‘It’s all about finishing touches and personal pieces,’ says Arwa Hafiz, standing in the dining room of her impeccably decorated Al Safa home. With an iconic Flos light overhead, a vintage wooden seating area with custom cushions in the corner to the right, a beautiful antique buffet – which came from her husband’s grandmother – and a contemporary shelf filled with books about fashion, art and design, the home is a fantasy space for anyone who appreciates eclectic yet sophisticated design. It’s a scheme that very much reflects Arwa herself, the stylish owner of The Odd Piece furniture boutique.
Arwa and her husband, Yasir, along with their son and daughter, moved to Dubai eight years ago. ‘At the time we were living in Satwa,’ she explains. ‘We had a really nice little house – it was so charming – but as our family grew we had to move to a bigger space.’ But it was early 2008 and at the time it was nearly impossible to find a vacant home at a reasonable price. ‘We were lucky because someone told me that this place was for sale so I went to look at it, and the moment I walked in the front door it just felt right for us – the energy was great.
‘We spend a lot of time at home together as a family – you don’t want to see this room on a Friday morning!’ Arwa laughs as we walk into the living room, a statement that is hard to believe given how beautiful everything is. An olive green sectional sofa is the focal point of the more casual half of the room. It sits alongside two chairs in peach suede and plumb wool. On the wall behind the sofa is a beautiful photograph of a London park, which, next to the massive windows, helps to bring the outside in. ‘The first piece of furniture that I ever bought was this sofa,’ says Arwa, who picked up the L-shaped piece, along with a matching sideboard, at the closing sale of a favourite shop in Saudi Arabia, where she is from. Originally, she admits, she wasn’t sure about the colour, but it’s a decision that she’s now happy she stuck with. The formal half of the room features a backless sofa, which Arwa has paired with a more traditional Louis XIV-style love seat in green with gold details. The space is punctuated with quirky accents like Chinese statues, an antique lamp and pieces that Arwa and her husband have picked up on their travels.
Chic appeal
The most striking part of the home’s decorating scheme is its diverse style. It features contemporary, clean-lined furniture alongside French colonial and retro pieces. Still, it retains a sophisticated edge. ‘I’m not afraid of mixing colours, styles, patterns and old and new things. I think that’s what gives a home character and makes it special and a bit different,’ says Arwa.
Arwa says her style is influenced by her family home when she was growing up. ‘Whenever I want to buy something or decorate in a different way, I close my eyes and I go to my childhood homes in London or Saudi. Those are the places that make me the happiest and I want to recreate that feeling here.’
Lining the walls of the staircase is a diverse collection of art and wall hangings that Arwa and Yasir have amassed over the years. ‘We buy what makes us happy. I love outdoor scenery and landscapes,’ she explains. ‘We aren’t collectors, or worried about the resale value, or where it’s from. I just choose what I love.’ At the top of the stairs is a collage of family pictures – smiling children, holiday snaps and other happy memories.
The master bedroom is a cosy and feminine space that features soft colours, with a bird and vine motif on the walls and upholstery. In choosing the wallpaper, Arwa was inspired by a painting that hangs on the wall by Lebanese artist Hassan Jouni, which the couple got from Yasir’s grandmother. The imagery is nearly the same and Arwa thought it would be perfect for their room. Recently, to complete the space, Arwa added two gold mirrors on either side of the bed. ‘For the longest time I couldn’t figure out why the space didn’t work, but as soon as I added the mirrors, the room changed and I knew it was finished,’ she says.
Most of the pieces that furnish Arwa and Yasir’s home have been with them for years – gifts from relatives, bought in Saudi or selected at antique stores around the world. ‘Our home has evolved over time, but I don’t constantly buy and replace old pieces for the sake of change,’ Arwa explains. ‘Our things have meaning and have been chosen for a reason. I like the sense of continuity – it makes it feel like home.’ Thoughtful Details
It takes patience to get the look just right when incorporating antiques into your scheme. ‘I don’t always succeed the first time,’ Arwa admits. ‘But it’s about trying things out and letting accidents happen – you never know what will work unless you attempt it. Do something crazy, see how it works and go from there. Trial and error. It’s a process, but it’s fun.
‘Details matter in your home and that’s the idea behind my shop. The purpose is for people to buy their basics and necessities elsewhere, and then they can come to The Odd Piece for the smaller, more special accents like side tables, lamps or chairs. Vintage pieces give soul and character to a house,’ she says.
This story first appeared on InsideOut in June 2014
