Oriental Echos: Bazaar Arabia Took A Tour Of Inna Rodchenko-Highfield’s Far-East Inspired Home

Marketing guru Inna Rodchenko – Highfield’s Al Barari penthouse fuses her Far Eastern sensibilities – honed during decades spent in Hong Kong – with Middle Eastern warmth

I’m a Texan girl at heart,” laughs Inna Rodchenko-Highfield, “though I was born in the Soviet Union to Russian parents.” Her international credentials were further enhanced after spending nearly two decades in Hong Kong, “which truly felt like home,” before her move to the Middle East nearly two years ago. “Saying goodbye was not easy, especially since my children were born and raised there,” she admits, “but we have all settled in beautifully. Coming from Hong Kong, which is also incredibly international and welcoming to expats, the transition felt quite natural. Dubai’s energy, creativity and global spirit have made it an inspiring new beginning for my kids and me.”

Inna – who shares her three-bedroom Al Barari duplex penthouse with her children Kai, 12, and 10-year-old Lily, plus beloved pups Boba and Vader, tells us, “Yes, we are Star Wars fans. It is a lively little household. Full of energy, laughter – and the occasional lightsabre battle.”

The marketing guru – she leads the Middle East and North Africa region for EX-R International, an experiential agency with offices across Asia, the US and now the Middle East – is an intensely visual person. Her Victoria Peak Hong Kong home, where she entertained extensively, was forever being photographed for high profile glossies, and she had similar high standards – and requirements – for her Dubai base, too. Given her company is known for turning physical destinations into vibrant, story-driven spaces, her own home had to have the same attention to detail.

Before moving, she had aggressively started to look for the perfect pad – before realising she needed to “let go of finding the perfect house in a rush.” After living in lush Hong Kong, “finding the right setting proved challenging. In the end, location became the priority and I feel incredibly lucky to have found a home in Al Barari as it truly ticked all the boxes. It is wonderfully green and peaceful, and it is a joy to wake up each morning to the sound of birds chirping and water streams flowing just outside the window.”

There were a lot of memories tied to her previous three-storey house. “The move to Dubai felt like the right time to simplify and start fresh. I kept my favourite design pieces, such as furniture by India Mahdavi and a few vintage finds, along with objects collected from travels over the years – and, of course, all the art. Together they have helped make my new home feel personal and familiar in a completely new setting,” she says. “I did not arrive with a rigid blueprint, but I had a strong sense of how I wanted the space to feel. It was less about replicating past homes and more about creating something that reflected a new chapter.”

“It was important to me that the space felt intentional, layered and full of character – with a balance of colour, texture and a touch of the local aesthetic. I have always lived with art, so designing around my collection was key, making sure everything came together naturally and with purpose. I love creating quiet moments throughout the house, little corners that feel considered and lived in.

Originally the idea was for a tried-and-tested Hong Kong interior designer to take on the project – the space was a shell that was redone from scratch – but all parties quickly realised that it could not be completed remotely, especially given some pieces had to be custom made for the space and the right local craftsmen were essential to find. “It’s been a journey,” Inna smiles, wryly. “But I learned a lot along the way. Thankfully, a friend introduced me to [Dubai-based interiors guru] Kens Gourgue, who came to the rescue and worked his magic to help bring it all together. He helped bring the project to life, from selecting wallpaper to designing a custom tiled outdoor dining table. Meshary AlNassar came in to complete the final layer – sourcing the missing pieces, styling the space and creating what is now my beautifully serene terrace. I am so grateful to both for their creativity, patience and eye for detail.”

What Inna did bring her from Hong Kong was, “Art, art, and more art! I brought so much with me that the shipment actually raised a few eyebrows at customs, and they kindly asked for clarification, thinking I might be bringing it in to sell.” One of her star design pieces? “A vintage 1958 Charlotte Perriand sideboard. She was a pioneer of modern design who brought elegance and simplicity to everyday objects, and this piece carries both history and heart.”

When pressed as to whether there are any items that she wouldn’t part with, she answers thoughtfully:“There are meaningful touches throughout the house, but I try not to get too attached to material objects when it comes to interiors. The most sentimental piece I own is not on display – it is a pair of earrings my grandmother wore on her wedding day. They are safely tucked away, but they carry a deep emotional weight that no design object could ever match.”

Friends will instantly see how Inna’s own personal style effortlessly carries into the space she has created – a mix of understated elegance and quiet individuality. “I enjoy discovering emerging designers who I buy when I travel; Kióhne in Greece and BIASA in Bali are favourites, and on a recent trip to Kuwait, I nearly bought out the entire Ra store. I have also made a conscious effort to explore regional talent here in the Middle East. That said, I am still an American girl – labels like Khaite, Totême and Proenza Schouler remain staples in my closet,” Inna adds.

She muses over how her style sensibilities are reflecting in her interiors, telling us, “I am drawn to pieces with depth, whether it is a beautifully cut jacket or a handcrafted piece of furniture, and I have always had a deep love for colour, texture and rich fabrics. I do not follow trends but rather choose what resonates over time. The house reflects that same philosophy: layered, personal and shaped by memories rather than rules.”

In the end, despite all the trouble that she has taken to curate her abode, Inna ascribes to the philosophy that home is less about how it looks and more about how it feels. “It is the energy, the memories, the everyday rituals – the quiet mornings, shared meals and the people (and pets!) who make the space come alive. To me, a home should feel like a sanctuary, but not in a perfect or polished way. It is the imperfections, the layers of life and the sense of being fully yourself that truly make it yours.

Images: Supplied

Lead Image Credits: Denim Set, POA, Daneh

Words By Natasha Faruque

Photography By Aasiya Jagadeesh

Styling: Marguerita Christoforidis. Hair: Vatche; Make-up: Amer Jarjour, both at True and Beyond Agency. Flowers: GoFlower

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia Interiors Autumn 2025 Issue.