Interior Design—07 / 11

SS Residence

Giza, Egypt/Villa interiors/Alchemy Design Studio — MF & Associates

Panelled walls, tall doors and a stair hall in the classical manner, furnished in a quiet palette of greige, walnut and brass.

SS Residence — Arched openings preserve connections between reception and the stair hall. — 01Arched openings preserve connections between reception and the stair hall.

Location: Giza, Egypt
Sector: Residential
Scope: Concept to IFC
Status: Completed

My contribution

My role: Design lead
Responsibility: Concept to IFC

Key contributions

Led the interiors from concept through IFC
Set the palette and the panelling and joinery language
Directed FF&E and decorative lighting
Coordinated the technical package

The project

The house has a strong classical order — panelled walls, cornices, tall paired doors, a marble stair hall — and the interior lets that order set the rhythm rather than fighting it. The entrance hall takes the heaviest elements: black doors, a chequered marble floor, a gilt mirror, marble consoles. From there the rooms lighten. Living and dining sit in deep greige, with dark-blue ceilings and shelved walls holding the art; the bedrooms are pale, panelled and soft.

The palette is narrow and repeated: greige panelling, walnut joinery, brass in the lighting and hardware, and upholstery in wool, bouclé and leather. Furniture is contemporary against the classical shell — low sofas, round tables, sculptural lamps — so the rooms read as lived-in rather than period. Lighting is layered: wall lights on the panelling, a small number of pendants, and concealed light in the shelving.

SS Residence — Curved seating makes a relaxed family room within the house's formal panelled shell. — 02Curved seating makes a relaxed family room within the house's formal panelled shell.

SS Residence — The furniture leaves a clear route around the sitting area, keeping the glazed corner accessible. — 03The furniture leaves a clear route around the sitting area, keeping the glazed corner accessible.

SS Residence — Sheer curtains temper the window edge while the seating stays close to the garden outlook. — 04Sheer curtains temper the window edge while the seating stays close to the garden outlook.

SS Residence — Two seating groups allow the reception room to host several conversations under one ceiling. — 05Two seating groups allow the reception room to host several conversations under one ceiling.

05Two seating groups allow the reception room to host several conversations under one ceiling.

SS Residence — Living and dining remain linked through wide openings, with furniture defining the change in use. — 06Living and dining remain linked through wide openings, with furniture defining the change in use.

SS Residence — The fireplace gathers a smaller sitting area within the larger reception plan. — 07The fireplace gathers a smaller sitting area within the larger reception plan.

07The fireplace gathers a smaller sitting area within the larger reception plan.

SS Residence — A curved sofa gives the seating group a boundary without a partition across the room. — 08A curved sofa gives the seating group a boundary without a partition across the room.

SS Residence — The dining table follows the long axis of the room, leaving circulation open along the windows. — 09The dining table follows the long axis of the room, leaving circulation open along the windows.

09The dining table follows the long axis of the room, leaving circulation open along the windows.

SS Residence — A cluster of glass lights lowers the scale of the coffered ceiling over the table. — 10A cluster of glass lights lowers the scale of the coffered ceiling over the table.

SS Residence — Dark doors and patterned stone give arrival a more formal register than the rooms beyond. — 11Dark doors and patterned stone give arrival a more formal register than the rooms beyond.

11Dark doors and patterned stone give arrival a more formal register than the rooms beyond.

SS Residence — The entrance opens directly towards the stair, making the route through the house clear. — 12The entrance opens directly towards the stair, making the route through the house clear.

SS Residence — Deeper tones distinguish the study while retaining the panel proportions used elsewhere in the house. — 13Deeper tones distinguish the study while retaining the panel proportions used elsewhere in the house.

“The architecture sets the rhythm; the interior keeps time.”

SS Residence — A separate sitting area allows the study to accommodate conversation as well as desk work. — 14A separate sitting area allows the study to accommodate conversation as well as desk work.

14A separate sitting area allows the study to accommodate conversation as well as desk work.

SS Residence — The desk faces into the room, with storage absorbed into the panelled perimeter. — 15The desk faces into the room, with storage absorbed into the panelled perimeter.

SS Residence — The bedroom reduces the house palette to softer tones, fabric and a quieter panel rhythm. — 16The bedroom reduces the house palette to softer tones, fabric and a quieter panel rhythm.

SS Residence — A garden-facing sitting area gives the suite somewhere to spend time away from the bed. — 17A garden-facing sitting area gives the suite somewhere to spend time away from the bed.

SS Residence — Layered upholstery introduces softness at the point where furniture meets the formal wall treatment. — 18Layered upholstery introduces softness at the point where furniture meets the formal wall treatment.

SS Residence — The bed sits within the wall's symmetry, allowing the surrounding furnishings to remain light. — 19The bed sits within the wall's symmetry, allowing the surrounding furnishings to remain light.

SS Residence — Mirrored cabinetry extends the sense of space while keeping storage within the wall composition. — 20Mirrored cabinetry extends the sense of space while keeping storage within the wall composition.

SS Residence — A single veined basin concentrates the powder room's detail against a quieter stone enclosure. — 21A single veined basin concentrates the powder room's detail against a quieter stone enclosure.

21A single veined basin concentrates the powder room's detail against a quieter stone enclosure.

Process

Materials

A narrow palette carried through every room: Carrara, Calacatta and Arabescato marbles, travertine, bouclé and leather in cream and taupe, oak laid in Versailles and chevron patterns, bronze and blackened steel.

DWG 01Material selection — stones, timber, fabrics and metals are compared as a single interior palette.

FF&E

Furniture, lighting and rugs chosen room by room against the plan, each board keyed to where it sits in the house.

DWG 02Bedroom selection — rounded upholstery and warm lighting temper the room's more structured architectural finishes.
DWG 03Bedroom selection — a graphic rug and green armchair introduce contrast around a pale upholstered bed.
DWG 04Guest room selection — dark furniture and a moss-toned rug establish a distinct palette for visiting guests.
DWG 05Roof bedroom selection — leather and a deep-coloured rug give this room a warmer, darker register.
DWG 06Roof bedroom selection — pale upholstery is balanced by dark stone tables and slender lighting.
DWG 07Basement lounge selection — modular seating accommodates a more informal arrangement for family use.

Colophon

Location: Giza, Egypt
Sector: Residential
Typology: Villa interiors
Scope: Concept to IFC
Status: Completed
Role: Design lead