Interior design

The decoration of homes is as old as the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and other civilizations. The process of making the homes look beautiful was not only for the personal pleasure of the home owners, but was also a symbol of their status in society and wealth. For example, the Egyptians were known for their use of decorative tiles, both for the floors as well as the walls. The interiors in such cultures were also well thought, divided, and used according to each culture’s norms and day-to-day tasks. For example, in ancient Greece, the larger homes consisted of several bedrooms, the kitchen, men’s dining room, women’s sitting area and storage. As each culture progressed, so did its design style. The decorating of homes went on to evolve reaching new levels during the Renaissance era, with its use of ornaments, paintings and statues. 

Just before the modern term of interior designer was used in the 1930’s, the people who practiced it were known as interior decorators, most of which were not professionally trained, but were instead people with good taste and perhaps a general knowledge of materials. In Europe, the decorator was usually a renowned merchant who would provide the materials and home décor ideas needed for the home. Later on, some architects would start overseeing such details for their buildings, choosing everything, from the handles to the vases. 

The term “designer” was established in the 30’s when two magazines begun using it exclusively. At around the same time, the first professional organization of interior designers was formed, pathing the way for more people to follow this profession, and eventually to form more similar organizations to support them.

Nowadays, interior styles are not location specific, nor stand on their own. Although there are some main categories, there are also many subcategories as well as the ability to mix and match them, creating unique styles. The main ten (although it can be argued that there are more) design trends are: modern, traditional, contemporary, industrial, transitional, rustic, bohemian, minimalist, Hollywood regional and Scandinavian, all of which are still used today to different degrees.

Interior trends are directly affected, not only by culture, but also from world events and situations, like the industrial revolution, war, and lately the pandemic. Following a time when the vast population was forced to spend more time indoors, with minimal interaction with nature, had a domino effect. Firstly, a lot of people decided to make home improvements and renovations in their homes not only because they got to spend time in them and take into consideration their flaws, but, perhaps more importantly, to change their mood. A house is a reflection of our personality, and the style it has speaks as to who we are. By redecorating it, or purchasing something new for it, it instantly changes our mood upon entering it. It is no wonder therefore that people are now looking for ways to bring nature into their homes, whether by adding plants inside, painting the walls green or using natural materials. Stone like materials like marble and granite, wood shades from natural to dark brown, green color fabrics and laminates are some of the most popular choices in interior design now. Moreover, because there are so many colour options for each of those, all can be used to fit into the above-mentioned styles. The trend will most likely keep on, as more and more people are working from home now and hence would prefer to make their personal space as relaxing as possible.

As a result of all these, there is an added demand for interior designers. However, one must be careful when choosing the person who will transform their space. A good interior designer creates not only visually aesthetic spaces, but also practical ones. They take into consideration many details regarding the arrangement such as clear pathways, safe distance of furniture from a fireplace, and materials that are suitable for each use. Moreover, they listen to their customer’s needs, regarding what they expect from them and their space whether it’s a home, hotel or cafeteria. The customer may have a preference in style, colour or how a room will be used particularly, and it is therefore important for the designer to listen to those needs before they begin. The next important step is the creative process, by which the designer adjusts the current trends to their projects and is able to offer customized and tailored solutions for them. This could be in the form of choosing colours, materials, designing custom furniture or plasterboard designs that will serve a specific purpose and fit a particular area. 

In order for the interior designer and the customer to reach an agreement on the project, the first should be able to offer 3d visualizations which depict their ideas and final design, as well as being prepared to make adjustments if needed. The final stage is the actual transformation of the room or building. Depending on the project, if needed, then the interior designer should act as a liaison between the customer and the shops/construction workers etc, by providing support, coordination, and shopping assistance. 

Today, there are some places in the world that are well known for their extraordinary architecture and interior design, to such a degree that tourists visit them just to see these in person. One such place is Dubai, whose World Trade Centre is an iconic landmark. Built in 1979, it is widely recognized for its innovative design that combines both, aesthetic, and practicality. More importantly, its completion marked the beginning of more developments and skyscrapers, as Dubai moved away from the predominant traditional architecture to “modernist architecture features innovative exposed-glass walls, stepped ascending spirals and designs that offer subtle nods to traditional Arabic motifs”. 

Dubai has now several other famous buildings and areas that are considered to be architectural landmarks. These include the Burj Khalifa, acknowledged mostly for its incredible design and considered to be Dubai’s trademark, the Marina 101 both for commercial and residential use, and the Princess Tower one of the world’s tallest residential buildings. Moreover, two hotels complete a visitor’s list in Dubai, the Dusit Thani hotel whose design mimics praying hands and Jumeirah Beach Hotel with a unique shape that resembles a breaking wave.

The current home décor trends in Dubai are contemporary, minimalist, modern, classic, and industrial. All of the above, are usually blended and adjusted according to the client’s personal needs. Generally, spacious areas and rooms are preferred, with interior furniture and home décor ranging from clear cut lines to ornamented ones. Moreover, affected by the world shift towards sustainable resources, many architects and interior design companies in Dubai now prefer non-toxic and emission-free materials as well as environmentally friendly solutions. This is reinforced by guidelines imposed by the Dubai Municipality, ensuring that their city will become more and more ecological.

At KEA Design, we believe that a client’s home is an extension of their personality. Founded in 2012, we are proud to be one of the most passionate and creative interior design companies in Dubai. As such, it is our company’s philosophy that all projects require the same attention to detail and level of professional expertise. Therefore, our team offers complete interior solutions that range from interior architecture to space planning, discussing of ideas, 3D representation of them and implementation. Our primary focus is our customers and their needs regarding their projects, which is why when we take on from residential to commercial projects our first priority is to discuss what the client expects to receive in terms of appearance and practicality. We believe in versatility and therefore can design and offer a range of styles, from contemporary to traditional, always taking into consideration who it is for. 

We always strive to keep up with the current trends and evolutions, and we are in position to offer innovative solutions developed through our cutting-edge technologies in order to create our products. These technologies aim to use renewable supplies; thus, we develop products and materials with less damaging social and environmental impacts.

Even though our basis is in Dubai, we are in reality a global company, offering our services in many countries across the world such as Norway, Lebanon, the UAE, and Nigeria. We offer our clients the opportunity to get the full experience of our work, starting from designing living spaces, that cover their demands and needs, whether residential, commercial, or professional. To do that, we go through with them step by step on what they expect the space to do for them so as to get an idea of what to create. The next step is what makes the architectural plans a step further. The creative process by which a space is turned into a functional work of art. This process is also standalone as it is applied to existing buildings that may need a renovation or a lift. We specialize in creating spaces that are functional and efficient, catering to the needs of each client.

However, no space is complete without the proper materials, colour combinations and decorations that truly give it its character. Being in the heart of Dubai, a city known for its unique and harmonious blend of styles, we draw inspiration from it and our client in order to create unique results every time. The feeling of entering a space that speaks to your soul is truly priceless!

In order for all of the above to take place, there is always a great deal of work, both in planning as well as implementing it. Staying true to our commitment to perfection, we take on all the fit-outs, and supervise them step by step so as to make sure that your dream and our execution are flawless. We therefore undertake everything, from installing ceilings and flooring, to all the necessary wiring, and of course, furnishing. Part of our service is to help you feel relaxed and assured while we run through everything. 

Since every space is unique, made to measure furniture are also part of the solutions we provide you. Having in mind our client’s needs, we meet them by designing custom solutions that will make their life easier, and their space useful. As such, custom furniture have a greater lifespan, colour selection and are sure to make each area they are placed, special. 

Finally, all of the above services we offer, would be nothing without 3D visualizations. By bringing our ideas to life, and realistically representing them on paper, we help our clients approve or make changes to them, instead of using their imagination on how something will look like. 

Interior design is not just a single act or process. It is a mixture of skills, knowledge, creativity, and good taste. It requires patience, people skills, being able to think fast to find solutions in unforeseen situations and the ability to create new things that will be approved by your clients. As a profession, it is fairly newly recognised, although it has been part of our world’s cultures for centuries. The need to live or work in visually aesthetic spaces can be traced back to ancient cultures. With this in mind, we created the KEA company, a team of experts dedicated to creating all types of projects, no matter what their size may be, with the same passion and appetite. Inspired by our city, Dubai, the place of architectural wonders, we strive to elevate all of our client’s spaces to truly match what we represent as a company. This is why, all of our projects are not considered to be finished unless they are approved by our high standards. 

What is interior design, if not the ability to give life and functionality to empty spaces?