As Monica Arango, the UAE-based designer of this Dubai Villa proves, a grand entrance hall can instantly add star quality to your home.
For those who love entertaining, striking a balance between sociability and a sense of sanctuary is the biggest challenge when embarking on a home renovation project. This modern villa in Dubai's Al Barsha district, designed by Monica Arango of multidisciplinary studio C’est Ici, gets it just right. The owners, a fashion designer and an investor who are both social butterflies, wanted their home to impress guests but also to offer functional, versatile spaces; they also had a treasured collection of colourful artworks they wanted to show off. “Their shared interest in art and design played a key role in shaping the vision for this project, ensuring that the villa would not only be a functional space for entertaining but also a place with personality, where their curated pieces could shine,” Arango explains.
Must Read: Tour a Modern Dubai Villa Where a Sculptural Staircase Sets the Scene
The greatest design stories from AD Middle East, delivered to your inbox
A cornerstone of the brief was to incorporate “striking design features that deliver a ‘wow’ factor for guests, with statement pieces and focal points in every room”. The unusually large entrance hall sets the tone: much more than a transitional space, it’s intended to captivate everyone who enters, as well as forming a pivotal circulation point between the key ground-floor zones (including the living room, dining room and kitchen, the outdoor spaces, and a dramatic midnight-blue powder room). Its chief elements are a custom-made door in pale wood, whose generous proportions and glass panes enhance a sense of flow; and a chequered floor in burgundy and white marble, which gives a “timeless yet bold” foundation to the home.
Complementing these details is a bespoke feature wall made from a slab of Marmorio Dekton by Cosentino, which has been fashioned into a bench with integrated miniature indoor garden. Planted with tree-like greenery, it has an almost sculptural quality, emphasised by the vibrant modern painting displayed on the adjacent section of wall. Arango has further accentuated the dramatic scale of the entrance with a sinuous bespoke cream sofa and a cluster of Vibia’s translucent Flamingo pendant lights.
Overlooking the simple, contemporary garden, the open-plan living and dining area is designed as “a multifunctional space that supports intimate family moments as well as large-scale events”. Inspired by classic Hamptons style with a modern twist, it hosts flexible seating arrangements that can be configured in various ways, including a capacious green-velvet bespoke sofa, a pillowy cream Marenco sofa by Arflex, Cassina’s classic Soriana lounge chairs and a pair of boldly striped Rico armchairs by Ferm Living. The latter draws the eye towards the room’s standout feature, a bespoke bar in rich wood veneers and marble with metal and glass accents. “This piece serves as a transition point and aesthetic focus, strategically centred between the dining and living areas,” says Arango.
C’est Ici’s carefully calibrated palette of bold materials, colours and patterns complements the couple’s artworks, which tend to be bright and characterful in nature. The custom dining table, for instance, was made using black marble with striking orange veins, while the Belt ceiling light by Flos and three-legged custom dining chairs recall abstract sculptures. “Art here is not merely an accent, but the focus of the space,” says Arango. “Each corner is a curated narrative composed of thought-provoking pieces that push boundaries, ignite curiosity and leave a lasting impression. This dynamic setting transforms the space into a living gallery.”
AD Insight: How To Build an Art Collection? Expert Advice by One of London's Top Gallerist
The first-floor bedrooms were decorated as serene private retreats with a similar aesthetic to the rest of the home, prioritising comfort and functionality. There is, however, one more ground-floor space for the couple’s friends to discover: the powder room, which dials up the drama to the maximum with its inky-blue walls and Calacatta Viola marble vanity unit. “Designed to be dramatic and intimate, it reflects the clients’ artistic vision and their love of unique, impactful spaces,” explains Arango. “This project balances warmth, sophistication and a sense of drama, ensuring that every space contributes to an unforgettable experience for both the homeowners and their guests.” cesticidecor.com
The greatest design stories from AD Middle East, delivered to your inbox
