We Love This Colourful Tuscan-style Home In Dubai
Nestled in the heart of Jumeirah Golf Estates, this resplendent abode transformed by Maryanne and Adam Peacock resembles a postcard from Tuscany
Personality and creativity strike an impressive chord at first glance. Maryanne Peacock’s home resembles an art gallery-cum-Mediterranean-style space bathed in sunlight and fresh airy vibes, tucked within the Whispering Pines District in Dubai and overlooking the ninth hole of the luxurious Earth Course designed by Greg Norman.
“It was the first house I’d ever seen in Dubai that I fell in love with,” recalls Maryanne, mum to newborn son, Rafa and Founder and CEO of The Peak (wearethepeaks.com), the first home-grown travel club in the GCC.
An interior view of the master bedroom. Bed made-tomeasure; Lights from Graham & Green; Side tables made in India; Pillows from Bali
Maryanne and her husband Adam finally purchased the property and moved in early this year, spending a laborious few months redoing a few aspects of the Tuscan-style, four-bedroom, double-storey contemporary villa to resemble, not just themselves, but also their wanderlust for travelling and their seven-year love story that blossomed in Dubai.
Maryanne didn’t quite want to follow a particular theme or hire a design consultant to inject her dream aspects into the property and so, she took a hands-on approach to her style guide. “We wanted it to be bright and vibrant, but at the same time cozy and homely with the interiors reflecting our travels.”
Table handmade in Dubai; Chairs from 2XL; Cabinet from Marina Home; Lights from West Elm; Wallpaper from Etsy
Selecting a muted palette with accents of pop colour to offset the white and bright interiors, Maryanne and Adam reworked a few specific zones to keep with the Italian spirit of the place. “Before we moved in, we focused on painting and flooring mostly,” she says.
“All the door frames and doors were repainted white. We also did all the flooring to brighten up the place and had the top floor carpeted.”
An interior view of the living room designed with pops of colour
The ground floor was converted to accommodate an office, and woodeffect flooring was selected to complement the warm white tones of the marble. The outdoor landscape was redesigned to follow a Tuscan garden theme with manicured green shrubs and bushes, elegant tiles bedecking the pool, a gazebo and an outdoor lounge area – complete with a fireplace and a laid-back seating enclave to gather family and friends.
Preferring to work with local companies like the Dubai Garden Centre, Marina Home and Wood Culture, Maryanne unleashed her own styling aesthetic to introduce personality into their home. “We created some unique pieces with the help of Wood Culture, like our linen closet and daybed, plus most of our statement chairs,” she says, speaking of skilled specialists who were called in for particulars such as bespoke wood and rattan furniture, special tiling in some areas of the house, a customised TV cabinet and bone inlay side tables to match. Always on the hunt for oneoff pieces that standout as conversation starters, the nooks and corners of the house come alive with striking elements such as statement lamps, colourful wallpaper and a riveting collection of books.
Vintage Hermès scarf frame; Dresser from India; Chair from Wood Culture
As frequent luxury travellers, the couple intentionally sourced elements together to reflect their travel diaries and to that end, they’ve created the perfect wall art to resemble a gallery-style setting along the staircase. “I’m also a big fan of travel keepsakes and decoration objects,” admits Maryanne. “The collection has grown over the years and consists of art and photos from our travels, plus pieces of art from local Dubai-based companies.” As a big hotel fanatic, Maryanne picks up inspiration from the places she has visited, always stopping by the local markets and boutiques.
For a little touch of Parisian elegance, framed silk scarves break up the art and photos, only to hint at the couple’s love affair for eclectic patterns and prints. It also goes to show the creative genius of a free hand led by passion and novelty, where empty spaces come alive with distinctive and inimitable taste.
An interior view of the powder room
“Artwork aside, we have placemats from Bali, rugs from Turkey, cutlery from France, cushions from Morocco, Murano glasses from Venice, beaded animals from Cape Town, bone inlay drawers from India – the list goes on!” smiles Maryanne.
If life is all about the journey and not the destination, then the Peacocks have certainly captured their memories within these four walls. Their home is not just a work of art but also a testament to all that they love and cherish in life; it’s their journey through the years, traversing the continents and capturing for themselves a healthy slice of harmonic bliss that resonates with the soul.
Photography by Aasiya Jagadeesh, ITP Images
From the Autumn 2020 Issue of Harper’s Bazaar Interiors