A great starting point or finishing touch for a decor scheme, soft greys teamed with cool blues, whites and charcoal will create a sophisticated look. For something more fun, mix in bold, colourful accents. Here are our favourite current finds
Flight of fancy
Now offering international delivery, Tangletree Interiors stocks an excellent range of luxurious fabrics and wallpapers including Mulberry Home. Use this wonderful version of their iconic Flying Ducks design in silver/blue grey to create a feature wall to talk about. Flying Ducks wallpaper, £59 (Dh335) plus shipping, Mulberry Home at tangletree-interiors.co.uk
Get the picture
This stool by Nada Debs epitomises her modern take on Arabesque design, combining traditional Middle Eastern imagery with clean, contemporary lines to add a touch of old-school charm to a modern interior. Nada Debs grey vintage stool, Dh2,500, O'de Rose, Al Wasl Road, www.o-derose.com
Best of three
If you're using grey as your colour palette, it works much better if you're using more than one shade. This sleek, compact nest of side tables has a choice of three so it won't blend into the background. Mekong tables, Dh2,890, Indigo Living, Dubai
Ahoy there
You might think this fabric would only work in a cottage-style decor scheme, but its vintage-looking design also works to great effect in a simple, contemporary setting. Surprisingly, it's from Ikea, which means it's also very cheap. Benzy fabric, Dh39 per metre, Ikea stores nationwide
Big purchase
Oversized and inviting, this modular sofa, with its intricate detailing, embossed patterns, contrasting stitching and a play of materials and textures, is a luxury you want to sink in to. Confession sofa, Dh52,000, Roche Bobois, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, www.roche-bobois.com
Statement piece
Grey is no background colour, as the striking decorative motif on this cushion demonstrates. A trio of these will create a striking finishing touch to your sofa. Crest cushion cover, Dh269, Indigo Living, Dubai
For more tips on six elements to change up your home routine, check out Six of the Best.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
Did you know?
Brunch has been around, is some form or another, for more than a century. The word was first mentioned in print in an 1895 edition of Hunter’s Weekly, after making the rounds among university students in Britain. The article, entitled Brunch: A Plea, argued the case for a later, more sociable weekend meal. “By eliminating the need to get up early on Sunday, brunch would make life brighter for Saturday night carousers. It would promote human happiness in other ways as well,” the piece read. “It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.” More than 100 years later, author Guy Beringer’s words still ring true, especially in the UAE, where brunches are often used to mark special, sociable occasions.
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale
Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni
Director: Amith Krishnan
Rating: 3.5/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
Afro%20salons
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A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
