Design as a Way of Life

In life, every detail matters, and comfort defines quality of life, which is why interior design becomes not merely an arrangement of space, but the creation of an entire philosophy of existence. Ksenia Gabliya and Anastasia Moiseenko, founders of Lappo Interior Design Studio, share their journey in design and how they find the balance between beauty and functionality.

Two Scorpios, two blondes, two strong personalities with complex characters — that's how we describe ourselves. Our partnership formed remarkably organically, although each of us had worked independently for a long time. Ksenia had never successfully maintained a partnership before, despite attempts. But here in Dubai, a genuine energetic connection occurred. We're very similar in certain aspects, yet completely different in others, creating the perfect balance. Sometimes one steps back while the other takes the lead. This is how we complement each other, forming a harmonious union.

We met here in Dubai. Ksenia has been in the emirate for nearly four years, Anastasia for about three. Having worked in our profession in Moscow, we realised that together we could enhance only each other's strengths. The decision to join forces came naturally. Currently, our portfolio includes over 110 completed projects in Dubai, with approximately 20 ongoing simultaneously. Our team grows yearly: now eight people plus outsourced specialists and builders whom we engage depending on the scope of work.

Interestingly, we met at a particular stage in life when we had already developed as individuals and professionals. Anastasia had experience working in partnership in her first business, then worked alone, and now we're a duo again. We appreciate being able to adapt to each other and find common ground in challenging situations.

Our company's philosophy is built on the principle of absolute accessibility: we're available 24/7, and every project truly passes through our soul and heart. Despite the large number of commissions, each is individual. There are no templates, no standards, every interior is created for a specific client, considering their wishes, budget and lifestyle.
We've naturally divided responsibilities. Anastasia handles client communication, finding clients and, as we call her, she's our "Google spreadsheet." Structure is paramount for her; everything must be precisely organised, verified and calculated. She even remembers the remaining balances for all projects practically by heart. Ksenia is the absolute creative with a fantastic sense of taste, creating incredible beauty. This combination of structure and creative approach gives us a serious advantage over competitors.

Our main distinguishing feature in the Dubai market is reliability. Whatever workload we take on, we're fully responsible for it, morally, materially and physically. If we sign a contract, we either fulfil it or pay, sometimes even from our own pockets. Our level of responsibility is maximum, especially considering that Dubai has quite a few unscrupulous specialists.

Experience working specifically in this region is incredibly important. Dubai is a hub city where people come, do something, and disappear after six months. There are countless fraudulent schemes here, and we've experienced many situations that resulted in losses. But now we know practically everything that can happen in Dubai, and this knowledge is invaluable for our clients.

Post-service is an integral part of what we offer. When a client rings three years later saying a wardrobe has broken or they want to refresh the interior slightly, we respond immediately. That same day or the next, one of our employees arrives and resolves the issue. We joke that our service is like the concierge service on Vertu phones. Perhaps someday we'll introduce this as a paid service, because at 2-3 a.m. or 6 a.m., we're always available, even when projects are long completed, and we solve any issues from air conditioning to cockroaches.

For us, good design is a product created for an individual according to their expectations and budget. Not just a beautiful picture conceived in the designer's mind, but a real, functional environment that satisfies the client's needs.
Our clients are predominantly people from post-Soviet countries (about 90%). We enjoy working with investors, as these projects are implemented most quickly and no one interferes with the creative process. We're ready to build villas, houses, cottage communities, hotels — anything. But most often we implement projects either for rental (many buy property in Dubai precisely for this purpose) or for personal residence. Recently, more and more quality, interesting projects like large villas and flats are being created specifically for our clients to live in.

It's fascinating to observe how taste preferences manifest in people from different regions. They're influenced by childhood, culture, what one is accustomed to. Eastern republics have one story; central Russia has quite another. We've learned to guess where someone is from, simply by their interior preferences. Moreover, design has become our second profession — psychology. It's not without reason they say that if you've completed renovations without divorcing, it's already a victory. And when renovating with a designer, you learn the entire internal history of a family, seeing points of connection and conflict. Sometimes we have to act as a buffer in family disputes.

Interestingly, it's much easier to work with men. They're usually more structured, laconic and trust professionals more. For them, the main concerns are construction and budget; everything else is secondary. Women often delve into details, and 90% of commissions for couples are led by women.

One of the most challenging aspects of working in Dubai is finding qualified contractors and quality materials. This problem in Dubai's market is enormous and has been hard-earned by us over years of work. During this time, we've found truly reliable builders who handle almost all our projects (99%). We've also thoroughly studied materials, what can be used and what cannot.

We believe that the construction and design markets in Dubai, despite the beautiful façade, are at the level of 1980s Russia. Everything lags significantly in many parameters. Therefore, one of the main requirements when choosing a designer in Dubai is that the company must be physically located here, not working remotely. Only this way can quality results be ensured. We've finished jobs for colleagues who work online countless times, and it simply doesn't work, especially in local conditions.

We've built our system such that we position ourselves as a general contracting organisation. We take responsibility for the complete implementation of the project. If any contractor fails, we replace them, protecting the client from unnecessary stress. Recently, we had a situation where clients wanted to use a company we hadn't recommended; problems arose, and they came to resolve them. We said, "You needn't have come; we would have resolved everything ourselves. Why waste energy?" After all, 90% of construction projects encounter problems; the difference lies in how people know how to solve them.

It was a revelation to us that in Dubai, materials that in Moscow were used only inside structures, hidden from view, are used visibly. Due to higher material prices here, we find solutions to use more affordable options while making the product interesting. For example, in Moscow we always thought that laminated chipboard was only for the interior of wardrobes, while facades should be MDF or solid wood. Here, chipboard is often used for facades as well, especially in projects that need quick implementation. In Dubai, speed of implementation is very important. If in Russia a major renovation of 60 square metres in six months is considered normal, here everyone wants to see results in two months.
Climatic conditions also dictate their own rules. High humidity affects material choice — solid wood can warp, so more moisture-resistant materials must be used. We've repeatedly encountered situations where everything can come off after a couple of months if local specifics aren't considered.

Dubai's peculiarity is also that property depreciation occurs much faster than in Russia. If we talk about building a wooden house in the desert, it's practically impossible. Façades here quickly "bloom" even when using concrete, and wood, no matter how well treated, won't withstand local conditions for long. Wooden elements are quite applicable inside premises, but only with a certain climate regime. We create beautiful wooden floors from Russian manufacturers but always warn clients: if you forget to pay for air conditioning and it shuts off the floor can be hopelessly ruined literally in a day.

In our work, we often integrate premium appliances into interiors. Bork's arrival in the Dubai market has been a real gift for our clients and for us. It's an incredibly beautiful brand with its own culture and taste that fits perfectly into the concept of a stylish modern home. We adore their products not only for appearance but also for reliability, as appliance quality in Dubai is truly a sore point. Before Bork appeared in Dubai, we once even brought a grill of this brand from Russia because a client very much wanted this specific brand in their kitchen. Now solving such tasks has become much easier.

When we create an interior, we always think not only about walls and furniture but also about appliances that should harmoniously fit into the overall concept. And Bork isn't just about the kitchen, as an uninitiated user might think. It's about lifestyle.

For example, Bork sports equipment deserves special attention. It looks so aesthetic that it becomes a decoration of the space, not just a functional element. In minimalist interiors, it's especially important that each detail works towards the overall concept, and this brand's appliances perfectly accomplish this task. Anyone who, like us, has used a Bork treadmill knows that its design combines futurism and minimalism. Once you stand on such a beautiful machine, you understand that you must live up to the elegant appearance of this elegant trainer. Such details, seemingly unrelated to functionality, can quite motivate you to exercise. The trainer strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves endurance, reduces weight and helps maintain good physical shape, from forearms to abs and leg muscles. But the most interesting thing about it is its ergonomics. Until we saw it with our own eyes, we couldn't believe it: when folded, the treadmill is only 23 centimetres thick! Occupying minimal space, the trainer is also easily moved using built-in rollers, so there are no problems with storage.

Where there's sport, there's always the idea of massage. Muscles always need it; it's important for rest and relaxation. We recently discussed with a client that as soon as we finish the project, we'll definitely install a Bork massage chair. It's the only truly beautiful device of this kind that can become not just a functional item but also a design element. Usually, people refuse to install such chairs, considering them bulky and complex structures. Need we say that at Bork they take up no more space than a similar piece of furniture? By the way, we even tried sitting in a massage capsule, although we didn't manage to go through all 117 programmes. And we can definitely say it's worth it.

In Dubai, there are a number of restrictions that must be considered when designing. For example, it's practically impossible to install underfloor heating; in January, when you turn on the air conditioning, marble or tile surfaces become cold, and you want to add comfort, but officially this cannot be done. Although here too, Bork helps those who want to warm their feet in winter: they have a floor heater model that's positioned horizontally above the floor surface. The smart heating system with several modes can be a good solution. Another local feature is the absence of hot water for hygienic showers; such systems are practically not supplied here.

It's difficult to change the front door. Every door in Dubai has its own plate with a number registered with the fire inspectorate. To replace it, you need to go through the "circles of hell" of approvals. It's completely impossible to glaze a balcony or attach it to a room, as we're accustomed to doing in post-Soviet countries.

Meanwhile, we change interior layouts without problems; the main thing is not to touch load-bearing columns. We request a floor plan from the developer, check it and create a new layout. It's quite difficult to increase the area of townhouses or houses built by major developers. If you want to expand the living room at the expense of the veranda, theoretically it's possible, but getting permission is problematic and expensive, each square metre is paid for separately.

We're often asked how quickly we can complete renovations. We always try to give realistic timeframes, including the time for obtaining permits, which can be very lengthy here. Unfortunately, not everyone in the market is so honest, and sometimes we lose to competitors who promise unrealistic timeframes. But for us, it's more important not to deceive clients. Ksenia and I sometimes sleep at the sites before delivery to fulfil all our promises exactly on time. And we know many stories where clients went to those who promised to do it faster, but in the end, projects either weren't delivered at all or were delayed for a much longer period.

The real estate market development in the UAE is not limited to Dubai. We see a great surge of interest in Abu Dhabi, where several large residential complexes near the Louvre and Guggenheim will be delivered soon. From reliable sources, a huge number of our compatriots have already purchased flats there. We're leading several projects in Abu Dhabi now, these are large constructions for specific clients, and we plan to enter this market with rental furnishing services in the near future.

For us, there are no boundaries in terms of work geography. We're ready to go to any emirate, and we even continue to manage some constructions in Moscow. Our dream is to move on to larger projects, possibly even building houses from scratch. Not buildings, of course (that's urban architecture) but individual residential projects. We always say "yes" to any proposals and then figure out how to implement them. The main thing is to get into the fight, and we'll decide how to win later. And we always win; there are no alternatives.

In working with clients, we try to gently and delicately correct their ideas if we see that something might not work. Sometimes people want technically impossible things. For example, placing a bathtub in the middle of a room under local technical constraints. In such cases, it's easier to explain that it's physically impossible rather than saying the idea is aesthetically questionable.

Over the years, we've reached a level where we can afford to decline a project if we feel there's no understanding, trust or clear vision of the end result with the client. But for the first year and a half to two years, we took on absolutely all projects, and only since last year have we started filtering orders to preserve ourselves and our time.

The most pleasant projects are those where there's a human connection with the client. When you open a chat and understand that you're always happy to see these people and ready to do everything possible and impossible for them. You might not remember the details of the project, but you'll never forget clients who warmly related to the work and who, entering their new home, sincerely rejoiced in the result. It's especially valuable when, after time, they write about how comfortable they are in the space we created.

Of course, there are unusual orders. Once we created an interior that literally had everything: marble, onyx, wooden panels, brass, rhinestones — the strongest eclecticism. And there was a wonderful Eastern man who simply said, "Do whatever you want." It was amazing because, despite his clearly Eastern taste, we created an interior that beautifully combined different stylistic solutions, and he was very pleased.

Technical progress in Dubai, despite the external gloss, leaves much to be desired. We were struck by the absence of integrated systems, leak detectors, smart homes, quality sound. Many elementary things we've been accustomed to in Russia for about 10 years are novelties here: kitchen waste disposals, thermostats in baths. But thanks to the fact that in the last three years, Bork's smart products and a huge number of Russian entrepreneurs have come here, the situation is changing. And we see that no one has yet surpassed our service.

Our personal dreams for the future are also different, just like ourselves. Ksenia always lives with a specific goal. Previously, she dreamed that when her children grew up, she'd move to the centre of Moscow to avoid dealing with prams and to see the Kremlin at her feet. Having realised this dream, she understood that now she wants a flat in Ostozhenka — "a selfish woman's flat" in French style. And a second house by the sea is still in the stage of image formation. Anastasia, with small children, has different dreams: a large house with four full bedrooms on the second floor, comfortable and spacious. The exact location is not yet determined; the main thing is scale.

Our life credo is also very similar: "Better to regret what's done than what's not done" and "Beauty will save the world." The main quality that unites us is courage. Don't be afraid, just do it, and we'll figure it out from there. We have many points of contact in life values, in our attitude towards friends and family. This is an important component of partnership and friendship, looking in the same direction and equally understanding where "white" is and where "black" is.

Our design journey in Dubai is a constant overcoming of obstacles, searching for non-standard solutions and creating not just beautiful but functional spaces where people truly want to live. We continue to grow, learn and develop together with our clients, offering them not just a service, but a real partnership in creating their ideal home.

The design landscape in Dubai continues to evolve rapidly, with new challenges and opportunities emerging every day. What sets us apart is not just our technical knowledge or aesthetic vision, but our unwavering commitment to creating spaces that tell our clients' stories while addressing the unique demands of this desert metropolis.

We've learned that good design is ultimately about balance between beauty and functionality, between client wishes and technical possibilities, between Eastern and Western sensibilities. It's this balance that allows us to transform mere spaces into homes that truly resonate with those who live in them.

As we look to the future, we remain excited by the possibilities. Whether it's expanding into new emirates, tackling larger projects, or simply continuing to refine our craft, we approach each challenge with the same enthusiasm and determination that brought us together in the first place.

In Dubai's ever-changing skyline, where everything seems transient, we strive to create something lasting: interiors that withstand not just the harsh climate, but the test of time itself. Because at the end of the day, design isn't just our profession; it's our way