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Words: Anna AbouZeid, Photography: Stefan Lindeque, Styling: Sarah Maisey

UAE home

This two-storey penthouse on the 81st floor of a prestigious Dubai Marina building is awash with neutral tones that

make the most of this gorgeous, light-filled space

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Malin incorporated different shades of grey, blue and cream to liven up the neutral interior. The curtains were custom-made

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Stepping into this Dubai Marina home,

one is instantly captivated by the

glorious light that floods the entire

space, adding vibrancy to the soft

colour palette and modern country style.

“The owners are previous clients of mine,”

says interior designer Malin Palmlund of

M Interior Design. “I did the first apartment

they had together and it turned out well with

a good mix of both their tastes, but it was a

lot darker than this one.”

This time, the couple wanted a relaxed

atmosphere with a slightly more country-rustic

aesthetic, while still feeling modern, Malin

says. They also wanted a lighter, more neutral

colour scheme, but were clear about one thing:

no beige. “Since we already knew each other,

the trust was there and the entire home came

together in only one month,” Malin explains.

Before Malin worked her design magic, the

penthouse had old wallpaper and paint that

“Using a lot of cushions makes

a big difference. You can never

have enough cushions!”

UAE home

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GOING NEUTRALA neutral palette is lovely, but it can be

difficult to do without looking bland. Here

are interior designer Malin Palmlund’s tips

on how to get it right:

l Pick a base colour like grey instead of

beige, which will make the room look more

modern and elegant. There are many shades

of grey so you have a lot to choose from.

l Use blue the same way some people might

use brown or black.

l Mix blue upholstered pieces with white

or grey accents. And remember, greys look

good with bright colours, pastels and blues.

didn’t really match the architecture and

features. “One important aspect was to take the

beige-yellow atmosphere of the original space

and make it more comfortable and stylish. And

I wanted all the rooms to make visual sense

together,” she says. “We used some items

from the couple’s previous apartment, but

I completely changed the colour scheme.”

On the main floor of the penthouse, Malin

painted the walls two different shades of grey

and used blues in different materials and shades

as the basis of her design. She incorporated

natural wood furniture and accessories, including

The dining room table was sourced from Marina Home, while the chairs are from Pottery Barn. Facing page, bottom: The neutral colour palette continues in the upstairs lounge, this time incorporating gold tones

UAE home

the coffee and dining tables, and added some

dark – almost black – pieces for a dramatic effect.

The home really comes alive thanks to Malin’s

choice of accessories and accent pieces –

gorgeous rugs, lanterns and an eclectic mix of

patterned cushions. “Using a lot of cushions

makes a big difference in a room,” she says.

“You can never have enough cushions!”

Despite keeping the home’s aesthetic and colour

scheme soft and neutral, Malin incorporated

splashes of colour in the accessories, cushions

and even large furniture pieces including the

Above: “Since there is no entrance hall, I wanted to create something that would make you feel like you had come into a reception area instead of directly into someone’s living room,” says Malin of the small sitting area guests see when they first walk in

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UAE home

The calming master suite and the guest room

(below centre) feature the same neutral colour

palette as the living areas on the main floor. The mirrored night stands

coordinate with the mirrored accents in

the dressing room

living room sofa – which is dusty dark blue

– adding depth to the colour palette. “I was

lucky,” Malin says about bringing the couches up

81 floors. “The sofas almost didn’t make it into

the elevator! When you buy large furniture you

always measure everything to make sure it will

fit, but you always have some clients who are

not convinced it can be done. Luckily it did and

we didn’t have to carry the sofas up 81 floors!”

The neutral colour scheme from the living

areas on the main floor continues upstairs in

the master suite, guest bedroom and first-floor

lounge area, but it’s the dressing room that

Malin likes best. “The dressing room is my

favourite. It is a bit more bold with a different

mix of patterns, which is always fun,” she says.

The couple didn’t want to rebuild the space

or make structural changes, so Malin made

clever use of furniture and storage units for

her clients’ clothes and accessories, including

a beloved shoe collection. She says, “The

space needed to be big enough for my client

and her stylist to move around comfortably,

and have enough space for her accessories

and all her lovely shoes.” Malin introduced

mirrored boxes, silver canisters and an island

in the middle of the room with small storage

boxes and compartments inside the drawers

to accommodate accessories. “I incorporated

her love for lavender and pink and made it a

romantic, elegant space,” she explains. The

standout feature of the dressing room is

undoubtedly the Carl Robinson wallpaper, which

adds a dose of feminine glamour to the space.

In designing this home, Malin says she was

determined not to fill it up with too many

unnecessary objects, but instead let the space,

light and a carefully curated selection of

objects speak for themselves. “I dislike clutter,

and I think things look prettier if you arrange

them carefully and with a purpose,” she says.

The couple wanted their new home to be a

comfortable and relaxing setting where they

could spend time together or with a few friends,

and with Malin’s masterful design, she has

achieved just that.

Steal the Style

Mirrored boxes Homes R Us, Dh19 (small), Dh29 (medium), Dh39 (large)

Mirella fabric Colefax &

Fowler, Dh790 per metre

Dixon coffee table Crate & Barrel, Dh1,999

UAE home

Elce Stockholm pillows D-tales, Dh410 each (Dh250 pillow case only)

“The dressing room is a bit more bold

with a different mix of patterns, which is

always fun”

The dramatic dressing room wallpaper is by Carl Robinson. The mirrored accents and dressing table add a hint of glamour to the space. The pink cushion is by Swedish brand Elce Stockholm, from D-tales

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