Some homes are built to impress. This one is built to exhale. It’s a secret, but let Fantastic Frank share it with you. At the end of a cul-de-sac, hidden away in a quiet corner of Maeen, The Lakes, this 3-bedroom villa + office is a carefully crafted sanctuary. Crafted by the designer who lives here.

This is a place where design carries memory, where materials are repurposed with intention, and where light moves softly through every space. Crafted by its designer-owner, the home is a blend of Scandinavian restraint and Middle Eastern soul, softened by textured plaster, pale stone floors, and natural light that moves effortlessly from room to room.

The design philosophy behind the home is simple yet layered: “I love combining the simplicity and functionality of Scandinavian design with the rich textures and colours of Middle Eastern and African influences.”

That philosophy is evident throughout. Smooth plaster walls, pale stone floors, and warm timber create a soft architectural canvas. Light drifts gently through sheer curtains, illuminating textured objects, hand-picked pieces, and natural finishes. Details matter here. The living room opens fluidly to the garden, erasing the boundary between inside and out. The dining space, grounded in travertine and oak, balances daily ease with quiet, timeless elegance. At the heart of the home is the kitchen, anchored by a marble countertop upcycled from a Bottega Veneta event – a surface with its own story. Dark oak cabinetry and open shelving give weight to the room without overwhelming its calm. Each step you take will reveal subtle out-of-the-ordinary details such as the beautiful staircase fitted with an old railroad sleeper.

Upstairs, the master suite embraces restraint – linen, brass, and light. A walk-in dressing room concealed behind louvre doors adds a tactile, tailored finish, while the bathroom brings together plaster, travertine and warm minimalism to create a daily retreat. The exterior was shaped through craft, reuse, and memory. All designed for living:

Secondhand tiles were laid across the large corner-plot garden, and their cracked fragments were reborn as the base of the outdoor shower. The wooden pergola, built from the home’s former dining table, gives the dining space a sense of continuity and warmth.

The green statement pool, framed by a wilderness inspired by a trip to the Seychelles, anchors the garden in softness and shade. Desert plants, cacti, palms, tropical greens and old mature trees blur the edges between built and wild.

As night falls, the garden glows – warm, quiet, alive. One can eat al fresco underneath the reclaimed pergola, then proceed for a game of chess at the outdoor gaming area and take a few steps down to the sunken Majlis with fire pit. Underneath the palms and trees, this is the perfect place for cozying up on a Dubai winter’s evening.