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Inside
Words: Anna AbouZeid, Photography: Stefan Lindeque, Styling: Sarah Maisey
UAE home
This two-storey penthouse on the 81st floor of a prestigious
Dubai Marina building is awash with neutral tones that
make the most of this gorgeous, light-filled space

2. 50
Malin incorporated
different shades of grey,
blue and cream to liven up
the neutral interior. The
curtains were custom-made
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Inside
S
tepping into this Dubai Marina home,
one is instantly captivated by the
glorious light that floods the entire
space, adding vibrancy to the soft
colour palette and modern country style.
“The owners are previous clients of mine,”
says interior designer Malin Palmlund of
M Interior Design. “I did the first apartment
they had together and it turned out well with
a good mix of both their tastes, but it was a
lot darker than this one.”
This time, the couple wanted a relaxed
atmosphere with a slightly more country-rustic
aesthetic, while still feeling modern, Malin
says. They also wanted a lighter, more neutral
colour scheme, but were clear about one thing:
no beige. “Since we already knew each other,
the trust was there and the entire home came
together in only one month,” Malin explains.
Before Malin worked her design magic, the
penthouse had old wallpaper and paint that
“Using a lot of cushions makes
a big difference. You can never
have enough cushions!”
UAE home

3. 53
Inside
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GOING NEUTRAL
A neutral palette is lovely, but it can be
difficult to do without looking bland. Here
are interior designer Malin Palmlund’s tips
on how to get it right:
l Pick a base colour like grey instead of
beige, which will make the room look more
modern and elegant. There are many shades
of grey so you have a lot to choose from.
l Use blue the same way some people might
use brown or black.
l Mix blue upholstered pieces with white
or grey accents. And remember, greys look
good with bright colours, pastels and blues.
didn’t really match the architecture and
features. “One important aspect was to take the
beige-yellow atmosphere of the original space
and make it more comfortable and stylish. And
I wanted all the rooms to make visual sense
together,” she says. “We used some items
from the couple’s previous apartment, but
I completely changed the colour scheme.”
On the main floor of the penthouse, Malin
painted the walls two different shades of grey
and used blues in different materials and shades
as the basis of her design. She incorporated
natural wood furniture and accessories, including
The dining room table
was sourced from
Marina Home, while
the chairs are from
Pottery Barn.
Facing page, bottom:
The neutral colour
palette continues in
the upstairs lounge,
this time incorporating
gold tones
UAE home
the coffee and dining tables, and added some
dark – almost black – pieces for a dramatic effect.
The home really comes alive thanks to Malin’s
choice of accessories and accent pieces –
gorgeous rugs, lanterns and an eclectic mix of
patterned cushions. “Using a lot of cushions
makes a big difference in a room,” she says.
“You can never have enough cushions!”
Despite keeping the home’s aesthetic and colour
scheme soft and neutral, Malin incorporated
splashes of colour in the accessories, cushions
and even large furniture pieces including the
Above: “Since there is no entrance hall, I wanted to create something that would make you
feel like you had come into a reception area instead of directly into someone’s living room,”
says Malin of the small sitting area guests see when they first walk in

4. 55
Inside
54
UAE home
The calming master
suite and the guest room
(below centre) feature
the same neutral colour
palette as the living areas
on the main floor. The
mirrored night stands
coordinate with the
mirrored accents in
the dressing room
living room sofa – which is dusty dark blue
– adding depth to the colour palette. “I was
lucky,” Malin says about bringing the couches up
81 floors. “The sofas almost didn’t make it into
the elevator! When you buy large furniture you
always measure everything to make sure it will
fit, but you always have some clients who are
not convinced it can be done. Luckily it did and
we didn’t have to carry the sofas up 81 floors!”
The neutral colour scheme from the living
areas on the main floor continues upstairs in
the master suite, guest bedroom and first-floor
lounge area, but it’s the dressing room that
Malin likes best. “The dressing room is my
favourite. It is a bit more bold with a different
mix of patterns, which is always fun,” she says.
The couple didn’t want to rebuild the space
or make structural changes, so Malin made
clever use of furniture and storage units for
her clients’ clothes and accessories, including
a beloved shoe collection. She says, “The
space needed to be big enough for my client
and her stylist to move around comfortably,
and have enough space for her accessories
and all her lovely shoes.” Malin introduced
mirrored boxes, silver canisters and an island
in the middle of the room with small storage
boxes and compartments inside the drawers
to accommodate accessories. “I incorporated
her love for lavender and pink and made it a
romantic, elegant space,” she explains. The
standout feature of the dressing room is
undoubtedly the Carl Robinson wallpaper, which
adds a dose of feminine glamour to the space.
In designing this home, Malin says she was
determined not to fill it up with too many
unnecessary objects, but instead let the space,
light and a carefully curated selection of
objects speak for themselves. “I dislike clutter,
and I think things look prettier if you arrange
them carefully and with a purpose,” she says.
The couple wanted their new home to be a
comfortable and relaxing setting where they
could spend time together or with a few friends,
and with Malin’s masterful design, she has
achieved just that.

5. Steal the Style
Mirrored boxes Homes R Us, Dh19
(small), Dh29 (medium), Dh39 (large)
Mirella fabric
Colefax &
Fowler, Dh790
per metre
Dixon coffee table
Crate & Barrel, Dh1,999
UAE home
Elce Stockholm
pillows D-tales,
Dh410 each
(Dh250 pillow
case only)
“The dressing room
is a bit more bold
with a different mix
of patterns, which is
always fun”
The dramatic dressing
room wallpaper is by
Carl Robinson. The
mirrored accents and
dressing table add
a hint of glamour to
the space. The pink
cushion is by Swedish
brand Elce Stockholm,
from D-tales
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