Life's a Peach

Beauty boss Maha Morley-Kirk reveals how her passion for books and food inspired her peachy Jumeirah Park home

“I’m a very visual person, and very minimalistic. If my home is messy I can’t stand it,” admits Maha, as she brushes the crumbs from my croissant into a tidy pile as if on autopilot. A self-confessed perfectionist, Maha was living between Saudi Arabia and Dubai before snapping up this four-bedroom family home in Jumeirah Park in 2016. The owner of lash and brow brand Pinky Goat (@pinkygoatlashes), this stylish entrepreneur from Lebanon has a natural flair for aesthetics, but it was the convenience of living within walking distance to her daughter Keona’s school, as opposed to the challenge of a home makeover, that drew her to the property.

“Dubai is perennially sunny so it’s easy to feel like you’re on holiday and when it came to the interior design my husband Richard and I wanted to push that vibe by creating a very open, relaxing space,” she says.

Now with a foodie blog in the works, Maha is often found in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes, so the first thing on the agenda was knocking down the interior partition walls on the ground floor to create an open-plan space, making it easier to socialise while cooking up a storm.

Using Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration, Maha decided upon a peach and grey warehouse style look and feel, carefully selecting the cement style floor tile from RAK Ceramics and teaming with the Blushing Peach paint hue from Jotun.

All the renovation and decorating works, which took three months, were completed before the family moved in and the result speaks to the heart.

“The kitchen is the core of the home,” says Maha. “We eat breakfast together at the island every morning. My husband bakes fresh bread, so we planted a herb garden to be able to cut some fresh flavours, such as rosemary, to sprinkle on top.”

MAHA COLLECTS CROCKERY WHILE ON HER TRAVELS, AND CRAFTS ADDITIONAL PIECES HERSELF AT YADAWEI CERAMIC STUDIO IN AL QUOZ

The kitchen island is topped with a wood look vinyl wrap, as are the shelves – it was the easiest way to get the grey tone”

EASY LIVING

The living room features wall art from Drawdeck, with peach cushions and a jute rug from The One pulling the look together. A calm space that also benefits from natural light, the area near the patio doors is currently Maha’s temporary yoga studio; at least until she renovates the master terrace into a sun room.

CREATIVE DEN

In the office (right), the shelves are piled high with gorgeous linens, faux flowers, vintage cutlery and Maha’s handmade pottery while fairy lights add a whimsical feel to the work area.

THE BLACK ALUMINUM FRAMED DOORWAY TO THE OFFICE LENDS THE SPACE A CHIC STUDIO-LIKE FEEL

WELL READ

Fresh flowers and plants are key to Maha’s home style, as is a fully-stocked library. These Pottery Barn bookshelves are stacked with coffee tables tomes, novels and recipe books, with a rotating selection on loan from the local library. “I’m a social media freak so my antidote is to sit and read,” she says.

THE SPA LIKE SUITE

Taking the concept of an open house to the max, the stunning master suite is reminiscent of a spa retreat with its open bathroom (yes, there’s really no door) featuring a sleek freestanding bathtub from RAK Ceramics, and matte black fixtures.

I read every evening in my bedroom from around 7:30pm until it's time to go to sleep"

The open, walk-in closet allows Maha to maintain a perfectly curated wardrobe. Yet more books can be found on her nightstand beside the Marina Home bed – Hashtag Authentic by Sara Tasker is a current favourite.

A GARDEN THAT GROWS

“I need greenery around me for energy,” says Maha, who laid a real lawn in the back garden so her daughter could pracitse her gymnastics, and switched up the swimming pool tiles to a light blue for a more cohesive colour palette. A wood effect tile was chosen for the entertaining areas, with Pottery Barn dining furniture providing a stylish place for guests to enjoy those summer barbecues.

“I have a ‘no take away’ rule,” says Maha. “I love to bake and I also savour my green tea and coffee. I like to grind the beans in the morning – the aroma is amazing.” The front garden is where the wild herbs grow, including thyme, rosemary and mint. “In my old home in Lebanon we have olive trees so it reminds me of that,” she says. “I also have fig, lime, lemon and mango trees here with a pomegranate tree arriving soon from Dubai Garden Centre.”

DURING THE WINTER WE THROW OPEN THE DOORS AND HOST BARBECUES FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY IN THE GARDEN