Elementa’s design ethos is rooted in an international perspective. Not just because we’re based in a global hub like Dubai, but because our team embodies global experience. With six nationalities represented across our designers, architects, and stylists, our inspiration is naturally eclectic, drawn from the world’s most iconic cities. But a few cities seem to always find their way into our work.

How does Milan influence Elementa’s interiors?

Milan is where both our Senior Designer Azaz and Managing Director Josephine studied design and its influence is deeply woven into our creative language. Known for its elegant, architectural restraint and heritage-led innovation, Milan offers an abundance of stylistic depth.

Take, for example, a recent powder room design where we embraced Art Deco influences fused with rich green marble, a palette reminiscent of classic Milanese interiors. Rather than stripping away character, we honoured it, allowing vintage charm and European elegance to coexist in a modern, luxurious setting.

Milan teaches us how to tell a story through materials, and that sometimes the boldest move is preservation done with finesse.

What makes Dubai such a strong source of creative energy?

Designing in Dubai is not just a logistical reality, it’s an endless well of inspiration. The city’s evolution from a trading port to a design-forward metropolis gives us a palette that is at once historic and futuristic.

In our very first Dubai-based project, a six bedroom villa, we explored symmetry, clean sightlines, and the idea of entering a home as an experience, not just a function. We took cues from the UAE’s tradition of craftsmanship, combining it with a modern sensibility that values space, harmony, and balance.

This design language results in interiors that feel both grounded in local identity and tailored for a global lifestyle, a balance that speaks to many of our Dubai clients.

Why does New York City resonate with Elementa’s design team?

New York isn’t just a city, it’s an attitude. There’s a raw elegance to NYC’s architecture, from SoHo’s industrial textures to Brooklyn’s adaptive reuse aesthetics, that resonates with our values: grit, creativity, and timeless style.

In one of our standout projects, the challenge was to create a royal villa with urban soul. The plot was narrow, typical of dense city living, and we found our solution by borrowing from New York: build up, not out. Inspired by NYC’s rooftop gardens, we transformed what would traditionally be used for services into a lush, elevated outdoor retreat, bringing leisure and landscape to the skyline.

What happens when you blend global inspiration in Dubai’s context?

The magic of Elementa lies in our ability to integrate these city-based inspirations into a cohesive design that’s distinctly Dubai. It’s never about copying trends, it’s about understanding the essence of a place and adapting it to the unique lifestyles of our clients here.

Dubai allows us to design without boundaries. One day we’re honouring Milanese elegance, the next day we’re designing a space with the vertical ingenuity of New York — but it always comes together with Dubai’s craftsmanship, ambition, and cultural richness.

Final thoughts: Why global inspiration Is a local advantage

At Elementa, every city we draw from becomes a thread in a richer design tapestry. Whether it’s Milan’s artistic legacy, Dubai’s dynamic spirit, or New York’s bold edge — each influence allows us to offer something uniquely personal to every client.

Because ultimately, design excellence isn’t about where we come from — it’s about where we can take you.