December 23, 2025 | DESIGN & INTERIORS
a QUIETLY SCULPTURAL HOME in DUBAI
words YUZU Editorial
interior design D’Ora Tokai Designs
photos Mia Interior Photography
production Karine Monié
This home translates minimalist principles into a layered interior shaped by tactility, warm neutrals and clean geometry. Soft contrasts and restrained industrial notes introduce depth without disturbing the overall calm. Conceived as an invitation to a slower rhythm of life, the atmosphere is measured, composed and quietly expressive.
DESIGN APPROACH
Designed by Dubai-based D’Ora Tokai Designs, the project reflects the studio’s focus on sculptural restraint and architectural clarity. Led by founder D’Ora Tokai, whose practice spans interior architecture, product design and fashion, the studio approaches residential interiors with a strong sense of cohesion.
This was the third collaboration with the same family over five years, allowing the process to unfold with trust and creative alignment. The brief was direct: timeless, elegant, with a light industrial touch. Given full creative freedom, the house was stripped back and reworked through architectural interventions and a renewed material language.
LOCATION
Set within Dubai Hills Estate, one of the city’s most desirable residential communities, the home benefits from a rare balance of centrality and calm. Landscaped greenery and a suburban rhythm shape daily life here, echoing the interior’s quiet, grounded character.
PALETTE AND MATERIALITY
The palette is anchored in off-white tones and oak, with subtle contrast introduced through brushed stainless steel, Calacatta Vagli marble and warm-tinted glass. Colour is used sparingly and with intent, appearing as soft accents that animate the space without overwhelming it.
Material choices prioritise longevity and touch. Oak herringbone floors ground the interiors, while marble, steel and black metal details introduce sculptural clarity and quiet contrast.
FURNITURE AND LIGHTHING
Furniture and objects throughout the home are largely designed or curated by the studio’s in-house brand, DOT Objects. Sculptural marble and glass tables, a modular sofa system and a bespoke handwoven rug establish a cohesive visual language.
These custom pieces are layered with selected international designs, including the Wegner CH07 Shell Chair. Lighting from brands such as Roll & Hill, Luxxe Light, Ebarza and Juglana is treated architecturally, adding rhythm and depth rather than ornament.
A MEASURED WAY OF LIVING
Rather than relying on strong gestures, the interior finds its strength in restraint. Architecture, material and furniture work together in a calm composition that supports everyday life—quietly functional, considered and enduring.
