The Sculpted Abode, Part 3: Behind the Scenes of a Dubai Home Renovation

The right people and brand partners for a seamless home renovation

A successful renovation doesn’t begin with marble or lighting. It starts with planning, alignment, and choosing the right team. In our case, this chapter began not with demolition but with drawings, spreadsheets, and trust: trust in people, process, and partnership. With our temporary apartment just ten minutes away and the site cleared, construction is now underway. What follows is a look at the systems and suppliers we’ve brought in to bring our Dubai home renovation to life.

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The Work That Shapes a Dubai Home Renovation

Before any design comes into focus, the site is shaped by MEP and HVAC works. These systems—mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and air conditioning—are among the first to start and often the most disruptive if mishandled.

Once demolition begins, site conditions change. Columns appear where drawings say there shouldn’t be. Slab levels shift. If HVAC and MEP aren’t properly planned and flexible to change, everything else is delayed. Ceilings can’t close, marble can’t be fabricated, and joinery can’t be measured.

Prolonged technical works derail the timeline and financially strain the contractor, who is left holding the cost of immobility. To avoid this, we engaged a Canadian HVAC supplier who, while priced above market, responded quickly to post-demolition surprises. We paid for that flexibility, and it made all the difference.

A Contractor Who Moves with Purpose

We partnered with Royal Sons Technical, a contractor we’ve trusted for years across high-end residential projects. They are present, organised, and take full accountability for the pace and quality of execution.

They supervise all works closely, from substructure to finish, and ensure the build moves in a structured sequence. When problems arise, as they inevitably do, they work with the team, not against it. Their clarity sets the rhythm.

Office meeting

The Kitchen: Function with Integrity

In the kitchen, we chose German brand Teka, known across Europe for its heritage, engineering, and thoughtful integration of technology into everyday use. Their products — including the oven, hob, dishwasher, and built-in wine cooler — reflect what we value in this space: clarity, reliability, and geometry that complements our architecture.

Just as important as performance is process. Teka’s team delivered our full package the day after confirmation — no follow-ups needed. Their warranty support and customer care have been consistently professional, and their design language aligns with how we live: clean, confident, and unobtrusive.

We’ve worked with Teka for over five years across projects, and they’ve consistently met the level of service and precision we expect in our work.

Bathrooms: Balance, Weight, and Detail

In the bathrooms, we specified brushed nickel fixtures from Ramón Soler, a family-owned Spanish company founded in 1890. Sourced through Amisa in Dubai, their fittings are precise, beautifully weighted, and visually calm.

I’ve lived and studied in Spain, and I’ve followed Barcelona’s contribution to design for years. Ramón Soler reflects that spirit— form-conscious without being decorative, engineered with care, and rooted in legacy. Their customer service and after-sales support reflect the values we look for: consistency, transparency, and care in detail.

Joinery That Defines the Flow

Joinery in this house is not decorative; it is architectural. From kitchen units to wardrobes, vanities, and concealed doors, it defines how the space moves and feels. We partnered with Daman Interiors, who have been by our side on numerous projects.

Their team doesn’t just build what’s on the drawings. They align with every trade, check, adjust, and deliver with accuracy. When timing is tight, they make it work. When details evolve on site, they stay involved. Their reliability makes them essential.

On Boundaries, Budgets, and Belief

We’ve built this project the way we guide our clients: by investing in people who make progress possible. When budget is a concern, we prefer to reduce square footage or simplify detailing, never compromising the people we rely on to deliver the vision.

A common mistake we see is expecting above-and-beyond outcomes from trades that were selected purely on price. It doesn’t work. Contractors under financial strain lose momentum, delay timelines, and struggle to absorb site changes. Rent and mortgage costs in Dubai don’t pause while your project stalls. Cutting costs now often costs more later.

In our own home, we hold ourselves to the principles we wish to see in every project. We pay for outcomes, not just outputs. We invest in people who make progress possible.

And when something must give, it won’t be the people. It will be the excess.

NEXT POST on The Sculpted Abode

In the next chapter, I’ll walk you through the first week of construction. From phasing and sequencing to key deliveries and what started when, our renovation is no longer on paper. It’s becoming real, one layer at a time.

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The people we invest in matter just as much as the design.