CKM Dezign

21/05/2024

This Season’s Last ‘Big’ Harvest - While this is not the first attempt at growing some herbs and veg, this past winter’s efforts were certainly the biggest, with a home built plant box and a proper concept.
Having already had several meals from our own plants these past few months and just before the Dubai summer heat really kicks in, all these lovelies were picked yesterday afternoon.
From it, we now have a couple of glasses of aubergines in extra virgin olive oil with chillies, garlic and parsley, which should be ready for consumption in about a month. And we have a large glass of delicious (albeit Parmesan free) pesto with garlic, chillies, pine and walnuts, which we shall sample tonight. And lastly, and not for the feint hearted, we have a large glass of chillies with garlic in a raw honey and olive oil mix. All throughout the winter, we already enjoyed (medicinally only, of course), our home grown rosemary marinated in vodka.
It’s been a fun little project, especially given the Dubai weather! Can’t wait to do it bigger and better next season! Another small step towards more healthy and sustainable living.

31/03/2024

10/02/2024

Catching a glimpse of this awe inspiring drone display on my evening strall, I could not but wish a happy Chinese New Year!

02/01/2024

Hoping everyone has had an enjoyable holiday period and a great start to 2024! May this year bring peace and happiness!

10/12/2023

COP 28 - I’ve just had the incredible experience, attending the climate change summit. After a year of extreme weather patterns and scientists confirming that 2023 will be the hottest year on record, I find it promising that, with 84,000 registered attendees, this year’s COP is the year with the highest number of registered visitors. For me personally and as an interior designer, climate and sustainability have been an interest I have harbored for a long time and which is a focus item in the services CKM Dezign provides.
I can summarize my impressions of COP 28 as follows: 1. The venue presented an exquisite blend of architectural prowess and commitment to sustainability - it was a live demonstration of how we can harmonize aesthetics with environmental consciousness; 2. The UAE as the host has once again outdone itself, making its attendees feel welcome and comfortable and perhaps even a little in awe; 3. Last but not least, the content available at the event has been wonderfully orchestrated. Whether expert or novice, young or old, there is something for everyone! The information and insights are shared in ways that enable visitors to choose themselves just how much or how little they wish to learn and experience.
Here’s hoping that H.E. Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber’s, President of COP 28, supposition holds and this conference catalyzes a significant positive change for our planet.
Let’s make our homes and businesses not just beautiful but also environmentally sustainable.
🌿🏡🌍

04/12/2023

And Just like that - We are well into December, and, therefore, truly into another Christmas season. For many of us, who are celebrating Christmas, this is the nicest time of year. Whether you’re cozying up by a crackling fire with snowy vistas out of your windows, or enjoying the perfect weather for a BBQ in the garden or a day on the beach, as we are here in Dubai, it is the time to add some sparkle to your home with lovely Christmas decorations. Whether newly acquired, collected over the years or passed down from generations, it is the time of year for old and young to come together, harbor traditions, and have a jolly time. So, go on, and light up a candle or two, if you haven’t yet!

(Photography by CKM Dezign.)

03/12/2023

Bosio Construction LLC - At CKM Dezign, a UAE home-grown company, we feel fortunate to have had the freedom to set up and be able to grow our business in this country - the UAE, truly a melting pot of cultures and a land of opportunity! But opportunity alone is not enough anywhere. Hard work is required to realize it. And as an interior design company, this includes finding a contractor that can translate our vision to reality and do so to a standard that not only we, as a company, expect, but what a maturing market, as that of the UAE, demands. Needless to say that finding this contractor was a pivotal moment and, in fact, ultimately led to the formation of CKM Dezign!
So we are absolutely thrilled that Bosio Construction LLC, also a UAE home-grown company and the contractor we have chosen to work with exclusively on all our projects in Dubai to date, have just received the prestigious Emirates Labour Market Award in its inaugural year as an establishment that has adopted the best practices in human resources and sustainable practices to enhance productivity and quality of life! This award is approved by the UAE Cabinet and is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Presidential Court and is organised by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).
Congratulations to Bosio Construction LLC, its founder and CEO, Stephanie Bosio, and all its employees! It is an absolute delight to work with you, no matter how challenging the project technically, timeline- or budget-wise! Bosio Construction’s best practices result in a happy workforce that brings its expertise into every task and achieves outstanding workmanship in quality and ex*****on! We look forward to many more! This award is so well deserved and timely!
Happy UAE National Holiday to all!

21/11/2023

Bathrooms - We all have at least one. It’s a hard working space, often crammed into a small corner of the property and without natural light. But we want it spa-like, possibly a double vanity, light, bright and airy, with plenty of storage and a tub for the kids or if we’d like a soak during the cooler times of the year. Not an easy feat!
Here are some inspirations, where most of the wishes were addressed, despite the spacial challenges. To achieve this, it required meticulous planning, plenty of vision and creativity and excellent workmanship in the ex*****on.

Pictures 1, 2 and 4 - 8 Marina Pool Villa, picture 3 Downtown Duplex, photography by Tarja Ruuska Photography; pictures 9 and 10 Mediterranean Retreat, photography by CKM Dezign.

14/11/2023

Storage - Whether you’re just taking down your Halloween decorations to replacing them with Thanksgiving or Christmas ornaments and trimmings, or you’re trying to get to your winter clothes, those that enjoy inner city apartment living will know that storage is always an issue. To avoid this for the residents of the Marina Pool Villa, we took extra care to add as much storage as possible.
The spacious kitchen contains a tall pantry that goes deep into the corner of the room and pull out corner cabinets to ensure every last inch is usable space. The hallway is home to a floor to ceiling shoe cabinet that can hold up to 90 pairs (the rest can find room either in the walk-in wardrobe or one of the other large wardrobes 😉). Next to it and also hidden behind beautiful solid wood sliders is the laundry with extra space for the vacuum and other larger household goods. The home office has an over-sized filing cabinet/wardrobe, the bedrooms also have bigger built ins and the master enjoys a walk-in wardrobe. The on-suites offer plenty of storage in the deep vanity drawers. The home entertainment area boasts built ins and the bar benefits from spacious cabinetry and an island. Last but not least, a “hidden” shed on the patio allows the residents to store bicycles, surf boards, children’s toys and more.

Photography of Kitchen, built in Shoe Cabinet, Wardrobe/Filing Cabinet, Walk-In Wardrobe and “hidden’ Shed by Tarja Ruuska Photography.

24/10/2023

Garden Feature Wall - Any garden, even that of a rental property, can easily be turned into a little oasis. A simple lick of paint can turn a dusty yellow into a sleek grey garden wall (as in this example). Add to it some wall art (that can withstand the weather) and/or rearrange existing plants (or invest in some new ones, perhaps with some beautiful pots that match your desired style and color), splash on a few solar lights, and have yourself a beautiful garden statement wall by day and especially by night.

(Photography by CKM Dezign.)

12/10/2023

Get Ready To Enjoy Your Outdoor Spaces - The summer heat here in Dubai and the warmer climes is subsiding. The outdoors is beckoning. Make sure you spruce up your garden, patio or balcony to get full enjoyment of the wonderful weather to come. Whether you want space to privately sunbathe and enjoy the pool, gently rock yourself to sleep in a hammock, sit comfortably and relax or you wish to entertain, the possibilities are plentiful. At CKM Dezign we advise to invest in some good quality teak or other wooden furniture. An extendable dining table is always useful if you have the space. We’re also fans of lounge seats that can double as and add to other dining chairs if they are the right height. Useful, too, are wooden, concrete or fiber glass stools that can be used as coffee or side tables or extra seating when needed and which come in many shapes and sizes. Don’t forget to add some lush green to elevate your outdoor atmosphere by day and by night. And of course lighting is important to set the mood. For our outdoor areas we tend to use predominantly electric and solar lights.