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    Anu Kewalram brings her classic aesthetic to a five-bedroom family home in Dubai

    DEC 7, 2023 | By Aatish Nath
    A view of the seating area shows the armchairs from The Loom Collection, while the planter in the background is from Bloomr. The coffee table and side table are from Pottery Barn, while the frames on the wall are from IKEA. The accessories inside the custom-made display unit and on the centre table are from Zara Home, Luxx Home and Pottery Barn; Photographs by Anya Twist
    In the master bedroom, the custom desk is by Theyyampatil Bespoke Furniture with a chair by West Elm. Opposite, the seating area features a linen armchair from The Loom Collection, rug from Zara Home, and floor lamp and side table from Pottery Barn; Photographs by Anya Twist
    Another view of the seating area showcases the Nastya Damarad and carpet from The Carpet Centre. The lights and tables are from Pottery Barn; Photographs by Anya Twist
    An Ikea sectional sofa has reupholstered in high performance fabric. The roman blinds and the fabric are from The World of Curtains. The nesting tables, floor lamp and cushions are from Zara Home, while the frame on the walls are from IKEA. The rug is from The Carpet Centre; Photographs by Anya Twist
    In the daughter’s room, The Enchanted Forest of Stories wallpaper is from Stories for Walls. The bed, nightstand and lamp are from Pottery Barn Kids, while the rug is from Pottery Barn. The bed linen is from Mirai Home and the canopy in the corner is from Smallable. The Roman blinds are from The World of Curtains; Photographs by Anya Twist
    In one of the children’s bedrooms, the neatly arranged space is thanks to the Trofast toy storage set, which along with the play table and chair set, and kitchen set are all from IKEA. The area rug is from Pottery Barn Kids and the floor cushions are from Zara Home; Photographs by Anya Twist

    In Dubai, a city of sky-high construction and reflective glass buildings, a five-bedroom home serves as the anthesis. Creamy linens and a generous use of wooden accents creates a space that is simple and understated. The house had been purchased earlier and some aspects — like the flooring, bathrooms and kitchen had already been completed before interior designer Anu Kewalram, Founder and Director of her eponymous firm, was brought in to work on the 4,200 sq ft house. 

    Anu Kewalram
    Behind the seating area is an artwork by Nastya D, while the rug is from The Carpet Centre. The ceiling light and both, the coffee and side tables are from Pottery Barn; Photographs by Anya Twist

    Unifying details

    Throughout the home, arches and soft hues give the house a sense of unity. Kewalram admits that some structural changes were made to better the flow.

    However, overall, she says, “This home stays away from bold shapes and patterns, bright colours and edginess.” She adds though, that she’s made use of a mix of soft curves with bold blacks, while making use of vintage pieces alongside modern contemporary art,” for a space that is classic contemporary.

    The entrance features a farmhouse style console from Pottery Barn with a round mirror from Zara Home above it. The rattan baskets are from H&M Home and the other accessories are from Pottery Barn and Zara Home; Photographs by Anya Twist

     

    The entryway features a rattan bench from Home and Soul furniture with cushions from Zara Home. The artwork above is by Bea; Photographs by Anya Twist

    The home, in the city’s Meadows Community, sees a front door open into a foyer which allows views of the living and dining spaces. The ground floor also includes the kitchen, guest bedroom and powder bathroom.

    On the first floor a small living area has doors to the master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a second bedroom with a balcony which was designed for the couple’s toddler twins, and two other bedrooms that share a bathroom. Those bedrooms are for their two children aged under 10. 

    Anu Kewalram
    A rug from The Carpet Centre and dining table and chairs from Pottery Barn highlight the dining area. The display unit and sideboard are custom designed by Anu Kewalram and made by Theyyampatil Bespoke Furniture. The ottomans are from Wood Culture; Photographs by Anya Twist

     

    Anu Kewalram
    A view of the seating and dining area showcases a custom media unit on the far wall designed by Anu Kewalram and made by Theyyampatil Furniture. The dining area features table and chairs from Pottery Barn on a rug from The Carpet Centre. The two armchairs are from the Loom Collection, accessories from Zara Home, Luxx Home and Pottery Barn; Photographs by Anya Twist

    Even with its neutral palette, care was given to ensure that the house was child-friendly. So, stain-resistant materials were used along with zero VOC wall paint (Simply White from Benjamin Moore). Kewalram adds, “Accents of wood, such as oak and walnut were added to create warmth and character, while rattan and brass added a touch of class to spaces defined with bold blacks.”

    Anu Kewalram
    The dining area features a custom unit designed by Anu Kewalram and produced by Theyyampatil Furniture. On the wall, Nastya Damarad artwork can be seen behind the dining table and chairs, which are from Pottery Barn. The rug is from The Carpet Cellar and other accessories are from Zara Home, Luxx Home and Pottery Barn; Photographs by Anya Twist

     

    Anu Kewalram
    The dining nook features a low hanging light fixture that is from Pottery Barn, as are the chairs. The cushions are from IKEA. The custom table, seating and shelving were executed by Theyyampatil Furniture; Photographs by Anya Twist

    Child-friendly and uncluttered

    Further, the children’s rooms were designed with unique colours and themes, to ensure that each room had their own personality. A favourite was the daughter’s room. Kewalram explains, “it literally went from cluttered and messy to a gorgeous and functional room of what fairy tales and dreams are made up of,” with hints of pink, and a wallpaper behind the bed to tie it all together. 

    In the master bedroom, a custom desk by Theyyampatil Bespoke Furniture serves as a workspace. The chair is from West Elm; Photographs by Anya Twist

    The master bedroom though was the most challenging room to tackle, as it took a lot of thought to convert the plain, rectangular space into one with different zones. An arch was constructed to separate different areas of the room, which also required a split air conditioner to be repositioned so it would no longer be in anyone’s sight lines.

    The room, and the house are a showcase of Kewalram’s design philosophy, where her classic aesthetic can shine. She says, “Most of the spaces in this house reflect my style of designing with neutrals and materials that bring colour, texture and depth together.”

    Anu Kewalram
    In the master bedroom, the custom desk is by Theyyampatil Bespoke Furniture with a chair by West Elm. Opposite, the seating area features a linen armchair from The Loom Collection, rug from Zara Home, and floor lamp and side table from Pottery Barn; Photographs by Anya Twist

     

    Anu Kewalram
    This bedroom nook features a floor lamp and side table from Pottery Barn, an arched mirror from West Elm, a linen armchair from The Loom Collection, an area rug from Zara Home; Photographs by Anya Twist

    She notes, “Most of the house flows with a distinctive style but yet each space has its own functionality and features that are unique to its surroundings.” So even within the theme, there is the ability to bring in different influences. She notes that the ground floor breakfast area has a modern farmhouse vibe, where the arched cabinetry with black and brass detailing brings Spanish architecture to mind. For a large family, its these communal spaces where memories are made and meals are shared. 

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