The Edge of Calm

Set within the Sidra enclave in Dubai Hills Estate, this contemporary villa belongs to a globe-trotting couple and their two young children. “We’ve collaborated with this family on two previous homes over the past five years, so this third project came with mutual trust and creative alignment,” says Dora Tokai, the studio’s founder and Creative Director. “The brief was effortless: timeless, elegant, a touch industrial. And the process was seamless. We were given full creative freedom, and the only request was to add a soft pop of colour to the bedroom. It was our first opportunity to take their home down to its structural essence and rebuild with intention, through architectural extensions, spatial reconfigurations and an entirely new material palette.”

The villa follows a clean-lined modern style typical of the Sidra collection, which was developed by Emaar around 2019. D’Ora Tokai Designs reimagined the structure through full-scale renovation and extensions, softening its linearity and introducing a richer architectural language. The home unfolds in serene tones of off-white and oak, underscored by materials chosen for their longevity and natural character. Calacatta Vagli marble adds sculptural precision, while brushed stainless steel, silver oak joinery and black metal detailing introduce quiet contrast.

Colour appears sparingly yet purposefully – eggplant and blush in the main bedroom, soft pinks in the daughter’s room, and ephemeral green accents through fruit and florals. “This home is a quiet study in layered restraint,” says Tokai. “We drew from European detailing, industrial accents and our ongoing commitment to sculptural minimalism. Nothing shouts – yet every detail speaks.” 

Here, texture is king. Oak herringbone floors provide grounding warmth, while custom microcement surfaces bring modern softness to the bedrooms and powder room. Warm-tinted glass used for table surfaces and joinery details offers gentle luminosity, while Caesarstone quartz ensures ease of use in the kitchen and utility areas. Every space features furniture and objects designed or curated by the in-house brand of D’Ora Tokai Designs: DOT Objects.

The villa spans 250 square metres across two levels, designed with clarity and function in mind. Downstairs, the spaces transition naturally from entry to living and dining, with the new enclosed kitchen forming the home’s heart. Upstairs, each child enjoys an en-suite bedroom, while the expanded main suite offers dual walk-in wardrobes and a private retreat for the parents.

Lighting and accessories were handpicked to complement the interiors, with a mix of contemporary brands and timeless shapes. A classic, the CH07 Shell Chair lends sculptural gravity to the living room, while select pieces from ebarza, Al Huzaifa, Luxxe Lighting and Roll & Hill add visual punctuation without overpowering the serenity of the space.