Architectural Digest Middle East

“My house is my shell, and when I’m in my shell, I feel safe,” says the Turkish actress Serenay Sarıkaya. Sarıkaya’s desire for a private oasis is understandable, given the demands of her career, which has burgeoned since roles in two TV series, Fi and Şahmaran, propelled her to global prominence. So finding a haven in the heart of Istanbul was for her nothing short of a real-estate miracle. Sarıkaya enlisted Enis Karavil, one half of the Istanbul-based design studio Sanayi313, to realise her vision. Step inside the Turkish actress’ serene yet dramatic abode in our October-November cover story: https://lnkd.in/dYMstjSc

Just a short walk from Buckingham Palace is an unlikely Lebanese bakery in London that evokes the spirit of Beirut's streets and cherished culinary tradition. Called Common Breads, it was brought to life by local firm MA Studio, who were tasked with designing a space that could convey the cultural richness of kaak bread, a sesame-coated Lebanese street food and a centuries-old Middle Eastern staple. Take a full tour here: https://lnkd.in/dkBtjzZS

#DesignInDoha: One of the region's most dynamic and diverse creative landscapes, Qatar's capital is home to innovators and makers from around the world. Doha designer, Abdulrahman Al Muftah, is one of the country's most exciting emerging talents. In the first episode of Design in Doha, AD's new video series supported by Design Doha District, Al Muftah talks about how Doha's creative ecosystem inspires him to take local ideas, rooted in Qatar's traditions and material heritage, global. Full video: https://lnkd.in/dmndvhg2

No cameras are allowed inside these social sanctuaries, after all, the most exclusive private clubs in the world are just that: utterly exclusive and supremely private. Everyone wants to get in. And if you are one of those who just wants in on the action, sweat not. We are telling you how to get into the world's most exclusive private clubs.

We've all heard (and even seen, thanks to TikTok's viral design trends) the wonders IKEA hacks can do when you are renovating on a shoestring. But there is so much more to stretching your budget when it comes to transforming your homes, especially small studio apartments where over-the-top spending just doesn't make sense. This small space in Paris designed by Alienor Louedin - founder of the Inaugure Architecte studio - is a masterclass on how DIY solutions and clever design choice can come in handy. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dhBxQCmH

A global benchmark for contemporary Italian design, Natuzzi Italia will present its new collection at Downtown Design 2024, taking place at Dubai Design District from 6-9 November. AD invites you to discover the brand's latest creations at the Natuzzi Italia booth, B1, located right next to The Forum at Downtown Design.

“I've fired clients before and I'm not afraid of doing it again,” says Pallavi Dean, the Dubai-based designer who knows how to put her foot down when needed. From managing expectations to building trust, AD asks the Middle East's #AD100 designers (STYLED HABITAT, Yasmina Makram, Roar Studios) for their tried and tested tip on dealing with unreasonable clients without loosing one's cool. Discover the tried-and-true tips here: https://lnkd.in/dfbCmJe8

With a hit TV show and Kim Kardashian lobbying for the release of the Menendez Brothers, the Beverly Hills house where the murders took place is back in the news.

“When we first met, one of the clients was wearing a Mickey Mouse t-shirt, and after some discussion we found that the couple was crazy about this character,” explains designer Alyona Gorskaya of AG Designs Studio, the firm behind this colourful apartment in Moscow. This two-bedroom property may be small but its punchy interior is the result of two serendipitous encounters: the first on Instagram, where the young family that owns the space discovered their dream interior designer; and then their first real-life meeting, when a love of the Disney universe sparked an original design proposal. Step inside the Mickey Mouse-inspired home: https://lnkd.in/dRniRQGC

“In a city like Dubai which is very bright, busy and noisy – silence is a luxury,” says Delfina Cortese, founder of her eponymous Dubai-based studio, Delfina Design, who let this rare quiet informed her creative approach for the latest additions to the city's iconic desert resort. Blending into the landscape, step inside the bedouin-inspired villas at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort’ latest luxury addition: https://lnkd.in/denX2wAB