Playing House: Explore Set Designer Samantha Francis Baker’s Colour Drenched Home

Creatively unrestrained and fuelled by cultural curiosity, Samantha Francis Baker’s Dubai residence is brimming with contagious optimism

The home of Dutch art director, fashion stylist and set designer Samantha Francis Baker is as creative as one would expect. Situated in Dubai Hills, the eclectic space is a colourful ode to her passions and follows her journey from her native Holland to Dubai, and everywhere in between. Many objets d’art enliven the space, which is occupied by Samantha and her husband, John, their two children, Brooks and Gia, a “super nanny,” and Billy the dog. Full of personality, each item tells a story from Samantha’s global travels.

“It’s like a personal art gallery, always evolving as I move pieces around and add new finds,” says Samantha, who is also founder of Aces of Space Studios, a Dubai-based multidisciplinary space focused on brand development and storytelling, that has worked with prominent names like Mall of the Emirates, Estée Lauder and Kayali. “It’s a space that’s both calm and full of character, reflecting who we are.”

At Aces of Space Studios, it’s all about creating something that doesn’t just look good, but is disruptive and resonates with the audience. “If there’s one thing I always say, it’s that good design isn’t just seen – it’s felt. That’s the energy we bring to everything we do at Aces of Space.” This philosophy spills over into her abode as well.

In a quest for their dream home, Samantha and John completely deconstructed the space and built it up from scratch. Bathed in natural light, the space is open and airy, with plenty of high ceilings. The style mixes minimalism and maximalism – a balance between her husband’s love for simplicity and her passion for bold, expressive design – allowing the best of both worlds to aesthetically collide. The foundation is clean and toned down, with rich materials creating the perfect canvas.

The villa has been built piece by piece, and will continue to grow with Samantha’s experiences. “My house is never finished as I constantly keep on adding things,” Samantha smiles. “Whenever I come across something I fall in love with, I add it to my home.” The furniture is carefully selected; a mix of designer and second-hand pieces. Her personal passion? “I have an obsession for chairs and I never stop looking for them,” she admits. “My Ligne Roset Togo sofa is an original classic design piece. The Togo has been trending since the seventies. It’s turned heads and melted hearts, residing in the homes of collectors and connoisseurs alike. The love for this design has kept it in production for nearly 50 years now.”

From Hay, ferm Living, CB2 and Loewe Home to Aesop and Crate & Barrel, the house is a collection of different styles and design philosophies. Local brands like Orient 499 (the grape-shaped soap in the bathroom and the palm-tree jars on the kitchen island), and Ilái Sarái can also be found throughout the space. “Ilái Sarái is a design and cultural house that empowers artisans,” Samantha says, nodding to the ethereal papier-mâché vase on the kitchen island. “A lot of the items I found on my travels to Indonesia, Thailand, Ibiza and Spain… I bring them home with me on the plane.”

The heart of the home is the open kitchen, designed in collaboration with luxury Italian brand Snaidero. “This was one of the most fun projects I’ve worked on,” says Samantha. The kitchen cabinets are filled with beautiful little cups, glassware, bottles and plates collected from different countries. The living room is connected to the kitchen; every area of the home has been cleverly designed to function independently, while together forming a cohesive flow throughout the space. “The stairs are beautiful and open almost like a tribune or a stadium,” Samantha describes. “I wanted this to be a space where everybody could sit and enjoy the natural sunlight. It’s a mix of a seating area and a gallery product display area where I constantly change my favourite pieces.”

The bespoke artworks in the home gracefully complement the furniture pieces. Some are painted by John while others are designed by Samantha, such as the green family portrait and ‘Gia’s Celestial Garden’ in the ceiling of her baby’s bedroom. More than just a mural, the work is a living love letter from her parents. “It’s the story of her beginnings and a promise for her future,” Samantha enthuses. “Above her crib, a golden sun radiates warmth and possibility, while a mighty dragon symbolises courage and strength, reflecting her birth in the year of the dragon. The Virgo constellation, her star sign, shines with its quiet wisdom and grounding energy, reminding her of her thoughtful and nurturing nature. Stars twinkle with the love of her late grandparents, while date palm trees, rooted in the rich sands of Dubai, stand tall with resilience, symbolising the strength and prosperity of the place where her story unfolds. A glowing moon offers calm and intuition, while delicate flowers, swift cheetahs, weaving snakes, and soft leaves tell stories of growth, focus and renewal. Together, these symbols create an enchanted sky, forever watching over Gia as she dreams, guiding her with love, wisdom, and strength.”

Samantha was part of the creative scene from quite a young age, and it shows. Growing up in Holland, life’s circumstances inevitably steered her to pursue the professional world head on. “Unfortunately, I lost my parents at a very young age, so I had no other option but to work hard to get to where I wanted to be,” Samantha opens up. “I would go to school and on the weekends I would be interning with fashion stylists and photographers. Most of my free time was spent on set or backstage at fashion shows.”

There wasn’t a single moment that made Samantha fall in love with fashion. Rather, her mother was her muse, growing her appetite for style since childhood. “She used to wear the most amazing suits and beautiful big earrings and shiny heels, which wasn’t very common back in Holland because people are quite down to earth and comfort is the main objective from a young age,” Samantha shares. “My mother used to dress me up in questionable frilly outfits. I love that the most about fashion; it’s not about the trends. It’s about unique style or finding clothing that can bring out your personality – it’s not necessarily something that looks pretty to the rest of the world.”

After moving to Dubai and working for Al Tayer, handling displays for brands like Bvlgari, Pomellato, Bloomingdale’s and Harvey Nichols, it was time to start something of her own. “My husband bought me my first styling kit, and I was ready to take on the world,” Samantha reminisces. “I knew that I had much more in me.” The creative’s best lessons learned are of paying attention to your surroundings, taking advantage of the diverse opportunities in Dubai, and following your instinct. “Work hard and don’t try to prove yourself to anyone except for yourself,” she asserts. “The reason that you’re doing what you do is because you’re good at it. And that’s exactly what you should be doing.” Dubai has proven to be one of the best cities to grow and excel in. “We have a chance to speak to people from all walks of life. This is extremely unique and doesn’t happen in many other countries. Here we speak to people from taxi drivers to billionaires, and all of them have a story that we can learn from.”

Samantha leaves us with a quote that has shifted her perspective in life – personal, professional and otherwise. “Happiness comes from knowing how to handle the world around you. The more you challenge yourself, take full ownership, and push out of your comfort zone, the stronger and more capable you become. Success is not just about working hard – it’s about staying curious, solving problems, and helping others reach their full potential along the way.”

Photography by Aasiya Jagadeesh. Styling by Imogene Legrand

From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s February 2025 issue