INSPIRATION | Expert advice
Ask the
DESIGNER Open up your space. If you are planning to renovate, the biggest and most dramatic change you can make is by opening up the space as much as possible. Many houses in the UAE are built with lots of interior partition walls, which can make them feel smaller and darker. Knocking down any that are unnecessary, as long as it’s structurally sound to do so, will breathe new life into the space. When renovating The Lake House in The Lakes [pictured], I did exactly this and was even able to dramatically widen the door frame leading from the sitting room to the garden, to really enhance the boho holiday vibe. Bring the outside in. The more natural elements you can weave into your space the better. At one end of the scale, that could mean installing a pool in the garden, so you feel the serenity of having water nearby. If that’s not an option, simply bringing fresh flowers into the home can help set the tone – you can’t go wrong with white blooms. Add a wash of white. An easy yet dramatic change to make is painting all the walls white. There are so many shades to choose from but my personal favourite at the moment is Dulux White on White – it’s beautiful.
Introduce some easy updates. If you are renting your property and don’t want to make a big investment, a few choice accessories can go a long way to achieving this look. Lighting is a great place to start both in terms of style and helping to set the mood. Opt for a large beaded chandelier or pendant in the communal areas or in a space that calls for a statement piece, such as the stairwell. Check out our Clay Twist Chandelier, which is hand rolled from raw clay handmade in Africa by a community of women in Kwazulu Natal. Hang your curtains well. Key to this look is long, flowing white or cream linen curtains. The trick is to fix the curtain poles above the window frame, going as high towards the ceiling as possible, while leaving a sensible amount of space at the top. This means you can use the longest curtain length to suit your space, taking the material right down to the floor. This gives the illusion of larger windows, helping the space to feel light and airy. The curtains you can see here are three metres long, bought from IKEA. Use beaded tiebacks, like these ones I source from Indonesia, to cinch each individual curtain in the middle – it creates a lovely shape. +971 56 705 8178, hauteboheme.ae
TIP
A wood effect floor tile enhances this look well, but you can easily dress up a marble floor by layering textiles. Sea grass rugs in black, white or a natural tone work well with faux fur throws in muted hues.
34 | bhomes.com
Kym Jackson Shen at The Lake House in The Lakes, thelakehousevilla.com
Kym Jackson Shen, director of Haute Bohéme on mastering the bohemian luxe look
