Arabian Daydreams in This Art Collector’s Cairo Home by Hoda Lasheen

Getting heated dreams of an Arabian past in the reception, completely immersed in Mediterranean expressions in the living room and indulging with class in a dining room drenched in green. That’s life in this Cairo apartment, which was designed by award-winning designer Hoda Lasheen.

It’s not the first time the Cairo-based designer created an immersive experience for homeowners, but this certainly took a defined and universal turn. The museum-like home introduces itself as an unmistakable reminiscence of Arabian romanticism before turning into an orientalist’s cocoon.

“The homeowner’s lifestyle revolves around collecting art,” Lasheen tells SceneHome, describing the main inspiration behind the design, which she named ‘The Collector’.

The apartment is zoned delightfully with colour temperatures. The interior announces its Arabian influences with a statement multifoil arch that separates the foyer from the reception area. Both zones feel like they were pulled out of an 11th century daydream, where you’re comfortably resting in the belly of the Islamic Golden Age. Countless furniture and art covers the space to confirm this magical aura.

‘More is more’ was the concept behind this apartment,” Lasheen continues. “The owner wanted more colours, more patterns, more textures and more accessories.” This full-fledged appetite for aesthetics reached the guest bathroom which, you guessed it, features a pointed arch housing a fountain-like washbasin with floral dreamscapes in the background.

To their delight, the owner got exactly what she was looking for; a gift that keeps on giving, a living space that has something to offer in each corner. “As an art collector with a huge appetite for travel, she wanted to walk around the house as if wandering in a museum of art, fashion and architecture,” Lasheen adds.

The design boldly blends the owner’s personality by setting the stage for pieces of art and memorabilia acquired over time to tell thousands of stories in an array of spaces that share an ethereal feel. As you move from the heated introduction of the house, things take a slightly calmer tone without losing their opulence. The private living space, for example, has a lighter colour palette made of blue and white. A built-in seating hosts portraits of Azulejo, the iconic Portuguese art language that tells the story of a nation, which continue on the curtain, seating and cushion fabrics to create a complete Mediterranean immersion.

Nearby, you’ll find arguably the most fairytale-like bedroom in Egypt. A subtle golden gild accompanied with creme coats the space to create a soothing atmosphere.

“The owner desired a design that mixes between being fancy, fashionable, classical and comfortable,” Lasheen admits. While the living room had comfort covered, the dining room is drenched in class, bringing this home to a European conclusion. A green hue covers the ornate space while classical furniture and decorative corniches dripping down the wall ground it with a timeless presence.

Photography Credit: Nour El Refai