Pardus Consilio’s Founder Kitty Fox-McGregor Elguel On Following Your Heart, Breaking The Rules and Making Your Home Your Own
A whimsical collection of varying time periods and styles, the Dubai entrepreneur’s eclectic villa is where contemporary and traditional are in endless harmony
Hyper hues, mid-century modern furniture, statement vintage finds and quirky art pieces form the framework for Kitty Fox-McGregor Elguel’s Dubai villa. The founder of luxury carpets and cushions retailer, Pardus Consilio, Kitty’s approach to design is guided heavily by eclecticism and the Art-Deco era, and complete with a strong mixture of contemporary and old. “When it comes to creating spaces, my home does not comply with a specific aesthetic – transitional design works for me,” states Kitty. “If done well, a unique style concept develops. When designing a space, I think it should be visually pleasing and also practical, especially if you have young children!”
Built in the 1980s, the charming villa is an oasis for Kitty, her husband, their seven-year-old son Hassan, and adopted street cat, amusingly named Cat. “It’s important to love where you live, not just for me, but as a family,” smiles Kitty. “We have two cultures in my home, my husband is Libyan and Arab, and the design reflects both,” she continues.
Iconic pieces that have been collected from across the world, from London to Switzerland, style the distinctively playful abode. “It’s interesting to see how different cultures follow different design trends and, when curated well, they can complement each other,” says the London College of Communication graduate. “Aesthetics have always been a big part of my life.
After a constant struggle to spot the right carpet while living in Dubai came Pardus Consilio, a platform for bespoke furniture, cushions and hand-tufted mirrors. Latin for ‘panther design’, the name takes its cue from Kitty’s obsession with big cats. “I realised there was a gap in the market for statement carpets,” she admits. Set to launch in September, a brand-new mirror collection called the ‘ODISHA COLLECTION’ is in the works, which will feature elegant hand-tufted mirrors that are seen in Kitty’s current space.
Sustainability, a key value of the brand, is upheld by carpets ethically handmade in India using natural fibres and dyes, while the furniture and cushions are handcrafted in Dubai. “This supports local businesses, a value that is important to my brand,” she expresses. “Quality is a must, when buying a statement carpet or piece of furniture. High-quality sustainable materials manufactured by highly skilled local artisans result in a product that will last.”
The designer’s home is a stunning melange of daring furniture and art sourced from various cultures and eras; there’s a wave-shaped modern chandelier in the dining room from Luxxe Lighting, a statement ‘Pink Kiss’ bed made-to-order by Pardus Consilio, a classic pink Ligne Roset Togo by Michel Ducaroy in the bedroom, a Fendi Casa sofa in the lounge, and white Dutch-style house cupboards imported all the way from Holland.
The famed vintage Charles Eames pink lounge chair is also much loved, bought from an auction house while Kitty lived in Switzerland, and reupholstered twice since then. “It looks amazing and so comfortable, there is always a fight to sit on it,” she laughs. “It’s one of the favourites in the house.” There are several art styles displayed on the walls, from pop and street to contemporary and traditional. The father of pop art, Andy Warhol, Dubai-based street artist FINK, and Saudi painter, Hadil Moufti, are a few names that grace the walls. Some pieces have also been gifted from her family, such as the ‘One Thousand and One Kisses’ vintage Egyptian movie poster in the lounge.
“Sometimes, the heart rules the head and I just love something,”
The joyous colours and patterns that dance throughout the home ensure there’s always something storied and fun to be fascinated by. One of Kitty’s best-kept and simple design secrets is to choose neutral backgrounds that allow bright shades to burst. “I have always loved bright colours, and I also am drawn to the calming effect of a white base,” she shares. “I always paint the walls white, so there are a lot of colour pops with all the art and statement furniture.” The monochrome undertones establish a harmonious flow throughout the villa, and each room has something in black and white, mostly textiles. The designer advises, “Take time to choose your colours. I always work around a focal point, it could be a piece of art or a special colourful chair.”
There’s a beautifully cultivated sense of old and new that takes precedence in the home – two elements that coexist to emanate timelessness. The space exudes a visual narrative of creative freedom and unapologetic expression, not tied to any trends. As Kitty so discerningly declares, “Sometimes, the heart rules the head and I just love something. My home might not be to everyone’s taste, however we love all the pieces of furniture and art individually, and they represent our unique style.”
More than anything, Kitty insists on avoiding predefined notions of what a home should be and rather, allowing it to become a visual extension of yourself. “Make it your own. You don’t have to follow all the rules. Remember it’s not a show home, everything should be functional as well as beautiful. Go with your instincts, it is your home and most importantly, you must love it.”
Photography by Efraim Evidor. Styling by Laura Jane Brown.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s September 2022 issue.