This Summer House is an Eclectic Delight on the North Coast

On Egypt’s North Coast, designer Malak Orfy has completed a summer residence inspired by the carefree spirit of European holiday homes, while embedding her own eclectic identity into every corner. The project embraces bold colours, curated accessories and custom-made design pieces, producing a house that feels charismatic and highly personal.

“The client gave me complete freedom to play around and make sure the creative process had no limit,” Orfy tells SceneHome. That freedom allowed her to experiment with palettes and textures, weaving together terracotta reds, seafoam greens, cobalt blues and sun-washed pastels. These tones recall seaside villages while enhancing the rooms with visual interest and eye-catching details.

The house features organic lines in the furniture and arched doorways, softening the geometry of the spaces and creating a natural flow between rooms. Walls are animated with whimsical abstract illustrations of the sun, trees and North Coast palms, reinforcing the home’s seaside character. Meanwhile, the woodwork introduces striking, sometimes contrasting geometry, creating visual tension that remains harmonious.

Curated accessories drive the project’s character. Orfy began sourcing and designing pieces months before completion, ensuring that each element was carefully considered. “I usually travel and get inspired with what I find and build on it,” she says. Most of the furniture and décor was custom-made to fit exact locations, from palm-tree candlesticks and oversized figurative cutouts to playful vases and sculptural objects. Together, they transform the home into a sequence of staged vignettes, each with its own mood.

The interiors balance this eclecticism with a clear framework. Terrazzo surfaces and geometric flooring bring coherence, while shelving and display units double as platforms for the curated accessories. Retro references, such as checkerboard tiles and sculptural décor, echo European design traditions but are reinterpreted through Orfy’s playful lens in a local way.

Many of the pieces - shelves, tables or sculptural objects - playfully resemble toys or building blocks, reinforcing the childlike, free-spirited energy that runs throughout the house. Each detail is intentionally designed to delight, making the space feel simultaneously curated and spontaneously playful.

“I would say that every corner in this house is me - fun, eclectic and charismatic,” she explains. That sense of personality is evident throughout, with whimsical details punctuating otherwise functional spaces. The design’s surrealist accents keep the environment light hearted, reinforcing the idea of the house as a seasonal retreat.

The project ultimately reflects Orfy’s broader approach to interiors: starting from objects and atmosphere rather than strict plans, and letting personality guide design. With this summer house, she has created a manifesto for eclectic living where custom craft, colour and curation are as essential as layout and function.