Brazilian luxury bespoke furniture and interiors brand ‘Ornare’ opens flagship showroom in Dubai
Brazil headquartered international luxury bespoke design brand, Ornare, announced the opening of its Middle East flagship showroom in Dubai. Operating out of the iconic Opus Tower designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, the brand’s expansion in the region will be led by the dynamic trio Carina Fontes, Maryam Al Nabooda, and Shalise Basso – businesswomen with deep experience in the design industry.
Commenting on how the opening aligns with the brand’s expansion strategy focused on growth markets like the UAE where the luxury retail market has seen double-digit growth over the past decade, Carina Fontes said, “The country is marked by economic prosperity and high demand in the luxury market from customers who give priority to quality. It is an audience that is willing to pay for sophistication and refinement. The UAE is therefore a very strategic market for Ornare and we have positive expectations for the new showroom”.
As a brand well established in the global interior design and architecture market, Ornare prides itself on providing complete customized solutions for the whole house – from kitchens to wardrobes, bathrooms, wall systems, accessories and more. Stressing on its authenticity as a 100% Brazilian product made in São Paulo, the brand’s Founding Partner Esther Schattan added, “We have grown year after year, and we are consolidating ourselves internationally as a Brazilian luxury company. In Brazil and the world over, consumers are spending more time in their homes, investing even more in their environments by increasing the comfort and beauty of their living spaces. This is the right time for us to introduce a taste of Brazilian luxury into homes in the UAE.”
Ornare specializes in offering a high degree of customization for discerning clients, allowing them the freedom to execute extremely sophisticated projects. As part of the service, the brand also uses state-of-the-art technology to enhance customer experience. Clients and business partners can view 3-D modelled designs of the project via Virtual Reality or video before it goes into production.
In addition to the new Dubai flagship and showrooms in Brazil, Ornare has eight others strategically located in the United States. The company has ambitious goals to grow the international business to account for 40% of total sales by 2024.
Photo credit: Marko Zirdum
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Visionnaire launches a new flagship store on Jumeirah Beach Road
Visionnaire launches a new store in Dubai at 908 Jumeirah Beach Road. The new flagship store, which occupies a villa in a high-profile residential compound, has a total surface area of almost 800sqm on two-storeys, complemented by a roof garden in one of the most sought-after locations on Jumeirah First beachfront.
“In a meeting of cultures with such an important purpose as redesigning a better future, Dubai Expo 2020 seemed to us the best context to celebrate the opening of our store” says Eleonore Cavalli, co-founder and art director of the brand “Visionnaire Dubai is a special space where you feel welcomed just like in a home. Thanks to the proximity to the sea and the large open space that the building is equipped with, it is possible to enjoy indoor and outdoor settings in perfect harmony and continuity. In dialogue with some brand’s bestsellers, the store showcases the very latest new collection, unveiled simultaneously in all Visionnaire’s flagship stores worldwide Milan, London, Miami, Los Angeles and Hong Kong”.
The villa’s various rooms are arranged around a central hall that serves as the starting point for the pathway that takes visitors through the store. One of the main living areas features the new Babylon Rack sofa, designed by Alessandro La Spada as an evolution of the iconic Babylon model. This product was conceived as a modular mini-architecture, featuring a number of functional elements developed for study, work and leisure.
The 2021 newcomers are perfectly complementary to the brand’s iconic pieces, such as the dining tables Kerwan, designed by Alessandro La Spada and Raidho designed by Steve Leung, featuring exclusive craftsmanship and a range of fine marble tops. The versatile new Caprice capsule collection, designed by m2atelier for interior and outdoor use, is showcased in the store’s outdoor areas that accompany visitors to the entrance of the Embassy. This space features the Ilario sofa and the Siesta sunbed, with its hallmark curves and rounded profiles. The shopping experience continues on the upper storey, that visitors reach by a stunning helical staircase, enhanced by the presence of a Pavone armchair showcased under the curved stairs. The second storey is home to a variety of solutions for the bedroom, including the Emotion bed by La Conca, the Beloved and C Foscari beds designed by Alessandro La Spada.
“With this significant direct investment in Dubai – concludes Leopoldo Cavalli, co-founder and CEO – Visionnaire comes closer to its Middle Eastern clientele, for a simpler and more immediate purchasing experience”. This stunning, high-profile direct property branch, just a stone’s throw from the Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental and Bulgari hotels, will attend directly to the development of the Middle Eastern, African and Indian markets with its staff of architects, interior designers and sales managers. This opening is also an important milestone for Visionnaire, as the Dubai company was established without the need for a local partner, but as a direct investment in wholly Italian capital. It is one of the very first 100% Italian companies in the United Arab Emirates, undoubtedly the first in the home furniture sector, since only a few weeks ago the Emirate liberalised the establishment of companies in Mainland.
This operation was managed under the brilliant consultancy of John Shehata, a PWC TLS partner. This new challenge, which we decided to accept despite the countless uncertainties facing the global market, is a reaction to the protracted pandemic that has generated changes in consumption and travel habits”. On November 23rd for the official opening of Visionnaire Dubai, a press conference was held in the morning and an exclusive cocktail party in the evening, Under the auspices of the Embassy of Italy in the United Arab Emirates, with the participation of customers, professionals and prestigious partners from the most exclusive sectors: Rolls Royce Dubai for the automotive industry, Vacheron Constantin for high watchmaking, Omniyat one of the most visionary real-estate development and service groups in the Gulf Region, Jetex for global private aviation, Gulf Craft leading shipyards and manufacturers of the Luxury Yachts and ınar for the artisan production of carpets.
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The Bowery Company opens a new flagship showroom in Al Quoz
The Bowery Company launches a new showroom in Dubai’s Al Quoz District. The eponymous 5000sqft flagship space furthers the region’s progression & commitment to great design. Members of The Bowery Company’s Hub will avail of their dedicated working station, meeting room and access to curated events catered specifically to the region’s burgeoning design community, all in an unparalleled space of solace.
The Bowery Company Founder, Christiane Nasr, noticed a lack of stores or brands within the U.A.E that brought the edge of New York City, or the clean minimalist aesthetic of Scandinavian furniture Launching the mutli-brand retailer, she was the first to bring decor trends which focus on expressive interior pieces while promoting comfort & nostalgia to the Middle East. The Bowery Company is the leading partner in the GCC for prominent design brands such as Ferm Living, 101 Copenhagen, Kristina Dam, Bolia & many more. “I’m known for affordable luxury,” explains Nasr. “It’s about providing items for clients who appreciate good design.” From the very beginning Nasr has been solely responsible for being the catalyst in the newfound desire for a more sophisticated aesthetic in homes across the Middle East.
Iconic global design brands HAY & FEST are both now exclusively on the retail scene and stocked by The Bowery Company – furthering the brand’s goal of democratising great design.
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B&B Italia opens its first flagship store on Jumeirah Road
High-end furniture supplier B&B Italia announces the opening of its first single-brand store in Dubai in collaboration with long-time partner Baituti Home. Located on Jumeirah Road, the 950sqm two level showroom represents one of the most coveted, high-end design destinations in the heart of Dubai, featuring a wide selection of the latest collections from B&B Italia’s luxury brands, including Maxalto, B&B Italia Outdoor and Azucena.
Also displayed are the remarkable creations of internationally renowned designers such as Mario Bellini, eight-time winner of the Golden Compass Award, masters of contemporary design and architecture Antonio Citterio and Piero Lissoni, and Italian architect and design pioneer Gaetano Pesce among others. Gilberto Negrini, CEO of B&B Italia, declared: “The launch of this showroom represents for the B&B Italia Group the unique opportunity to highlight our prestigious design collaborations and award-winning brands with our trusted partners, Baituti Home.
Dubai is a design hub in the region, and we hope to continue to inspire and engage this community through our brand heritage and passion as we showcase some of the world’s most iconic pieces of made in Italy furniture.” Mohammad BinHendi, Deputy Chairman of BinHendi Enterprises says: “Through this esteemed partnership we are proud to be delivering the award-winning brands under B&B Italia to the design community in Dubai. The launch of the flagship store unveils new opportunities for B&B Italia and we look forward to being a part of the group’s success in the region.”
Among the design furniture pieces displayed is the iconic Camaleonda modular sofa system and Cutter chairs by Mario Bellini, B&B Atoll and Ray seating system by Antonio Citterio, Naviglio sofa by Yabu Pushelbeg, and Tufty-Time by Patricia Urquiola. In addition to showcasing B&B Italia’s latest collections, the store in Jumeirah will provide professional services for clients, architects, and developers in the region, including design consultations, and restoration for both residential and contract projects.
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Holt Renfrew Ogilvy dazzles as a sustainably forward luxury flagship in Montreal
The building’s renewed presence meets modern ecological standards through the use of sustainable materials such as reclaimed wood, LED lighting, recycled materials, and finishes from renewable resources. Located at 251 Saint-Catherine Street West in Montreal, Quebec – the new flagship store is the largest Holt Renfrew store in Canada, occupying 6 floors. The expansion by Lemay consolidated the existing Holt Renfrew store into the Ogilvy building. What followed was an extensive process to consolidate, upgrade and expand the elegant Ogilvy building. The new store is directly connected to the prestigious Four Seasons hotel complex and private residences, located on De La Montagne.
Transdisciplinary approach
The project required in-depth coordination for the seamless integration of the Four Seasons Hotel and Residences, as both buildings share connected spaces, despite being two separate real estate entities. Lemay and its collaborators’ exceptional eye for detail is evident through all 6 floors. The flagship is comprised of hard shops (separate, self-contained mini boutiques), soft shops (which maintain the look of the surrounding store, except for each retailer’s wall coverings, furniture, and logos), fixture drops (with the retailer’s own cabinetry and walls) and finally ribbon walls, that separate open spaces and showcase retailers’ products.
Preserving heritage elements
It was paramount to the project team that the new Holt Renfrew Ogilvy flagship meet modern sustainability standards. While extensive reconstruction and system upgrades were necessary including front revolving doors, octagonal columns, spiral staircase, elevator facades – the stone on the exterior of the building was also reworked, in addition to the windows and moldings being changed. Otherwise, the remainder of the building was kept in its original state.
Holt Renfrew Ogilvy today
The store is now home to over 99 luxury stores. It combines a modern aesthetic with key heritage elements, reminiscent of the store when it first opened in 1912. Holt Renfrew Ogilvy is one of four major west-end retailers in Montreal that still operates under its original name. It was rebranded to Holt Renfrew Ogilvy in 2019 and underwent a significant renovation and expansion that was completed in 2020.
Customers can also discover L’espace Holt – Holt Renfrew’s exclusive pop-up show and incubator space, featuring curated collections and limited-edition products from local and international designers. Additionally, the prominent Café Holt is located on the 2nd floor of the building. Its inviting use of warm woods, brown carpeting, and gold embellishments are reminiscent of the 1940s Hollywood Gatsby era. The café was designed by a Parisian design firm, Laplace.
Photo credit: Frederic Bouchard
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Studio Em designs the first flagship store for homegrown athleisure brand L’Couture
Dubai-based female athleisure brand, L’Couture has opened its doors to its first flagship store located on Al Wasl Road – within reach of key Dubai landmark, the Burj Al Arab. Designed by Studio Em, the 4290sqm space encompasses a yoga and photography studio, a glam room, a retail floor, as well as the brand’s office headquarters.
Unlike the majority of stores located in malls, the L’Couture boutique is housed in a modern two-storey, standalone building, showcasing a vast space and distinct attitude. Created by Emma Stinson from Studio Em and inspired by the brand’s aesthetic, the Instagram-friendly store features a chic yet fun design with neon signs, luxurious marble, soft lines seen in furniture pieces, flowers and velvet touches, with gold finishing.
“L’Couture has designed pieces that are robust and can withstand the day’s challenges without pleating or threading, but they also create a beautiful silhouette around the female form – this is something that I wanted to translate into the design. Considering the team’s spirit and personality, we were able to have a lot of fun with the project. It’s an uber-cool brand, a trendsetter in the market and the label was founded here, so with this flagship store, the aim was for it to be a place that captures the L’Couture spirit,” said Emma Stinson, from Studio Em.
“I am beyond excited about the opening of the very first L’Couture boutique in Dubai. I wanted to create a unique space that captures the essence of the brand for both customers and my team, and that’s exactly what we have done. The boutique is feminine and Instagrammable – a place I want our girl gang to come and hang out, whilst they browse our latest collections. We can’t wait to welcome all our customers, loyal and new, to our new home,” said Lyndsay Doran, founder of L’Couture.
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Hästens opens its first flagship store in the Middle East
Hästens announces the opening of its flagship store in Dubai, in partnership with The Mattress Store Group. The leading Swedish brand that was founded in 1852 and has handcrafted the finest beds for generations invites residents to explore a variety of exclusive beds, expertly crafted to provide the best quality of sleep.
The first flagship Hästens store in the Middle East, located on Sheikh Zayed Road, will showcase an in-store Sleep Spa where individual and Private Sleep Consultations will be performed by a dedicated Sleep Coach.
Visitors will be able to immerse themselves into the world of Hästens and to test and feel the brand’s ultimate bed collections, linens, duvets and pillows. Under the guidance of the brand’s Sleep Coaches, customers will be invited to perform a Blind Test in order to identify their unique needs.
Mubashir Iftikhar, CEO and founder, The Mattress Store Group, comments “This strategic partnership that we chose to build with Hastens is in the core of our business plan to solidify our hold as the market leader in the sleep category in the UAE. This flagship store, and a few of the other The Mattress Store locations, will be the first of many other touchpoints we are developing to introduce this amazing brand to the UAE consumers looking for bespoke and one of a kind products to enhance their well-being.”
Ludovic Létrillart, Regional Director IMEA, comments “We are delighted to announce the official opening of our flagship store in the heart of Dubai, designed to offer a real live experience on the entire Hästens collections. We are on a mission to help the world sleep better and live a better life and are committed to keep fulfilling our clients search for excellence, quality and better living. We look forward to welcoming our customers in the region and showcasing what it takes to embark on good night sleep.”
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