Why materials matter with Niamh Hunter
Irish interior designer Niamh Hunter and her Scottish husband moved to Dubai over 20 years ago, attracted by the cosmopolitan mix of nationalities, the can-do spirit and, she freely admits, the weather.
That they’re still there is thanks to the emirate’s growth and a boom in new homes – each one waiting to take on the personalities of the people who live there.
‘There are no boundaries here on design,’ she explains, adding that designers are encouraged to ‘be as brave as you possibly can, and be different.’
Her studio, Stylush Home, takes on some commercial work – mostly in luxury retail – but Niamh’s focus is the home.
‘Making the most of what you already have plays a large part in design,’ says Niamh.
‘You always need to consider the layout of the space, the natural light, the proportions and any architectural details that already exist and that you can enhance.’
The other important factor, of course, is the people who live there.
‘You make your design decisions based on who lives in the house, what their taste is, what their style is, plus what their regular daily life is like and what they need the property to do for them.
‘Ultimately, it's their home. We can advise, but they will live in the property. I think in any home, as long as you have pieces that you love that are special to you, it will always feel considered and intentional and beautiful.’
‘As a designer, I quite often work on the principle that 20 per cent of the finishes will actually have 80 per cent of the impact. So, I always try and use luxury finishes where possible within the budget. It's intentional spend to increase the overall feeling of the property.
‘A lot of my clients are British and Irish, and I love beautiful things from the United Kingdom and from Ireland. It's been very difficult to find those finishes in Dubai, so I’ve tended to ship things in.
‘It was a real pleasure when Corston moved to the UAE. It’s amazing to have all the products locally.
‘What drew me to Corston was the quality of the finish. In my home I have the antique brass, and I love how it patinates over time. It looks genuine because it is genuine, and it's a beautiful product that technically works very well.
‘We would always recommend buying quality fittings that you know will last and look beautiful at the same time.’
Published on 5th November 2026
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