A faux fireplace in a Middle Eastern home tend to be a rarity – in hot climates, their usefulness is limited – but there’s no denying the stylistic flair such a feature can bring to an interior. The example in this Dubai home is a case in point: designed by Ines Chetouani, founder of Dubai studio Nouie Interiors, the sense of warmth it confers is more than purely physical.
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Chetouani created the home for business coach and influencer Nora Achmaoui and her young family, and the story behind it reveals the global heritage shared by both designer and client: Chetouani is of Moroccan heritage but was born and raised in the Netherlands, while Achmaoui has Moroccan and Palestinian heritage but grew up in Germany. For both parties, therefore, the symbolism behind fireplaces is multi-layered. “I have two different perspectives,” says Chetouani. “Creating a fire in the desert and gathering around it with friends and family is part of Middle Eastern culture. For me, this design is an ode to that tradition and can be seen as a new place for gathering in a modern way.” However, she also sees the fireplace from a European viewpoint. “In cold climates, a fireplace has a different cultural meaning - think of Santa Claus putting presents in your stocking on the mantelpiece. I have many memories of gathering at the fireplace in winter and enjoying tea or hot chocolate; it’s part of who I am.” The immigration of many creative people from around the world to Dubai, she adds, brings a third perspective: one where new domestic traditions are being created.
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Chetouani’s design for this living room is part of that new outlook. While its primary purpose is aesthetic – as a colourful focal point in an otherwise timeless, modern home – it also has a functional element, despite not being designed for log burning. “Not being able to build an actual fireplace pushed me to come up with different, more creative solutions,” says Chetouani. “Having a faux fireplace with an LED panel was not an option in my book, hence the idea to use candles as the fire attribute instead. This opened up a world of possibilities in terms of styles and materials. The contrasting dark-brown zellige tiles make the room feel stylish, and the fireplace itself allows the homeowners to experience ultimate cosiness and warmth.”
If Achmaoui, who, with her husband Khalid AlHerani is a successful content creator (the couple even had a drone show gender reveal party for their baby) wishes, she can burn scented candles or oud on the hearth to add a sensual dimension to her space (the fireplace has a stainless-steel interior to make it safe for this purpose). The gleam of candle flames is especially atmospheric, setting the glossy finish of the tilework aglow. “Zellige tiles are part of my culture and the traditional way of baking them is precious to me,” says Chetouani. “I appreciate design elements incorporating craftsmanship that has been perfected over hundreds of years. The brown colour creates a beautiful contrast and is part of our studio’s palette – I have a background in fashion and will always lean towards stylish colours. We’ve seen many brown and burgundy shades on the catwalk over the past season, and this can motivate me to go for certain palettes.”
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Though she is often inspired by Moroccan style – in particular the city of Marrakech and its opulent riads – Chetouani has contrasted the statement fireplace with a pared-back interior, at the request of her young clients. “Nora’s German background called for the more modern, minimal aspects, like the oak flooring and the cream armchairs [the classic 1970 Camaleonda design by Mario Bellini for B&B Italia].” While much of the other furniture, including the sofas, coffee table and brown marble side tables, came from CB2, the designer also created some impactful bespoke pieces, such as a Margo travertine dining table by her own label, Nouie Studio, which is teamed with vintage chairs, and a luxurious pink onyx vanity unit in the bathroom. “The space is a reflection of the clients’ culture and heritage incorporated into a modern world,” Chetouani concludes. “I believe ideas like these are an interesting combination of values within the new community that’s being created in Dubai.” nouieinteriors.com
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