PERSONAL EXPRESSIONS

Interior designer Sameera Ameer’s Dubai home radiates feminine warmth coupled with a timeless sense of joy.

- Ayesha S. Shehmir

There’s a sudden feeling of joie de vivre that washes over me as I step into interior designer Sameera Ameer’s apartment in Dubai. Bathed in natural sunlight and colourful at every turn, there isn’t a corner that is dull—and this was just the intention. “To spark joy wherever possible, and to evoke a sense of calm as well as to inspire those who enter it was my goal,” says Sameera with a smile, walking me through the airy abode across newly renovated wooden flooring. “I find design is a great way to bring an element of fantasy and whimsy into our lives. Life can be quite demanding and strenuous at times and so I have always used colourful and playful elements in my designs and interiors as a way of injecting fun into a space.” This philosophy spills over into her professional life as well, forming the ethos of her brainchild, Studio Tsubi, previously known as Wild Child Designz.

There’s a custom-designed, striking pink gallery wall accentuated by a neon artwork in the living room that immediately captures my attention. On it hangs an ethereal photograph of a hybrid woman surrounded by seagulls; a photograph of colourful townhouses; and a digital artwork of melting lipstick, to name a few. The centrepiece is the neon art which depicts two hands reaching out for physical connection, lighting up the entire space. A gift and also one of Sameera’s favourite displays in the space is a framed photograph of a girl with a falcon, often triggering artistic dialogue between guests.