How To Channel Comfortable Luxury: Shirin Kouros Invites Bazaar Arabia Into Her Dubai Home

Entrepreneur Shirin Kouros’ first Dubai home has married comfort and beauty with the spirit of a personal museum, with every element effortlessly curated

Airy, gorgeously cohesive and artistically stimulating, Shirin Kouros’ Dubai home invites visual interest at every turn. The businesswoman and former Londoner moved to the UAE quite recently with her husband and two boys, Noah and Raphael. Raised in Houston, Texas to an Iranian father and Swiss mother, Shirin’s background is dotted with cultural influences that have shaped her perspective in life. After studying at the French Culinary Institute in New York, Shirin moved to London where she set up her first business, Good Life Eatery, and eventually launched Nudi Pasta, a low-carb pasta brand that has already expanded to 10 sites across London, and will make its debut in the US by the end of this year. Shirin hopes to one day launch it in Dubai, too.

“I’m a true foodie at heart, but I always really loved the health aspect of feeding your body well. I’m really into fitness and nutrition; I really believe that you should eat a little bit of everything and achieve a balance.” Another key balance Shirin has maintained so gracefully? Motherhood and business. “Both are a choice, and it’s been great. I think it’s a testament to how awesome women are and that they can do both.”

After settling on her current home, in Al Safa 2, Shirin’s mission was to “give it a new slice of life”. Lined by aged, beautiful lemon eucalyptus trees, the outdoor garden exudes freshness and zest throughout the property. “I wanted it to feel like a little slice of heaven within the surrounding desert,” Shirin smiles. “People always tell me that when they enter the house, they feel the fresh air because of the greenery and trees.”

The neutral scheme of the home was intentionally chosen for a tranquil ambience, while the colourful accents and artworks inject a bit of whimsy and bold character throughout the space. The walls are filled with Shirin’s family art collection. “My dad is a big 14th-century art collector, so I have a lot of 14th- and 15th-century works in the guest room. I have these two works that are 14th-century prince jackets that have been framed, and also a jade dagger that’s from the 15th century, all from Turkey.”

A testament to her love for art from various time periods, there’s also vibrant contemporary artworks around the abode bought from travels across the world over time. There’s pieces by French artist Jordan Tran and Spanish artist Alejandro Guijarro. “I have a mix of everything. It’s a lively house.” There’s a striking artwork by Italian artist Giuseppe Mastromatteo in one of the bedrooms, portraying a girl and a boy crossing arms in a poetically surrealist style.

The most recent addition is a statement Annie Morris sculpture that sits at the foot of the staircase, bought directly from the British artist and said to be her first bronze work in the UAE. Behind this masterpiece hangs an artwork depicting three African women – it’s actually a Pierre Frey curtain fabric, which Shirin cleverly stretched on canvas herself.

The furniture is an eclectic mix: a Kelly Wearstler chandelier in the dining room, a coffee table designed by Irene Cattaneo in Venice, the Camaleonda sofa from B&B Italia, while most of the fabrics on the chairs and pillows are a mix of Dedar and Pierre Frey. Shirin has been an admirer of Kelly Wearstler’s designs for a long time – the vintage style, quirkiness and use of colour in her work has been an inspiration for the home, too. Shirin advises, “It’s fine and well to have really expensive designer pieces, but I still think you should not be afraid of buying something that you like if it resonates with you.” This philosophy has been implemented throughout the rooms.

Shirin worked closely with her interior designer, Melanie Plassart, to bring the home’s playfully elegant and visually rich aesthetic to life. “My vision for this home was to create a space that felt warm, sophisticated, and truly functional for Shirin and her young family especially since they were moving from London and settling into a new life in Dubai,” Melanie shares. “Her beautiful art collection and unique pieces were such an inspiration, so I set out to design a home that combined elegance with comfort – where each corner felt both curated yet cosy.”

The colour palette of the abode is all about a fun balance between warmth, vibrancy, and elegance. Melanie adds, “Shirin already had gorgeous textured fabrics in soft cream tones that provided a timeless and sophisticated foundation. At the same time, her art collection was bold, colourful, and full of personality – just like her family. Being in Dubai, I wanted the home to feel joyful and welcoming. So we added accents of warm, earthy tones, which not only complemented the existing neutrals but also created a seamless flow between the artwork and the overall space.”

Melanie’s emphasis on storytelling through design drew Shirin to her work. “Melanie is not only amazing at making every corner have a story, or at only putting pieces in the house that matter, but also at making sure a house doesn’t feel like a showroom, and that it feels lived in, loved and cosy,” Shirin shares, adding that every part of her home is functional and used by her family. “There’s luxury pieces but it’s still comfortable. That was so important for me.”

Comfortable luxury is the foundation that powers this home’s personality – calming yet vibrant, elegant yet edgy. The soul of the space is both old and new, framed by a timeless collection of objects, furniture and artworks that hold hands to tell a story of purposeful beauty. As Melanie says, “When Shirin called me to say she truly felt at home in her new house, I knew we had done it right. That moment – when a home feels truly like theirs – is what makes design so rewarding and special.”

Photography: Efraim Evidor. Styling: Marguerita Christoforidis

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Interiors’ Spring 2025 issue.