classic (price on request) draws<br />
vapour directly away from where it<br />
is created.<br />
NEUTRALISE negative energy with a<br />
mini humidifier that has mood lighting<br />
ability. Quartz Aroma Diffuser, Dhs189,<br />
Made By Zen. Available<br />
from Lifestyle.<br />
SAVE COUNTLESS trips to the<br />
hardware store with LG Signature Air<br />
Purifier (Dhs5,249). Its filter system<br />
can be removed, washed and used<br />
again for up to 10 years.<br />
bhomes.com | 19
SHOP | Must-shop<br />
WHAT’S IN<br />
STORE<br />
COMPTOIR<br />
102<br />
THE STORY SO FAR: Launched in<br />
2012 by Parisian Emmanuelle Sawko,<br />
Comptoir 102 shines a light on craft<br />
and design. Its carefully curated<br />
furniture collection includes finds from<br />
around the globe, as well as limited<br />
edition collaborations with artists and<br />
designers – it’s a haven for one-of-akind<br />
pieces.<br />
THE LOOK: Unconventional, bohemian<br />
and full of soul.<br />
WHAT’S NEW? Comptoir 102’s own<br />
home décor line, available exclusively<br />
in store, has grown to include pretty<br />
cushion covers, simple brass pieces<br />
and a kooky tableware collection<br />
featuring the label’s cute bubble motif.<br />
GOOD TO KNOW: The store’s interiors<br />
get a monthly refresh. If you need<br />
some help recreating the look, resident<br />
stylist and designer Mathilde is on<br />
hand to help style your purchases in<br />
your own home (upon request).<br />
DELIVERY DETAILS: If you’re loading<br />
up on buys, take advantage of the free<br />
local delivery service.<br />
WHILE YOU’RE THERE: Check out<br />
the edgy fashion, artisan jewellery<br />
and clean beauty collections before<br />
sipping an organic superfood smoothie<br />
(complete with homemade nut milk) in<br />
the healthy café.<br />
102 Beach Road, Jumeirah 1, Dubai<br />
04 385 4555, comptoir102.com<br />
FAVOURITE FINDS<br />
Stool with<br />
interchangeable<br />
legs, Dhs950<br />
WHY WE RATE IT<br />
It’s great for one-off fabric designs,<br />
traditional handcrafted pieces and<br />
items by renowned names. Plus, the<br />
designs by the in-house team are<br />
available exclusively in the store.<br />
Cactus<br />
vase,<br />
Dhs310<br />
Orange throw, Dhs500,<br />
zebra throw, Dhs600,<br />
Collection 102<br />
Look out for the Better<br />
Living loves sign in<br />
store, which points you<br />
towards our top buys<br />
20 | bhomes.com
DuraSquare: Now with the new bathroom furniture series XSquare.<br />
The exact and precise edges of the DuraSquare bathroom series blends perfectly with the latest furniture collection<br />
XSquare designed by Kurt Merki Jr. Handle-free fronts, striking chrome profiles and 28 furniture finishes enable an<br />
individual bathroom design. Co-ordinating mirrors feature a touch-free control panel for demisting and light or<br />
dimming functions. Duravit Middle East SAL (Off-Shore), info@lb.duravit.com, Duravit Middle East SAL Off Shore -<br />
UAE Rep Office info@ae.duravit.com, Duravit Saudi Arabia LLC, info@sa.duravit.com. www.duravit.com
Estella green 83-piece dinner set by Dankotuwa, Dhs3,995, Jashanmal Home<br />
Deco assorted set of four gold dinner plates by LSA International, Dhs268. Available at Amara<br />
SHOP | Plates<br />
HOT<br />
PLATES<br />
Bring drama to the tabletop<br />
with these stunning designs<br />
Renaissance gold dinner plate, Dhs198, Wedgwood<br />
Portmeirion set of four cake plates by Sara Miller, Dhs324.45. Available at Indigo Living<br />
Brindille fat plate, Dhs176.19, Villeroy & Boch<br />
Panache presentation plate by Marie Daage, Dhs846.35. Available at White Almonds<br />
22 | bhomes.com<br />
Arris white accent octagonal plate,<br />
Dhs255, Wedgwood
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Better buys | SHOP<br />
VACUUM<br />
CLEANERS<br />
Whether you’ve got dust or doggy<br />
hair to deal with, we’ve found the<br />
perfect machine for you<br />
THE WASH AND GO<br />
Say goodbye to laborious scrubbing. This<br />
clever machine has two rotating microfibre<br />
rollers, which are continuously moistened<br />
with a detergent solution, while the vacuumed<br />
liquid is drawn into a separate tank that can<br />
be emptied after cleaning. Hard Floor Cleaner<br />
FC 5, Dhs1,100, Kärcher, karcher.com<br />
THE CORDLESS WONDER<br />
It boasts the most powerful suction power of any<br />
cord-free vacuum. Plus, it’s instant-release trigger<br />
means the battery power is only used while it’s cleaning.<br />
Dyson Cyclone V10, Dhs2,939, Dyson, dyson.ae<br />
THE<br />
SENSITIVE ONE<br />
This one’s good for those<br />
with allergies due to its HEPA<br />
hygienic filter. It’s also really<br />
light, easy to operate and is<br />
compact, too. Bagless vacuum<br />
cleaner with sensor control,<br />
Dhs576.45, Bosch, bosch.ae<br />
THE TECHIE WHIZZ<br />
With its onboard cameras to analyse your home,<br />
map its path and efficiently clean your space,<br />
you can leave it to get on with the job. Robotic<br />
vacuum cleaner, Dhs2,414, LG, lg.com<br />
BEFORE YOU BUY...<br />
BEST BUDGET BUY<br />
With its strong performance and extra long cable,<br />
this sturdy number is the most cost-effective in<br />
our selection. Synchropower bag & bagless<br />
vacuum cleaner, Dhs471.45, Siemens. Available<br />
from Better Life, betterlifeuae.com<br />
BEST FOR TILE FLOORS?<br />
Most of us have tile or vinyl flooring with rugs in the UAE so look for a vacuum cleaner that has a good filtration<br />
system as tile flooring accumulates more electrostatic dust. Also, consider a machine that vacuums<br />
and steams at the same time, since tile flooring is resistant to high temperatures and can be easily sanitised.<br />
bhomes.com | 25
Hacker Kitchens Studio<br />
Dubai, Al Barsha, Sheikh Zayed Road<br />
+971 (0) 4 3990425<br />
hacker.ae<br />
innerspaceME.com<br />
info@innerspaceME.com
Trends | INSPIRATION<br />
Into<br />
the<br />
blue<br />
From dark and<br />
dreamy to pale<br />
and interesting,<br />
there’s a blue hue<br />
for everyone<br />
Riviera Collection, Lelievere Middle East<br />
bhomes.com | 27
Statement shades<br />
Choose a rich, royal blue for a statement piece, such as a<br />
sofa, and surround it with a toned-down palette. An intense,<br />
vibrant blue adds a summery feeling to your interiors,<br />
while a complementary mix of milky whites, dusky pinks<br />
and greys or pastels are pretty and easy to live with.<br />
Mas Paints<br />
Clockwise from left: Almandine<br />
armchair, Dhs23,200; Jean-Louis<br />
Deniot at Iconic Home; Bullseye side<br />
table, Dhs1,389.15, Indigo Living; Blue<br />
and white throw, Dhs599, Zara Home<br />
“Create a<br />
TIP relaxed luxe<br />
feel with<br />
different<br />
shades and texture,<br />
such as deep blue<br />
velvet seating, soft<br />
throws and accents<br />
of brass throughout<br />
the room,” says<br />
Nisrine El Lababidi<br />
Moghraby, design<br />
director at Harf<br />
Noon Design Studio.<br />
28 | bhomes.com
Trends | INSPIRATION<br />
Calm bedrooms<br />
Set the tone for a place to unwind with some serene<br />
shades. Blue hues transport us to gorgeous landscapes and<br />
seascapes. Combine blue with white for a classic Santoriniinspired<br />
coastal colour scheme for a relaxed holiday vibe.<br />
JYSK<br />
From Top: Classic navy lattice rug, from Dhs960,<br />
From Jaipur With Love; Galley grade striped pillowcase,<br />
Dhs78, Joules at Amara; Candle, Dhs129, Zara Home,<br />
TIP<br />
The secret to a<br />
tranquil vibe in<br />
the bedroom is<br />
in layering and if you<br />
prefer to move away from<br />
a Mediterranean scheme,<br />
combine blue with grey for<br />
a cosy, moody style.<br />
bhomes.com | 29
INSPIRATION | Trends<br />
Walls that wow<br />
If you want to transform a blank wall,<br />
there are an abundance of solutions<br />
beyond just painting it. A wallpaper<br />
with an unexpected motif will liven<br />
up a space in an instant, while tiles<br />
can be used for a fresh, bold look and<br />
artworks add a touch of vibrancy.<br />
Blue has the unique quality of being<br />
simultaneously dynamic and calming.<br />
The Alchemy of Colour collection, Zoffany<br />
“A feature wall gives a room<br />
TIP a more adventurous vibe,” says<br />
Linda Dekkers, interior stylist<br />
and founder of Live Loud Girl.<br />
From Left: Close to Heaven wallpaper, Dhs208.95, Mr Perswall at D.Tales;<br />
Enchanted Wood wallpaper, Dhs282.74 (GBP59.95), Hibou Home;<br />
Albert design tile, Ferruccio Laviani for Bisazza, Jungle Blues printed<br />
canvas with colour gel, Dhs499, Home Centre<br />
30 | bhomes.com
In your heart and home since 1968<br />
Dubai | Abu Dhabi | Sharjah | Al Ain | Ras Al Khaimah<br />
Interiorsfurniture.com<br />
InteriorsFurnitureUAE<br />
InteriorsUAE<br />
A member of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group
Festive<br />
trimmings<br />
Dress up your home for the<br />
holidays with our sparkling ideas<br />
IF YOU HAVE LITTLE ONES AT HOME,<br />
CREATE A COSY SETTING WITH<br />
WARM JEWEL TONES AND FESTIVE<br />
CHARACTERS THAT ADD A PLAYFUL<br />
VIBE, LIKE THESE DECORATIONS<br />
FROM AL-FUTTAIM ACE. WHEN<br />
STRIVING FOR A CHILD-FRIENDLY<br />
SCHEME, NOT EVERYTHING NEEDS TO<br />
MATCH, SO GET EVERYONE INVOLVED<br />
IN HANGING THE BAUBLES.<br />
32 | bhomes.com
2 3<br />
Style some candles to create an instantly inviting and cosy<br />
atmosphere. “When it comes to the grouping, arrange them<br />
at least two inches apart for proper air flow that allows<br />
them to burn evenly,” advises Carol Sukkar of concept store<br />
Home & Soul (homeandsouldubai.com). “It’s easy to achieve a<br />
harmonious look with different shapes and sizes<br />
by arranging them asymmetrically.”<br />
For a modern take on poinsettia,<br />
opt for some luxurious, longlasting<br />
red roses instead. This<br />
Forever Rose London Vintage<br />
Hat Box can be filled with your<br />
choice of fresh florals. From<br />
Dhs750, myforeverrose.com<br />
Festive touches | INSPIRATION<br />
Mini novelty santa<br />
cushion, Dhs75,<br />
Marks & Spencer<br />
Cushion covers<br />
(far left and left),<br />
Dhs59 each,<br />
4H&M Home<br />
AN EASY WAY TO GIVE YOUR LIVING ROOM A MERRY MAKEOVER<br />
IS TO SWAP YOUR USUAL SOFT FURNISHINGS FOR THOSE WITH A<br />
FESTIVE TOUCH. SEASONAL CUSHIONS AND THROWS ARE A SMALL<br />
WAY TO MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.<br />
There’s nothing like a festive<br />
wreath on your front door to mark the<br />
holiday season. It’s the first thing your<br />
guests will see,and you can’t go wrong<br />
with a simple,lush evergreen wreath<br />
decorated with pine cones and mistletoe.<br />
Wreath, Dhs185, John Lewis Home Festive collection<br />
available exclusively at Robinsons, Dubai Festival City Mall<br />
5<br />
bhomes.com | 33
6 7<br />
“I LOVE AN ICY-WHITE<br />
COLOUR SCHEME – IT<br />
REFINES A SPACE”<br />
BETTER LIVING<br />
EDITOR LUCY LAND<br />
“It’s easy to create<br />
a festive mood with<br />
lights. Fairy lights are<br />
beautiful on the tree,<br />
wrapped over the<br />
stair banisters or<br />
draped across the<br />
balcony,” says Medy<br />
Navani, CEO of<br />
Design Haus Medy.<br />
Marks & Spencer<br />
IF ONLY A REAL TREE WILL DO, AL-FUTTAIM ACE, DUBAI PLANT<br />
SOUQ (WARSAN PLANT NURSERIES), SPINNEYS AND DUBAI GARDEN<br />
CENTRE ARE AMONG THE PLACES TO GET YOUR HANDS ON THE REAL<br />
8DEAL. WATER IT EVERY DAY TO KEEP IT LOOKING PLUMP AND FULL.<br />
34 | bhomes.com
If you have more baubles than you need for the tree,<br />
get creative by filling glass vases or decorative bowls to<br />
create eye-catching decorative features to place around<br />
the home. Or, group them together with ribbon and hang<br />
around the house, such as from the banister.<br />
10<br />
9<br />
Dove<br />
Festive collection,<br />
Dhs165, John Lewis<br />
at Robinsons<br />
Festive touches | INSPIRATION<br />
ornament,<br />
Dhs123,<br />
Wedgwood<br />
Winter Bakery Delight<br />
Heart bowl, Dhs355,<br />
Villeroy & Boch<br />
Get into the snuggly spirit of the holidays<br />
with a faux fireplace. Pan Emirates has a<br />
good selection, while The Imperfect Parlour can<br />
make you one featuring pretty wooden appliqué,<br />
painted with chalk paint (from Dhs1,150).<br />
“Bring nature into the home with an<br />
imaginative tablescape featuring silver<br />
and white accent pieces layered with<br />
white fine bone china, accentuated with<br />
fresh midwinter foliage,” says Richard<br />
Delaney, design director for Wedgwood.<br />
11<br />
Festive Treats,<br />
The Lime Tree<br />
Café & Kitchen,<br />
Dhs12, available<br />
from Spinneys<br />
12<br />
bhomes.com<br />
Wedgwood Winter White collection<br />
FILL YOUR HOME WITH YOUR FAVOURITE<br />
HOLIDAY SCENTS. WHETHER YOU LIGHT A<br />
SPICE-SCENTED CANDLE, BAKE SOME FRESH<br />
GINGERBREAD OR STRING A GARLAND OF<br />
DRIED ORANGE SLICES, YOU CAN’T BEAT<br />
SOME COSY, WINTERY AROMAS.<br />
| 35
INSPIRATION | home renovation<br />
Emma Hutton at home in Jumeirah 3<br />
36 | bhomes.com
Ask the designer | INSPIRATION<br />
Ask the<br />
DESIGNER<br />
Interior designer Emma Hutton<br />
reveals how to create a welcoming entrance<br />
As your entryway is the first thing<br />
that guests see of your home, it<br />
should give some idea of the style<br />
that the rest of your home has to<br />
offer. I like to start a scheme with<br />
something that I love, such as a piece of<br />
art that I have found on my travels or<br />
something I have been given and is close<br />
to my heart. I think it is important<br />
to have a little bit of your own<br />
personality in each room,<br />
and there should be a natural<br />
progression of style, starting<br />
from the entrance area, to tell the<br />
story of your life that reveals your<br />
personality. In our warm climate, we<br />
are mostly very lucky to have rooms<br />
filled with natural light. Add a little<br />
punch of colour outside, like a citrus<br />
yellow or bright pink flowers. Inside,<br />
keep it fresh with greenery – orchids<br />
and lilies are my favourite, while a<br />
beautiful scented burning candle can<br />
give a lovely feel to any space, day or<br />
night. It can be difficult to keep an<br />
entrance clutter-free, particularly<br />
if you have lots of visitors and for<br />
anyone who has children and dogs,<br />
like me. I have areas and baskets<br />
for everything, from dog leads to<br />
school bags. It’s a great way to store<br />
things and they look stylish even if they<br />
do have everything shoved into them.<br />
Greet guests with a statement<br />
piece as a point of interest. Go<br />
with either a bold rug or a piece<br />
of art. For even more of a wow factor,<br />
choose both if they work well together,<br />
while a mirror placed above a console<br />
table is always a winner. Symmetry<br />
works really well, too – two lamps<br />
placed either side of the mirror on the<br />
console looks smart. Depending on<br />
how much space you have, a chair or a<br />
bench is a great addition for creating<br />
a sense of warmth. Add texture with<br />
either a cushion placed on a bench or<br />
an upholstered chair – it is also an easy<br />
way to add colour, especially if you don’t<br />
have any window treatments.<br />
For reflecting the light<br />
beautifully, I love an old-style<br />
chandelier, although this option<br />
depends on your style. There are<br />
some beautiful modern chandeliers<br />
available for more contemporary homes.<br />
Use flattering, warm white bulbs and a<br />
dimmer. Some ceilings are just not tall<br />
enough for a hanging light. In this case,<br />
go to town on some magnificent lamps.<br />
Create flow by using the same colour scheme<br />
TIP<br />
inside your entrance as is used directly<br />
outside your home. Motifs of nature work<br />
well on wallpaper and soft furnishings, too.<br />
bhomes.com | 37
INSPIRATION | At home with<br />
Interior stylist Ash Young’s<br />
Damac Hills family villa<br />
shows her effortless<br />
approach to maximalism<br />
38 | bhomes.com
homes.com | 39
“I love a space that grabs your attention and draws your eye around the room.<br />
Interiors are such a passion of mine so I have a lot of fun with them,” enthuses<br />
interior stylist Ash Young, whose family villa in Damac Hills epitomises her<br />
style. “I enjoy mixing materials and styles, and I like glamour, detail, metallic and<br />
greenery.” A self-confessed maximalist, Ash’s secret to creating a tough-luxe,<br />
edgy-elegant look is keeping to a restrained colour palette. “I generally use three<br />
main colours, with two accents.”<br />
40 | bhomes.com
At home with | INSPIRATION<br />
“Consider any existing<br />
pieces you already<br />
have, choose a colour<br />
scheme and stick to a<br />
theme while browsing for<br />
additional pieces”<br />
Most of the artworks in her home comprise inexpensive prints, from the likes of<br />
Society6, Rockett St George, Etsy and Drawdeck. “I check out Pinterest, Instagram<br />
and magazines for inspiration.”<br />
bhomes.com | 41
INSPIRATION | At home with<br />
As a global nomad (Ash was born in the UAE to<br />
English and Irish parents, moved to the UK aged<br />
nine and moved to Dubai with her family four years<br />
ago), Ash places a lot of importance on her home,<br />
which provides a source of stability. It also means<br />
that she gets her husband, Chris, and children,<br />
10-year-old Lucas, eight-year-old Allegra and sixyear-old<br />
Scarlett involved with the home decorating<br />
decisions. The kids’ bedrooms, in particular, reflect<br />
their personalities. Scarlett chose her lively Extinct<br />
wallpaper by Emma J Shipley for Clarke & Clarke<br />
and her Boss print artwork; Allegra asked for<br />
the rebellious, graffitied portrait artwork (from<br />
Rockett St George; rockettstgeorge.co.uk) that was<br />
originally in her parents’ bedroom; and once both<br />
daughters saw Lucas’ Rock On print by Nickie<br />
Kelly, they wanted their own hand gestures (Peace<br />
Out and Hope). Ash’s rock ‘n’ roll sense of style is<br />
clearly contagious.<br />
GIVING IT A NEW LEASE OF LIFE,<br />
THIS IKEA SOFA HAS BEEN<br />
REUPHOLSTERED IN PINK VELVET<br />
42 | bhomes.com
At home with | INSPIRATION<br />
THE PLAYHOUSE<br />
Handmade by an<br />
Englishman for his<br />
daughters, this playhouse<br />
was located in a huge<br />
villa in Sharjah. “When<br />
the family was planning<br />
to return to the UK, the<br />
father posted an advert<br />
in a mums’ group online.<br />
Two handymen, my<br />
brother-in-law and I drove<br />
to Sharjah to disassemble<br />
it – we had to mark each<br />
piece so we’d know how to<br />
put it back together. It’s<br />
a little bit worse for wear<br />
after its third move from<br />
our previous home in The<br />
Springs but we still love it.”<br />
THE RUG IS BY<br />
LOCAL BRAND FROM<br />
JAIPUR WITH LOVE,<br />
WHICH SUPPORTS<br />
TRADITIONAL<br />
CRAFTSMANSHIP<br />
bhomes.com | 43
THE KITCHEN:<br />
Ash worked closely with<br />
designer Tarek Dawood at<br />
Kaiser to create her dream<br />
kitchen. The doors have a<br />
gorgeous textured finish in<br />
Putty Concrete for an urban<br />
feel, contrasting perfectly<br />
with the grey oak grain<br />
worktop in a cut timber<br />
effect. The unusual Franke<br />
Belfast sink and Miele<br />
appliances complete the<br />
look. “Tarek had the idea<br />
for the L-shaped breakfast<br />
bar, which is genius – it has<br />
seating for five of us and it<br />
has totally changed the way<br />
we use this space.”<br />
THE JUNGLE LIFE<br />
WALL CHART<br />
FROM URBAN NEST<br />
CLEVERLY COVERS<br />
LIGHT SWITCHES<br />
AND THE A/C<br />
CONTROL PANEL<br />
“The finishing<br />
touches give a space<br />
personality<br />
and depth”<br />
Palm Jungle by Cole & Son; Pineapple Royale<br />
by Sanderson; 101 Spots by Paper Pop; Dark<br />
Floral by Mr Perswall; Extinct wallpaper by<br />
Emma J Shipley for Clarke & Clarke<br />
44 | bhomes.com
At home with | INSPIRATION<br />
Premier Hanoi lantern,<br />
Dhs200, Namshi<br />
“I wanted the guest bedroom<br />
to have a calm, welcoming<br />
and friendly vibe”<br />
Monstera plant and vase,<br />
Dhs450, Urban Nest<br />
Misty bowl in pink,<br />
Dhs33, THE One<br />
GET<br />
THE<br />
LOOK<br />
HAVING A PENDANT<br />
HANGING FROM<br />
A HIGH CEILING<br />
BREAKS UP THE<br />
SPACE AND DRAWS<br />
THE EYE UP SLIGHTLY<br />
Pouffe, Dhs699, Zara Home<br />
Love chair in<br />
natural, Dhs895,<br />
White Moss<br />
bhomes.com | 45
INSPIRATION | home renovation<br />
Nuture a little bit of<br />
NATURE<br />
How a garden in Umm Suqeim 2<br />
blossomed into a sanctuary for wildlife<br />
46 | bhomes.com
Outdoor space | INSPIRATION<br />
as soon as we saw the bougainvillea that covers<br />
the bay windows and the greenery climbing<br />
the garden wall, we decided we wanted this<br />
villa,” reveals Shana Sebban Mannarini. She<br />
moved in with her family a month later but<br />
by that time the garden was dry and void of<br />
greenery. Eight years on and it is filled with<br />
mature flowering trees and plants, including<br />
an arbor of bougainvillea that connects the<br />
area originally constructed as a carport to<br />
the bougainvillea that first caught Shana’s<br />
eye, as well as frangipani, laurier rose (“this<br />
can be toxic to children and animals so be<br />
vigilant,” Shana warns), an Eastern redbud<br />
tree that Shana and her husband Gil planted<br />
in celebration of their five-year-old son Ari’s<br />
birth and another tree planted a year ago<br />
when their daughter Ari was born.<br />
“We’re animal lovers so we wanted to create<br />
a safe haven for wildlife in the garden, which<br />
is why we grew lots of trees and shrubs, and<br />
hung bird feeding stations.” The couple run<br />
children’s edutainment concept Pearls of the<br />
Emirates (pearlsoftheemirates.com), with the<br />
aim of educating children about environment<br />
protection and animal welfare and their<br />
passion is evident throughout their outside<br />
space. There’s a cattery for their rescued<br />
street cats, while the air is filled with birdsong.<br />
“Indian parakeets love the Indian nuts we put<br />
out for them, while ground-feeding hoopoes<br />
feed off the fallen scraps,” Shana enthuses.<br />
Other visiting birds include hummingbirds,<br />
common mynas, Indian rollers and doves, while<br />
the couple also often spot lizards, butterflies<br />
and dragonflies. “The wildlife-filled garden<br />
takes us away from the bustle of Dubai.”<br />
bhomes.com | 47
INSPIRATION | Outdoor space<br />
The desert landscapes<br />
of the UAE inspire<br />
the mixed media<br />
artworks by Gil<br />
and add character<br />
to their garden<br />
“Ensure you place feeders<br />
out of the reach of cats,”<br />
says Shana. “I buy seeds<br />
from the pet shop, Indian<br />
nuts from Carrefour and<br />
hang up cuttlefish found on<br />
the shoreline for a calciumrich<br />
dietary supplement”<br />
“It’s important to have<br />
an inspiring view<br />
when I paint.” Shana<br />
likes to paint in the<br />
early mornings<br />
with the birds’<br />
dawn chorus.<br />
48 | bhomes.com
“As we’re both<br />
French, it was<br />
important for us to<br />
create a European<br />
atmosphere with lots<br />
of trees. Plant new<br />
trees at the end of<br />
summer so they’ve<br />
got time to get<br />
established”<br />
bhomes.com | 49
Out on<br />
the tiles<br />
Ramp up your bathroom space with<br />
some vibrant floors and walls<br />
Bisazza<br />
Tiles are one of the first things we notice in a bathroom so when it comes to<br />
a renovation, consider your options carefully. There are myriad colours, sizes<br />
and materials to choose from, while the versatility of the material makes it<br />
easily customisable. Use colour and pattern to create a statement but choose<br />
no more than three different tiles to ensure a cohesive look.<br />
50 | bhomes.com
Bathrooms | INSPIRATION<br />
Pretty<br />
patterns<br />
Fantini mosaici<br />
Upgrade your space to spalevel<br />
luxury with beautiful<br />
mosaic, which is the perfect<br />
choice for a feature wall. Go<br />
for clear glass shower doors so<br />
you don’t obscure them and<br />
keep the grout lines slim to<br />
reduce the painstaking task of<br />
scrubbing them clean.<br />
Bisazza<br />
Bisazza<br />
Villeroy & Boch<br />
SERENE<br />
TOUCHES<br />
Clockwise from left:<br />
Small skittle hanging pot,<br />
Dhs40, Present Time at Namshi;<br />
Memphis print vase, Dhs35,<br />
Sass & Belle at Namshi; Black oudh<br />
fragrance sticks, Dhs255, Rituals,<br />
The Ritual of Ayurveda scented<br />
candle, Dhs125, Rituals<br />
bhomes.com | 51
INSPIRATION | Bathrooms<br />
Bold<br />
floors<br />
Statement bathroom floors are not for the<br />
faint-hearted, but they are definitely worth<br />
the risk. Combine with a timeless herringbone<br />
patterned wall for a smart look. For suppliers,<br />
we rate Mosaico (pictured, mosaico.ae), which<br />
handmakes cement tiles in Ras Al-Khaimah;<br />
Graniti (granitibuildingmaterials.com),<br />
known for kitting out plenty of local high-end<br />
villas in porcelain tiles; and RAK Ceramics<br />
(rakceramics.com), one of the biggest ceramics’<br />
brands in the world.<br />
Mosaico<br />
Tip<br />
LARGE-SCALE<br />
TILES CAN HELP<br />
SMALLER ROOMS<br />
APPEAR MORE<br />
SPACIOUS<br />
Monsaraz tile, Mosaico<br />
Supernova tile, Mosaico<br />
52 | bhomes.com
Modern<br />
monochrome<br />
Don’t be afraid to go dark. Team black and white for<br />
a moody, masculine look that gives a lasting impact.<br />
“A monochrome palette ensures a classic look, so you<br />
can go all out in your choice of patterns,” says interior<br />
designer Alexandra Conti.<br />
IT WON’T GO OUT OF STYLE<br />
Black and white is a timeless combination that<br />
won’t date, which means you won’t need to<br />
update it in a few seasons when colour trends<br />
change or when you want to resell your property.<br />
IT’S VERSATILE<br />
Because of its timeless quality, you can choose<br />
different patterns and sizes, from geometric<br />
shapes to stripes, chevrons and subway tiles.<br />
It’s easy to mix with playful patterns and colours,<br />
such as florals and spots, too.<br />
IT’S AN AFFORDABLE OPTION<br />
Plain white or black tiles tend to be cheaper than<br />
coloured or patterned options, plus you’re likely<br />
to be halfway there already as the starting point<br />
is usually a white bathroom suite.<br />
GROUT<br />
COLOURS<br />
A SANDY-<br />
TONED<br />
GROUT PAIRS<br />
WELL WITH<br />
DARK OR<br />
NEUTRAL<br />
TILES<br />
Tip<br />
CHOOSE<br />
ELEGANT<br />
SHAPES, SUCH<br />
AS THESE, FOR<br />
A GLAMOROUS<br />
LOOK<br />
The Hayon Collection, Bisazza Bagno. Photo by Anson Smart<br />
A LIGHT<br />
GREY<br />
WORKS<br />
WELL FOR<br />
WHITE TILES<br />
Grohe<br />
bhomes.com | 53
INSPIRATION | home renovation<br />
More<br />
room<br />
to play<br />
Carving out an under-the-stairs<br />
nook at this family home in Mira<br />
created an extra five square<br />
metres of play space<br />
When the Prexus family, from<br />
Denmark, moved into their<br />
brand-new home in Mira in<br />
Dubailand two years ago,<br />
finding clever ways to build in more<br />
storage was at the top of the agenda.<br />
“While we loved our new home, the layout<br />
and design of the property meant there<br />
wasn’t a huge amount of space to stash<br />
our belongings. Plus, it lacked a dedicated<br />
play room for our daughter Emily,” says<br />
Emmett Prexus, a software engineer<br />
who has lived in Dubai with his family<br />
for five years. “It’s common for houses<br />
to have under-the-stairs storage and,<br />
although ours was blocked off, I wondered<br />
if it would be possible to excavate it.”<br />
Emmett called upon Bjorn Fagerlind,<br />
co-owner of Handy Scandy (+971<br />
52 167 5464, handyscandy.com)<br />
who, after assessing the internal<br />
structure of the property, confirmed<br />
that he was onto something.<br />
“At first I thought it was a crazy idea,”<br />
jokes Bjorn. “But after looking at the<br />
CAD drawings, I realised that we could<br />
happily go ahead. The process was fairly<br />
straightforward: we drew an opening in<br />
the wall and used a hi-tech saw with a<br />
built-in HEPA filter that sucks up dust<br />
as it goes, to start digging it out. The only<br />
unknown to the project was what we’d<br />
find on the other side. We had predicted<br />
that we’d get sufficient usable space,<br />
but there was a danger that there’d be<br />
something inside blocking the way. When<br />
we broke through, however, we were<br />
pleasantly surprised by what we found.”<br />
Underneath the stairs was five<br />
square metres of floor space, cluttered<br />
only by some stacks of breeze blocks,<br />
which were easily removed.<br />
“Once the space was cleared, we set<br />
about wiring in an electrical socket, tiling<br />
the floor, plastering the walls and giving<br />
them a lick of paint,” says Bjorn. “It was<br />
then ready to be styled as Emmett and<br />
his wife Esmée wished. We’ve since had<br />
lots of enquiries from homeowners in<br />
Mira. The project seems to have sparked<br />
a trend for under-the-stairs storage.”<br />
54 | bhomes.com
Home renovation | INSPIRATION<br />
TIME<br />
TAKEN:<br />
5 DAYS<br />
FINISHING<br />
TOUCHES<br />
The walls were painted with<br />
the washable Valspar Ultra<br />
Interior Paint (to guard against<br />
scuffs and marks) in Weathervane<br />
for a touch of drama<br />
THE VERDICT<br />
“We’re so pleased with<br />
the end result. It’s bigger<br />
than we thought – we can<br />
even stand up in it. Emily<br />
is delighted with her play<br />
nook and spends a few<br />
hours a day in there. We’ve<br />
even used the space as a<br />
cosy guest bedroom”<br />
– the Prexus family<br />
Turn the page to read our tops tips on planning a similar renovation in your home ➤<br />
bhomes.com | 55
INSPIRATION | Home renovation<br />
A handy how-to<br />
Want your very own under-stairs<br />
cubby? Handy Scandy’s<br />
Bjorn Fagerlind has these top tips<br />
“Make sure you plan your<br />
electrical sockets in advance,<br />
as it would be a pain (and an<br />
additional expense) to add<br />
them afterwards”<br />
STYLING THE SPACE<br />
Esmée Prexus, a photographer, took<br />
charge of styling the space, drawing<br />
on some easy and affordable fixes<br />
to transform it into a cosy nook…<br />
1 The shelving is from IKEA (ikea.<br />
com). Flisat wall storage, Dhs69, and<br />
Flisat doll’s house/wall shelf, Dhs125.<br />
MAKE A PLAN: When planning<br />
a renovation project, it helps<br />
to compile a mini dossier that<br />
details what you are hoping<br />
to achieve, to hand to your<br />
contractor. Pinterest pictures or<br />
sketches are always helpful in<br />
communicating your vision.<br />
CHECK YOUR CONTRACTOR’S<br />
CREDENTIALS: Before employing<br />
a contractor, you should always<br />
check out their previous work and<br />
whether they’ve carried out any<br />
similar projects. It’s important that<br />
they have the correct licence to<br />
carry out the work – if in doubt,<br />
ask to see their trade licence.<br />
Any reputable contractor will<br />
be happy to show you. This will<br />
also confirm that they have the<br />
required insurance in the event<br />
that anyone is injured on the job.<br />
ENSURE YOU HAVE PERMISSION:<br />
In the planning stages, you’ll need<br />
to check with your developer if<br />
a No Objection Certificate (NOC)<br />
is required. Removing internal<br />
walls is usually straightforward,<br />
as long as the surrounding area<br />
affected is structurally sound.<br />
CHECK THE PROJECT PLAN: This<br />
should detail the timeline and<br />
payment terms so you know exactly<br />
what to expect at every stage.<br />
COMMUNICATE: Start a WhatsApp<br />
group between you and your<br />
contractor so you can easily stay<br />
up to speed on what’s happening,<br />
as well as flag and respond to<br />
issues quickly and easily.<br />
NAIL THE FLOORING: For many<br />
residences in Dubai, you can request<br />
the details for the exact floor tiles<br />
that have been used throughout<br />
simply by contacting your<br />
developer. It should be mentioned<br />
in the homeowner’s handbook. In<br />
more established developments,<br />
like Arabian Ranches, you may<br />
find that the standard tiles used<br />
have been discontinued. If this<br />
is the case, ask your contractor<br />
for advice on finding something<br />
similar – RAK Ceramics<br />
(rakceramics.com) is your best<br />
bet – or simply opt for a different<br />
shade for a point of difference.<br />
INVEST IN GOOD MATERIALS:<br />
Further to the above, it’s important<br />
to buy the best materials your<br />
budget will allow. We have refused<br />
to work with materials that are<br />
substandard before as it can<br />
significantly affect the end result.<br />
2 The stylish grey ball pit is from<br />
Scandinavian brand Misioo, brought over<br />
from Denmark. You can find a similar style<br />
at Mumzworld (mumzworld.com): the<br />
Meow Ball Pit in bright pink, Dhs341.25<br />
3 The play kitchen was also bought<br />
from IKEA and fitted with wireless<br />
LED lights to help illuminate the space.<br />
IKEA Duktig play kitchen, Dhs395.<br />
.<br />
56 | bhomes.com
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INSPIRATION | home renovation<br />
A cute kids’ party set-up by Party Camel<br />
58 | bhomes.com
Family life | INSPIRATION<br />
Hip hip<br />
hooray!<br />
Make sure your kids’ birthday party<br />
goes with a bang with our top tips on organising<br />
a fun and stress-free at-home bash…<br />
While we’re spoilt for<br />
choice when it comes to<br />
kids’ party venues in<br />
Dubai, staging a party at<br />
home adds a personal touch. Plus,<br />
it’s easier than you may think.<br />
Whether your child has a guest list<br />
as long as your arm and you want to<br />
keep your budget in check, you need<br />
to cater to a variety of age groups, or<br />
simply want to make happy memories<br />
on home turf, staging the celebration at<br />
home offers you the flexibility you need<br />
to make it work. We spoke to some of<br />
the UAE’s leading kids’ party experts<br />
for some top tips on throwing the gettogether<br />
of your little one’s dreams…<br />
CHOOSE A THEME<br />
So you have a date in the diary,<br />
the invites are out and the RSVPs<br />
are rolling in – the first thing<br />
to decide upon is the theme.<br />
“Hosting your child’s birthday party<br />
at home is a great way for them to<br />
have fun with their friends in their<br />
element and choosing a theme for<br />
the party automatically makes the<br />
planning process so much easier,”<br />
says Fatima Hamou, co-owner<br />
and operations director of event<br />
management company The Big Moo<br />
Events (+971 4 341 9935, thebigmoouae.<br />
com). “For younger kids, having a<br />
unicorn theme is hugely popular at<br />
the moment while, for tweens and<br />
teens, glo (glow-in-the-dark) discos<br />
with neon decorations and glow sticks<br />
are becoming increasingly popular.”<br />
If you’ve quizzed your child for<br />
ideas and are still none the wiser,<br />
think about the size of your group.<br />
“If you’re only inviting a few<br />
close friends, for instance, hone<br />
in on something that’s suited to<br />
smaller gatherings, such as a teddy<br />
bear’s picnic,” says Fatima. “With<br />
that in mind, we find that kids can<br />
become overwhelmed when parties<br />
are too over the top. So although<br />
we have so many options at our<br />
fingertips, which makes it tempting<br />
to organise a big celebration, try<br />
to avoid getting carried away.”<br />
ROLL OUT THE ENTERTAINMENT<br />
Next comes the activities and the<br />
entertainment. “If your budget<br />
is limited, entertainment and<br />
activities are the biggest areas to<br />
focus on, as kids will get the most<br />
enjoyment from them,” says Fatima.<br />
Of course, what you choose<br />
will depend on the time of year,<br />
the size of your group and the<br />
space you have available.<br />
“For smaller apartments and villas,<br />
select activities that are more ‘on<br />
bhomes.com | 59
Family life | INSPIRATION<br />
the spot’ and require less moving<br />
around, such as dance competitions,<br />
circle-based games and stationed<br />
activities, such as a face painting or<br />
having a glam station,” says Natalie<br />
Goodson of Kiducation Parties (+971<br />
56 138 5357, kiducationparties.com).<br />
The most popular party entertainers<br />
in Dubai can get booked up quickly,<br />
so be sure to make contact with<br />
those at the top of your list at<br />
least four weeks in advance.<br />
“Arrange an activity that engages<br />
kids one by one as soon as they arrive,<br />
then select something else that<br />
encourages all the guests to come<br />
together mid-party,’” says Natalie.<br />
“For the former, a balloon artist, face<br />
painter or arts and crafts station<br />
will do the trick nicely, distracting<br />
the kids for just enough time for<br />
parents to catch up with each other.<br />
For the mid-party show, aim for a<br />
high-energy entertainer, with a lot<br />
of interaction. For kids who are shy,<br />
a comedy magic show is often a hit<br />
as they can watch a series of tricks,<br />
with lots of laughs along the way.”<br />
If you have a garden, a bouncy<br />
castle or slip and slide never fails<br />
to impress. Among the places you<br />
can hire them is Tumble Time<br />
(+971 4 348 8542, tumbletimedubai.<br />
com), which has everything from a<br />
fire engine themed bouncy house<br />
to a baby bug slide for little ones.<br />
“The most important thing to<br />
consider when booking a bouncy castle<br />
or slide is to ask if it holds a safety<br />
certificate,” says Nory Ann, senior<br />
events coordinator, Tumble Time<br />
(+971 4 348 8542, tumbletimedubai.<br />
com). “European-made inflatables<br />
should hold the PIPA Safety Certificate.<br />
The material is strong, and it can<br />
cope with the force of air from the<br />
British-made Gibbons fans. This<br />
means that it does not collapse with<br />
the weight of a lot of children jumping<br />
at the same time. All our inflatables<br />
hold the PIPA certification.”<br />
If you have different age groups<br />
at your party, consider hiring<br />
separate bouncers, or only allowing<br />
similar age groups on at one time.<br />
“Having 12-year-olds and threeyear-olds<br />
bouncing at the same time is<br />
not a good idea,” says Nory. “Plus, in the<br />
Dubai climate, bouncy castles can get<br />
hot so always book one with a sun cover.<br />
“Turn the<br />
largest area<br />
in your<br />
home into<br />
the dining<br />
area”<br />
Safety is common sense but make sure<br />
you follow any additional guidelines<br />
given to you by the hire company.”<br />
Got a swimming pool? Splash n<br />
Bounce (+971 4 813 5785, splashnbounce.<br />
com) is known for its cool pool parties<br />
has a great selection of inflatables,<br />
such as the Shark Attached Slide<br />
(from Dhs750 for two hours, to the<br />
Aqua Slide with Pool, Dhs1,650). If<br />
you’re nervous about having too many<br />
kids in the pool, you can even hire a<br />
qualified lifeguard through them.<br />
FEEDING THE MASSES<br />
If you want to keep costs down, there’s<br />
nothing like a spread of home-cooked<br />
nibbles to please a crowd. There are<br />
lots of blogs that offer suggestions, as<br />
well as plenty of ideas on Pinterest<br />
and you can cut down on prep time<br />
by picking up some pre-made fresh<br />
fruit and vegetable platters offered<br />
by supermarkets such as Spinneys.<br />
If you need some extra support, we<br />
rate The Lime Tree Café & Kitchen<br />
(+971 4 325 6325, thelimetreecafe.<br />
com), which offers curated kids’ party<br />
menus featuring tasty little nibbles<br />
such as crumbed mac ‘n’ cheese bites,<br />
New Zealand beef sausage rolls and<br />
miniature pineapple and strawberry<br />
fruit skewers. Plus, they don’t shy<br />
away from last-minute orders. You<br />
can order online up until 6pm the<br />
night before simply click and collect.<br />
SETTING THE SCENE<br />
On the big day, making sure your<br />
guests have enough space to enjoy<br />
themselves may require a bit of creative<br />
thinking. “Turn the largest area<br />
in your home into the dining area,”<br />
advises Natalie. “For most people,<br />
the living room works best, so you<br />
may need to consider shuffling some<br />
bhomes.com | 61
INSPIRATION | Family life<br />
furniture around in order to make<br />
space.” Easytruck’s mobile storage<br />
pods (+971 4 321 8532, easytruck.ae)<br />
are ideal if you need to make large<br />
pieces of furniture disappear for<br />
just a short time. Of course, if you<br />
have valuable art, or sentimental<br />
ornaments, then best move them<br />
somewhere safe to avoid any damage.<br />
“If you haven’t the space for a sitdown<br />
meal, go buffet style and set up<br />
one large table for food with stacked<br />
plates and cutlery so people can simply<br />
help themselves,” says Natalie.<br />
Alternatively, there are many<br />
companies that rent children’s furniture<br />
and dress it up to suit your chosen<br />
theme. Polka Dot Party Hire’s (+971<br />
55 437 4000, polkadotpartyhire.com)<br />
cute furniture, for instance, costs from<br />
Dhs10 per table or stool. Parents of older<br />
children will like their dreamy canopy<br />
tent beds for sleepovers. From Dhs900<br />
for four beds (requiring self set-up).<br />
If you’re decorating yourself,<br />
we rate Party Camel (+971 4 321<br />
5156, partycamel.com), for its<br />
extensive range of party goodies,<br />
from balloons and bunting to<br />
tablewear, party bags and favours.<br />
When setting up activity stations, you<br />
can draw upon some handy strategies<br />
to help direct the flow of guests. Place<br />
a colouring station just outside the<br />
garden doors to encourage children<br />
outside, for instance, and stack gifts at<br />
the bottom of the stairs to discourage<br />
little ones from scampering up. Close<br />
doors to any rooms that aren’t part<br />
of the party space. Lastly, set up a<br />
seperate drinks station to avoid a<br />
bottleneck around the food station.<br />
THE BIG CLEAR UP<br />
If the party has drained you of all<br />
your energy, there are lots of cleaning<br />
companies out there that can do a postparty<br />
sweep and restore your home to its<br />
former glory. Spectrum Services (+971 4<br />
431 0113, spectrumservices.ae) offers a<br />
before and after party cleaning services,<br />
including making sure the kitchen is<br />
spotless, all dishes and glasses are put<br />
away, the rubbish is taken out and the<br />
furniture is back in order. Freshly Maids<br />
(+971 4 368 1199, freshlymaids.ae) has<br />
a similar, dedicated service so you can<br />
steal a few moments of calm to enjoy a<br />
well-earned second helping of cake.<br />
Bake off<br />
Blow out the candles on<br />
these beauties…<br />
Off the shelf<br />
Marks & Spencer’s Colin the<br />
Caterpillar cake has arrived in<br />
Dubai! The popular chocolate<br />
sponge roll is a guaranteed<br />
crowd pleaser (if it’s good<br />
enough for David Beckham’s<br />
41 st birthday…). Dhs79,<br />
marksandspencerme.com<br />
From the bakery<br />
Magnolia Bakery has<br />
a delicious range of<br />
birthday cakes starting<br />
from Dhs134. Available<br />
at Bloomingdale’s,<br />
The Dubai Mall; Dubai<br />
Festival City Mall;<br />
and The Galleria on<br />
Al Maryah Island,<br />
magnoliabakery.com<br />
Bespoke bake<br />
House of Cakes can<br />
whip you up an on-trend<br />
design, from a vibrant<br />
unicorn sponge to an<br />
Angry Birds or Paw Patrol<br />
themed delight. Prices<br />
start at Dhs200 for an<br />
eight-portion cake, while<br />
more elaborate designs<br />
cost from Dhs25-35 per<br />
person/portion. It’s best<br />
to place your order at<br />
least four to five days in<br />
advance. +971 4 420 6973,<br />
houseofcakesdubai.com<br />
62 | bhomes.com
UNCOVER EVEN MORE FUN AND THRILLS!<br />
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and multiply it all by the perfect location. Now that’s what we call the ultimate<br />
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or call us on +971 4 348 4444
Why not buy?<br />
Here for the long haul? Then perhaps<br />
it’s time to put down some Dubai roots<br />
No-one likes to throw money away on rent,<br />
but switching from tenant to homeowner is a<br />
big step and a major financial consideration.<br />
Betterhomes has been on the ground helping<br />
Dubai residents for over 30 years, and we think it’s a<br />
great place to invest. Let’s start with some facts...<br />
A high achiever in every respect it’s not often that<br />
Dubai wants to drop its global rankings, but in the<br />
Mercer <strong>2018</strong> Cost of Living survey, which compares cities<br />
around the world, the emirate was ranked 26 t h in the<br />
region (down from 19 th place in 2017).<br />
Dubai also bagged 18 th spot in a Deutsche Bank<br />
quality of life index of 50 top global cities and was also<br />
recently named the second safest city in the world.<br />
Residents spend at least 40% of their income on<br />
paying rent. If you’re a ‘Dubai lifer’, do the maths!<br />
64 | bhomes.com
Moving in | PROPERTY<br />
ASK THE INSIDER<br />
Richard Waind, Director of Brokerage, Betterhomes<br />
IS IT A GOOD TIME TO INVEST?<br />
We are seeing more and more<br />
expats choosing to own rather<br />
than rent. There are great<br />
opportunities for residents to<br />
buy a home in Dubai and prices<br />
have come down considerably<br />
since the 2014 peak. There is<br />
now real value to be found in the<br />
secondary market, in particular.<br />
Lower prices and low interest<br />
rates mean that for many people<br />
monthly mortgage payments<br />
would be lower than their rent<br />
on a comparable property.<br />
WHAT ARE THE OTHER BENEFITS?<br />
The main benefit of owning is<br />
that, upon selling, you will have<br />
some equity in the property<br />
through mortgage repayment,<br />
and hopefully some capital<br />
growth. While not all property<br />
investments see capital returns,<br />
buyers in today’s market might<br />
be more positive about prices in<br />
the next five years than the last<br />
five years. Even if prices remain<br />
flat or slightly soften further, a<br />
buyer who bought today and paid<br />
down their mortgage is likely<br />
to have a nice amount of equity<br />
in five years. Anybody renting<br />
a property over the same time<br />
will likely have paid out more<br />
on a monthly/yearly basis and<br />
will have nothing to show for it.<br />
WHAT IF I DON’T HAVE THE<br />
25% DOWN PAYMENT?<br />
For those who can afford the<br />
25% deposit, buying makes a lot<br />
of financial sense. For those who<br />
don’t have the 25%, the off-plan<br />
market has some fantastic offers<br />
and deals from developers.<br />
BEFORE YOU BUY<br />
Grab a clean sheet of paper, sharpen a pencil and ask yourself the<br />
following questions:<br />
HOW LONG DO I PLAN ON STAYING HERE?<br />
If it’s only a couple of years or there’s a strong possibility that your company<br />
might relocate you, and the thought of renting your home out down the line<br />
sounds like too much hassle, stick to renting.<br />
CAN I REALLY AFFORD IT?<br />
How stable is your job? If you have a regular income and your company is<br />
doing well, it’s potentially less risky. Word of warning: your mortgage is<br />
linked to your residency, so if you do end up having to leave Dubai, your<br />
mortgage will either need to be paid off (cash or house sale) or you’ll need to<br />
renegotiate the terms with the bank (if you want to rent it out, for example).<br />
CAN I AFFORD THE DOWN PAYMENT?<br />
The first hurdle is the average 25% up-front down payment (a significant<br />
amount for any investor in any market) as well as the mortgage repayments.<br />
It’s worth noting, however, that personal loans cannot be used to finance<br />
down payments for property investments in the UAE.<br />
COST IT OUT<br />
A hefty down payment<br />
isn’t the only financial<br />
outlay, with a number<br />
of up-front fees and<br />
related home purchase<br />
costs to build into your<br />
budget. These add up<br />
to around 7% of the<br />
total purchase price<br />
and include:<br />
4% Dubai Land<br />
Department (DLD)<br />
transfer fee (based<br />
on total property<br />
purchase price)<br />
0.25% DLD mortgage<br />
registration fee<br />
(% of total agreed<br />
home loan) + Dhs290<br />
admin fee<br />
Dhs2,000-4,000<br />
property registration<br />
fee (dependent on<br />
value of property)<br />
Dhs2,500-3,000<br />
property valuation fee<br />
Bank mortgage set-up<br />
fee (could be zero, or<br />
anywhere up to 1% of<br />
total loan amount)<br />
2% real estate broker<br />
fee, plus 5% VAT for<br />
agency fees<br />
4% Oqood fee for<br />
off-plan sales only<br />
Plus, once you’ve<br />
bought, there are<br />
annual community<br />
service/maintenance<br />
fees to consider, too<br />
MAKE ME AN OFFER<br />
Home loans are capped at 75%, which means that your monthly<br />
mortgage payment covers 75% of the property value plus interest.<br />
Valid for a period of up to 25 years, fixed rate mortgage products,<br />
which usually run for a maximum of five years before switching to a<br />
variable interest rate), currently range from 3-4%.<br />
bhomes.com | 65
VILLAS WITH<br />
POOLS<br />
Six<br />
of the<br />
best<br />
Dive into this pick of our<br />
dreamiest homes for sale<br />
and rent this month<br />
FOR SALE<br />
AED8.7 million<br />
1PALM JUMEIRAH<br />
This stunning Garden Homes villa – which stands on Frond A and faces<br />
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai – has recently had its price reduced from<br />
AED9 million and is mortgage free, making any prospective purchase a<br />
relatively straightforward process. Privacy is a standout feature of this<br />
villa, with the private pool and garden area not overlooked by neighbours.<br />
Another factor in its favour is that it’s only ever been occupied by its owner,<br />
who has maintained the property to a high standard. All of the villa’s four<br />
bedrooms are en-suite, with a maid’s room offering additional space.<br />
Beds: 4<br />
Bath: 5.5<br />
Parking: 2<br />
For further details call 04 409 0998 and quote REF: VI326206, RERA Permit No.<br />
1429138081. Nearby school and nursery: GEMS Wellington; Asya’s Nursery.<br />
FOR RENT<br />
AED265k annually<br />
2THE VILLA<br />
This custom-built villa features five spacious bedrooms, and a<br />
separate study that’s fitted with wooden bookshelves. One of the<br />
en-suite bedrooms is on the ground floor, with the rest an elevator-ride away<br />
on the villa’s first floor, which is also home to a dedicated family room and<br />
small pantry. Back on the ground floor, the fully-fitted kitchen leads out to a<br />
landscaped garden in which the large pool has been beautifully upgraded.<br />
For further details call 04 409 0998 and quote REF: VI348173, RERA Permit<br />
No. 0488215564. Nearby school and nursery: GEMS FirstPoint School; Kids<br />
Zone Nursery.<br />
Beds: 5<br />
Bath: 6<br />
Parking: 2<br />
66 | bhomes.com
View more listings at bhomes.com<br />
Beds: 5<br />
Bath: 5.5<br />
Parking: 2<br />
FOR RENT<br />
AED300k annually<br />
3THE VILLA<br />
This unique property has been fully upgraded and features numerous<br />
examples of bespoke wall finishes throughout, many of which are a<br />
mix of stone and wood imported from the Far East. All five bedrooms are ensuite<br />
and, in some cases, feature large balconies that have been enclosed<br />
in glass to serve as an extension of the bedroom – good to use as walk-in<br />
wardrobe, gym, or games room. The pool area is secluded and shaded<br />
thanks to ample foliage, while some of the villa’s current furniture is included.<br />
For further details call 04 409 0998 and quote REF: VI333300, RERA Permit<br />
No. 1931352169. Nearby school and nursery: Repton School Dubai; Chubby<br />
Cheeks Nursery.<br />
bhomes.com | 67
SHOP | Betterhomes Magazine<br />
FOR SALE<br />
AED49 million<br />
4PALM JUMEIRAH<br />
Situated right on the beach, this<br />
luxurious villa offers stunning<br />
views that include Atlantis The Palm,<br />
Dubai. Located on a plot size of more<br />
than 13,000 sq. ft., it features six en-suite<br />
bedrooms on the upper floor, with the<br />
master bedroom boasting a Jacuzzi. The<br />
ground floor, meanwhile, is an entertainer’s<br />
dream – the smart kitchen extends to the<br />
breakfast area and private dining room,<br />
while the living room opens out onto the<br />
entertainment area with a swimming<br />
pool and the landscaped gardens lending<br />
a tropical feel in keeping with the<br />
beautiful surroundings.<br />
For further details call 04 409 0998<br />
and quote REF: VI349311, RERA Permit<br />
No. 1778036270. Nearby school and<br />
nursery: Dubai College; Babilou<br />
Palm Jumeirah.<br />
Beds: 6<br />
Bath: 8<br />
Parking: 4<br />
68 | bhomes.com
View more listings at bhomes.com<br />
FOR SALE<br />
AED4.499 million<br />
5ARABIAN RANCHES<br />
This spacious five-bedroom, independent villa in Saheel is located on a plot<br />
size of approximately 10,000 sq. ft., providing ample room for its stylish pool and<br />
gazebo. This desirable outdoor space, in which mature planting is a feature, is the<br />
highlight of a well-maintained home that has one of its bedrooms downstairs, along<br />
with the living/dining area, kitchen and a maid’s room. The other four bedrooms are<br />
upstairs, where you’ll also find a TV room.<br />
For further details call 04 409 0998 and quote REF: VI359106, RERA Permit No. 0109507575.<br />
Nearby school and nursery: Jumeirah English Speaking School (JESS); Building<br />
Blocks Nursery.<br />
Beds: 5<br />
Bath: 4.5<br />
Parking: 2<br />
FOR RENT<br />
AED290k annually<br />
6JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES<br />
This Tuscan type villa in Orange Lakes overlooks the golf course and boasts<br />
five bedrooms, one of which is housed on the ground floor and is en-suite,<br />
making it perfect for visiting family. The top floor, which can be accessed by an<br />
internal elevator, houses the master and three other bedrooms. The kitchen and<br />
laundry area come with in-built Miele appliances, while tenants also benefit from<br />
having membership of JGE’s country club.<br />
For further details call 04 409 0998 and quote REF: VI357387, RERA Permit No. 0607769500.<br />
Nearby school and nursery: Victory Heights Primary School; The Wonder<br />
Years Nursery.<br />
Beds: 5<br />
Bath: 5.5<br />
Parking: 2<br />
bhomes.com | 69
THE PLACE TO MOVE TO<br />
Jumeirah Golf Estates<br />
This peaceful golf community may<br />
have been developed around two 18-<br />
hole golf courses, but it has much to<br />
offer non-players, too<br />
WHY MOVE THERE?<br />
Jumeirah Golf Estates, or JGE in its<br />
slimmer form, has its own distinctive<br />
character, with abundant greenery,<br />
swooping parakeets, and actual<br />
gradients – the villas are plotted at<br />
different levels, making for an attractive<br />
landscape. If you like the idea of being<br />
woken by birdsong instead of car horns,<br />
this is the place for you.<br />
THE COMMUNITY<br />
A country club, which all property<br />
owners have to be paid-up members<br />
of, is home to a pool, gym, and daily<br />
exercise classes, while communal<br />
events are fairly common and well<br />
attended. The lively Sports Bar here<br />
trumps the main clubhouse restaurant,<br />
Flame Tree Restaurant & Grill, and<br />
there are multiple active Facebook<br />
groups devoted to residents and<br />
a recently introduced community<br />
concierge service – a first for a<br />
community in Dubai. Enhancements<br />
to the development as a whole are<br />
made on an on-going basis.<br />
TRANSPORT<br />
With quick and easy access to Sheikh<br />
Mohammed bin Zayed Road or the<br />
E44 (Al Khail Road), JGE is well<br />
connected, if you drive. If not, you’ll<br />
have to wait for the opening of the<br />
planned metro station.<br />
SCHOOLS<br />
There is no school within the<br />
development, but in the adjacent<br />
Victory Heights you’ll find Victory<br />
Heights Primary School, while a<br />
10-minute drive away (if you time it<br />
just right) is Nord Anglia International<br />
School, which caters for foundation<br />
through to secondary.<br />
SHOPPING<br />
Within the community itself is The<br />
Fairways, home to a decent little<br />
Choithrams supermarket and handy<br />
services like a tailor, pharmacy,<br />
dry cleaning and both men and<br />
women’s hair and beauty salons.<br />
A five-minute drive away is City<br />
Centre Me’aisem, which is anchored<br />
by a large Carrefour.<br />
Meet the neighbours<br />
Elisha Tyler and family rent a villa in Whispering Pines<br />
We moved to Jumeirah Golf Estates four years ago, originally to a large villa in Sienna Lakes, but<br />
after a couple of years there we decided to downsize a little to free up some more disposable income.<br />
We initially considered Silicon Oasis which would have been closer to our kids’ schools, but opted to<br />
stay in Jumeirah Golf Estates as we loved the community so much – it suits us perfectly. It’s safe for<br />
our 12-year-old son to cycle to other communities within JGE to meet his friends, and my husband<br />
and I enjoy a great social life with our neighbours and make full use of the country club facilities.<br />
70 | bhomes.com
Area guide | PROPERTY<br />
Ask the Agent<br />
Omar Mohammed is the resident<br />
JGE expert at Betterhomes.<br />
If you’d like to contact him to<br />
arrange a showing or to learn<br />
of any ‘open house’ dates in the<br />
JGE development, call +971 58<br />
206 4911<br />
Launched in 2005, Jumeirah Golf Estates has 15<br />
different communities in total, five of which are<br />
under construction. Jumeirah Golf Estates is the<br />
‘master’ developer and they have designed five of<br />
the communities: Flame Tree Ridge, Redwood Park,<br />
Redwood Avenue, Whispering Pines, Olive Point, and<br />
Alandalus. The others each have a different developer.<br />
Owners of Whispering Pines properties in particular<br />
will tell you of their superior build quality.<br />
Golf buggies are given to owners of properties within<br />
three of the communities: Flame Tree Ridge, Redwood<br />
Park, and Whispering Pines.<br />
The size of the properties range from 1BR-4BR<br />
apartments; 2BR-4BR townhouses; and 4BR-7BR villas.<br />
The prices of properties are wide ranging, with<br />
Alandalus apartments starting at Dhs749,000,<br />
townhouses from Dhs3 million, and villas in the wider<br />
community going all the way up to Dhs24 million.<br />
There has been a lot of demand in the rental market,<br />
where prices have remained steady over the past<br />
12 months.<br />
Sales transactions have been slower as the entry<br />
price for villas is still higher than in neighbouring<br />
communities, such as Victory Heights.<br />
There has been a lot of interest recently from people<br />
who currently live in Al Barari and Emirates Hills but are<br />
are looking to move to Jumeirah Golf Estates.<br />
Small families and couples who want to live in JGE<br />
should take a look at the apartments and townhouses<br />
in the soon-to-be-completed Alandalus development,<br />
or the already complete townhouses at Redwood Park.<br />
For Sale<br />
AED9,400,000<br />
Wildflower, 5-bed, furnished<br />
PROPERTIES IN JGE<br />
3The<br />
number of<br />
communities<br />
within JGE<br />
where<br />
homeowners<br />
are given<br />
their own<br />
golf buggies<br />
For Rent<br />
AED210,000 per year<br />
Redwood Park, 4-bed<br />
OFF-PLAN PROPERTY<br />
FOCUS<br />
EMAAR Expo Golf Villas<br />
WHAT ARE THEY?<br />
As the city gears up for Expo 2020<br />
Dubai, more and more projects are<br />
being announced, with this just the<br />
latest. Expo Golf Villas – so named<br />
because they will encircle a new 18-<br />
hole golf course – are available with<br />
three or four bedrooms.<br />
WHERE ARE THEY LOCATED?<br />
In Emaar South, a huge underconstruction<br />
development that’s close<br />
to the Expo 2020 site and Al Maktoum<br />
international Airport. It will eventually<br />
comprise over 20,000 houses and<br />
a further 15,000 apartments, dotted<br />
throughout a proposed 25 parks.<br />
WHAT ARE THE MAIN FEATURES?<br />
Greenery is a key driver of Emaar’s<br />
Expo Golf Villas, with the promise of<br />
two landscaped parks to go along<br />
with that aforementioned golf course<br />
and all its necessary foliage. Aimed<br />
very much at families, an on-site<br />
community centre will house an<br />
outdoor pool and dedicated children’s<br />
play area, plus a gym. Furthermore,<br />
a clubhouse at the golf course and<br />
separate hotel will boast additional<br />
facilities, complementing the many<br />
retail and F&B outlets planned for<br />
Emaar South boulevard.<br />
WHAT IS THE STARTING PRICE OF<br />
THE VILLAS?<br />
The three-bedroom villas begin<br />
at AED999,888.<br />
WHAT’S THE EXPECTED COMPLETION<br />
DATE FOR EXPO GOLF VILLAS?<br />
August 2021.<br />
IS THERE A PAYMENT PLAN AVAILABLE?<br />
There is. Spread over five years,<br />
payments are scheduled as follows:<br />
5% down payment; 5% within 30 days<br />
of booking; 1.25% per month for 60<br />
months; 15% final instalment.<br />
RERA Permit No. 0607769500<br />
For further information, call<br />
Betterhomes 800 52 2233<br />
bhomes.com | 71
BACK PAGE | Search for a home<br />
home<br />
COULD YOUR<br />
cover<br />
BE OUR<br />
star?<br />
To celebrate our<br />
newly revamped<br />
magazine, we’re<br />
searching for the UAE’s<br />
most beautiful homes<br />
SHOP | Betterhomes Magazine<br />
DECEMBER <strong>2018</strong><br />
AED5<br />
The magazine of Betterhomes<br />
HOME RENO<br />
Creating<br />
an underthe-stairs<br />
playroom<br />
ESCAPE<br />
TO A<br />
WILD<br />
GARDEN<br />
MOVE-IN READY<br />
HOMES WITH<br />
DREAMY POOLS<br />
19 | bhomes.com<br />
12<br />
FESTIVE<br />
DECOR<br />
IDEAS<br />
NEW<br />
LOOK<br />
NEW<br />
FEATURES<br />
Daring<br />
designs<br />
At home with a self-confessed maximalist<br />
ARE YOU OBSESSED WITH INTERIORS?<br />
Do you find yourself spending ages hunting down that perfect<br />
accessory or returning from your travels with fab finds for your home?<br />
Do friends always comment on how gorgeous your home is and ask<br />
for advice on how to style their own space?<br />
We’re looking to feature homes belonging to our design savvy<br />
readers, whether it’s a palatial Emirates Hills villa that has been<br />
furnished with the help of a professional interior designer or a rented<br />
apartment complete with DIY hacks and easy fixes. If your property is<br />
stylish and individual, we want to hear from you.<br />
If we choose your home, our professional team will photograph you<br />
at your home, to appear in an issue of Better Living in 2019.<br />
GET IN TOUCH<br />
To be in with a chance of being featured,<br />
send us a selection of snaps of the main<br />
rooms or areas of your home, such as living<br />
area, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms,<br />
bathrooms, garden or balcony. Send the<br />
photos to lucy@hotmediapublishing.com<br />
and include ‘My Home’ in the subject line.<br />
We look forward to hearing from you!<br />
72 | bhomes.com