THE HOTEL SHOW, DUBAI 2016

I was honored to be the online media partner that covers “THE HOTEL SHOW ” on my blog this year. It is always a pleasure visiting the Dubai World Trade Center for a trade show. The entry process was completely digital with very little need for human intervention. This shows how Dubai is aggressively progressing towards becoming the regions first complete digital city. Needless to say the show was managed seamlessly by DMG Events.

Interior Design is an integral part of the hotel show and that was evident by the large number of booths that spanned over several halls that displayed furniture, finishes and lighting products. I would highly recommend visiting the Hotel show if you are part of the Interior Design Industry even if you are not directly working within the Hotel Sector. There is a lot to learn and I am happy to share with you my findings.

I was very happy to meet the representatives of STYLIS hotel solutions after being drawn to their wonderfully subdued yet rich display. STYLIS offers complete turnkey solutions from design to production of european furniture and finishes to their clients. I was surprised to learn they also have a line of office furniture solutions. Another reason why all Interior Design professionals must visit THE HOTEL SHOW you never know what you will find.

The display by TAM stood out with it’s clean lines and simplicity of design. Tamilla Jazayeri the very talented designer who founded TAM spoke very passionately about her love for design. I was very proud of the exceptional quality of her designs that were manufactured here in the UAE.

 

Granorte displayed their very unique sustainable furniture, finishes and bath products. I learnt how waste from wine cork stoppers was used as raw material to manufacture their award wininng products. Their cork floating floors “Vita Decor” are a few examples how we can beautify our spaces whilst being conscious of our effects on the environment.

My Mosaic showcased their very innovative mosaic tiles that were manufactured with a new patented nanotechnology based polymer. They can convert any digital image to customizable mosaics. The advantage are that these are extremely light weight as compared to tile/stone mosaic, they are flexible enough to be wrapped with ease around curved surfaces and most of all the mosaic shapes and sizes can be customized as well.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this article. Please follow me on instagram for instant updates. I will be back with more interesting producst and news from the design world in the coming weeks.

                                        Till next time  “ Stay tuned… Stay Funky!” 

Giving the gift of Imagination!

Giving the gift of imagination is one of the most wondrous gifts you could give your child. No one knows better than me what it means to have a colorful imagination! Being a recluse had an advantage, i grew up with a vivid imagination that has many a times been my escape and also a boon for my Interior design profession. During my time in design school I recall our professors encouraged us to be as imaginative as possible, even if it meant it was borderline ridiculous. It was safe to do so for fantasy school projects with no budget restraints or consequences. Now i understand the importance of exercising our imagination because imagination is the root of creation.

In the words of Albert Einstein

                 “ Logic will get you from A to B but Imagination will take you everywhere”

My next product Circu sparked my interest because it is magical & fanciful, just what the designer recommended! It is a statement piece, it is out-there and at the same time it is functional! It brings a bit of old world charm into the world of millennials. 

 

 I am sure these products will bring a smile to your face and waken your inner child! 

                          Until next time …. “Stay Childlike….stay Funky!”

Metal Sheer

It’s been 8 months since my last post, I can’t believe it! Since i started this blog, life has taken me on an unexpected journey of self-discovery. It’s been difficult but i have made peace with the uncertainty of life. I can safely say the fact that i love what i do, my work, my passion for design has kept me sane. I have drowned myself in work just so that i can escape from the chaos of the outside world. Juggling work and responsibilities at home leaves me with little time for myself, whether it’s simply to take a walk or write a little something. I hope to write every few weeks hereon because i love to share things that excite me in the design world and i have been collecting interesting materials to share since very long. So here goes…

All things that shine, glitter and gleam excite me, so when i came across Sophie Mallebranche’s incredible collection of metal sheer's and panels i was thrilled!! She creates textile with metal!! Her stainless steel, brass, bronze and tin weaves combine with Silicone, silk or linen that can be used as wall coverings, window coverings, laminated on glass, wrapped around furniture to name a few. The effect is spectacular especially the applications that i have seen in the hospitality sector. I cannot wait to specify it on a project and i hope you do too. By exposing our clients to such materials we are supporting these amazingly talented designers and artists.

These are some of my favorite applications of the product, what are yours?

                             Till next time… Stay Strong… Stay funky!

Showers & Faucets by JEE-O

I am so thrilled about the Soho collection of Showers & faucets from JEE-O . I love the industrial design! A reminder of how a simple design can be so powerful!

The Soho series comprises of freestanding shower mixers, freestanding bath mixer and wall mounted faucet made of black matt hammer coated stainless steel. Thanks to the one-move cartridge in the faucet mechanism, the cleverly designed handle with a tactile rubber coating can be operated in the same way as a joystick. All JEE-O soho products are made from stainless steel and finished with a dark, all-weather hammer coating for the right industrial look.

The Soho 01 shower design was awarded with a RedDot design Award 2014 and is nominated for a German Design Award 2016.

I am eager to hear what you think of this product, please leave your comment below.

Until next time "Stay strong.... Stay Funky"

'Al Qasba' Project - My dream come true!

When i moved to the U.A.E nine years ago i stayed in Sharjah for the first four years. Sharjah is considered to be the cultural capital of the nation. One of my favorite hang-outs here was “Al Qasba”. It is one of the most picturesque sites in Sharjah. It is home to “The Eye of the Emirates wheel” which is a 60 meters high ferris wheel. It’s two buildings are separated by a one kilometer long manmade canal. Al Qasba’s unique architectural design includes pedestrian bridges across the canal and boats to take visitors onto the adjoining Khalid and Al Khan lagoons. It also features the state-of-the-art Masrah Al Qasba, a 250-seat theatre, winner of LEAF Award 2012 in Refurbishment of the Year category, which hosts a plethora of events, including artistic, musical, film, theatrical, and poetry performances, as well as conferences and summits on a regular basis. Al Qasba is home to Business Centres which offers support to entrepreneurs by providing them with virtual offices. Al Qasba's Maraya Art Centre is an initiative by the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) to promote young artists from both the Arab region and the international art scene. The non-profit art space launched in March 2010 is one of most spectacular venues for contemporary visual arts in the United Arab Emirates.

 Al Qasba

Al Qasba

It was my dream to have an office in Al Qasba someday! I love what it reflects, it is traditional yet ever embracing of the modern culture. There is a beautiful balance and harmony that echoes through it’s structure, it’s ambience and it’s people. 

I came very close to realizing that dream this year as i was approached by Shurooq (Sharjah Investment and Development Authority) to design one of their offices in Al Qasba! Firstly being approached by a government authority is a little intimidating but at the same time exhilarating as well. On my weekly site visits i stood on that bridge and thought about that dream i had nine years ago, i was so thankful !! It is one of those moments in life where no one may see the achievement, it may not be that great to be recognized, but u feel it in your heart and its over whelming. It is a testament to the strength of the human mind and how some conviction and passion can bring the universe together in your favor. It may happen once in nine years but it is ever so powerful :)

The design process- Site pic, my sketches and 3d rendering.

My project manager from Shurooq is one of the most gracious and talented young girls i have met and an absolute pleasure to work with. I am truly grateful that she believed in me enough to convince the management of my capabilities. 

Aesthetically the project is very simple. We focussed on making the layout as functional and efficient as possible. I concentrated more on the work flow and traffic around the office and made sure all the services were well coordinated. We divided the two departments on either side of the central space with the department heads over looking their staff who were located in the back area. We strategically placed the pantry behind the reception area for easy access and made a design feature of it. The beech wood panelling that encases the pantry is highlighted by warm strip lighting from above. The same feature is repeated in the partition that divides the offices. Our initial proposal was to go with a cement floor but because of budget and time restraints we had to opt for tiles with a cement look. Overall it may not be high on design but it is a very functional and well planned office, if i may say so myself! I wanted it to imbibe the balance and harmony of the Al Qasba. And i was very pleased to hear from Shurooq that the “Project was a success!”. Appreciation from my clients will always be my greatest victory!

Site work in progress

Final results!

Until next time “Stay true to yourself…. Stay Funky”