Custom No,9 designer Amy Durnford has envisioned an ethereal haven with the help of the UAE’s finest artisans.Durnford’s favourite space, the sunken conversation pit, is filled with natural light, courtesy of the large windows and bespoke bi-folding doors (on the right) that she installed.Looking past its tricky layout and a host of other technical problems that are common with old villas in Dubai, the couple fell in love with the 20-metre-tall trees hugging the site.Earthy textures such as linen, jute and ceramics bring an earthy vibe.

Over the course of eight months, they demolished almost all non-structural internal walls and ripped out the original 2007 bathrooms and kitchen.The existing kitchen was gutted to create this social space where cooking, hosting and everyday life come together seamlessly.

That vision required a slew of major modifications – including enclosing the first-floor balcony to increase the footprint of the principal bedroom, adding split levels and adapting the porch to create a home office.If nature provided the soundtrack to this home, the couple’s time in Mexico inspired its ambiance. By rendering all surfaces in the same finish and installing a geometric flooring, Durnford disguised the modest proportions of the guest ensuite.

She developed every design element that gives the house its distinct character, locally with fellow UAE businesses: from the T-bar door handles and the pivoting bifold panels that open the living space to the outdoors, to the micro-cement finish that runs from the walls and floors onto the curved kitchen island, giving the home its earthy look. And while she often had to push suppliers to try something new, the results – be it the hand-bent metal rail of the jute floored stairwell or rounded edges that lend softness to the architecture inside – are testament to the high-quality workmanship that Dubai contractors can deliver.