In step with style

Upon entering Mariya Kassam's villa you can sense the careful attention to detail behind its interior design. The front door swings open to reveal a dramatic atrium-style hallway, through which you glimpse a large, geometric but not overly ornate chandelier above the winding staircase. Behind the stairs, a ten-foot mirror expands the apparent depth of the room while combining with other embellishments to set a tone of stylish and relaxed confidence that continues throughout the 7,000ft² home. "It makes for a fabulous entrance," admits Mariya, owner of Soiree, a Dubai boutique that specialises in the work of Pakistan's leading fashion designers.

Although the style expert and her family have lived in this villa for just two years, it already holds great emotional significance for them. "I feel like I have always lived here," says Mariya. "It's my perfect dream house transformed into reality."

The neighbourhood

While the dream belongs to Mariya and her family, the home itself is leased, as is typical in Umm Suqeim,a non-freehold neighbourhood. Mariya and her family rent the villa on a yearly basis and have put considerable effort into furnishing and remodelling it to suit their tastes. Which isn't to say that the villa itself wasn't carefully selected, as the family admits to viewing at least 15 different villas in the area before finding the ‘canvas' for their ideal home. "It was the garden and the guest house that really did the trick," says Mariya, "When the weather permits, I enjoy spending time on our outdoor patio."

The redesign

Prior to moving to Dubai, the Kassam family had spent a substantial amount of time decorating their apartments in Toronto, Canada with the help of two talented cousins. Mariya was so impressed that she flew them to Dubai to help out. "We sat together and worked out that we wanted to go with soft colours, yet create a very summery look all year round with loads of light everywhere and elegant decor, coupled with comfort and warmth," says Mariya.

Despite not being the owners of the villa, Mariya and her family went ahead with a fairly ambitious cosmetic overhaul. "We changed the finish on all the doors, as well as the textures of the walls. Besides that, there was a lot of work done on the lighting all over the house and the ceilings. We also painted the walls and polished all the wood." Integrated into the house's atmosphere is a plethora of Islamic artwork which celebrates the Kassam family's Pakistani heritage. "In general, the house has a strong Asian influence because of the art and accessories. I'm proud of my culture and am happy to allow it to shine through in my house."

The villa has a large patio which separates the main house from the guest house, as well as a family lounge/art gallery and an airy, sunlit entrance lounge. Property may come and go, brought forward and then whisked away by the changing tides of finance, but home is forever, and that's exactly what Mariya and her family have fostered in Umm Suqeim.