Eternal Flow

Designed for a family of four, the 460-square metre apartment at Atlantis The Royal was a standard shell and core space. The owners commissioned Dubai-based designed Katerina Suleymanova and her studio, Katrin & Muse Design to turn the space into a contemporary home by using natural premium materials, integrating advanced technology and planning comfortable, functional zones – all while making the space feel deeply personal.

Katerina Suleymanova, Founder of Katrin & Muse Design

One of the main changes Suleymanova and her studio instigated was to create a sense of ‘eternal flow’. They sought to eliminate the sharp angles of the home, instead introducing soft curves in ceilings, walls and built-in furniture. The colour palette is nature-inspired: beige, cream and walnut brown, with peach in the female suite, grey in the male suite, and rose and violet accents in the daughters’ rooms. 

Suleymanova also sought to combine the apartment’s main core – a living space, dining space, kitchen and corridors – into a functional space. This was achieved through a series of signature design solutions: a glass-partitioned office with a folding bronze-mesh screen that offers privacy when needed yet disappears seamlessly to preserve the sea view; a custom onyx TV unit placed perpendicular to the windows, which hides storage, defines the entrance corridor, and serves as a sculptural centrepiece with its wave-inspired curves; a dining area positioned by the windows for uninterrupted sea views and convenient kitchen access, complemented by a bespoke reading bench with an integrated olive tree that creates a tranquil retreat; and finally, a concealed entry buffer zone, where an awkward open vestibule was transformed into a hidden cloakroom with a full-height sliding mirror door on a magic guide, visually expanding the space while adding discreet functionality.

The suites were all designed around each user’s routines and needs. The male suite uses dark Cosmos Rock stone, walnut, leather, chrome and herringbone fabrics, forming a masculine, composed atmosphere. In the female suite, existing wardrobes façades were redesigned as fabric-clad panels in thin metal frames to blend with the walls, and a dressing table was integrated by the window for natural light. The daughters’ rooms are age-appropriate: one is airy and rose-toned with boucle textures and pink quartzite, the other features violet Calacatta Viola and a full-width headboard with built-in study zone.

All the built-in furniture was designed by Katrin & Muse studio in line with the flow of the apartment, juxtaposed with branded furniture from Cattelan Italia, Meridiani, Minotti, Poliform and Roche Bobois. The tasteful lighting fixtures come from Reflex, Lodes, Artemide, Flos and more. All the surfaces feature American walnut, cashmere, boucle, leather and natural stones. In line with the client’s requirements, a fully integrated smart home system controls lighting scenarios, curtains, music, TVs and appliances via app, switches, voice or remotes, while ceiling speakers remain invisible. 

As a finishing touch, art completes the apartment: a diptych by Yuliya Solomennaya in the living room, a bespoke gypsum wave panel in the female suite, and a custom metal sculpture reminiscent of liquid mercury in the male suite. They continue the flowing theme, linking the spaces emotionally and creating a home that is airy, light and soothing for the soul.

Photography: Evgeniy Kuznetsov