This five bedroom villa is designed with the entertainment and public spaces on the lower level and the bedrooms and family areas on the first level. A spacious garden offers a blank canvas to use creativity to express the clients’ personalities .

Since the entrance is often the first impression of a home, we decided to go for a simple, elegant vibe.

To emphasize the entrance to the villa, we planted a 2m high bonsai bougainvillea with multi-colored bracts. The bougainvillea is a lovely statement piece that is attractive and draws the eye to the entrance. Moreover, it is extremely well adapted to Dubai’s heat conditions and thrives during the summers, when most other plants don’t look their best.

White pebbles frame the bonsai, which is creatively lit to bring it to life at night. Stepping stones lead around to the rear garden and pergola area.

In keeping with the modern, contemporary vibe, we opted for neutral colors. Splashes of vibrant color in the exterior and interior spaces breathe life into the home .

Porcelain tiles, with neutral hues, flow from inside the house to the exterior, blurring the boundaries between the inside and outside. This material runs throughout the home, tying the design together and unifying the contemporary style.

The entrance packs a punch and sets the tone for the rest of the house. Marble-like porcelain tiles add a touch of glamor, which is enhanced by a geometric, mirror-clad console that supports an elegant Buddha head.

We upgraded the entrance with a serene, white temple that projects from the wall under the stairs leading to the upper level. The temple is well framed with creative concentric lighting, making it more prominent at night.

Warm wooden treads on the graceful staircase offset the cool white tiles and walls, adding a warmth to the foyer.

A gilded, modern mashrabiya-style partition screens the adjoining dining space from the entrance foyer. We inlaid the recessed ceiling with warm-toned wooden parquet, which supports a long, ornate chandelier.

The furniture is modern and stylish. Teal green and rust colored upholstery on the dining-room chairs uplift the decor of this sophisticated dining space.

As is a constant theme throughout the house, wall art is prominent and adds a creative flair to most rooms in the house.

Here in the dining room, the wallpaper and artwork is my own bespoke creation called Scaling Up by Walls and More from Sejal Nagjee Designs. The artwork really helps to transform this well-designed space into one with a ‘wow’ factor.

A compact powder room, which is tucked under the staircase, is stylishly designed using striking colors. The grey wall and floor tiling contrast with the fiery red, yellow and orange hues of the artwork.

These hues complement the narrow wooden wash-basin, which sports a white over-the-counter basin. The gilded frame of the mirror and accessories and fittings in the powder room also pick up on the yellow hues of the painting that adds zest to the powder room.

The house enjoys an open floor plan with one space flowing effortlessly into another. The porcelain tiling unifies the spaces together, but each room in the house has its own unique decor.

The living room is spacious, with windows that bathe it in light. To give it a more intimate feel, we painted the ceiling a warm hue of orange. This accent color is repeated in the armchair upholstery and also complements the rich, decorative wooden paneling that adorns the walls.

These wooden panels serve as creatively-designed display shelves and units, while also adding decorative value to the living room space.

The kitchen is large, spacious and elegantly designed with a prominently grey color scheme.

We retained the original Emaar cabinetry, but upgraded them with a grey lacquer finish for a more streamlined, modern feel. Ample storage allows the counter tops to remain free from clutter. White glossy ceiling panels and a light-colored floor tile help to keep the kitchen looking bright and airy.

We also provided additional space for a built-in refrigerator. Dark, wooden panels add a nice touch to the monochromatic color scheme.

Milestone applied for special approvals to build a bar extension to the kitchen that leads directly to the outside garden.

Furnished with white cabinets and shelving, this bar exudes a chilled, relaxed vibe. Dark wood chairs and bar island create a pleasing contrast to the light colors that dominate the space.

A flat screen TV is mounted on a recessed tile clad panel that continues up to clad part of the ceiling. Once the doors are thrown open, this charming bar becomes an elegant connection to the outside.

The upper level houses the private areas that are enjoyed by the family. The staircase in the entrance foyer leads up to the bedrooms. It is graced by tasteful paintings provided by the client.

The family room is simply furnished with comfortable dark green sofas that are well complemented with the warm wooden paneling. A flat screen TV, mounted on a grey, textured wall makes this the perfect room for movie or game night.

The upper level also sports the master bedroom and the children’s bedroom.

The master bedroom is filled with natural light. Elegant light fixtures provide additional soft lighting at night.

The master bed is enveloped by a dark blue, tufted headboard that curves at the corners and forms the focal point of this space.

Earth-toned ceiling panels maintain the modern, contemporary vibe. This tone is carried through to the curtains and an accent wall that houses an eye-catching piece of art.

A pair of soft orange chairs pick up on the color of the cushions on the bed and pair well with the tan colored drapes and wall.

The attached master bedroom is stylishly decorated with dark grey porcelain tiles that resemble marble. Twin wash basins sit atop a spacious vanity with wooden storag

The bathroom is huge and also sports a dressing table with a full length mirror and a spacious shower cabin with glass doors. .

The children’s room sports a blue and grey color theme with a large floor-to-ceiling chalkboard and a play area. Like the other rooms in the house, it is bright, airy and spacious.

For me, the highlight of the house is the gym area. The earthy tones continue in this space – we chose a grey and wood theme for the gym area.

A flat-screen TV mounted on a wood-paneled wall allows the client’s to watch TV while exercising.

Wooden paneling gives the gym area a warmth. Mirrors help the space to look even more spacious and reflect light to keep the room feeling light and bright. A unique light fixture adds an element of fun and energy to the room.

Moving to the exterior, the elegance and simplicity of the interior is carried through to the outside.

Light-colored porcelain tiles lead from the front to the rear garden, where a wooden pergola takes pride of place.

Spacious L-shaped seating is clad with stacked stone and topped with a marble slab softened with colorful cushions. An old-gnarled root of a tree is transformed into a bespoke garden sculpture and adds design flair to the modern pergola design.

LED lights add a diffused glow at night, making this a great spot for entertaining the family or friends.

A nearby bar-counter mirrors the design of the seating area. A large expanse of tile around the pergola and bar creates flexible space for use when the clients decide to entertain large groups of people.

A decorative cascading water feature is clad with the same stacked stone, offering continuity in design. Subtly lit at night, the water feature provides the soothing sound of trickling water for a relaxing vibe.

We have also made provisions for a sleek swimming pool that will be completed in the second phase of the landscape.