Mixing and matching

Based in Oslo, Hanne Gokstad was working with H&M as a visual merchandiser when THE One asked her to move to Dubai. "I worked with them for over four years, gaining experience in showroom decoration and home styling.

After moving to another interior retailer, my ex-colleague and friend Julie Johnsen asked me to join her working independently." Since Julie moved back to Norway a few months ago, Hanne has been running the business alone, working for her own clients. "I work closely with an excellent furniture production and contracting company called City Palace Interiors, so if I ever need anything custom made, I know exactly who to go to," she says.

Hanne's style is modern, but not minimalist, as she believes a room should be homely. In terms of professional musings, she loves how Tricia Guild mixes bright, fun colours and patterns. Some clients aren't that daring, however, so she also draws inspiration from Kelly Hoppen's designs. "Her style works very well in this region; she uses a lot of white, off-white, beige, taupe, brown and black and clean lines and repetitions," says Hanne.

Despite opting for contrasts and touches of bright colours, Hanne admires timeless design too. "I'm fascinated with Victorian architectural style and I'm also inspired when I travel, no matter where I go; Europe is great for the latest trends, but I look elsewhere for something unique too. When I went to South Africa, for instance, I was amazed by the way they mixed modern style with nature and animal prints."

Having settled here, Hanne still finds Dubai an exciting place to be as a designer. "Most of the new hotels here are very stylish and elegant. Residential projects are becoming increasingly ambitious as more and more people take an active interest in their surroundings. Dubai has come a long way in the last six years, and I'm sure it will continue to offer even more variety and creativity." There are new interior retailers popping up all over Dubai these days, which Hanne agrees is great. "For high-end buys I like B&B Italia, Bloomingdales and Andrew Martin. For mid-price goods I would opt for THE One, Marina, Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn. And for lower prices, Ikea and Index Living are good. I also love Sia and Zara Home for accessories."

Xpressions' neo-classical look fits Hanne's approach perfectly. Available at Marlin's, the high grade solid woods, imported veneers and ironmongery are just the ticket for high quality. Selva's timeless beauty also makes it a suitable brand to feature, as does Baltus' carefully crafted, luxurious sofas (one of three brands available at Polaris).

"Creating a harmonic, balanced base makes it easy to add splashes of colours or pieces that stand out. If you're the type of person who gets bored, it's a good idea to feature neutral, good quality furniture then change the accessories and wall colours more frequently. It's essential to surround yourself with items you love too, and accessories are great for adding depth, personality and life to a room."

Trend Predictions

Colour: Daring brights matched with safe naturals

Texture: ‘Barely there' meets industrial

Style: Mix and match - try it!

Accessories: Nature-inspired, bold. Oversized, organic shapes work well in any form (be it lighting or cushions)

Fabric: Ethnic, stripes, floral, and plains can all be mixed in according to how bold you want to go

Window treatments: Casual American style

Wall treatments: Wooden planks, patterned tiles or wallpaper help to finish the look

Flooring: Whitewashed or rustic