• Caroline Stanbury, right, was involved in the design process from scratch to finish, says Kate Instone, left. Photo: Blush
    Caroline Stanbury, right, was involved in the design process from scratch to finish, says Kate Instone, left. Photo: Blush
  • In Caroline Stanbury's Al Barari penthouse, a marble table is paired with chairs that have pink suede seats, leather-upholstered backs and gold legs. Antonie Robertson / The National
    In Caroline Stanbury's Al Barari penthouse, a marble table is paired with chairs that have pink suede seats, leather-upholstered backs and gold legs. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A quilted coral pink sideboard is placed next to the dining table. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A quilted coral pink sideboard is placed next to the dining table. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • On the landing sits an oversized armchair with a Christian Dior cushion and a textured tweed back, inspired by Stanbury's Chanel jacket. Antonie Robertson / The National
    On the landing sits an oversized armchair with a Christian Dior cushion and a textured tweed back, inspired by Stanbury's Chanel jacket. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Stanbury's interior designer, Kate Instone of Blush International, has designed a bench for the entranceway of all of her homes. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Stanbury's interior designer, Kate Instone of Blush International, has designed a bench for the entranceway of all of her homes. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A huge rainbow-hued artwork by artist Stefania Nazzal hangs in the double-height space above the private lifts in Stanbury’s Dubai penthouse. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A huge rainbow-hued artwork by artist Stefania Nazzal hangs in the double-height space above the private lifts in Stanbury’s Dubai penthouse. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A monochrome runner by Cinar Rugs is placed at the entrance. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A monochrome runner by Cinar Rugs is placed at the entrance. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A turquoise tufted velvet coffee table adds a pop of colour in a sitting room dominated by sofas and armchairs upholstered in a warm white boucle. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A turquoise tufted velvet coffee table adds a pop of colour in a sitting room dominated by sofas and armchairs upholstered in a warm white boucle. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • A turquoise and white accent table houses an oversized Baobab Collection candle in the seating area. Antonie Robertson / The National
    A turquoise and white accent table houses an oversized Baobab Collection candle in the seating area. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Stanbury moved to Dubai in 2016. Photo: Blush International
    Stanbury moved to Dubai in 2016. Photo: Blush International
  • Interior designer Kate Instone, founder and creative director of Blush International, has designed Caroline Stanbury’s Dubai home. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Interior designer Kate Instone, founder and creative director of Blush International, has designed Caroline Stanbury’s Dubai home. Antonie Robertson / The National

Inside Caroline Stanbury’s Dubai home: Chanel-inspired furniture and fun with colour


Panna Munyal
  • English
  • Arabic

Kate Instone knows a thing or two about working with celebrity clients. After all, the founder and creative director of Blush, a luxury interior design firm, has worked on the homes of Madonna, Sting and Seal, as well as a number of high-profile Dubai properties.

Among these is Caroline Stanbury’s Al Barari penthouse.

While Stanbury is soon to appear in The Real Housewives of Dubai, which airs on June 1, she was also the lead actor in the Ladies of London TV series.

The British television personality, 45, is a bona fide fashion maven and loves vibrant colour, says Instone. “We used her eye for style as our main inspiration. Caroline was very involved in the design process and made all of her own final selections,” says Instone, who is known for eschewing the cookie-cutter approach adopted even in luxurious homes.

Here are eight decor items that best encapsulate the sense of passion and fashion — “designed with Caroline, for Caroline” — the duo brought to the table.

Multifunctional marble table

Functioning as part-dining table, part-boardroom table, this sleek piece was designed for Stanbury to take with her from property to property. “This is where Caroline spends most of her time, so she wanted an elegant and timeless piece,” says Instone.

The dining room chairs come with gold-leaved legs, while the backs are upholstered in a leather-woven Dedar fabric, and the fronts of the chairs are in a blush-hued suede.

The back of each dining chair is upholstered in leather-woven Dedar fabric. Photo: Blush
The back of each dining chair is upholstered in leather-woven Dedar fabric. Photo: Blush

“The blush pink dining chairs give the space an understated pop of colour and complement the coral pink console that sits behind them.”

Pro tip: “You can make a real statement by upholstering the back of dining chairs in a different fabric,” says the designer. “It allows the use of a more delicate “wow” fabric on the back of the chair and then a more practical, hard-wearing fabric on the seat. If space is tight, use a round marble-topped table.”

Quilted sideboard

The sideboard sits below an XOXO artwork. Antonie Robertson / The National
The sideboard sits below an XOXO artwork. Antonie Robertson / The National

Quilted handbags, notably from Stanbury’s favourite brand Chanel, are all the rage — and the texture was the inspiration for the coral pink sideboard that sits next to the dining table and chairs.

“This sideboard is a classic ‘Caroline’ piece. It’s fashion-inspired and finished in a happy yet sophisticated colour. It’s a great backdrop to the XOXO artwork that sits above it,” says Instone. “The piece is in a high-gloss lacquer with a gold leaf plinth that pops next to the coral pink.”

Pro tip: A sideboard is a practical addition to your dining area as this is where all the formal dinnerware, cutlery and glasses can be kept,” says Instone. “Don’t be afraid to experiment with its colour. Even if you have a unit you’ve fallen out of love with, you can always get it refinished. Just pick a daring colour and transform your old furniture into something new without unnecessary waste.”

Chanel-inspired armchair

The tweed back of the armchair resembles a Chanel jacket owned by Stanbury. Antonie Robertson / The National
The tweed back of the armchair resembles a Chanel jacket owned by Stanbury. Antonie Robertson / The National

When Instone met Stanbury for a design briefing in London, the latter was wearing a Chanel jacket and cut-off shorts. “Her outfit inspired the fabric selection for a statement armchair. The back is a textured tweed from Dedar that perfectly matched her jacket,” says Instone.

The chair sits on the first-floor landing next to a large picture window. It is embellished with a Christian Dior-embroidered scatter cushion and oversees a simple white side table. “It’s the perfect chair to curl up in and have a cup of coffee before taking on the day,” says the designer.

Pro tip: “An oversized, eye-catching armchair can fill up an empty corner. This is a piece of furniture you can really experiment with as it is a stand-alone piece, which doesn’t necessarily need to match the rest of your aesthetic,” explains Instone.

Blush bench

A bench at the entrance has simple gold legs and pink velvet upholstery. Antonie Robertson / The National
A bench at the entrance has simple gold legs and pink velvet upholstery. Antonie Robertson / The National

Blush designed this bench in-house for Stanbury, and she's ferried it between her homes in London and Dubai. In Al Barari, the piece sits in the entrance hall, and has simple gold legs and pink velvet upholstery.

“It’s a versatile piece of furniture, classic yet modern,” says Instone. “The bench is the first thing you see when the private lift doors open in Caroline’s penthouse, and the pink colour of the silk velvet seat sets the tone for the interior scheme.”

Pro tip: "Entryways are often overlooked, which is shame as this is the room you walk through many times each day and an area that every one of your guests will visit. It’s worth decorating this space, and a hallway bench is always inviting,” says the designer. “It’s somewhere you can sit and change your shoes; an opportunity to add some softness with upholstery, texture and colour; and it can have storage underneath to avoid any clutter that distracts from that all-important arrival experience.”

Art smart

A colourful artwork can be viewed from the entrance hall and the first-floor landing. Photo: Blush
A colourful artwork can be viewed from the entrance hall and the first-floor landing. Photo: Blush

Stanbury and Instone have placed a large rainbow-inspired artwork by Swiss artist Stefania Nazzal in the double-height space above the penthouse’s private lifts. “It’s impactful and powerful. Without this piece, there is the possibility the area would feel cold and less inviting. It is placed in a location that can be viewed from both the entrance hall and the first-floor landing,” says Instone. “The artwork really pulls all of Caroline’s colours together.”

Pro tip: “Bare walls feel very uninviting, and don’t evoke a sense of cosiness one seeks in a home. Using large-format artwork is a handy tool for solving this problem,” explains Instone. “You can also use art to emphasise a particular colour palette or add a touch of colour if you are working with a neutral scheme.”

Cinar rug

A monochrome rug at the entrance. Antonie Robertson / The National
A monochrome rug at the entrance. Antonie Robertson / The National

Cinar is a family-owned Turkish company that has been creating silk and wood carpets since the 1930s. Stanbury’s penthouse has a number of rugs from the brand, but Instone’s favourite is a monochrome abstract runner placed at the entrance.

“A design in contrasting colours can be very impactful. We love to play with blacks and whites as white reflects light and creates the illusion of space, while black creates depth. Even through monochrome colours are simple, they are dynamic and edgy when combined. This rug sets the tone when you enter the penthouse, and balances out the abundance of colour.”

Pro tip: “A black and white rug can work in any interior colour scheme. Whether you choose a contemporary geometric pattern or a softer abrash, a monochrome rug will uplift any room and bring a sophisticated edge to your home,” says Instone.

Tufted coffee table

A turquoise velvet coffee table is the centre point of an otherwise neutral seating area. Antonie Robertson / The National
A turquoise velvet coffee table is the centre point of an otherwise neutral seating area. Antonie Robertson / The National

Turquoise is Stanbury’s favourite colour, says Instone, and she’s taken this tufted coffee table/foot stool from home to home. It stands out in a seating area that otherwise has sofas and armchairs upholstered in a warm white bouclé.

“The turquoise velvet tufted coffee table provides a pop of colour, which is picked up in the array of brightly coloured scatter cushions and Hermes throws. The vignette is completed by an extra-long turquoise lacquered media unit,” says Instone.

Note also the contrast of textures on the matching-coloured pieces. This was deliberate, says Instone, and the eye transitions from the hard high-gloss turquoise finish to the softer velvety texture, giving the area a sense of balance.

Pro tip: “While I always recommend clients stick to classic, timeless colourways for staple investment pieces, such as sofas and armchairs, one can experiment with on-trend colours in smaller items such as cushions, throws and an upholstered coffee table,” say the designer.

Turquoise side table

An accent table in turquoise and white is versatile enough to be placed in various parts of the house. Photo: Blush
An accent table in turquoise and white is versatile enough to be placed in various parts of the house. Photo: Blush

Designed to complement the shades of the coffee table and sideboard, a turquoise side table is placed in Stanbury’s living room. The two-tone high-gloss lacquer is finished with a dividing recessed shadow gap of hand-applied gold leaf.

“The versatile little table can be moved around the house. Currently, it sits next to Caroline’s bouclé sofas and serves as a resting place for an oversized Baobab candle,” says Instone.

Pro tip: "An accent table is a great way to introduce some colour, experiment with shape and form, and use materials that you might not otherwise consider as it is small and easily interchangeable,” says Instone. “It’s a piece of furniture you can take a risk with, without staying awake at night worrying you might have made the wrong design decision. Just have fun with it.”

Inside Sharon Stone's $39 million former home, San Francisco’s most expensive listing — in pictures

  • Lush gardens lead up to the historic home that is listed for $39 million. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    Lush gardens lead up to the historic home that is listed for $39 million. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • Formal living and dining rooms connect to more casual, intimate spaces. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    Formal living and dining rooms connect to more casual, intimate spaces. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • US actress Sharon Stone bought the house in 1998. AFP
    US actress Sharon Stone bought the house in 1998. AFP
  • The Sea Cliff area is known for its large houses and famous residents. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    The Sea Cliff area is known for its large houses and famous residents. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • There is private access to Baker Beach, which forms part of the Presidio National Park. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    There is private access to Baker Beach, which forms part of the Presidio National Park. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • Despite being upgraded, the home retains its Old World charm. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    Despite being upgraded, the home retains its Old World charm. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • One of the bedrooms has its own sun terrace. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    One of the bedrooms has its own sun terrace. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • Sea Cliff is in north-western San Francisco. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    Sea Cliff is in north-western San Francisco. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • The property has two sun decks. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    The property has two sun decks. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • It also has views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    It also has views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • The property is on the market for $39 million, making it the most expensive listing in the Bay Area. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    The property is on the market for $39 million, making it the most expensive listing in the Bay Area. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • Picture windows frame the stunning views. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    Picture windows frame the stunning views. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • The interiors feature dark wood floors and custom-built fire places. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    The interiors feature dark wood floors and custom-built fire places. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • Expansive ocean views are a recurring feature. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    Expansive ocean views are a recurring feature. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • The property at No 1, 25th Avenue, Sea Cliff has only had four owners in its long history. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    The property at No 1, 25th Avenue, Sea Cliff has only had four owners in its long history. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • The main entrance. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    The main entrance. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
  • The house was built in 1908. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
    The house was built in 1908. Photo: TopTenRealEstateDeals.com
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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THE BIO

BIO:
Born in RAK on December 9, 1983
Lives in Abu Dhabi with her family
She graduated from Emirates University in 2007 with a BA in architectural engineering
Her motto in life is her grandmother’s saying “That who created you will not have you get lost”
Her ambition is to spread UAE’s culture of love and acceptance through serving coffee, the country’s traditional coffee in particular.

Fines for littering

In Dubai:

Dh200 for littering or spitting in the Dubai Metro

Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts or chewing gum on the floor, or littering from a vehicle. 
Dh1,000 for littering on a beach, spitting in public places, throwing a cigarette butt from a vehicle

In Sharjah and other emirates
Dh500 for littering - including cigarette butts and chewing gum - in public places and beaches in Sharjah
Dh2,000 for littering in Sharjah deserts
Dh500 for littering from a vehicle in Ras Al Khaimah
Dh1,000 for littering from a car in Abu Dhabi
Dh1,000 to Dh100,000 for dumping waste in residential or public areas in Al Ain
Dh10,000 for littering at Ajman's beaches 

%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ramez%20Galal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStreaming%20on%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMBC%20Shahid%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Turkish Ladies

Various artists, Sony Music Turkey 

What are the main cyber security threats?

Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Letswork%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202018%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EOmar%20Almheiri%2C%20Hamza%20Khan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20co-working%20spaces%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.1%20million%20in%20a%20seed%20round%20with%20investors%20including%20500%20Global%2C%20The%20Space%2C%20DTEC%20Ventures%20and%20other%20angel%20investors%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20about%2020%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
'Lost in Space'

Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen

Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins

Rating: 4/5

Suggested picnic spots

Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
 
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes 

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3EName%3A%20Tabby%3Cbr%3EFounded%3A%20August%202019%3B%20platform%20went%20live%20in%20February%202020%3Cbr%3EFounder%2FCEO%3A%20Hosam%20Arab%2C%20co-founder%3A%20Daniil%20Barkalov%3Cbr%3EBased%3A%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3ESector%3A%20Payments%3Cbr%3ESize%3A%2040-50%20employees%3Cbr%3EStage%3A%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3EInvestors%3A%20Arbor%20Ventures%2C%20Mubadala%20Capital%2C%20Wamda%20Capital%2C%20STV%2C%20Raed%20Ventures%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20JIMCO%2C%20Global%20Ventures%2C%20Venture%20Souq%2C%20Outliers%20VC%2C%20MSA%20Capital%2C%20HOF%20and%20AB%20Accelerator.%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Draw:

Group A: Egypt, DR Congo, Uganda, Zimbabwe

Group B: Nigeria, Guinea, Madagascar, Burundi

Group C: Senegal, Algeria, Kenya, Tanzania

Group D: Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Namibia

Group E: Tunisia, Mali, Mauritania, Angola

Group F: Cameroon, Ghana, Benin, Guinea-Bissau

Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026

1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years

If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.

2. E-invoicing in the UAE

Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption. 

3. More tax audits

Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks. 

4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime

Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.

5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit

There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.

6. Further transfer pricing enforcement

Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes. 

7. Limited time periods for audits

Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion. 

8. Pillar 2 implementation 

Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.

9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services

Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations. 

10. Substance and CbC reporting focus

Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity. 

Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer

UNpaid bills:

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN budget in 2019

USA – $1.055 billion

Brazil – $143 million

Argentina – $52 million

Mexico – $36 million

Iran – $27 million

Israel – $18 million

Venezuela – $17 million

Korea – $10 million

Countries with largest unpaid bill for UN peacekeeping operations in 2019

USA – $2.38 billion

Brazil – $287 million

Spain – $110 million

France – $103 million

Ukraine – $100 million

 

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Tales of Yusuf Tadros

Adel Esmat (translated by Mandy McClure)

Hoopoe

Updated: May 30, 2022, 10:16 AM